5. The Opportunity

Nicolas Sinclair

I stare at my phone, willing myself to reply to Natalia’s messages and failing to. I should have been putting some effort into getting to improve my marriage with my wife, but instead, I ignored her for a week straight until she showed up at my office.

Three years ago, I could not see myself marrying her, but I had no choice. One way or another, I’ll have to learn to live with her. I sigh and run a hand through my hair, my thoughts turning back to last night.

Sitting through that dinner with Natalia was much harder than I expected it to be. All night, all she talked about was fashion shows and holidays she wanted to go on. She was somewhat concerned about what our fourth yearly honeymoon would be like, and whether it’d be extravagant enough for her tastes, but she was never remotely interested in what a marriage between us would look like.

But then again, neither was I.

The idea for a yearly honeymoon was hers, I don't even know what that means. But I've gone along with it for three years, just to make her happy. The only people who knew about me and Natalia's marriage were our families and the staff that worked in our house.

I don't know why I wanted to keep it a secret, but the idea of people knowing about the marriage wasn't appealing to me. I'm just glad Natalie finally agreed to a secret marriage after several convinces. I'm surprised she hasn't lashed out at me for ignoring her and posted it on her I*******m for her millions of followers to see.

Pretty sure it would increase after that, once people find out she's married to a billionaire.

I groan while I flip through the pages of the file, I look outside, through the glass and I'm met with the same empty share that I looked at three minutes ago. I think of anything that can help distract me from the fact that Rosalie isn't in her office where she's supposed to be. The empty chair looks back at me as I stare at her office through the one-way glass again.

Where the hell is she?

My head begins to bring up different scenarios and I almost break my phone when I begin to imagine her on a date with that fuck face, David Muller.

I don't know when Rosalie began to vex me like this. She's been working here for more than five years and not once has she or her actions affected me in the past.

"Where is she?" I asked one of the temporary assistants.

“Mr. Sinclair,” she says, bowing her head slightly. “Rosie left hurriedly yesterday after receiving a call from her mother. From what I could tell, her grandmother is missing. They don’t know where she’s gone, and she has been missing for hours. She sent me a message to fill in this morning.”

My eyes widen as worry sets in. I had no idea she lived with her grandmother.

“She left last night, you say?" That must be why she didn't get the reservations I asked for.

"Yes, sir." She says. I mod and walk off to my office “Mr. Sinclair! I finalized the interview schedule. Please take a look at it.”

I hold my hand up and shake my head. “Not now.”

My office door slams closed behind me, and ten seconds later, I’ve got Christopher Harper on the line.

“Sinclair? Before you ask me for anything at all, please know that Alanna is still mad you forgot.”

“Shut up and listen,” I snap. “Rosalie's grandmother is missing. I need you to find her within the hour. She’s old, and she’s been missing since last night according to what I just heard. Find her, and make sure she’s fine. I want a medical team on standby too, just in case.”

“You got it,” he says instantly. “I’ll update you every ten minutes. I got you, man. We’ll find her.”

I sit down behind my desk, beside myself with worry. If this was my own grandmother, I’d fucking lose it. Harper better come through for me.

I tap my finger impatiently, unable to focus on anything. Should I call Rosalie and go to her? Am I even of any help to her right now? If I showed up now, would that only further distress her?

Christopher Harper: we gained control over all the cameras near her house, and we’re combing through the footage now to see if we can find Rosalie’s grandmother’s trail.

I stare at my phone, feeling like there’s more I should be doing, but unsure what. I cup the back of my neck, unable to calm my racing heart.

A knock sounds on my door, and I sit up, welcoming the distraction. The door opens, and Rosalie walks in, her hair disheveled and her mascara smudged. I search her eyes and I don't miss the panic in them.

“M-Mr Sinclair,” she says, her voice soft. She pauses in front of my desk and stares down at me. I’ve never seen her look at me that way.

She’s never looked at me with quite so much trust in those beautiful hazel eyes. “I'm so sorry to disturb you, sir," she sniffs holding back her tears. "But I'm desperate and I need your help. I’d like to make a deal.”

I glance at my phone, but I haven’t received another update from Christopher yet, and I’m getting restless. “A deal?” I ask, intrigued.

She nods. “I need something, and I need you to give it your all. In return, I’ll do anything. I'll take on extra hours without pay, I'll reduce your workload immensely, and anything that I can do to help more I will do it. Please, just help me." Her voice cracks and I want to pull her into me and soothe her.

I raise my brows, surprised by her bravado. I wasn’t sure she’d come to me for help at all, I thought she’d stumble into my office, shaking and scared to ask for my help. I should’ve known better.

“What is it you need, Rosalie?”

She hesitates, a hint of doubt creeping into her eyes. “Mr. Sinclair, I need you to find my grandmother for me. She…” Her voice breaks, and she clears her throat as she straightens her back. “She went for a walk last night, and she hasn’t come home. It’s been more than ten hours, and I’m worried. Find her for me, and I’ll make sure your workload is reduced drastically. Please, sir. I know you don't like me, but I'm desperate and my grandmother means a lot to me.” She thinks I don't like her?

How do I explain to her that every day for the past three years, thoughts of what her body looks like under all those hideous work clothes she wears, keep plaguing my mind?

How did I not see it before? This is the solution to all of my problems.

“How much does your grandmother mean to you?” I ask, my voice soft.

Her eyes flash, and she tenses. “She’s everything to me. My grandmother raised me, and I’d do anything for her. I’ll beg if you want me to, s-sir. There’s nothing I won’t do.”

I smirk, finally seeing a sliver of hope. “She means everything to you? Then give me everything in return. I’ll make every single resource at my disposal available to you, on one condition.”

Rosalie hesitates, but then she nods. “I meant what I said,” she tells me. “There’s nothing I won’t do.”

I clasp my hands and grin. “Become my mistress, Rosalie.” It’s risky, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. There’s no other way for me to keep her by my side, and this would solve both issues. It will get rid of David Muller, and I get to chain Rosalie to me.

She stares at me, wide-eyed. “I… what?”

I lean in and rest my elbow on my desk, my chin pressed against my fist. “Give yourself to me. If you do, I’ll do everything in my power to find your grandmother as quickly as humanly possible.”

She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. You… you’re already married, sir. This isn’t…”

I wave my hand and smile up at her sweetly. “Semantics,” I tell her, my heart racing. I need her to say yes. “Tell me you’ll become my mistress, Rosalie. The rest, we’ll figure out later.”

She looks into my eyes, and for a moment, I see a hint of longing in her gaze, but disdain drowns it out. “Yes,” she tells me, her voice soft, defeated. “Help me find my grandmother, and I’ll do it. I'll give myself to you, I'll become your mistress.”

Relief unlike anything I’ve ever felt before rushes through me, and I smirk. Before I can even utter another word, my phone starts to buzz. I pick it up and read the messages Christopher sent me before looking back at my soon-to-be mistress, my heart finally at ease.

“We found her. She’s being escorted home right now. She’s fine, but she has some scratches on her hands, and she isn’t sure where she got them. My medical team is with her, and she’s being treated as we speak. From what I understand, she got on a bus and then became confused, so she stayed on it, switching back and forth at each end station.” I rise to my feet and grab my suit jacket.

“Let’s go. We’ll head over to your grandma’s house. We should arrive at the same time as she does if we leave right now.” I tell her with a proud smile on my face.

It wasn’t until the words left my mouth that I realized this is what I want above all else. I want Rosalie as my mistress.