The Domville 4 (The Domville #4) Read online

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  ‘Laura.’ I sighed and shoved a hand through my damp hair. ‘You know that’s not part of our arrangement. Sex only.’

  ‘What if I want more? What if I want you all to myself, for you to stop fucking Sai at work too?’

  ‘You agreed,’ I reminded her. ‘I can’t offer more than we already have. You know this. I won’t offer more.’

  ‘Why,’ she pouted, pulling the sheet tightly around her naked body.

  ‘I don’t need to explain myself, Laura. I was clear from the start that this was all we’d ever be and that you wouldn’t be the only woman I slept with. If you’re not happy with the arrangement then …’ I blew out a sharp breath. I hated when they got clingy and whiney. While I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend, I didn’t want Laura to leave either. She was excellent at her job and a welcome distraction during the evenings and weekends, as was Sai during the day. But that was all they were, distractions. Nothing else.

  ‘You’d make me leave?’ she looked up at me with watery eyes, as I cursed internally.

  ‘No, you’re an amazing housekeeper, but this,’ I gestured between us with a pointed index finger, ‘this would cease immediately.’

  ‘Charles,’ she moaned, her bottom lip pouting as some tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks. ‘I think I’m fal…’

  ‘Stop,’ I interrupted fast, before she could say what I sincerely hoped she wasn’t about to say. My body had tensed up in an instant at the way this conversation was going.

  ‘I’m sorry if you’re finding this hard, but it’s my way or not at all. You have three choices, stay as we are, continue to work for me with no sexual interaction, or I provide you with an excellent reference to find employment with someone else. I’d even recommend you to some of my work colleagues who I know are looking for help. I’ll leave you to sleep on it, but don’t think that there are any alternatives. There aren’t. I’m a busy man and work takes priority. I don’t have time for a relationship.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel pressured to, I know how busy you are.’ She cast her eyes down as she sniffed, a hand snaked up from under the duvet to wipe her damp cheek. I exhaled slowly as I tried to find my centre of calm again. I wasn’t a heartless bastard, I cared for her, but it wasn’t love. It would never be love with her or Sai. Something set them apart from other women, but whatever it was, wasn’t enough to capture my heart. I reached down to stroke her hair.

  ‘I’m sorry if I’ve given any indication that we could be anything more, but this is how it is. Come and see me with your answer in the morning, but I really hope it’s option one. I really enjoy our arrangement,’ I stated sincerely. I kissed her on the forehead again and quickly walked away, turning off her light as I did. Christ, what was with clingy women at the moment? First Sai getting jealous this morning, now Laura? It was a good thing I was off to Hong Kong soon, to give us all a break.

  The Hong Kong Domville

  Charles

  I stepped off the plane and took in a breath of cool, fresh air. By the time I got to Hong Kong city centre the air would be anything but fresh, it was supposed to be one of the most polluted air supplies in the world. None of that mattered when you were in the city, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. It was late January, right in the middle of their coldest season, if you could call it that. This was Britain’s version of summer. A chauffeur assisted me into the waiting limo to settle in, while he went to get my cases. I was here for two weeks, so I had a few days to relax and prepare my paperwork, as well as to make sure arrangements at The Domville were in place for the first meeting to be held in the boardroom of my suite. I would be entertaining fifteen Chinese businessmen from one of the largest corporations in Hong Kong. This was a serious deal, serious enough for me to be brushing up on my Chinese. Most business meetings were held in English, but it was a sign of respect to be able to greet and thank them in their own language. Plus if I knew more than the basics, it helped when they thought they were having a private conversation and I could eavesdrop, adjusting my approach accordingly. I then had another week of meetings with various corporations and another few days to relax before I headed back to England for a week’s vacation to visit family, which was well overdue. If all went well, I’d be back to Hong Kong for a second set of meetings, to hopefully clinch this particular deal, earning me a truckload of commission, as well as topping up that all important, beggars belief, year-end bonus.

