I studied his face, searching for some sign that he was lying. But he was looking straight at me, his posture alert but relaxed, and he hadn't faltered with his answer. Plus, my instincts told me that this man may be a lot of things, but a liar wasn't one of them. "Okay." I took a deep breath. "How long are you going to keep me here?"
"As long as it takes."
"And what, exactly, are you hoping to accomplish?"
"The answer I gave you will have to be enough. For now."
So the rest falls under "things Veda doesn't need to know." Got it.
"What are you going to do with me while I'm here?"
His head cocked to the side as his eyes raked over me from head to toe and back again. When he was finished, I couldn't fight the urge to actually looked down to make sure my clothes weren't singed from my body by the heat in his gaze. "Whatever I want," he practically growled. "Nicole."
My breath caught in my chest. But I couldn't tell you if it was from fear or...something else.
"However," he continued. "I already told you I wouldn't hurt you while you are a guest in my home. As long as you behave. You have my word on that.”
I swallowed hard. "So, you're just going to keep me a prisoner here until you've achieved whatever the hell it is you're trying to achieve."
"That's correct."
I nodded, my eyes straying to the wall of windows on my right. I didn't know what to say. Or think. Honestly, I was still feeling a bit hazy from the wine and whatever they'd drugged me with.
"I think you'll find your stay here quite pleasant,” he went on. “The house is large, so you can have some space during the day while I work if you'd like. The views are stunning, especially the sunsets. I have a pool and a hot tub, a media room, and a home gym."
Of course, he did. I'd felt how much he worked out when I was thrown over his hard shoulder. "Where will I be sleeping?"
He was quiet for so long I thought he wasn't going to answer. "You'll be staying in here. With me."
Oh, hell no. That wasn't going to work for me. Until I could convince him otherwise, I was stuck here in this house, but that didn't mean I owed him any favors. "Don't you have a spare room?"
"I have five. But you won't be using any of them."
"Why not?"
"Because your actions up until now have proven to me that I can't trust you."
"That arrangement isn't going to work for me."
"I don't recall giving you a choice."
I disagreed. I always had a choice. However, I didn't see the value of pointing that out to him at this point in time. "And what will be expected of me while I'm here?"
"Only to be ready to go out with me when I need you to."
"Go out where?"
"Wherever I need you to go." At my look, he elaborated. "Dinners. Parties. Things like that."
"But I don't have anything to wear."
His lips twitched, and my breath caught. But the smile I’d expected never formed. "I'll bring someone in to fit you for some clothes."
"If you point me to the nearest computer, I can just order some stuff online." I held his steady gaze even as my heart began to pound at the thought of getting a message to someone, but I should've known it wouldn't be that easy.
"That's not going to happen."
He watched me for a long time as I processed everything he'd just said. I tried not to lose hope, but I had to admit, it was kinda hard.