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Other than you torturing me?
Again, I don’t respond. I don’t shove his hand away either. I want it there. If for no other reason than to feel something good,gentle. Something comforting.
“DidIdo something?”
The huff barrels up my chest and out of my mouth without my permission, and I curse it for ruining my silent streak. I cursemyselffor taking Lorenzo’s bait every single day.
“Yeah,” I say, sitting up and tucking my hair behind my ears. I pull my feet up and lean my knees against the arm of the sofa. It occurs to me that Lorenzo seems like the type of person who is not okay with feet on the sofa, but he doesn’t say anything, and I don’t care right now. “You’re starving me. That’ssomething. You degrade me every single day. That’ssomething. You—”
“I am notstarvingyou. You’re refusing to eat.”
I turn his way and glare. “The food you’re giving me goes against everything I believe in, and you know it.”
Lorenzo rolls his eyes, and I get the sudden urge to smack him. I press my palms into my thighs to resist and will my pounding heart to slow.
“I don’t know, princess. It seems a little spoiled to me. If you’re hungry, eat. Do you have any idea what captivesusuallyget? I’ll give you a hint. It isn’t steak.”
“Then give me that! I don’t care!” Tears leak from my eyes, and I viciously swipe them from my cheeks. My teeth grit with frustration.
“I could, but it isn’t vegan either.”
I groan and throw my head back against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. Lorenzo watches me, and when I glance at him, I see curiosity dancing in the golden flecks of his irises. I turn my head away.
“Does it mean enough to you that you’d starve yourself? To death? Or are you waiting for me to feel sorry for you?”
I open my mouth to confirm the former but then close it. Would I actuallydie? He gives me the broth, so no, but what if he didn’t? Would I go that far?
No. Of course not. The thought has yet to cross my mind… so I guess it’s the latter.
“Does it seem like I’m the type of man who would feel sorry for a spoiled little girl like you?”
My heart sinks, and I flood with disappointment. Because if I’m being perfectly honest with myself, I do hope he will. I hope he sees how cruel he is and feels badly about it. It’s pathetic.
“Don’t call me that,” I say, my voice low. “I’m not spoiled.”
“Kitty…” Lorenzo sighs mockingly. “It’s Daddy’s name on the lease. You have a credit card he pays each month, and you’re a twenty-five-year-old working at a non-profit animal shelter living like you ‘made it’. You’re in denial.”
“Irunthe non-profit. I am the CEO, Lorenzo, and I have a master’s degree in business. Does my father pay some of my expenses? Sure. It’s his way of making up for not paying attention to me. He doesn’t approve of a single thing I’ve done with my life. I’m adisappointmentto him, not Daddy’s little girl. And I’m not a little girl, period. I’m a grown woman who has accomplished more than someone like you would ever give me credit for.”
“Oh… I didn’t realize.” I look his way, thinking he’s being genuine. “That explains some things.”
“What things?” I ask, knowing I’m taking the bait.
“Why you’re so… receptive to certain things. You’ve got daddy issues.”
My mouth drops open, and I rear my hand back and slap Lorenzo, a loud crack ringing out as my palm connects with his cheek. His face snaps to the side, and I can see it the moment his anger flares. His shoulders bunch as he tenses. I tell myself to stop, apologize, beg forgiveness and let what he said go.
But I can’t.
I’m too weak.
Too delirious.
Too angry.
The little amount of energy I just had is now gone, depleted.
“What about you?” I ask through gritted teeth. “Didyouwork for everything you have? Did you save up yourpaper routemoney to build your casino? Or did your name do that for you?”
