Chapter 11

His house was as imposing as the first time she’d set foot on his doorstep; there was even an accompanying backdrop of rain. Lightning flashed as the chauffeur pulled the car inside. Marqi shivered under her coat and waited until Dennis offered his hand. He pulled her out of the car and together they walked quickly through the chilled garage.

Mei greeted them with her usual unhappy face. She silently accepted their coats and disappeared with them, leaving Dennis and Marqi standing alone together in the kitchen. Dennis went to the refrigerator and surveyed its contents, selecting a beverage for himself. He wagged a bottle of water at her and Marqi declined with a shake of her head. It was cold in the kitchen, and the fluorescent lights didn’t offer any additional warmth. Marqi looked around; this room was almost clinical in the way that it was clean. It didn’t look like anyone ever used it, and yet, she knew Mei must prepare several meals a day in here.

“Come on,” Dennis said, dropping his half-finished drink on the counter. He took her hand again and she tripped out of the room after him, her stiletto heels clacking on the travertine floor.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“You are going straight upstairs to scrub yourself down and slip into the wardrobe I’ve arranged for you.”

Marqi smiled slightly as he furthered their journey up the steps. “My wardrobe?”

“Yes, and I’m certain you’ll find it to your liking,” he stated with certainty.

“And why is that?” she asked.

“Because I like it,” he answered bluntly as they reached the landing.

Marqi stopped in her tracks and stared at Dennis’s back. He gave her hand a yank and pulled her along without looking back at her.

“Wait a minute,” Marqi said. “So... we aren’t going to go out... or have dinner... maybe catch a movie?”

“Catch a movie?” Dennis asked in surprise, whirling to stare at her, open-mouthed in his shock.

“Well, yeah...” she said, dropping his hand and looking down at her pointy-toed shoes. “I mean, that’s what people do when they’re dating.”

“Is that so?” Dennis said, his tone altogether cool.

Marqi glanced up and saw that his eyes were like ice. She pressed on anyway, saying boldly, “Yes. It is.”

“I don’t go to movies,” he said flatly.

“Well...” said Marqi slowly, “there’s lots of other things we can do.”

Dennis gave her a wicked grin and said, “Yes, I know. That’s why you’re here.”

He started off toward the bedroom again, but she halted him with her words, “No, Dennis, that’s not what I mean.”

He inhaled sharply and turned to face her once more. “I don’t understand why you’re trying my patience, Marqi. Haven’t I been good to you?”

“Yes, of course, it’s not that.”

He stepped in close to her and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “And don’t you want to please me?”

“Of course, but Dennis, this is a two way street.”

He dropped his hand. “Many women have tried to force my hand. I am not the marrying type. You knew that about me.”

“No, I didn’t,” Marqi asserted. “In fact, I don’t know much about you at all. I slept with you and I didn’t even know your home phone number! It was crazy, and wild, and totally unlike anything I’ve ever done...but you, Dennis... Oh, you drive me to it. You’re sexy and confident and mature...”

“If that’s your way of calling me old--”

“It absolutely isn’t,” she said, “since you’re not old. All right, yeah, you’re older than me, but that doesn’t make you old.”

“Indeed,” he observed. “So what does it make me?”

“I’m just... I just want to make sure we’re on the same page,” she said patiently. “I want to be sure that you see this relationship for what it is.”

He threw back his head and laughed, actually laughed at her and her speech. Perturbed, Marqi crossed her arms and stared him down. “Forgive me, but what exactly is that?”

She sighed, “I’m not sure. But I do know that I don’t want this just to be about sex. It can’t be; not for me.”

He regarded her questioningly for a moment, considering her statement. “What is it that you want? Hm? Some new clothes? Some pretty jewelry? Of course, I’ll be glad to get it for you. Anything you want, darling.”

“No, Dennis,” she said in irritation, “I don’t want you to buy me things. It’s too much like trying to buy me.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he told her. “I should be able to give you any gifts I choose.”

“Yes, gifts are fine, when that’s all they are,” she said. “They can’t be payment for services rendered.”

“Yes, you have made it quite clear that you are not a whore,” Dennis said acidly.

“Sounds like you don’t believe me,” she challenged.

“All women are whores, Marqi, whether they know it or not,” he said. “Just as all men are bastards whether they want to be or not.”

“That’s pretty cynical,” she said frostily, “and I don’t believe you. Some men are bastards because they choose to be. Is that what you choose to be?”

“Wake up, little Marquisa!” he shouted. “That’s the only way I get ahead. In this world, you have to be cutthroat, no matter what business you’re in. Don’t you get that?”

“No, Dennis, I don’t!” she shot back. “I don’t get it because that scenario means that I have a price. And I don’t. I just don’t.”

He shook his head. “Everyone has a price.”

“No, they don’t. There are some things that can’t be bought, and love is definitely one of them.”

His mouth twisted and for a moment, she thought he was going to laugh. Instead he sucked in a breath and said, “Very well. I will concede your point if you will do me one little favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Accompany me into the bedroom and see your gift.”

“All right,” she said, dropping her arms and giving him a smile.

“Thank you,” he said cordially. He offered her his hand again and together they walked down the hall. He may have agreed with her aloud, but secretly he doubted she was right. He would wait until she saw her gift; then he would know which of them had a true idea of the ways of the world.

Dennis smirked.