We disperse and I head up to my room to get ready, calling on one of the help on my way. The butler stands at the door of my room, waiting for orders as I put on my shirt.
“She needs to eat something,” I state, not needing to clarify who I’m talking about. “She didn’t have anything last night and I’m sure she’ll be hungry. Once she’s awake, take her some food and if she asks for anything else, give it to her. As long as it’s not a weapon,” I add.
“Of course, sir,” he replies.
“I’ll probably be gone all day. If she asks to leave the room, let her. She can walk around the house but make sure there’s a guard or two watching her at all times. Do not underestimate her, alright?”
He nods in understanding. A part of me wants to head to her room and see her before I leave, but it’ll only serve to fuck up my mood, either making it worse or better. Probably worse and I need to focus on work.
* * *
On my way back home, I’m informed via text that Liliana not only refused breakfast but also lunch and dinner. It’s currently 10pm and she hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. My jaw tightens as I read the words, trying not to lose my cool.
“Stop at Pop’s diner for a minute,” I say to the man at the wheel.
After buying her some food, I’m hoping she won’t turn down, I head home. Her room is the first place I go to once I arrive. My shoes are loud against the marble staircase. As soon as I open the door to her bedroom, I’m hit with the full force of her glare.
“Where the hell have you been all day?” she questions.
“Why? You missed me?” I drawl, walking into the room with the bag containing her greasy overload of carbs meal.
“Like a rash,” she says scathingly. “Why would you even bring me here only to ignore me for an entire day?”
I sigh softly, “I wasn’t ignoring you, little siren, I was busy.”
She eyes me like she doesn’t believe the words. Not that I need her to anyway. I place the bag of food on the bed in front of her.
“Eat. You’re a twenty-four-year-old grown woman,” I state. “This behaviour is beneath you.”
Her narrowed eyes find mine, “I’m not hungry.”
“Bullshit. You may think the childishness is cute but I have no patience for it today. If you don’t eat that, I promise I will hand feed it to you. And I’ll enjoy every minute of it as well.”
I can clearly see her fighting to keep the resolve in her expression. But the smell of the food permeates the air and I doubt she’s strong enough to resist it.
“I’d bite off your fingers if they came anywhere near my mouth,” she growls.
My lips twitch, “I love it when you talk dirty to me, baby.”
She makes a small noise of discontent before climbing out of bed and sliding to the floor with the meal in her hand. My eyebrows rise in question.
“I don’t want to mess up the sheets by spilling something,” she says in explanation, opening the bag and pulling out the burger, fries and ketchup from their containers. Then there’s also the large cup of strawberry milkshake.
“You remembered my order,” she says accusation in her tone.
“I’m not an idiot, Liliana.”
“Hmm,” is all she says in reply before she picks up a fry, biting into it.
I don’t miss the way her expression lightens with the small taste or the hastiness with which she unwraps her burger. I watch her for a couple of seconds, her legs crossed on the floor. My chest burns at the sight of her.
“You’re very peculiar, you know that?” I feel the need to mention.
Who sits on the floor when there’s a perfectly good bed? Fuck the sheets, they can be cleaned up and changed immediately.
“Says the guy that cuts people’s fingers off,” she shoots back.
“Ah,” I murmur scratching my jaw. “Right, you met Carlos.”
