Surrendered Control (The Control Series Book 1) Read online

  "Take a seat please, sir, or I will call Security to have you removed from the premises."

  "Answer me one thing, what do you do here?"

  "I dance. Why?"

  "Just dance?"

  "Yes."

  "And this?" He pointed to the chair where she would give him the lap dance.

  "If I can avoid it, I do. My friend is sick tonight." He winced at the mention of her friend. Why?

  "Are there cameras in here?"

  "Yes?" She motioned toward one. "What is going on?"

  "My name is James North. I am a billionaire, and I can buy whatever I want. I paid ten thousand pounds for my time with you."

  "Time with me?" Amy's world was collapsing in on her. "Do you mean...?"

  "I won’t touch you." James interrupted her, though. "But I have to tell you something. Please sit. I need you to listen to me."

  Amy's damn body betrayed her mind again, and she instantly sat down on the chair. James came and perched on his haunches before her.

  "Your friend who is off sick. What have you been told?"

  "Nothing, my uncle just mentioned she was ill."

  "She isn't sick. She is... injured."

  "Injured?"

  "She was violently assaulted by your uncle and several of his men."

  "What?" Amy laughed, was he insane? Her uncle wouldn't do something like that. "I don't believe you."

  "Amy, please, you have to listen to me."

  "No, I don't. I don't even know you. You fucked me and left me. Why should I trust you?"

  "You shouldn't, but I need you to. We have to leave here, now."

  "You're mad." Amy pushed him away, ran to the door, pulled it open and was faced with her uncle.

  "Mike, Dave, take her back in the room and hold her down if necessary so Mr North can conclude his business. It is about time she faced the reality of what actually happens in this club. I am no longer willing to support this spoilt and naive little bitch.”

  Amy stood there in shock. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. This man was her flesh and blood; he was the only family that she had, and he was condoning and even assisting in rape.

  The two bouncers grabbed her arms tightly and dragged her into the corner of the room, with James, and her uncle watching. Another man she didn't know appeared at her uncle's side.

  Amy lay helpless on the floor, looking up at the four men.

  Then, in what seemed like an instant, James threw the back of his elbow into one of the bouncer's faces knocking him to ground, as the other man who she hadn't seen before delivered a flooring punch to another bouncer. What in God's name was going on?

  James knelt beside her, removing his jacket and trying to place it around her shoulders. She scrambled to her feet and backed away from him, still looking petrified.

  James stood back up and turned to her uncle, "Miss Jones will be resigning with immediate effect. You will see to it that a good severance pay is prepared for her, which my bodyguard here will collect from you tomorrow. You try and contact Amy again, and I will kill you."

  Her furious uncle decided to take a swing at James but was held back by the bodyguard.

  James turned again to Amy offering her his hand but again she shuddered and stepped back.

  "Amy" he pleaded, looking tenderly at her. "Amy, please, listen to me. This was all horrible but necessary to reveal the exact nature of your uncle and what goes on in this club I am sorry, but he is not the man you thought he was. He has so many secrets.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed the play button.

  Sara appeared on the screen. She looked terrified, backed up against a wall. Her voice echoed out of the phone, pleading for mercy, but all Amy could do was watch as Leon and several other men rained down punches on her body. When they stepped back, Sara lay unmoving on the floor. All that Amy knew shattered when her uncle walked over and kicked Amy's friend in the stomach. Amy let out a cry as the video stopped. Tears started to stream down her cheeks. He was the man who she thought had protected her. The man who had looked after her since her parents had died. Standing up, Amy swallowed hard, formed a fist, and sent it flying into the face of her uncle. She followed it up with another and another. She was screaming and crying.

  Strong arms circled her waist to pull her away. She swung round and landed a punch on James as well.

  She had to get out. She ran. Behind her, she could hear James calling for her to stop, and her uncle calling for additional security.

  The cold night air was like a slap in the face. She stood in the alleyway next to the club wearing virtually nothing; crying and shaking. What was she doing? Where could she go? Should she go to the police? She stumbled towards the main street. Everything was a blur, but she could tell that people were staring at her. She could hear their exclamations and disgust at her appearance. Nobody tried to help her. Why would they? For all they knew, she was a drugged up prostitute.

  She heard footsteps running up behind her and turned to lash out again, but she stopped when she looked into James's eyes. Here was the lover who had brought her to blissful levels. The man that she knew, she could trust, even after one brief encounter.

  She sank to the cold pavement, exhausted and freezing.

  He put his coat over her shoulders and brought her into his arms. He took her bloodied hand and gently kissed it. Part of her wanted to pull away from him again. Her head was spinning as she tried to take everything in.

  "I am sorry Amy. There is so much I need to tell you. But not now. We need to get you somewhere safe and warm." A car pulled up beside them. "Amy this is my car, and my bodyguard, Matthew, is driving it. You are safe. Please get in the car. I promise I won’t hurt you. I am going to take you back to my home. My mother is there." He held out his phone. "If you want to speak to her the entire time we are driving you may."

  Amy just looked blankly at him.

  "I don't know," Amy said shaking her head. She looked at the car and the concerned look on the driver's face, and then back to James.

