I couldn’t ignore what was right in front of me any longer. I was Devlin’s submissive, a slave for his desires—no matter what he wanted from me. He was my Master—until he decided that I was no longer his favorite toy. Then he would move on to the next one, just like the night I threw myself at him and he went home with two of the dancers from the ballet. He hadn’t changed for the better. He had just gotten worse.
“Violet?” A voice snapped me out of my trance and I looked up to see a blonde woman wearing a pencil skirt that was much too tight for her hips standing in the doorway of the living room.
“Hi? I—don’t think we’ve met.” I tilted my head to the side.
She doesn’t look like a maid, or any of the other workers. Her attire is too nice…
“My name is Sally-Anne. I used to be Mr. Windsor’s secretary.” She walked closer.
“Used to be?” I felt my body tensing up. “How did you get in here?”
“The workers remember me.” She looked down at the floor. “I don’t have long before someone throws me out, but I just had to talk to you.”
“Okay.” I blinked in surprise. “Why? How did you even know I was here?”
“Your sister is trying to get in touch with you. I know Mr. Windsor would be furious if he knew I was telling you this, but she has been calling his office non-stop.” Sally-Anne took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. “I heard one of the calls—I think it’s important that you call her immediately.”
Devlin never did let me call her back. I forgot to even ask…
“W-what are you doing here?” Belle came marching into the living room and pointed at Sally-Anne. “You know you’re not allowed to stop by if Mr. Windsor isn’t home.”
“I have to go—please Violet—it’s important.” She turned and started scurrying towards the front door.
“I-I’m sorry, Miss Violet.” Belle turned towards me. “Don’t listen to a word that woman says.”
“Yeah…” I nodded. “She definitely seemed a bit off.”
But I don’t think I can completely ignore what she said.
I refused my sister’s help after she offered to let me stay with her, but I had a reason for that. There was no reason I couldn’t have a conversation with her. She had been trying to reach me at Cabot Estate—she had been calling Devlin’s office. It had to be important. Devlin wouldn’t let me take her call, but if she had been calling his office—then he knew she was still trying to reach out. He hadn’t told me. I needed to know why.
He’s not here for me to ask his permission—but he’s also not here to tell me no.
I walked to Devlin’s office and closed the door behind me. I was betraying Devlin’s trust and defying his control, but I didn’t care. If I was nothing more than property to him that could be traded away, then he didn’t deserve my absolute obedience. I would give him that in the bedroom, when I was on my knees, and when he demanded it—but he wasn’t going to strip me of everything. I sat down behind his desk and picked up the phone. Even though I told myself it was okay in my mind, it didn’t make my fingers stop trembling when I dialed my sister’s number.
“Oh, now you’re going to return my call Devlin? Did I finally annoy you enough?” It was my sister’s voice and she sounded pissed. “Where the fuck is Violet?”
“Georgia…” I muttered into the phone. “It’s me.”
“Violet! Oh thank god.” It sounded like the weight of the world was lifted from my sister’s voice in an instant. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I muttered and nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Fine? Just—fine?” There was hesitation for a moment. “I heard what that fucking monster did to you.”
That was inevitable. It wasn’t like all of my father’s business associates were going to stay quiet about what they witnessed—and Georgia’s husband, Connor, ran in their circle.
“It’s not like that.” I tried to find reassurance in myself, but it wasn’t reflected in my tone. “He’s helping me. He’s going to get Daddy out of prison.”
“Is that what he told you.” My sister exhaled sharply. “Violet, you need to get away from Devlin Windsor. Can you leave right now or is he holding you hostage? I can send the police—fuck, I’ll send the damn SWAT team.”
“I could leave…” I looked down at Devlin’s desk.
I think. I mean, I’m not currently locked in a cage.
“Then you need to hang up this phone and walk right out of that house. Just—fucking trust me.” She exhaled sharply. “You don’t know what that monster is capable of—or maybe you do, but either way—you have to leave.”
“I—Georgia, I can’t.” I shook my head back and forth, even though she couldn’t see me. “We need his help…”