  I was whisked smoothly across to Kowloon, where The Domville took pride of place overlooking the main island. I enjoyed my visits to Hong Kong, it was so different to England or even Singapore. The pace here was frenetic, there was a real sense of urgency in this city. Everything was packed into smaller spaces, the streets were more crowded, it was noisier and felt more alive. Singapore had been a good first stopping point from the quieter countryside I was used to in Berkshire. I think it would have been too much of a culture shock to go from lush green fields and leafy lanes to this. I sent a few messages as the headlights of the constant rush hour traffic lit up the back of the limo. Normally Zena travelled with me, but I didn’t need her for the full two weeks, so she had a few well-earned days off and would fly by commercial airlines to meet me the day before the meeting, returning the same way. Sai had begged to accompany me, but I needed my focus on work, not her. Besides, her English wasn’t good enough yet for a meeting of this calibre. I looked out of the window as we came to a standstill. The Domville never failed to impress, even its imposing façade was attraction enough for the hordes of tourists who flooded Hong Kong in all seasons. They had a Sky bar up on the roof, with the most magnificent view of the main island’s laser light show at night. Thankfully it was restricted to residents or diners only, otherwise one would never get a drink in there.

  ‘Thank you,’ I nodded, slipping my chauffeur a few notes as he held open my door.

  ‘Anytime, Sir. Here’s my card. I’m at your service whenever required. Day or night.’

  ‘I won’t be going anywhere tonight or tomorrow day, so enjoy some free time,’ I replied, patting him on the shoulder. The porters were already unloading my bags and carrying them to the trolley by the time I headed up the marble steps to the main doors.

  ‘Mr. Ponsonby, welcome back, Sir,’ nodded one of the doormen. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I’d only stayed here twice, how the hell did he remember my name? I was also greeted in the vast, and thankfully cool, lobby by a Russian welcome hostess, who immediately handed me my suite key.

  ‘I don’t need to check in?’ I asked, thinking I could be anyone and here they were handing me the keys to their most expensive suite.

  ‘No, Sir. We have a state of the art face recognition system and security team monitoring all of the cameras, rather like a casino would have. Once you stepped foot out of the car, we were advised that you’d arrived and to be sure to give you our full personal attention.’ She laid her hand on my suit clad bicep as she said those last words. I had a feeling hotel services weren’t the only thing she was prepared to offer, but she really wasn’t my type.

  ‘Thank you,’ I replied, with a polite smile, taking my suite card from her. ‘I’m happy to just retire for the night to catch up on some sleep. It’s been a long flight.’

  ‘Of course, Mr. Ponsonby,’ she nodded, her smile dropping slightly. ‘Your personal butler, Li Wu, will unpack your luggage for you and order you any refreshments or food that you may require. Your maid, Alana, is new to the Signature suite. All staff undergo additional training for the honour of looking after our VIPs, but feedback on any of their service is always appreciated.’

  ‘I’m sure they will be more than adequate, based on my previous experience of staying here. Thank you …’ I paused as I looked at her name tag, ‘Valentina.’

  ‘You’re most welcome, Sir. Enjoy your stay at The Domville.’

  I sat back in my endless pool spa out on my private balcony, sipping at a glass of brandy, admiring the view of the city in front of me, the millions of m
ulti-coloured lights reflected in the ocean between us. I was going to have to look into getting this piece of kit for my own apartment. A four metre resistance pool, with an underwater treadmill, had just provided me with one hell of a work out. Then, with the added bonus of spa jets, I could just sit back and relax as it turned into a hot tub. Li Wu had arranged for my personal chef to come and prepare Sushi for me as I swam, which I’d just tucked into. Life certainly was excellent. I lay my head back, closing my eyes as I let the warmth of the water soothe my aching muscles. I suddenly bolted upright. Shit! I’d told Carly I’d ring her and I’d forgotten. She had a visceral tongue on her when I didn’t keep to my word, the last thing I needed was a load of attitude from her when I was back in England and went to see her. I leapt out of the pool, grabbing a towel to tuck around my hips as I rushed back to the master-suite to find her number. I ran around the corner of the lounge and barrelled straight into someone coming in the other direction.

