The Governor Read online

  KINDLE EDITION

  Copyright © 2013 Suzanne Steele

  The Contract Series © 2013 Suzanne Steele

  Published by Suzanne Steele

  All Rights Reserved

  Thank you for downloading this e-book. This book is a work of Fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living, or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  EPILOGUE

  THE HIT MAN - PROLOGUE

  OTHER SUZANNE STEELE TITLES

  ABOUT SUZANNE STEELE

  CHAPTER ONE

  Talia

  I made my way into the bar to settle up with the bartender. In my line of work I need men like him—bartenders—bellhops—concierges—hell even the maids come in handy at times. “Jason, I couldn’t do it without you,” I stated, feeding his ego and his wallet as I handed him a hundred dollar bill.

  His youthful eyes lit up as he spoke, “I couldn’t pay my rent without you Miss Talia. It has been so much easier being on my own since I started helping you.”

  He sighed as he wiped the counter. “The last thing that I wanted to do was to go back home to my parents and that is right where I was headed before you came along. I can’t thank you enough. It would have been so humiliating to have to listen to the whole ‘I told you so’ speech again.”

  “How rude of me can I get you something to drink?”

  “Milk,” I answered.

  I would sit talking to Jason and finish my milk. My last appointment had been one of the only two regulars that I had—or needed. The two of them kept me very well taken care of and neither knew anything about the other.

  I didn’t like the idea of doing what I had to do to keep up the lifestyle that I had grown accustomed to, so I found the two richest men in the city and made them my sugar daddies. It worked out well for everyone concerned. I didn’t have to feel like a whore and they had a discreet mistress with each one believing that they were the only one.

  Of course each one of the men believed that they were my only source of income and as far as I was concerned, what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. I had no intention of ever becoming completely dependent on a man to make it in any area of my life. I’m the kind of woman that always has an ace up her sleeve—a backup plan—I’m a true hustler at heart. Life had seen to that. The cold hard reality of how far people will go for money had been a lesson that I had learned the hard way and I would never allow myself to be at anyone’s mercy again.

  Governor Anthony Johnson

  Immediately I was drawn to the brunette at the bar. I studied her and though she looked like she was an executive, I knew better. I watched as she slipped money to the bartender and continued to converse with him. The other men’s conversation at the table cut through my voyeuristic meanderings.

  “Anthony, your numbers are down and you are no longer ‘The people’s Governor.’”

  “Well, we all know how fickle the public can be and we all know how numbers fluctuate when it comes to elections. I have full confidence that I will succeed in another term. You worry too much Carl.”

  “I beg to differ Mr. Governor, I’m paid to worry—it’s what P.R. people do.”

  “Good, then I don’t have to worry. God knows that you do enough for both of us.”

  I had to hold back a chuckle as I eyed the escort drinking milk, the sight of her only served to intrigue me that much more. It takes a lot to intrigue me and whether the young lady knew it or not she had unknowingly opened a Pandora’s Box when she captured my attention.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Talia

  I made my way out into the night air and walked towards my car. I was ready for a bath and a glass of wine to wash away the memories of the evening. To put it simply—I hate my job but I love the money. The only matter at hand was how many pieces of my soul would I sell off before there was nothing left of me?

  I pushed the negative thoughts from my mind and turned up the music. Right now, I was just looking forward to getting home and unwinding.

  I made my way into the refuge that I called home and took a hot bath to soak away the troubles of the day. The towel that I wrapped up in when I finished felt good against my cleansed skin.

  I looked at myself in the mirror and wondered how long I had before I ‘aged out.’ I had been born with an exotic beauty that had captured the attention of the male species for as long as I could remember. But at some point every one ages out, and I wondered how long I could ride the ‘sugar daddy train.’

  I shook off the morbid thoughts and made my way to write in my diary. Writing helped me to vent and it had become a habit to do so before retiring each evening.

  I sat down at my laptop to write.

  I contemplated the irony of my life today. The headaches that went with my job were not worth the hassle some days. Today was one of those days.

  How ironic that I had gone into this profession to maintain my independence. I have learned more in this lifestyle about control and how far that people will go to get and keep it; than I had anywhere else.

  As disgusted as I was with having to sell my body, I was even more disgusted with having to sell my soul.

