The Arrangement (unenhanced Edition) by AnnaRCase (good novels to read TXT) 📕

                By day two, without Leo, Amberleigh was starting to go through withdrawals. In desperation, she found herself spending more time in the gym room, and even worse trying to strike up a conversation with Mr. Duvall. Her boredom had hit an all- time low with that move for sure. His stiff responses were even more annoying and useless than Angelina’s.

Grayson had slipped out with the sun that morning, or so she’d seen him when she crept to the kitchen to get a bottle of that fancy sparkling water. Like a voyeur, she’d silently watched him forgo that fancy ass latte machine and make himself a regular cup of coffee, double strength. She actually felt something for him in that moment of weakness, watching the man looking fuckin exhausted with a bleary eyed yawn. If he’d gone to bed at all last night, it certainly hadn’t been for long.

She also noted he had no breakfast, even after Leo had prepared several dishes that could just be nuked in the microwave. Without his buddy around to keep his ass on track, Grayson seemed to be eating less, and sleeping less as well. True, he was only twenty-four and many people his age survived like this for years, but apparently there were some extenuating circumstances when it came to him. What was wrong with the billionaire? Besides him just being an asshole anyway? What was he medicated for? And why was Leo like his health coach or some shit?

Amberleigh had a long time to wonder about it by mid- morning, while she punished herself for her overindulgence in all things Leo by running on the treadmill. Well attempting it anyway, as she panted and sweated like a bitch in heat and felt ready to collapse at any moment. She had one hand on that emergency stop string like it was a fuckin lifeline.

When she glanced down at the screen, she only hated herself more, as she legit had barely made it five minutes on the damn thing, and less than a mile. She slowed the machine to a crawl to catch her breathe. She liked the fun ways of getting her cardio in. She could go for hours in the sack easily, and had done so many times at the Cobra Club. Only if she could get Grayson on board with her new cardio routine, she’d be set. But was the Godwin even healthy enough to go all night long? She remembered those med commercials on TV, ask your physician if your heart is healthy enough for sex before using….

As she clutched her hands down on her knees to catch her breath, and felt the sweat sliding clear down all her cracks and crevices, a plan formed in her head. The maids took their lunch at noon, and up on the rooftop garden usually. That way they could make personal calls and such, and chat freely among themselves. Maria had told her this during their own lunch conversation yesterday. Afterwards, the maid had actually excused herself from Amberleigh’s company, to run up to the rooftop to check in with her husband before he left for work.

That just left Mr. Duvall to get out of the way. She wracked her brain how to solve that particular issue, before the answer finally hit her. She grinned to her herself as she toweled off her sweat. Let Operation Cut the Bullshit commence.

She showered quickly and dressed simply. A quick glance at her smart watch, showed it was a quarter till twelve, time to make things fall into place. She moseyed down the hall, and noted that Angelina was changing the linens in Grayson’s master suite. His door would remain unlocked to well after lunch, when she moved on to other tasks such as making the wood gleam in this ritzy place. Perfect. An open invitation into the private chambers of the king of this fuckin castle.

Amberleigh found Mr. Duvall in the kitchen apparently placing an order with grocers. The penthouse received deliveries almost daily. But as for the Masquerade coming up this weekend, Leo was getting a break and a chance to hang out like another one of the well-dressed guys, as it was being catered. It also had a party planner handling every minute detail. Set up was to begin Thursday night, for the event which would take place the following evening on the actual holiday. Grayson had hosted a party for the last three years, and it was because it had been Cortney Van Tessin’s idea. The parties had outlived their relationship and engagement and become a tradition.

She waited patiently for the butler to finish his business call. She gave him a smile as he turned to look at her.

“How may I be of service to you Miss Dubois?” he asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing really. You’re busy and I don’t want to be a bother…”

She twirled a black lock of her damp hair around her finger and sighed. Her eyes went down to the white marbled countertop, as she waited for this fish to bite.

“It is no bother at all Miss Dubious, I assure you. You’re needs are my top priority. What can I do for you?”

“It’s silly really, but I’m craving some McConnell’s ice cream. You know the place on Broadway? I haven’t had some in ages. And well I could really use some right about now.”

“Yes, Miss Dubois. That will not be a problem. I’ll call the car, and I will be pleased to escort you to McConnell’s.”

She sighed, “That is very kind of you, but I’m having lady problems, and I don’t feel up to leaving just now. I really should rest. Would you be a dear Mr. Duvall and go fetch the ice cream for me? As well as a few other items I’m in need of from the drug store?”

She placed the list in his hand with a straight face. His eyes read over the list and he cleared his throat. He remained quite the professional though. On her list, she had tampons, pads, heating pad, midol, Summer’s Eve Vaginal wash, chocolate, and douches (even though she never used those things as they were bad for your vaginal health, but she couldn’t fuckin resist).

“Very well Miss Dubois. I’ll call your order into a drug store, and I’ll pick it up while I get your Ice cream. What flavor did you want?”