  "You have my word no harm will come to you while you are under my protection." He waved his phone at her. "Here take this." He unlocked it, and she took it. "Google my name. James North. You will see that in there I gave you the correct details about myself." Amy pulled the phone close to her and did so. It brought up pictures of him and details of the company he owned. She just flicked through it, as he watched her. "You know exactly who I am now. If I hurt you in any way, you can go straight to the police."

  Amy stood up, and James helped her into the car. She turned to him. "I am trusting you, James. Please don't let me down."

  CHAPTER FIVE

  James

  James could feel himself shaking as he slid into the black leather car seat beside Amy. He reached over her fasten her seat belt, and she flinched again. He wanted to hold her, but even if she never allowed him near her again, at least she would now be away from her uncle.

  Amy turned and looked at him as though he was a monster. Maybe he was. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.

  "How?" Her voice wavered as she spoke.

  "How what?" he said calmly.

  "How did you know where I was? It wasn't chance was it?"

  He shook his head and turned away from her. "The day after I got back from Lanzarote I asked Matthew..." —he shifted his look in the direction of the driver— "...to find out as much about you as possible."

  "Why?"

  "I don't know. We had a one-night stand. It was marvellous. Well, it was for me. I wanted to know more about you. Maybe meet you again."

  "So you could destroy the only life I know?"

  The comment felt like a stab to the heart, and he had no reply. They sat in silence for the rest of the short journey.

  As he helped her out of the car to the front door, he could see the astonishment on Amy's face. She turned to him,

  "You own this?"

  He nodded and she faltered again at the top step.

  "You won't force me?"


  James stuttered over his answer; her heart-rending pleas were breaking him.

  "I promise you, Amy."

  He opened the door, and his mother came rushing down the stairs towards them. Matthew had warned her.

  "Get her upstairs. You poor thing, you must be half frozen. Let's get you inside. I have the fire on and have made a nice cup of tea for you. How do you like it? Milk? Sugar? You are safe now. Come on you poor thing."

  James watched as his mother direct Amy towards the blazing open fire. She sat her down on the cream leather sofa and placed a hot tea on a small table beside it. Tea was his mother's solution to everything.

  "James, find Amy something warmer to wear. Your sister must have something here that will fit her. Something nice and comfortable, mind you. Try and find some pyjamas." He nodded. Before he disappeared down the corridor he turned and gave a final look to Amy. She was watching him. Even after everything he had done, he could see she did still trust him.

  It didn't take James long to find clothes for Amy to wear, and as he went back into the lounge he saw Matthew had joined them, sitting in his favourite chair with a fine cognac.

  "I hope you poured one of them for me too."

  Amy fixed her eyes on James as he spoke. "Amy, I know mum says that tea cures everything, but I think we all sometimes need something a little stronger."

  Matthew slowly got to his feet and with a sarcastic bow went to pour two more glasses.

  "I have put the clothes in the guest bedroom next to mine. Mum, would you mind showing Amy to the room?"

  She nodded and helped Amy to her feet. Amy continued to watch James, and he didn't need to look at her to tell. He felt the deep scrutiny of her gaze.

  James sat down in his large brown antique leather chair, suddenly exhausted. Matthew returned with the cognac and handed it to him. He drank it down in one long mouthful. It burnt his throat with its rawness but it was what he needed.

  "You alright boss?"

  He looked up at Matthew and smiled. "Just about. Thank you for everything tonight Matthew. You know, I would be lost without your help."

  "Now a good time to ask for a pay-raise?"

  James just raised an eyebrow.

  "Worth a shot." Matthew said as he sat down again, and both men sat in silent contemplation for a moment.

  "What happens with Miss Jones now?"

  James shrugged his shoulders and slouched down into his seat, "I guess that will depend. But I can tell you; she is not going back to that club under any circumstance. She will be staying here for the week at least. I want to check out where she lives first thing tomorrow to make sure it is safe. I suspect she left belongings at the club as well. I want you to get them when you collect her severance package tomorrow."

  "Do you think her uncle will give up on her that easily?"

  "I want her tailed every second of the day. Hire whoever you need. I don't want her out of their sight unless she is safe with me or here in this building."

  "You going to tell her that you are having her followed?"

  "No."

  "Boss, if you are hoping to have a relationship with her, then surely you need to be honest."

  "Not yet. I need to get to know her first. I need to know she will accept me the way I am, especially if I turn..." He abruptly paused as Amy walked back into the room. She looked even sexier in the low-swung pyjama bottoms and tight-fighting top. He could see her erect nipples pushing through the fabric. The look in her eyes told him everything; they had renewed sparkle as she took the seat on the sofa again and tucked her legs up underneath her. James passed her the cognac Matthew had placed on the table.

  "It will help you sleep." He looked at the clock; it was one in the morning, but he was far from tired. His mum yawned. "Go to bed, mum. You are tired. I will show Amy your room if she needs you."

  His mum looked to Amy, and after a quick look to James for reassurance, Amy responded. "Please Mrs North, you go to bed. You have been so kind to me. I will drink this and probably go myself."

