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“I changed my plans for the evening to come to the valley and have dinner with you so you wouldn’t have to eat alone.”
I hope he’s not looking for gratitude, because I’m fresh out of thank-yous for assholes.
He gestures to my clothes. “You have a closet filled withcleanclothes. Is this some kind of statement?”
I shake my head, feeling like a child who has come directly to the table after making mud pies in the garden.
“We dress for dinner here,” he instructs in a tight voice. “Just like your father’s house. Some meals are more formal than others, but they all require bathing.”
“I apologize,” I murmur, smoothing my blazer.
He doesn’t deserve an apology. But this isn’t who I am, and I’m embarrassed. Although not as embarrassed as I would be if there were guards monitoring me in the shower.
“I’ll dress for dinner next time.”
He steps closer, gripping my arm above the elbow so tightly I can’t move. “Next timeis right now. I suggest you go upstairs and shower quickly, because the staff is on until dinner is finished, and they’ve already had a long day. This isn’t the US. They’re not paid overtime.”
I feel the color rise in my cheeks. With Antonio still holding my arm, I glance at Victor, begging silently for forgiveness.
He smiles kindly and winks at me with both eyes.
I look up at Antonio. His gaze is dark and threatening, not inviting questions or comments.But I need to know.I have a right to know.
“Are there cameras in the bathroom?” I whisper, my heart racing.
His brow crinkles, and he blinks a couple of times. “No.”
“Do I have your word?” Not that it matters. I clearly don’t have a choice.
He drags me to the bank of windows across the room from where Victor is mincing parsley, out of earshot.
“You’re hurting me,” I hiss, but he doesn’t loosen his grip on my arm.
“Is that why you haven’t showered or changed your clothes since you arrived?”
I nod. “I’m not—”
“Did you sleep in those clothes?”
I lift my chin. I’m not going to let him make me feel any smaller than I already do. This is all on him.
“I didn’t have another option. I’m not an exhibitionist, and we both know that photos of me naked would eventually find their way to the internet.”
He doesn’t say the words, not even in a roundabout way, but I see the regret in his face. It’s gone as quickly as it came, but it gives me a sliver of hope. I had started to have doubts that he had any humanity.But his conscience is still there.It’s buried under a mountain of sins, but the heartbeat is detectable.
There’s hope for me.
“You have my word,” he says unequivocally.
Maybe I’m foolish, but I believe him. He’d have no qualms about telling me there are cameras and I need to suck it up.
“There’s no surveillance in your suite,” Antonio continues. “It will remain that way as long as you don’t give me any reason to have it installed.”
He couldn’t leave it at“There’s no surveillance in your suite,”like a decent man would have done.
One small pang of regret does not a decent man make.
“I won’t be long,” I murmur, scowling at where his fingers still squeeze my arm.
