Not knowing what else to do, Sierra ordered room service, then settled in on one of the comfortable couches to watch the huge screen television. She fell asleep not long after picking at her meal and setting it aside.

Chapter Eight

Sierra looked at the outside of the tall building and felt her stomach drop. What was she doing? She should just turn around and go back to their hotel suite. She had no business being there.

She was tired of sitting in the interminable room. She loved the suite, especially the deep tub in the bathroom, and twenty-four hour room service. The room was stunning, beyond luxurious, and she’d taken advantage of just about every spa service the hotel offered, but still, she wanted to explore, not stay indoors.

Damien had been gone constantly, telling her to wait for him, that he’d have work for her soon, but a week had passed and it was getting ridiculous. She was going to confront the man. He either needed to give her some work, let her act like a tourist, or else let her fly back home to the states.

There was no way she wanted to go back to her father’s empty home. The longer she was away, the more sure she was of that fact. She wanted to go and visit Bree, maybe even take her best friend up on her offer of a place to stay until she got on her feet.

The longer Sierra was around Damien, the more sure she was that his P.R. position was nothing more than a smoke screen. At least she was sure he didn’t want her as his mistress as he hadn’t made a single advance toward her since they’d arrived. She felt an odd pang at the thought.

No, she urged herself. She didn’t want to be any man’s plaything. But still, Damien was just so virile, it was hard for her not to want to run her hands along his incredible form. Only a blind woman could miss his flawless body, but loss of sight wouldn’t be enough to keep lust away in his presence.

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.

Barbie doll number two was the first to break eye contact as she took a step back, then whispered something to one of the guys, who then turned slightly toward her so they could have a quiet discussion.

“Could you tell us what this is about?” the guy asked when they were finished.

“It’s none of your business, but I will tell you this. Mr. Whitfield doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Sierra really hoped Damien didn’t tell them to throw her out on her butt, making her look like a complete fool. If he did, she was done, fear of her father, or no fear. She was tired of being humiliated. It had to stop at some point.

“Fine, I’ll go speak to Mr. Whitfield personally, and tell him he has a… guest out front. Please go sit over there,” Barbie number one finally said before pointing at benches off in the corner, out of view of the front doors.

Sierra fought back a smile as she turned and walked to the benches. So this is what it feels like to win a small victory, she thought. They obviously couldn’t have someone looking so raggedy out in the public view. What would their rich clients think about that?

Sierra took a seat and picked up one of the magazines lying on the table. She started flipping through pages, glancing at the latest fashions. She’d never really cared, not even being allowed to pick out the majority of her clothes. Her father had felt he was far more qualified to choose for her.

Sierra hadn’t really thought to argue with him about it until later in life, then she’d been too afraid. Her sister had never had the same issues with their dad. He’d spoiled Sandy, giving her whatever she wanted.

She’d been one of the girls going to the spas with girlfriends, and getting new clothes practically every other month. She’d been daddy’s little girl, while Sierra had been daddy’s whipping post. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

How dare he do that to her! With growing confidence and rage, a shiver of alarm still traveled down her spine. What if she was sent back to him? What if her dad somehow was able to hide her away? She couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t. She’d rather die.

She remembered the day he told her why he wouldn’t let her leave, why she had to pay him back for her mother’s sins. It had been a dark and terrible day.

Apparently, her mother had been extremely unhappy during their marriage, telling Douglas she was going to leave him. She found out a few weeks later she was pregnant. Instead of being elated of her pregnancy, he’d been jealous, claiming she must’ve had an affair. They fought about her, her mother swearing she’d been faithful, and Douglas insisting she’d cheated.

It hadn’t helped that Sierra looked like her mother, while a few years later Sandy had been almost a twin of their father. It seemed Sandy’s birth confirmed his suspicions that Sierra wasn’t his. He’d been humiliated; not wanting anyone to know his wife would dare cheat on him.