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“Seriously?” She starts to giggle, which is a definite improvement on earlier, and I shrug. “It is what it is. So, do you accept my offer?”
“If it means so much to you, of course.”
I nod, trying to wrestle back some control over this woman and wave my hand toward the door.
“Then follow me.”
CHAPTER 25
LAURA
When Charlie collected me from the office and told me he was instructed to bring me here, I didn’t think that much about it. I’ve had a shit night because when Adonis left, it was with the truth ringing heavily in my ears. My mom was raped multiple times by many men, and I’m the result of that.
No wonder she didn’t want me. My whole life is one big mistake, and I don’t even know who I am anymore.
To cap it all, she was murdered by her own family after she tried to do the same to them and the only reason they are here in my life now is because Troy wants to use me in some sort of power tussle.
I am an object, a weapon and obviously inhuman and the worst part is, I can talk to no one about it. Adonis is my only confidant, and he scares the shit out of me. He could murder me at any minute and there would be nobody to mourn the death of a bastard.
Except my adoptive parents, who, as it turns out, are the only normal thing in my life, but even they have lied to me. I am officially alone and being used by just about everyone, and that includes Oscar Callahan, who wasted no time in reminding meto secure a meeting with Troy, so he elevates his own career. He threw in the possibility of a date at the end of the text, but I know the score. I make his dreams come true and he will do the same for me. For one night only I guess, if that, because I’m almost convinced he will disappear as fast as he reappeared when he gets what he wants, which almost definitely isn’t me.
Now I’m heading toward Troy Remington’s bedroom and I never imagined this would be happening in a million years. When I got the message to meet Carlton outside the office at nine, I thought we were heading off to another business meeting. The fact I never went to bed last night is a bit of a problem because I am so tired, but how could I sleep after what Adonis told me?
The whole situation is deeply distressing and I’m struggling.
Troy opens a door and as I follow him inside, I swallow hard. It’s obvious he slept here last night. The bed is unmade, and the room smells of him. Not in a bad way, in an extremely good one. His aftershave is addictive and gorgeous. Hints of danger and weakness are laced with entrapment.
He isthatman. The one your head tells you is bad for you, but your heart wants him to break it willingly. Just for a few moments of his time so you can die happy.
Push aside his arrogance, his rudeness and his cool disregard and just focus on the desire because who needs to like a man when they are there solely to give your body what it wants?
It makes me giggle because I’m definitely delirious now and I mentally shove the image of Shrek in place and face him with a soft, “You don’t have to do this.”
“I do.” He stares at me with those dark eyes of danger and nods toward a door in the corner of the room.
“Use my bathroom. You will find everything you need in there, and I’ll catch Melissa and ask her to lend you something suitable.”
He doesn’t even wait for an answer and heads off as if he can’t bear looking at me a moment longer and as the door closes, I peer around with interest.
This room is bigger than my entire apartment, and I gaze around with envy at a place I would never leave if it was mine.
The bed is so tempting I try to blank it out and head to the bathroom to see what is offending him so much.
This room alone makes my eyes blink a thousand times because it’shuge. It’s definitely a man’s room, from the copper tiles matching the freestanding copper tub, that is designed for luxury, with gold taps and a rather tempting pillow at the end to rest your head.
There is a walk-in shower that runs the width of the room and mood lighting that is seductive rather than practical. A television is on the wall at the end of the bath and a large window overlooks sculptured gardens.
I wander over to a double vanity unit and stare at my reflection in the oversized mirror. I look a freaking mess and I don’t know what possessed me to leave the house looking like this. I grimace at my red eyes with huge black shadows under them and yesterday’s make-up that is streaked under my eyes.
I splash some water on my face, but it’s not enough and I stare longingly at the tub, wishing I was brave enough to use it.
I’mnotbrave; far from it and I know he said to clean up, but I’m guessing he didn’t mean to use his shower. The huge white towels look brand new and just the thought of messing them up with make-up fills me with horror.
I am out of my depth, and I really should ask to leave because I don’t belong here. The trouble is, I don’t believe I belong anywhere and the desolation inside me is hard to live with.
I back out of the room into the messed-up bedroom, where I feel a little more at home among imperfection. The lure of the bed is too tempting, and I expect it’s because it’s so messy andI take a chance and sit on the edge tentatively. It’s so good, as if I have fallen onto a large, fluffy white cloud and I can’t resist laying my head on the pillow and drawing my legs to my chest in the foetal position.
I feel safe here, comfortable and cared for, and as my mind drifts, it heads into oblivion.
