Sweet Sinner

Chapter 3

"It's a shame about Trisha, but you would love Miranda. She's quiet, healthy, loves to please, and -"

"I don't think I want a new sub right now, Elena." I said, taking a sip of my wine as I glanced around the restaurant.

"Really, why?"

I shrugged, not willing to discuss why I felt the need to think instead of just do. I refused to believe that this sudden decision had anything to do with Ms. Spellman's explosion into my life. What with her smart mouth, quick comebacks, and 'I-don't-care' attitude, she'd completely knocked me off balance, and that wasn't something I appreciated.

"I just don't."

She sighed, reaching across the table to grab my hand and said, "You know you can talk to me, if you need to."

Elena was the only person that wasn't family that I could be bothered with. I'd known her for years and our relationship was...complicated, but I owed her a lot. Time and circumstance didn't change that.

"I know."

She was quiet for a moment before she asked, "Have you gone to any good art galleries lately?"

I shook my head. I appreciated art as much as the next non-artistic person, but I didn't ever go out of my way to find exhibits to go to.

"Why?"

"There's a new showing at Pace next month." she said, clearly excited, "Another up and coming artist."

"Aren't those the only people who ever set up at Pace?"

She nodded, "I love new artists, their work is so fresh, so...different. You should come with me."

"When is it?" I asked. It wouldn't be the first time I attended one of these with her.

"May twentieth at seven."

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my calendar, "Sure, that's two weeks from now."

"I'm sure you'll find some really amazing pieces for Escala." she said, returning to her food.

I simply nodded. I'd gotten a few pieces from up and coming artists, but the majority of the artwork in my home was from well known artists - half of which weren't even bought by me.

Art just wasn't...my thing.

Of course all this talk of artists had my mind wandering to Ms. Spellman yet again.

It had been a little over two weeks since she'd done the interview instead of her friend, and she was still irritating me. It was as if every time I went over our conversation it pissed me off even more, because she managed to stay on my level.

Definitely not something I was used to, or enjoyed - at all.

Control was something I needed in all aspects of my life, and I'd done well to maintain that, but for some f*****g reason this woman - Hannah - who couldn't have been older than twenty two, was throwing me off.

And it shouldn't have bothered me this much, because she was just some girl - a girl I didn't even know - and she was irrelevant in my life. I was rich, successful, twenty seven, and attractive. I didn't need some artist bending to my will.

Except I did.

I really f*****g did.

Maybe I needed to call Flynn. This had to be one of those 'unhealthy urges' he was talking about. Naturally I understood that my obsession with control wasn't exactly normal, but that didn't change that it wasan obsession and it wasn't changing.

"Where's your head been at lately?" asked Elena, pulling me out of my mental ramble.

"Nowhere. Things have just been...busy."

"And what better reason to get a new submissive - even if it is only for a night or two? You know s*x is a great stress reliever."

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. She was right. And it was possible that f*****g someone would get my mind off Ms. Spellman and her smartass mouth.

"You said her name was Miranda?"

Elena smiled and nodded, taking my phone to put her number in it, "You should give her a call. I told her about you, and she was...more than willing."

I chuckled, "Who wouldn't be?"

She smiled and handed my phone back to me before saying, "You should give her a call now. Judging by how stressed you are, you could use the distraction."

I didn't argue with her because she was right.

I gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving the restaurant and getting into my Audi. I'd decided to drive myself for once, giving Taylor the night off.

I dialed Miranda's number while steering out onto the busy downtown streets, when out of nowhere I saw the woman who'd been terrorizing my thoughts.

Hannah Spellman.

"Hello?"

She was walking out of a bar with a blonde haired girl, looking just as messy as ever. Her hair was in that same bun, and from what I could tell she didn't really choose what she wore, she just...put it on regardless of whether or not it matched.

"Um, hello?"

"Sorry, wrong number." I said, hanging up.

What the f**k was I doing?

I just needed to go home, take a shower, and sleep this off.

I took a deep breath, counted back from ten, and then focused on the road. It would do me no good to get into a car accident on top of everything else.

By the time I made it home I was more irritated than I'd been before, but I was glad that I hadn't invited Miranda over.

I was tired. All I wanted to do was sleep - for about a month.

The parking garage was quiet, and when I finally made it upstairs to my penthouse I was ready to pass out.

I tossed my jacket on the couch on my way up the stairs, pushed open the door to my room, kicked my shoes into the corner, and quickly stripped out of everything but my boxers, before falling onto my bed.

I liked Escala. It was private and quiet - and the view from the various windows wasn't bad either.

And it was big. Big enough that when I found it necessary my submissives were able to stay in their own bedroom without feeling uncomfortable.

It was also big enough that I was able to have my Playroom, because the idea of having any of my submissives in my bedroom - my personal space - wasn't something I was willing to entertain.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I needed to sleep. I had a busy day tomorrow, one meeting after another, and I needed to be able to focus.

Focus on something other than Ms. Spellman.

I obviously needed to think of something, because this wasn't going to work.