Chapter 319

Erik walked into the hotel lobby and headed to the lounge. He walked in and sat down. The hotel security was usually enough at places like this so he didn't have to bring staff with him for these little... meet ups.

Erik knew what she was supposed to be wearing. He looked around and found her. A petite woman with long, dark hair wearing a red dress and very specific black heels with a buckle and rhinestones.

She walked over to him and sat down casually next to him.

"The moon is lovely tonight." She said. The code sentence.

"Indeed." He said. She smiled. She was gorgeous. Absolute perfection. Her luminous, porcelain skin was radiant against the red fabric of the silk dress. He couldn't wait to redden and bruise it. She was recommended to him because she enjoyed not only being hit below the waist, but also the face. She also enjoyed choking and asphyxia but he avoided that after the last incident. He finished his drink and stood up. She had not attempted to make small talk and promptly stood along with him and followed him out of the bar and to the room she had in her name with all the requested materials he had listed. He preferred that.

***************

The actors were set. Sebastian was ready. He paced the floor at the warehouse and Fi was there, trying to calm him.

"This has to work. If it doesn't... " he said as he paced more.

"It will. Try to relax." Fi said.

"Fiona, I am in love with her. More than what I could ever feel. This isn't just lust or obligation. Christ, I was with Anna for six years and I never felt like this. Ever. Nothing, I mean NOTHING can happen to her. She is everything to me, since the moment I first looked at her. I lost one person to them, I won't lose another." He said. Fi put her arm on his shoulder and patted it.

"What you are doing here is more than anyone had ever done for her. You are risking your life to fight against the most powerful family in the world, you are changing the world for her." She said.

He nodded. "I would die for her." He said.

Fi could see he wasn't joking.

***************

"Sit down." Erik commanded. The woman did as she was told. The escort service said they had already handled the NDA so he didn't have to worry about what she might say about him or her pressing charges. It was perfect.

His phone dinged. He forgot to put it on silent. It was Pearl. "Hey. Just feeling sad again. I think I need a break from Robbie for a few days when you get back. Maybe do some shopping or go to a spa. It's getting overwhelming, baby's are so demanding and tedious. I miss the rock star life sometimes, you know? Anyway, Miss you."

He looked at her words. He was disgusted. Really disgusted with her.

"Pull up your dress and kneel in front of the bed." He instructed. The woman did as she was told. He felt his rage beginning to consume him. "What a selfish bitch." He thought. Why were women so terrible to their children? He thought. He looked at the woman in front of him. She was going to take the punishment for Pearl and it wasn't going to be pretty. He told her to lean over the bed and lift her dress higher. He reared back and hit her with the first blow.

***************

Pearl pressed send and exhaled the breath she was holding. She had done as she was instructed by Gail and Bash to do. Gail's talk with Erik was more for her to analyze him than what Erik had intended it to be.

She waited impatiently, horrified at what the woman helping them was going through.

**************

"Stop." The woman commanded.

"That's not the safe word." Erik said.

"Get on your knees." She instructed as she stood up. He had given her a few lashes with a crop. It wasn't the worst beating she had taken and she was fine. But she needed him to hit her hard enough for the bleeding to look believable. She took a few steps toward the bedside table and positioned herself as planned by the layout of the room they had studied the prior day.

"You don't tell me what to do. I tell you what to do. Do you understand me?" He said coming toward her.

"You are a weak and little man. How sad that you get off on beating the shit out of women." She said. His eyes burned with rage.

She moved the blood packet from her sleeve to her hand. It was real human blood and it was warmed from being close to her body. Here it comes, she thought.

He raised his hand and struck her across the face, hard. She saw stars for a moment and hurled herself into the bedside table, making it look like her head hit the corner while also making sure to hit it with her elbow to make a loud sound. She broke the blood packet open in her hand, grazing her head out of his view. It looked ugly.

He leaned over her and saw all the blood.

"Oh my god." He whispered.

He checked to see if she was breathing. She wasn't. He shook her and felt her limp body beneath him.

"Oh god!" He said louder, putting his hand in his mouth and gasping. He could smell the blood on his hands and shirt.

He moved quickly, picking up any evidence of his presence. He picked up his phone to call his father but decided not to. It could be traced. He would drive to the palace and tell him in person. He grabbed his things and left the room.