“You love trying to piss me off.”
I crossed one arm over my chest, pacing back and forth. “Are you not going to explain what just happened to me? Or we’re pretending that didn’t occur too? Just gonna sweep it into your deep dungeon of mystery you won’t let me enter and claim it was all in my head.”
“Some of it is all in your head, Cat. That’s what I’m working on.”
My brow dipped in confusion. The last part of that sounded like it wasn’t meant for me to hear. “Huh?”
“Nothing. Anyways, you don’t sound upset about it.”
“Which part? The not entering your dungeon. You messing with my head. Or you making one of your close friends piss herself. Why would I be upset? She’s not my problem. I wasn’t the one sleeping with her.”
“First of all…” he pulled the phone from his ear to give a command to someone else. I caught the word Vitals. “I’m not fucking her. Haven’t in a long time and won’t ever again. I have a gorgeous woman that gets my dick hard just by breathing. I don’t need anything else. You’re it for me. I’ll have a ring for you soon.”
His confession made my steps falter. He sounded serious. I shook my head and resumed pacing. I couldn’t go there right now.
“Since you won’t answer anything else I just asked. I know you bought my house. And Chloe. You’re responsible for her silence too, right?”
“Someone’s calling for me. I have to go. I’m picking you up at seven. Be outside waiting for me.”
“Alaric!”
He disconnected the call. I stared at the screen taking this as his confirmation he had a hand in why Chloe cut all contact with me. I rubbed my brow and looked out the window towards the ocean.
What was this man planning?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Curiosity was a good thing.
Until it wasn’t.
Catalina was like an ornery kitten. No pun intended. She couldn’t simply sit aside and allow me to complete this last part of the deal without hindrance.
When this was all out of the way we would be free to truly begin creating a life together. There was so much to learn about one another and even more for her to slowly be revealed.
I could not dump all the truth on her at once. I said I wanted to give her a small push over the edge, not throw her off like I was pitching for an MLB team. She needed to retain who she was at her core, simply allowing the more debased parts to wake up with my continued help.
With Rebecca fucking up monumentally for herself, it was best to move things a bit quicker than I initially intended. Things were becoming rather tedious and annoying.
I sent out three texts.
One to Johnathon Peen.
The second to my brother.
And a third to Catalina’s cunt of a mother.
Things would have to play out accordingly from here.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I purposely waited until fifteen after before walking out the door. The warm air felt good on my skin. I’d put on a chevron sundress with some basic black sandals and redid my braids.
There was no sign of Rebecca, her piss puddle and heel, or her car. Demitri must have dealt with it per Alaric’s instruction. I didn’t feel any sympathy for her. Had she just left me alone she wouldn’t have embarrassed herself like that.
The two men were standing near the open trunk of an Audi. When I was spotted, Alaric slammed it shut and said some parting words to his loyal friend before circling to greet me.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and placed a kiss on my lips. “You look cute.”
“Cute? What am I, twelve?”
He smirked. “Considering you just childishly made me wait fifteen minutes for you to come out here, the age matches the behavior.”
“I didn’t.”
He lightly slapped my ass and released me. “I know everything you do, Cat. Come on, get in.”
He led me to the opposite side of his sleek car and opened the passenger door for me like a gentleman. I got in and buckled my seatbelt, settling against the cool leather seats. He got in the driver’s seat and made a quick U-turn in his driveway.
“Why aren’t you driving that one?” I pointed to the luxury car I’d seen the first day I got here.
“Bianca is only driven for special occasions. Like the first time I take you out.”
“You’ve got it all figured out, huh?”
“Yes,” he answered matter-of-factly. “You’re going to live a good life. No more hiding away from the world. I want you to experience everything.”
There was a silent with me in there.
“I don’t like airplanes or people.”
“You don’t need to like anyone but me. I only need you to tolerate my brother, respect my mother and father, and be kind to the few friends I do have.”
Woah. My head spun in his direction. “Alaric, I think you’re getting a little--.”