Chapter Fourteen
Several weeks later, they’d settled into a routine. She’d go to work with him and work in the mailroom, but she also learned about the business itself. Every moment that went by solidified their bond with each other, and she grew happier every day.
She’d learned to trust the household staff and became close with Stuart and Karina because they were the ones who took care of her when her daddy had to go to a meeting.
They were hot in bed. They had experimented with different positions and objects. He’d started using his fingers in her bottom, and she really liked that.
One day, Faith was walking down the stairs when someone knocked on the front door. She looked around and didn’t see Stuart, so she pulled open the heavy door herself to find an older lady. “May I help you?” Faith said.
The woman walked past her, slid off her fur coat, and handed it to her. She was thin and several inches taller than her. Her blonde hair was cut into a bob that was very attractive on her. She could have been a model when she was younger, but the coldness and cruelty Faith saw in her eyes and the tightness of contempt on her lips made her look ugly.
“Here you go.”
Faith’s stomach hurt from all the animals it took to make that one coat. “What do you want me to do with it?”
The woman looked at her strangely. “You’re the maid. You should already know that.”
“Actually, I’m not the maid.”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m Rylan’s.”
The woman looked down at her in disdain. “Rylan’s what?”
“His girlfriend.”
The woman laughed. “Absolutely not. You might be one of his whores he keeps around, but there’s no way he’d claim you as anything other than that.”
Faith shook with anger. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m his mother, dear. That’s why I know him so well.”
“Well, I think you need to talk to him.”
His mother sniffed. “I will. Where is he?”
“I’m right here, Mother.”
Faith was relieved when Rylan came to stand beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist. The look of astonishment on his mother’s face was amusing, but Faith knew better than to laugh.
“What is this, Rylan?” his mother screeched.
“It’s none of your business. Now tell me why you’re here.”
“I refuse to talk in front of this…”
“Don’t say it, Mother, because you will regret it.” Rylan pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Why don’t you go into the kitchen with Karina while I talk to her.”
Faith nodded, handed his mother’s coat to him, turned, and walked off.
She went as far as the dining room and hid around the doorway.
“I won’t have it.”
She heard Rylan sigh. “What, Mother?”
“I won’t have you with someone like her. You’ll destroy the family’s reputation.”
Faith sucked in a breath. Was she right?
“That’s bullshit. What I do in my private life is none of your or anyone else’s business. Now tell me why you’re here.”
“I heard a rumor that you were with a woman from the slums, and I had to come to see for myself. I thought it was pure rubbish, but they were right.”
Faith pressed a hand to her mouth. Oh, no. People knew where she came from? God, this might damage Rylan’s business and reputation, and he’d never forgive her.
“Faith is a beautiful person inside and out, and she’s mine. You or anyone else can say what you want, but it won’t change the fact that she’s in my life for good.”
“No! Absolutely not.”
“Mother, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Yes, there is. I can go to the board and have you fired.”
Faith pressed her hands to her mouth to hold in her cry. Oh, God. No, no. no. She could ruin his life.
He chuckled. “Go right ahead. For one thing, you don’t own any shares in the business, so you have no power. If they’re dumb enough to follow through, Faith and I will move. I’m sick of this city, anyway, and I have enough money to last me ten lifetimes. Face it, Mother. You can’t do anything to hurt me. I hold the cards and the pocketbook. You’ll be the one who gets hurt the most.”
“You don’t care at all that she’ll embarrass the family name?”
“If being with her does that, I’ll deal with it.”
Faith pressed on her stomach. The last thing she wanted was to make his life difficult. She loved him too much for that. But how would she get away from him? She had to be able to convince him she wasn’t happy, so he’d let her go.
She heard the front door close. Then she turned and hurried into the kitchen.
The sight of the rounded woman who had always been nice to her settled her a bit. “Karina, may I get a glass of juice, please?”
“Of course. You never have to ask, child.”
She did feel like she had to because she still didn’t feel like she belonged, and what just happened with Rylan’s mother solidified her views. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Do you want to stir?”
Faith knew Karina was studying her and guessed she probably didn’t look right. She just hoped the woman didn’t say anything.
“Yes.” Anything to get her mind off the things she was going to have to do.