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He blinks twice before answering. “There is nothing to say to you.”
Without a second thought, I slap his face, watching as the shock registers, and as I’m glaring at him, I see something else under the surface: passion. “Nothing to say? You’re telling me you have nothing to say? How dare you. I agreed to stay before you left, we even kissed.”
He raises his hand to silence me. “Yes, you agreed to stay, and yes we kissed. However, it didn’t mean anything.”
My words come out more like a hiss. “You are a liar, Alexander. I felt your body respond to mine.”
“Yeah, my body responded but my mind didn’t. You are here as payment of a debt, nothing more. Don’t forget that.” He pushes past me and leans in to the scanner to open his door; as it slides open, he disappears inside.
I don’t see him again for another two weeks.
This time when he returns, I don’t meet him at the door to welcome him home; I stay in my room and watch him from my window. I still walk the property every day, seeing if he will come to me, but he doesn’t. On the last day as I am walking along the second floor of the mansion, closing in on the office where Alexander spends most of his time when he is home working, I hear voices.
“Alexander, you’re hurting her feelings being this way, and it’s eating you from inside, I can see it. Not to mention it’s affecting your concentration when we are out in the field. You almost got yourself killed at the last meeting. If you hadn’t come back from wherever you went in your head, I think Marco would have shot you.” The voice is familiar, Harold possibly?
“Why do you think I stay away for as long as I can? It’s getting harder and harder to do so. It’s the only way to protect her though.” Alexander’s voice is unmistakable.
“They haven’t made any attempt on her life since the threat came, Black,” Harold’s voice is eerily calm. What threat? Are they talking about me?
“I’m not taking any chances, Harold, she is important to me,” Alexander states, and I know for sure they aren’t talking about me, since I’m nothing to him. I’m just the woman he keeps locked away in his castle. The woman who he treats like a slave, keeping everything in order at his fine estate while he gallivants around the world running an empire.
“Then tell her. She deserves to know. To make up her own mind.”
I hear something being slammed down on a desk. “Do not say anything to Rebecca about this. I will not have her know that she may be in danger. I will shield her from everything.”
I run at the mention of my name, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. Once I’m a good distance away, I duck into the large window seat and wait there, hoping that when they finish, they will walk past me and I can see him; hopefully he will talk to me.
I feel as though I am floating on a cloud, the occasional jostle but not uncomfortable. There’s warmth against my body, and I hear the steady beat of a heart.
“Alexander,” I say, groggily. I try to open my eyes, but they are uncooperative and heavy.
“I’m here, sweetheart, hush now. Just sleep.”
I feel the comfort of a mattress underneath me and his body heat leaving my own. “Don’t ever leave me,” I whisper.
And as sleep encapsulates me once more, I swear I feel lips being pressed to my forehead and hear someone whispering, “Never.”
I wake later in pitch-black darkness, but his scent overwhelms me. He’d been here; I hadn’t dreamt it. I want to jump off the bed and go to him in his room, but I know he will never allow it. He won’t come and see me again. Not after what I overheard yesterday.
He may think he is doing the best thing to protect me by staying away, but he isn’t. He is driving me away when we should be together and stand stronger. I want nothing more than to face this as a team, if only he would let me. But instead he won’t even tell me what threat we face.
I fall asleep again and I dream of us standing on a battlefield hand in hand, us against the world, a smile on my face.
~ Chapter Twelve ~
Rebecca
I’m lucky enoughto not have to worry about money. My parents are wealthy, and my grandparents were wealthy before that. Mom and Dad have a business that I don’t completely understand but they have investors who help them become even wealthier.
And because money has never been an issue, I’ve never needed to get a job, so I’ve travelled the world and took art classes and that’s about it. I’ve turned my love of art into a successful blog with over three million subscribers. I’ve been to most of the galleries around the world and have been able to get close to a lot of the beautiful artworks that are showcased within their walls. And since I am who I am, I even get to take photos of the artwork that you’re normally not allowed to, which is why my art blog is so popular.
I spent two years in Paris, attending the PCA—Paris College of Art—where I learned many techniques. I love painting and it’s something I do when I want to relax. I have even sold a couple of them at a few of my parents’ charity events. The money from the sale of my paintings is always donated to the local children’s cancer ward.
While I was in France, I bought a cute little apartment with views of the Eiffel tower, and I enjoyed being there immensely. Since I left, I have been back a couple of times to get away, especially after my last break up. Zac really did a number on me and getting away from all the places we had been together was just what I’d needed. Kelly was all too willing to come with me, so we went to all the vineyards, visited the Moulin Rouge, and did all the other touristy things that Paris has to offer.
But now I don’t know if I will ever go back; being locked away in this castle-like home of Alexander’s leaves no chance of ever travelling the world again. I know he thinks he is protecting me from some unknown threat, but I just can’t stay locked away like this. It’s not me.
I haven’t updated my blog since I’ve been here even though the artwork adorning the walls of this home are by some of the world’s best artists: Monet, Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, the list goes on. I have even set up my easel in front of a couple of the pieces and tried to replicate them the best I can, and they now hang in the downstairs office that Alexander gave me for my own use. Today I was going to handwrite a blog, and tell Alexander that I need to do an update on the page, before people start to wonder where I have gone, and asking why I have suddenly dropped off the face of the earth.