  "If you are sure."

  "I am." His mother got to her feet and held her hand out for him to kiss before she walked down the corridor to her part of the house whilst James indicated to Amy where his mother's bedroom was situated.

  "I have a couple of errands to run before bed, so I will bid you goodnight as well." Mathew said smiling at Amy, "It is lovely to have met you, Miss Jones. If there is anything you want during your stay here, just ask."

  Amy looked a little puzzled, "My stay? I will go home, tomorrow, first thing. I need to find a new job."

  "You have had a big shock, Amy. Why don't you consider staying here as my guest for a few days? We have a pool and a gym in the basement you can use."

  "Am I a prisoner here?"

  "Of course not. You' d be free to come and go as you please" He got up from his chair and sat next to her on the sofa. She didn't flinch but defensively crossed her arms. "Amy, I am sorry. I promise I will explain everything. But not tonight. You need to sleep. What you have been through today will have left you shaken and greatly confused. If you wish to return to your apartment tomorrow, I will take you myself, but please consider my offer. I know I have no right, but I would like to get to know you better."

  She stared at him. He could see she was weighing everything up in her head, going through all that had happened. She then slowly nodded her head.

  "I will stay until the end of the weekend. Three nights. But I need to return home tomorrow to collect some clothes. It isn't right, me wearing your sister's." She sighed heavily, "And I will need to go to the club. My bag, phone, and keys are there.

  "I will send Matthew first thing in the morning to retrieve them. I am sorry, but you can’t go back there"

  "You don’t control me, James. I will do what I want."

  "Amy. It's for your safety. Please trust me."

  "Tomorrow, I want you to tell me exactly what is going on. I want you tell me everything you know about my uncle"

  "I promise you, Amy. I will tell you everything."

  She got to her feet. " Goodnight James."

  "Goodnight Amy."

  James switched the TV on low and began to flick through the channels. Amy was in the bedroom next to his, and she was hurting. He was going to have to explain to her why he walked out on her in Lanzarote. He just wanted to bury himself inside her to make it all right, but that was where all his problems had started.

  His hand reached down and undid his trousers. He pulled his cock out and began to stroke it. He shut his eyes and thought of Amy in the costume she had been wearing in the club. He remembered the scent of her as they had had sex in Lanzarote. The little cry she made as she came. He was gripping really hard now, and roughly tugging at his throbbing shaft. He was going to come, he needed to come, but at the last minute he pulled his hand away. That was his punishment.

  He would never be worthy of her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Amy

  A shaft of light shone through a small crack in the curtains. Amy slowly opened her bleary eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. Expensive-looking tapestries decorated the pristine white walls. A large mirror sat atop an ornately-carved wooden dressing table and a matching wardrobe was on the other side of the room. She reached for her phone on the bedside table to check the time, but it was not there. As she rolled over, her body ached and she remembered the night before.

  She pulled the bedcovers over her head and screamed loudly into them.

  She was alone.

  She slowly got out of the bed and pulled on a dressing gown that had been left on the back of the door. A hairbrush was on the dressing table and she quickly pulled it through her hair. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and saw dark circles under her eyes. She still didn't know what the time was, and so she quietly opened the bedroom door and peered out. The house was silent. She remembered her way to the lounge and went to see the time. It was eleven A.M. She’d slept for much longer than she had thoug
ht.

  A voice made her jump, but as she turned and realised it was James' mother, she relaxed.

  "Good morning, Mrs North."

  "Amy, please, will you call me Miranda? Come, I have some breakfast, well brunch by now I would think, in the kitchen. You must be famished."

  She was. She followed Miranda into the kitchen, where laid before her was an assortment of pastries, fresh fruit and on the stove were sausages and bacon. The smell of freshly ground coffee permeated the room.

  Amy looked around the room for signs that James had woken and had his breakfast.

  "James left early. Urgent business meeting apparently. He said he will be back as soon as possible and for you to relax, take a bath, swim, watch TV, to do whatever you want, and he will take you to get your belongings later."

  Amy sat at a large table and Miranda poured her coffee.

  "He seems a very busy man. Is that how he became so successful?"

  Miranda busied herself at the massive stove as she answered,

  "He works more hours than I care for him to do. The holiday he took recently was his first in about five years and I am sure he was constantly on his phone and laptop whilst there."

  "He seemed relaxed and happy. He certainly didn't have a laptop with him." Amy blushed as she realised the implication of what she had said. "I mean when we had dinner."

  Miranda served Amy her cooked breakfast and sat beside her, "It is alright dear, I am not daft. It was obvious to me that something had happened between you both."

  Amy cut a piece of the toast and egg and popped it in her mouth. It was delicious and she swallowed it down hungrily before going back for more.

  "He scared me last night, and I still don't fully understand why he acted the way he did. But I can see he is a good man. I see the way he treats you. I would like to get to know him." The words had come out of her mouth before she could think about what she had said. She was still angry with James, but she wanted to understand him. She was intrigued by his intensity and wanted to peel back his layers to discover what was beneath.

  "I am glad of that." Miranda smiled as she topped up Amy's coffee.