“But–”
“You live with me now, little bird.”
“What if–”
“This isn’t up for discussion.” Oh, now I’m getting that serious side of him too. “Is that your tea kettle?”
I nod. “Caroline gave it to me.”
Aubrey bangs it down onto the stove, making me jump. Why the heck is everyone so moody all of a sudden?
“This is bullshit!” Aubrey shouts.
Renato’s entire body tenses up at Aubrey’s outburst. I don’t even have to look at him to know he’s not happy about the way he’s acting. Something dark and heavy falls over the room.
“There’s a car waiting for us downstairs, little bird. Why don’t you bring your personal items out and wait for me there? I’ll be down in a few minutes.” He kisses me on top of my head again. “There are a few things I need to finish up with Aubrey.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you around, Aubrey.” He doesn’t even bother trying to say goodbye to me. I’m almost out of the kitchen when Renato calls my name, causing me to turn around. When I do, I notice that Aubrey is much paler than he was a few seconds ago.
“You’re forgetting this,” Renato says, holding up my tea kettle. I walk over, taking it from his hand. “There anything else you need?”
“No.”
“All right. Antony, take her bags and see her down.” Antony is beside me a second later, taking my two bags from me.
“I’ve got this.” I hold the tea kettle.
“Sir?” Antony says. Some kind of unspoken conversation happens between the two of them. In the hours I’ve known them, I notice they do this a lot.
“See my fiancée down,” Renato orders.
“Fiancée.” I sing-song. “Sounds so fancy.”
“Don’t get too used to it. You’ll be my wife very soon.”
“How could I forget?” I laugh, admiring my ring again.
“Go with Antony,” he tells me. His hand goes to my back as he tries to guide me out of the apartment.
“Come with me.” I slip back so his hand drops from behind me and I can wrap my arm around it. I think he and Aubrey are going to get into it or something. I don’t want anyone getting upset. “Please.” I stare up at him.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Antony watching us closely. I think he’s wondering what Renato is going to do.
“All right, little bird.”
I beam up at him, but my happiness is short lived. Renato doesn’t return my smile, but he escorts me down to the car. Antony puts my things into the back while Renato opens the door for me. I slip in.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask when he gets in behind me.
“When I tell you to do something, Maddie, I need you to follow my orders.” Maddie, no more ‘little bird.’
His words are like cold water splashing me in the face. It sends me right back to reality. For a second with those kisses and rings I’d forgotten this is a job. He’s hired me to do a job. I’m his employee.
I’m so stupid. I always do that. Lose track of the task at hand. I let my mind wander away from reality.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper, remembering how Antony always nods and just does as he’s told. I’ll need to remember to do the same.
7
Renato
I scroll through the worried text messages from Claudio as Antony drives us through the city. There are a few others as well, mostly from bosses and business associates with more condolences. I delete an entire string of unhinged messages from Zoey, and I don’t bother scrolling through to see the images she included. God only knows what sort of desperate nudes that idiot sent.
When I’m done, I pocket my phone and realize Maddie has been oddly silent the whole time.
“Little bird?” I pull her even tightly under my arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she answers too quickly.
“Something. Don’t lie to me.” I add a word I’m not terribly familiar with. “Please.”
“It’s nothing.” She shrugs. “I just need to remember this is a business arrangement. That’s all.” She peers at the ring on her finger. “And thanks for this. I’ll try to enjoy it while I have it, okay?”
“That’s what I want.” I glance at her lips. In fact, I want a lot more, but her enjoying herself is certainly included in the package.
“Where to now?” She looks out the window.
I should go straight home just like Claudio wants. Another message arrives, my phone buzzing, likely with another overreaction from him.
Instead of doing my duty, I turn to my little bird. “We’re headed to the shelter.”
Her face pales. “The shelter? I thought I was going to live with you. Not that the shelter is bad. I mean, it gave me a place to get on my feet when I started out, but it’s not somewhere I want to go again. I’m sorry if I made you mad, but please don’t take me to–”