  By that I mean—that every so often it would hit me like a ton of bricks just how blurred ‘the lines’ had become.

  It’s easy when you get into a profession like this to convince yourself that you are not a prostitute, you’re never a whore and you’re sometimes a call girl—or better yet an escort.

  You tell yourself things such as: “I am only doing this for such and such amount of time. When I get on my feet I’ll go back to college.”

  In my case I opted for the high-class clientele. I told myself that I was doing this just until I got on my f
eet financially and I had some money put saved up. I was able to opt for the high-class clientele due to the way I look. No really, I was!

  I have brunette hair that is cut in long layers framing my face. My eyes are a striking hazel with an intensity that challenged men to take me. My nose, though it is large gave me a regal appearance, my lips are full but not gaudy, and my skin is like peaches and cream.

  My body is what women fantasize about possessing and men fantasize about conquering. When I walked into a room everyone turned to look at me.

  Young, old, male, female, it never failed that when I walked into a room—it was as if I had literally sucked the air from it.

  I could have been anything that I wanted, or at least that was what I have been told often. My clients were men who had money. They were married and wanted an affair with no strings, so they came to me.

  Who was I kidding? These men were the most controlling individuals that I had ever been privy to. They held the purse strings and they had no problem placing them around my neck and choking ‘your will to be free’ right out of you, so to speak.

  As I said, every so often it would hit me that I had lowered my standards. Things like taking less money became more negotiable when rent was due. Never doing drugs—things that I had promised myself in the beginning that I would not and could not do—they were becoming less of an option when desperate times called for desperate measures.

  There were days that I took drugs to dull the pain of sleeping with a man that I loathed. How long had it been since I had enjoyed sex? No matter how I tried to convince myself that women have been doing this for centuries, it didn’t dull the shame that would creep up on me when I least expected it.

  Now, drugs were ok if they were prescription drugs, Oxy for the pain and Xanax for the anxiety. Money was now negotiable when I was getting close to needing a bill paid. Yes, I had definitely allowed the lines to become blurred…

  I shut the laptop, finished off the wine in one gulp and made my way to bed. Tomorrow was a new day with the promise of a new beginning. If I was ever going to be released from the chains that bound me then I was going to have to keep a positive attitude.

  Governor Anthony Johnson

  If you saw me on the street you would immediately know me due to my high profile life of being the Governor.

  I am a white-collar businessman. I’m seated in church on Sundays. I am a man with an impeccable reputation.

  But you and I both know that we all have our own vices. My vice is and always will be, my sexual preferences. I am anything but the garden variety male when it comes to my sex life. You see, I enjoy completely taking a woman. I would much rather have a woman strapped down and at my mercy than just in my bed.

  It isn’t just a matter of dominating her physically either, no, I prefer to take her apart piece by piece and taste every delectable tiny morsel of her being. I want the bitch crying out my name and begging me for a release after she has been subjected to my concoction of pleasure and pain.

  It takes a certain kind of woman to peak my interest and Talia had done just that. Something about her stirred the beast within, the beast that I had presumed had been lulled into hibernation due to my career responsibilities. The monster was now awakening and he was hungry, ready to feast on the delectable morsel that would be my next feast. Talia.

  I sat at my laptop and began writing an email to the address I had been given by the bartender. The five hundred dollars in hush money was enough to insure that he wouldn’t breathe a word, not even to Talia, or so I thought.

  RE: I want you!

  Who I am is of no importance. What is of grave importance however is your absolute obedience to my request.

  You will be picked up tomorrow by my driver and brought to an undisclosed location. Upon entrance you will be stripped down and blind folded. You will then be brought to a room where I will be awaiting you. I expect for the orders that I have mandated to be followed precisely. I am certain that the ten thousand dollars that you will be paid will more than compensate for any inconvenience.

  Yours truly,

  Sir

  I knew that I stood a chance of scaring her off but if I had assessed her as well as I believed that I had, her curiosity would lure her right into my twisted den, that and the ten thousand dollars.

  Talia

  I eyed the cryptic email as I punched in Jason’s number. It took him about two seconds to spill his guts. “It’s the fucking Governor! Can you believe that shit?”

  “No, and don’t breathe a word. People in positions like that are dangerous.”

  “Are you going to meet him?”

  “No.”