  ‘Shit, I’m so sorry,’ I uttered, gathering my wits and looking down to see what had just happened. I took in an audible gasp to see the most stunning, petite Thai woman lying on the floor. My cock jerked to attention immediately, but weirdly my stomach and heart also fluttered. Hell, this was my kind of woman. Long shapely legs poked out from under her burgundy and white uniform, she had a lean figure with small breasts, but her face, my God, her face was beautiful enough to have been painted by Michelangelo himself. Perfectly formed heart shaped lips sat below the cutest snub nose, but what really drew my attention were her eyes. Framed by long dark lashes, they were the glossiest brown I’d ever seen. I wanted to rip off my towel and dive straight into them. I didn’t have time to take in the rest of her as she lay there looking up at me, a horrified look all over her face. ‘Let me assist you,’ I smiled, holding out my large hand to her, hoping I’d said that correctly in Thai. She slowly blinked and reached up to take my hand and it was as if I’d just found Nirvana. Just touching her was electrifying, let alone being able to see her standing in front of me.

  Alana

  I lay there mortified. I was supposed to be like a stealth ninja, moving through the suite unseen. My first day and I’d run into him, hard enough to land on my backside and have him looking down at me with a strange, unreadable expression all over his face. I’d checked the heat signature cameras from the private staff security entrance to the suite. They’d clearly shown him out on the balcony, in the pool. He’d only just eaten so I thought I had time to go and clean up his en-suite and perform the turndown service without being seen. I could be severely reprimanded for this. He said something to me that I didn’t understand, something about persisting me? Was he trying to speak Thai to put me at ease? If so he needed lessons, desperately. I couldn’t seem to move. I was mesmerised by the handsome specimen of male in front of me. Blond with eyes as blue as the Indian ocean, a square chiselled jawbone, very kissable lips and my God, his body was to die for. It still had water clinging to it from his dip and that little towel that was barely covering anything, what I wouldn’t give to have that fall off right now.

  I blinked and shook my head as I noticed his masculine hand was still in front of me, encouraging me to take it. I couldn’t see a way of gracefully getting up off the floor without his help, so I reached up and put mine in his. He carefully pulled me up, staring at me for a moment, before bending down to pick up my key card, which had fallen out of my pocket. After checking out his firm backside and muscular legs, I quickly snatched it out of his hands. He was going to get me the sack, appearing from nowhere, then fraternising with me. I flashed him a grateful smile, then made to run as fast as I could, but seemingly sensing it was coming he grabbed my wrist. Focussed on my lips, he said something again in awful Thai and it made me giggle.

  ‘I speak English, I didn’t just come in on the banana boat,’ I smiled. ‘I was just taken aback by you surprising me.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you, I was trying to put you at ease.’ He flashed me a very sexy, apologetic, dimpled grin, which my body didn’t let go unnoticed.

  ‘No offence taken, it’s very kind of you to have thought of me, but I am the maid, you are the guest. You should not have even seen me, let alone be talking to me.’

  ‘What if I demand that you stay and talk to me? Isn’t The Domville all about giving the customer what he wants?’

  ‘If you’re looking for company, the concierge could get you the number for some very high class ladies.’

  ‘Hookers?’ he gasped, looking at me affronted. ‘You think I’m looking for a prostitute? I’ve never paid for sex in my life. I have no trouble attracting women.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ I replied, the words spilling out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.

  ‘I’d just like to make sure that you’re ok, you took quite a tumble.’

  ‘I’m fine, Sir. I need to go and do my job though,’ I replied, noticing his nostrils flare, right at the same time that I realised his fingers were still circling my wrist.

  ‘I thought your job was to look after my suite.’

  ‘It is, unseen.’ I looked down at where he was holding me and he took in a shocked breath, as if he hadn’t realised that he was still touching me. ‘Really, Sir, thank you for helping me, but I must go.’

  ‘I’ve made quite a mess on the balcony I’m afraid.’ He let go of my arm and straightened up. He was even taller and broader than I’d taken in before. He was one seriously sexy specimen of a man. What was going on here? Was he flirting with me? In my experience of other hotels, men rarely took notice of the maid, especially not ones who could afford to stay in one of the most expensive suites in the whole of Hong Kong.

  ‘Then I’ll go and tidy up, while you go and do whatever it was that had you in such a rush.’

