He looked at me, his expression impassive. “Remember what I said about the cat?” he asked. “And curiosity?”
“I’m not a cat.” I held my ground.
“Oh, but I think you’re acting like one,” he said, his voice low. It shouldn’t have been hot, but it was. “Careful with your curiosity, little cat,” he said.
“This is supposed to be our honeymoon,” I said, irritation getting the best of me. “But you’re spending all your time glued to your work and keeping secrets from me—”
“Go to the spa,” he said, glancing down at his phone as it vibrated with an incoming message. “Charge whatever you want to the room.”
“You can’t just leave me here alone, like some toy on a shelf that you get to play with whenever you feel like it!”
I was breathing hard, but before I could say anything else he was grabbing his wallet and his room key.
“I’m not going to the spa,” I said, following him toward the door.
“Then go shopping at the boutique. Or take a swim. There’s plenty to do in the hotel.”
“But I want to be with you. I thought that was the point of this whole trip—to spend our time exploring together.”
He turned to face me. “Then you’re in for a disappointment.”
My eyes were stinging with tears. “But when will I see you?”
“At seven. We have a dinner reservation at the hotel restaurant.”
I was stunned at his coldness. He didn’t even seem to notice that his words had hurt my feelings. Or maybe he noticed and just didn’t care.
“This is ridiculous,” I told him.
His hand was on the doorknob.
“Isn’t this the exchange we agreed on, Tori? I get a wife, and a chance to take over my father’s company. You get your college experience and a chance to get away from your father. You get an easy life of luxury and wealth, and you get to spend my money on whatever your little heart desires. What else could a woman like you want?”
A woman like me.
“Are you calling me a whore?” I said, my voice low with hurt and anger.
“Watch your mouth.” He was finally meeting my hard gaze, his green eyes ablaze. “And don’t talk about things you’re too sheltered to understand.”
He swung the door open and stepped into the hallway.
“Seven o’clock,” he said. “Sharp.” And then he walked away.
As the door closed behind him, I sank into the nearest chair, his words echoing in my mind. I couldn’t believe this was the price of getting my degree.
Maybe things would be different when I started college, when I could have friends, and a life of my own outside of my marriage. But right now, it was just the two of us—and, obviously, Stefan’s clients and business associates—in a foreign country.
I couldn’t wait to get back home. I’d bury myself in school and studying and a full calendar of social events and more volunteer work—anything I could think of to keep away from Stefan. Away from the man I had been coerced into marrying.
Because if this honeymoon was any indication of what to expect out of our marriage, I was in for a hell of a rough ride.
