Chapter 1
On the way back to the car, Jacob and Vivienne passed a flower shop, with baskets of blooms and bouquets overflowing out onto the sidewalk. The happy sight seemed out of place now that Vivienne’s heart was breaking. She glanced at Jacob, who stared straight ahead, as if the world around him didn’t exist.
The initial defensiveness that Vivienne felt had faded. When Jacob had outright forbidden her to go on a business trip, she’d reacted strongly. The idea that he wouldn’t allow her to go to Paris with Alfred Dunham was unbelievable. The man was her business partner, and it was a reasonable expectation that she would accompany him when necessary.
What Vivienne was unable to fathom is why that was unacceptable. She had not given Jacob any reason to be jealous, but for some reason he felt threatened. It hurt to think that after all they had shared, he still didn’t trust her. Yet that had to be the case.
If Jacob knew what was in her heart, and in her mind, a business trip wouldn’t give him pause. He wouldn’t doubt her, or consider it betrayal. Vivienne wasn’t capable of falling into another man’s arms, not when Jacob had her heart. But since Jacob didn’t understand such sentimentality, it seemed he also didn’t conceive of such loyalty.
It was too bad, really. Everything had been going so well. The day at the beach had been idyllic until the argument at the restaurant. Since she’d let her guard down, the whole thing had caught Vivienne by surprise. On such a relaxed day, chatting endlessly about whatever came to mind, the argument had been unexpected.
They reached the car, where Ian waited to drive them back to the penthouse. The driver greeted them, but after one glance at Jacob, he didn’t say another word. He appeared to be used to Jacob’s volatile moods, even if Vivienne wasn’t. She slipped into the backseat, and Jacob got in beside her.
On the way out of town, Vivienne spotted a lighthouse up on a hill, towering over a quaint building made of brick. Farther along was a wooden windmill with lush green trees lining the grassy area it stood on. Vivienne’s joy at the delightful, almost frivolous views was muted.
Jacob was upset, his body rigid and his eyes dark. Vivienne wasn’t certain if he was still mad that she had defied him, or just in a bad mood because of their argument. She guessed the former, because he’d blown up when she refused to comply with his wishes. But what he asked of her was unreasonable.
First of all, Alfred hadn’t set a date for her to return to Paris with him, if she even needed to. Yet Vivienne required the freedom to conduct her business as she saw fit, without undue restriction. Her relationship with Jacob meant a lot to her, more than she was able to express. But that didn’t mean she intended to give up everything else.
Although Jacob hadn’t spoken of it recently, she knew he preferred to keep such things as love and romance out of the playroom. Rationally, Vivienne saw the wisdom of such a division, knowing that Jacob had to maintain control during sex play. But emotionally, the arrangement was difficult for her.
Vivienne hadn’t brought the subject up, since Jacob had his mind set. She bided her time, thinking his attitude would change. Now she wasn’t so sure. Not only did Jacob want to control her in the playroom, but outside of it as well. She was too independent to allow that.
It wouldn’t work, anyway. Vivienne would be dissatisfied if she had to check with Jacob regarding life or business decisions. Even if she tried it, which she wasn’t about to do, it would blow up. The ire that had burst forth the instant Jacob forbade her to do something was only the tip of the iceberg. Such behavior on Jacob’s part would rip apart the relationship, as Vivienne was not a meek little mouse, looking for direction.
The drive back to the penthouse seemed unbearably long. The entire time, Jacob was silent, and Ian wisely kept his eyes on
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