  ‘Shit,’ he muttered under his breath. ‘I’m sorry, I promised to call someone.’

  ‘I should be the one apologising. I’ll go and clean up your balcony. Thank you for being so kind, I promise not to get in your way again.’

  ‘I’m fine you being in my way, Alana. I hope I’ll see you again.’ He gave me another of those smiles as he watched me turn and hurry down the corridor. ‘Alana,’ he called urgently.

  ‘Yes, Sir,’ I replied, turning to face him and nearly choking.

  ‘You forgot this towel,’ he grinned, waving it in the air, but my eyes were focussed on the most enormous erection I’d ever seen, barely contained by his small swimming shorts. I gulped and scurried back, snatching the towel out of his grasp and fleeing as fast as I could. As if being seen wasn’t bad enough, now he was flirting with me.

  And I liked it.

  Alana Mookjai

  Charles

  My dreams were usually filled with faceless women and sex, but not last night. Alana, the humble maid, had invaded my nocturnal activities. The way she’d lay there on the floor, looking up at me through those deep and soulful brown eyes that spoke a thousand words to me. All of which were telling me that she needed someone to take care of her, to love and protect her. Why was I already imagining that man was me? Not since I first fell in lust with Carly as a teenager, had I ever had “feelings” for a woman, other than sexual. While Carly was the closest I’d ever come to love, I wasn’t convinced it actually had been love. I could have pursued Alana last night, confident I could have had her in my bed within a few hours, yet something had stopped me. She was so nervous around me that I found it endearing. I didn’t want to scare her off by pushing. Many Thai women were shy, they needed wooing before they would even consider a date with a man, let alone a “Farang,” a Westerner.

  As I stretched my limbs in bed, I thought of her long shining black hair that had been knotted back into a loose bun, the gorgeous latte colour of her skin, those kissable lips and tiny breasts. My God, I’d never been so attracted to a woman before. Not even Sai had made me act like this when I first met her. Alana had taken those initial emotional feelings for Carly, with my undeniable sexual attract
ion to Sai and merged them into something so much more wondrous and powerful that she was all I could think about. But how the hell was I supposed to see her again? Last night had been pure chance and given the suite I was in, my maid service would be tailored around my needs, so it wasn’t as if I could learn her routines and lay in wait for her. Summoning her via my butler, Li Wu, was liable to get her into trouble, or single her out for attention among the staff. No, I needed a more cunning plan. I suddenly grinned and bolted upright on the bed. My years of Army Cadets training weren’t wasted after all. I dialled Li Wu to place my request, assuring him that there was nothing wrong with the room or the services provided when he queried my request. He promised to have the item delivered to my suite within the hour. I virtually bounced into the shower, feeling like a teenager with a serious crush again. How the hell was I supposed to focus on work today, with her filling my mind?

  Alana

  I waited patiently in the service lobby as Mr. Ponsonby took a morning shower. I had a trashy novel to read as I waited, occasionally looking up at the thermal imaging camera screens to see when he left the master suite, so I could head in and clean up after him. I wondered if I’d have been better staying working on the junior suites floor. At least there I was busy. All this waiting around was so boring, particularly when I was so tired after little sleep last night, filling in college applications. I’d studied basic English when I first started working in hotels and when I got a job as a junior maid in The Bangkok Domville, they’d provided more extensive conversational English classes. After being promoted to a senior maid, I used the extra money to pay for formal English classes until I was fluent. I was a quick study and top of my class. My tutor told me that I was wasting myself working as a maid, but until I had some kind of qualification other than just English behind me, I had no chance of moving into a different profession. When I saw the job as Signature suite maid become available in Hong Kong, the highest position available in my department, I’d jumped at the opportunity. I had no family to speak of, so no ties to Thailand and not only was the money excellent, but I’d have a small bedroom of my own attached to the suite so I could be available, if required, twenty-four hours a day, six days a week. On top of that, Hong Kong offered so many opportunities for business school, which was my ultimate goal. Once I had a business degree, I could look for a job anywhere in the world. So not only had my application forms kept me up most of the night, so had thinking about Mr. Ponsonby’s toned body and gorgeous eyes.