My eyes go to her and the lights over her head, shine down on her and despite her being the prettiest girl I have ever seen, I still notice the slight bags under her eyes. She’s unhappy. Unhappy when she shouldn’t be. Not that she would ever admit to it.
“All I’m trying to tell you, is that you should know your place,” she continues and I know full well she’s trying to get a reaction. She’s not going to get it. It’s better if entitled chits don’t always get what they want.
“Luckily I have girls like you to make sure I don’t step out of line.”
An indignant flicker shows in her eyes. “Girls like me?” A blush enhances her cheeks. “What? Pretty ones?” She holds her breath, looking at me like she’s dying for a compliment. Needing me to tell her how wonderful she is, how special she is.
And she is all of it, but I don’t feel generous tonight, replying, “Chatty ones.” I return my attention to my food and I can sense her anxiety, taste the restlessness she feels when not getting the care and treatment she desperately needs.
“You know what, Slade?” she says after a short, tense pause. “This is probably the first conversation you and I have ever had.” She shrugs, playing with her dainty, diamond necklace, “Can’t say it’s very exciting or fulfilling, but I prefer it to you acting like a brainless slave to my father.”
“I think I prefer it when we don’t talk,” I say and her shoulders tighten in anger.
“Sometimes I really do despise you,” she says but I don’t react. Rolling her eyes, she jumps down from her chair. “Fine, be that way then.” Leaving her dishes behind, she purrs, “Good night, American Psycho.”
I know what’s going to happen next. She’s going to scream and cry in her pillow like I know she does every night because she hates her life. Turning my head to the side, I watch her leave down the hallway, her silky robe fluttering behind her like a wraith.
“Good night,” I rasp and she gives a catty snort.Sweetheart.
5
Meadow
Waking up to the curtains still closed, because help isn’t here on theweekends, I stretch in my comfy bed, letting out a big yawn. A smile crosses my lips when I see Persy doing her morning gymnastics on one of my pillows and I call her over to me and we cuddle for a couple of minutes.
“It’ll be just you and me now,” I tell her in a soft voice, when a thought pops in my mind. Wait, that’s not entirely true. Dom is here too. He sleeps on the bottom floor next to the garage and I go bright red in the face when I think of the feelings he forces out of me.
Sometimes it feels like he transfixes me, like I can’t look away but I fully blame him for that. His hardness is of this world, bordering on hazardous and delicate girls like me rarely get to come in contact with that. At the same time I’m embarrassed by my body’s reaction to him. He’s not on my level and he never will be. I shouldn’t be harboring feverish thoughts about him and I roll out of my bed, telling myself to get a grip.
To take my mind off things, I quickly get dressed in a moss green, long dress with a wide belt and I pair it with white heels
Persy comes running after me as I make way downstairs and I decide to have my breakfast in town before I get busy with another day of shopping. And another day of trying to find out where Melody is.
I slow down a little, my eyes flaring in surprise when Dom comes walking out of his bedroom like he just woke up and I snort,
“Slept in, I see. Did you go out and party all night and didn’t invite me?” I pull a pretend, sad face. “I’m hurt.”
Dom doesn’t seem amused. “Spent the whole night erasing those indecent photos of you that were already all over the internet.”
His answer perplexes me. Why would he do that? That’s not his job. Why would he look out for me? Then I shrug. Maybe my father found out and offered him a bonus for his efforts.
Flippantly throwing my hair over my shoulder, I bore my eyes into his, “I need you to drive me into town. I’m going shopping.”
“This is my day off, Miss. Michaels,” Dom tells me gently but I ignore him. Waving my hand at him I say,
“I’m sure you can spare the minutes it takes to drive into town. Besides...” I smile, “you want to be on my good side considering the way you talked to me last night.”
His dark brows furrow. “How did I talk to you?”
Like he wanted to take over me.
Blushing, I snap, “I don’t have time to refresh your memory. Now chop, chop, your services are needed.”
Flying past him with my little purse on my arm, my huge sunglasses and Persy in tow, I walk out of the house, surprised and too thrilled for comfort to see Dom walking behind me.
“We’ll take my car,” he says but I screw up my nose. His car is nothing special. Practical. Boring. And definitely not to my taste.
“No way, we’re takingmycar.”