The Arrangement [Box Set] by Abby Weeks Read Free Book Online Page A

beautifully, out into a wide hall. It was not the hall they had entered through and she wondered just how large the house must be. There were doors across the hall and they took one that led to the library. The library was obviously Frank’s domain, it was very masculine with dark leather chairs and oak and mahogany shelving. At the other end of the library was a set of double doors and they made their way toward them.
    —My goodness, April said. Where on earth are you taking me?
    —Just to Frank’s private den, Herb said.
    April was beginning to get a little apprehensive. They were a long way from the dining room now and she wasn’t used to being alone with so many men, in such a skimpy dress, even if one of them was her husband.
    As they walked through the library, something else happened to surprise April. She and Herb were walking ahead of the other three, and she was already highly conscious that they would practically have a view of her bum from where they were. But then, as they made their way through the library, Herb’s hand, which had been gently guiding her at the small of her back, crept down to her bum and then stayed there. The skirt of the dress was so short that he had no problem getting his hand under it so that it was directly on her bum, and he gave her a little squeeze. And it wasn’t just that his hand was on her bare bottom that was so strange, but the fact that Frank, Pete and Walter were right behind them and would be able to see it.
    What’s going on? she thought. What is this? It was like nothing she’d ever experienced, and she realized that she’d allowed herself to be led off by four men, one was Walter but the others were practically strangers, and now she didn’t know where she was or what was going to happen.
    They went through the final set of doors that led from the library to the den and the room was just as impressive as the rest of the house. If she’d thought the library was masculine, this room was even more so. It had a string of french doors leading off to yet another balcony but this balcony faced a lawn that ended with tall trees. On the walls were stuffed animal heads that men who liked hunting often used to decorate rooms. There were deer, bears and even some more exotic animals like gazelles and zebras. The effect was a little unsettling. There was also a large billiards table with two green lamps hanging down over it from the ceiling. There was leather furniture similar to what was in the library, and there were more book shelves, a bar, and some framed documents on the wall.
    —What are we doing here? April said.
    She looked at the four men and there was no doubt they were expecting something from her. She recognized the look in their eyes. They weren’t exactly leering, they were still being perfectly proper on the surface, but there was a sparkle in their eyes of happiness mixed with anticipation. And then there was something else too, could it be, fondness?
    April couldn’t deny that she felt a twang of excitement herself, mixed with pride that these four successful men all wanted to be here with her. But there was another big part of her that was frightened. She wasn’t afraid of the men exactly. She got no feeling of aggression or meanness from them at all. If anything, they were treating her better than she was used to being treated when she was alone with Walter. They were attentive, generous, complementary and kind. They were looking at her like they liked her and found her beautiful.
    But there was also the unmistakable fact that they had brought her here without ever asking her permission, without ever seeking her consent or agreement to the arrangement. She didn’t even know what they had in mind—what it was they wanted to do with her—and how could she know she would like it when she found out? She’d heard of terrible things happening to girls alone with groups of men. This seemed like exactly the kind of place where such things might happen,