  I was curious to say the least but that was none of Jason’s business. I would have to play my cards close to the vest with a man who was this high profile.

  I immediately got off the phone and googled the Governor. I eyed the screen and the man who looked back at me was gorgeous.

  I couldn’t help but wonder if those GQ looks had helped to get him into office. He stood in front of a massive cherry wood desk in an office that appeared to resemble a suite more than a workspace. His arms were crossed over his chest and a serious expression was on his face.

  He looked to be about six foot two with dark, straight, layered hair. His eyes were a cold cobalt blue and his facial hair was trimmed so closely that it almost appeared to be a sexy five o’clock shadow. He was dressed impeccably in a navy blue suit with a dark dress shirt and a tie, which had the design of an American flag.

  I couldn’t help but remember an article I had once read that said that the color navy blue went over well with the masses. Perhaps the good Governor had read the same article, though I was certain he had a staff that dressed him for PR purposes.

  As badly as I hated to admit it, the thought of fucking the Governor was intriguing to say the least, but it wasn’t going to happen. I had worked years to have and keep my independence and I most certainly had no intentions of giving it up to any man. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I began to write my reply.

  RE: I think not.

  As interesting as the concept of me being rescued from my life of debauchery is—I will regretfully have to decline.

  I am not, nor will I ever be the kind of girl who is seeking out a knight in shining armor. I’m sure that there are plenty of fair maidens in this city whom would be more than willing to take you up on your offer.

  Sincerely,

  I’m not the one…

  I hit send and forgot about it. I at least had the enjoyment of knowing that I could still be intriguing to a man of high social standing. My line of work doesn’t do much for a girl’s self esteem. It didn’t matter how beautiful people told me I was, there were two things that always stuck in my head—Beauty is as beauty does, what I did to make a living nixed that. And charm is deceitful and beauty is vain.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Governor Anthony Johnson

  Julia eyed her fiancé Anthony as he sat reading the morning news and drinking coffee.

  “You were late last night.”

  “Long winded politicians my dear, you know the drill.”

  And you came over for breakfast uninvited.

  Yes, Julia knew the drill all too well. Julia also knew of her fiancé’s extra-curricular activities, but like so many other politician’s wives before her, she chose to turn a blind eye.

  It wasn’t because Julia was a spineless woman, no, just the opposite. Julia wasn’t about to give up the prestige that being married to a politician would give her.

  In their own odd sort of way they cared for one another. But really, if they were to be honest with themselves and their public, theirs was nothing more than an arranged engagement—though Anthony was beginning to question if Carl’s idea of an arranged engagement was an idea that he now wanted to continue to pursue.

  Things like Julia inviting herself over—like she had this morning—were beginning to grate on the Governor’s nerves. Anthony was a patient m
an, but he wasn’t patient enough to be tied down to a woman who couldn’t meet his deviant sexual needs and desires.

  Gretchen listened in as she worked at the sink. I was grateful for the fact that Julia couldn’t see the smirk on her face. I was well aware that she thought the little trite was nothing but a gold digging, social seeking, opportunistic little bitch.

  Gretchen had been working for the Governor’s family for years. Anthony’s Mother had insisted that she accompany him years ago when he left the roost. She had felt that her son would be in good hands and it also kept his mother in the loop on Anthony’s personal life. Though Gretchen would never utter a word to anyone about the dark side that Anthony had.

  As ironic as it was Anthony’s housekeeper knew more about him personally than his own mother did. She had been his nanny as a child and she loved him as if he was her own son. In her eyes he could do no wrong.

  Yes, Anthony had his choice of women but they all had an ulterior motive. One which usually had something to do with the prestige, money, or social status of being with the Governor.

  At least women like Talia were honest about who they were and what they wanted. Anthony could deal with that much easier than he could the deception of hiding behind prim and proper facades only to gain access into the social circles of the rich and powerful.

  He would have more respect for Talia than he would the socially prim and proper. Anthony was all too aware that some of the most beautifully aesthetic women were the also the most deceptive. In his world they used their beauty as a weapon to gain access to the things which they coveted. Beauty was power and the women that he had been subjected to knew it.

  Anthony needed control. He needed a woman that would enter into a contract with full disclosure that she was entirely his carnally. He needed lines drawn, boundaries laid out, and emotions cast aside—he needed Talia.