No, even the sound of his voice, rich, deep and so dang masculine could melt a girl, turning her into a puddle at his feet. She was in trouble and she certainly didn’t want to feel that way. She’d felt too many negative emotions her entire life. She felt like it was her time to grow, live – really experience life to the fullest. She’d been a prisoner her entire life, and now she looked at her future in a whole different way. It was a feeling of true liberation, unlike anything else, and it was far overdue for her to spread her wings and fly.
With a lot of finagling, and bribery, Sierra had finally managed to figure out where Damien was on this particular day. She was now standing in front of the building he was inside and she found herself terrified of walking in the huge double doors and confronting him.
Dang it, though, if he wasn’t going to have her doing a job, then he should at least have the decency to let her fly home. If he didn’t say anything, her father wouldn’t even know she was back in the States, and that would give her more time to build up her courage, find the will to stop fearing him.
Damien was at some sort of guy spa or gym. Heck, she didn’t know, but it had been like pulling teeth to get the information out of the hotel staff. Finally, one of the desk operators had taken pity on her and disclosed his location.
He’d warned her it wouldn’t be easy to get in and see Damien. He’d also made her promise not to tell where she’d gotten the information. Every time she called Damien, it went immediately to voicemail, so she was out of options. It was either this or, well, she didn’t really have an ‘or’ in mind.
She looked at the security cameras lined up along the roof eaves, and the solid glass doors in front of her. She was waiting for the national guard to come storming out and haul her away, somehow knowing she didn’t belong there, even though technically, she did have a lot of her own money.
The money didn’t do her any good, though, when she wasn’t allowed to touch it. Maybe she should’ve dressed a bit better, at least. She’d just thrown on a pair of old jeans and a sweatshirt. She hadn’t seen the point in wearing business attire. She hadn’t been doing any business.
With a final breath of courage she approached the doors and stepped inside. Her intake of air was quickly let out as she glanced around the ostentatious spa. There were several well-outfitted men sauntering the premises, a couple of them glancing in her direction as they moved about, but what really caught her attention were the furnishings.
A beautiful fountain sat centered in the lobby with cushioned benches surrounding it. The floor was done in a marble tile, patterned with small animals throughout it. Huge plants were strategically placed, making a person feel as if they’d just walked into an exclusive hotel.
Though she’d been raised in a life of wealth, her father hadn’t let her go anywhere he didn’t specifically plan out. While most of the kids she’d gone to school with had been going to spas from the time they could barely walk, she was lucky to have a person come to the house to trim her hair.
Her father had told her when she was young that it was because he was protecting her, but the older she became, the more she realized it was really to protect himself. The more he kept her home, the more control he had over her, and the less likely she was to spill his secrets.
She’d only been allowed in the public eye with dates he’d set up, and she’d only been allowed out when he deemed it necessary. As she looked around the room, anger burned inside her over what she’d missed out on.
No wonder the girls from school had glowed after a spa weekend. It was the ultimate in opulence. Her week of indulgence had shown her she deserved to have a few luxuries in life. She’d gone through enough that she shouldn’t feel the least guilt over taking a day each month to pamper herself.
Sierra shook off her melancholy thoughts, and reminded herself to focus. If she could go back home and visit Bree, she’d have the elbowroom she needed. Bree loved a day at the spa. Sierra now wished she’d actually gone with her friend when she’d had the chance. She’d wasted her small time of free rein when she’d been in college, her fear of her father carrying too much weight, even from a distance.
Sierra glanced at the front desk where immaculately dressed men and women stood watching her approach. One of the women managed to actually tilt her nose in the air while still looking down it at Sierra. She didn’t care what the snobby woman thought. She was comfortable with what she was wearing, even if the bleached blonde didn’t approve.
“Are you lost?” one of the fake-and-bake guys asked her when she stood there gaping at them. If Ken and Barbie were to come to life, this is what they’d look like, she thought in fascination.
“No, actually. My boss is here and I need to speak with him,” Sierra said, happy with the confidence echoing in her tone. She didn’t feel all that confident, but she was used to faking her emotions to create her desired effect.
“Sorry, darling. We have a ‘do not disturb’ policy that’s strictly in effect. If your boss wanted to see you, then he’d have left you with a number. Even employers need time to themselves,” one of the girls said, as if Sierra were nothing more than an annoyance in her otherwise perfect day.
“Thank you for visiting our spa. Now, please exit the way you came in. Have a wonderful day,” Mr. Ken doll said before turning his back and continuing his conversation with another employee.
Sierra felt like steam was coming out of her ears. She was normally calm, almost submissive, but she’d had enough. Her dad walked all over her, her sister treated her like she was there to serve her, Damien acted like she didn’t exist, and now real life Barbie dolls were dismissing her. She was done.
Squaring her shoulders, Sierra stepped closer to the desk and slapped her hand down on the polished surface, making one of the girls jump. The four employees standing there slowly turned with eyes of astonishment, as if no one ever challenged them behind the desk.
“Look. I’m tired, not thrilled about having to be here, and getting more irritated by the minute. Why don’t you stop acting like there’s a stick shoved up your ass, and make yourself useful by doing your job. I need to speak with Damien Whitfield immediately. It’s urgent,” Sierra said, taking time to look each person in the eye.
She felt a stirring of pride as she watched the shock enter their faces at the authority in her tone. For being a door-mouse for too many years, she was sure making up for lost time. She had to fight back the smile wanting to break free at the surge of adrenaline rushing through her.