Was it this person encouraging her to play the seductress? Nothing in the messages showed that but what about their other conversations? I have no way of knowing what was being said; unless I put a bug on her phone which I balked at doing in the past but was looking like a very good idea now.
6
Solomon
I called her down for dinner an hour later. She came into the room looking sullen and pissed the hell off. I ignored her and pulled her chair out for her to sit. I took my seat at the other end of the table and prepared to enjoy the roasted lamb and potatoes Connie our chef had made that day. It’s Saturday night. I should be going out on the town with my latest fling if I had one.
Since her birthday I’d lost all interest in leaving her alone. I know mom was right when she said I was over reacting, but since seeing her looking so grown up that night I’ve had a hard time leaving her alone. Jessica was already almost out the door by then since her conversations coming on to the end had all been about my closeness with my ward.
None of the others before her had ever dared question my devotion to Alexandra; they’d all understood that she came first. So if I had to leave in the middle of a date no matter where we were, they knew better than to put up a fuss.
Jessica hadn’t been as understanding. She’d chafed at every turn, going so far as to put her foot down and insist that I put her needs first after I refused to discuss my closeness with Alexandra. That was the last time I saw her.
Now I was losing my little girl to life and realized I wasn’t ready. I looked at her now and all the love welled up inside me. But had that love changed? A little annoying voice asked.
Of course not, she’s a child for fuck sake. It’s the one argument I kept using to defeat this new hunger in me for her. As long as I keep reminding myself that she was too young, too innocent for a man like me, she was safe.
The tug of war was in full swing again. I sat at the table across from her willing myself to put a stop to the whole mess once and for all. I knew I was falling in love with her, if I wasn’t already completely there. But each time I thought of giving in, I remembered that she was my friend’s child. The child he’d asked me to protect. I could never…
Just then she picked up her head and stared right at me. She blushed when she caught me watching her but instead of looking away she stared at me head on. There was a fuck of a lot being said in that one look and my dick was reading every word loud and clear.
“Why are you treating me like a child? Most of my friends are allowed to go places alone you know.”
“Who’s White Rabbit?” She rolled her eyes and looked down at her plate. “Just a friend.”
“Which friend? I never heard of this person before; who is it?”
“Geez get a grip, she’s just someone I know okay. Why are you acting like there’s something wrong?”
I took a sip of wine and studied her. Even that had changed. A few short months ago I would’ve got a clear answer. “I forbid you to talk to this person or agree to meet them anywhere again. Do you have any idea the danger you put yourself in today?” That seemed to take the wind out of her sails a bit and she deflated as her shoulders shook in remembered fear.
“You’re not allowed to go to that place again and Alexandra, if you go anywhere without your detail again I will keep my promise to lock you in your room and lose the key. This shit ends today. I hope you got it out of your system because I refuse to put up with anymore of your bullshit.”
“I want to go to grandma’s.” She threw her fork down and refused to look at me. She’d called mom grandma from the beginning and neither of us had forbidden her. It gave her an added sense of security so why not?
Her paternal grandparents were part of her life as well but they weren’t exactly the warm and cuddly type, so she got that from my parents and siblings. Everyone loved and spoiled her little ass from day one. Maybe that’s why I am dealing with her shit now. Too damn spoilt!
“She can’t save you this time and the answer is no.” She started to get up from her chair. “Sit down Alexandra and stop acting like a three year old brat; enough.” She folded her arms and looked down. If she cried I knew I would give her-her way. I could never stand her tears. Thankfully she kept them contained but I couldn’t seem to let the matter go.