18
Ellie
Jafar and I stay on the couch all night. Each time I doze, I have nightmares about Al that wake me, often with a scream on my lips. Jafar is there, waiting to hold me again until my tears have dried, and my heart has stopped pounding. Each time he looks angrier but says nothing. At dawn, I finally move from the couch and explore the house. Jafar is sleeping, but I don’t think he’ll mind. He told me last night that he owns the top three floors.
It's strange to see the difference in style between his house and the one Jasmine lives in. His house is darker but has warmth. Her house is the opposite. Light and sterile.
Elizabeth Bennett meows at me as I pass his room, and I stop to scratch her head. She trails after me as I climb the carpeted stairs to the second floor. The first room I peek in is a state-of-the-art gym. The next is an office, though it doesn’t look like it gets used very often. I smile as I open the third door. It’s a library, and Jafar’s scent lingers in the air. This must be where he spends most of his time.
Moving into the room, I run my hand along the wooden bookshelves. Jafar has always been a wealth of knowledge, so it doesn’t surprise me that this room is stocked with reading material on various subjects. I spot a book on taking care of a pet cat, and a wide smile breaks out across my face.
“Just wait until you see the library on the third floor,” a deep voice says from behind me.
A scream works its way up my throat, and I turn, finding a massive man sitting in a chair by the desk. It’s dark in the corner, which is why I didn’t see him.
“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Razoul, Jafar’s second-in-command.”
I exhale shakily. “It’s okay. I’m Ellie.”
Now that my heart isn’t in my throat, I realize I’ve seen him with Jafar several times. In fact, he’s one of the men who brought me back when Jafar told me to run from the bar.
“I know who you are.” He smiles. “I’ve heard a lot about you over the years.”
My cheeks are warm. Does that mean Jafar talks about me? Or is it just his business to know who is in Jafar’s and Jasmine’s lives? That thought has me frowning.
“Sorry if I’m not supposed to be in here. Jafar and I fell asleep on the couch watching TV and I didn’t want to wake him.”
“No need to apologize to me. Jafar said that you are to have free roam of the house. As for not waking him, I’m going to be the bad guy and do it. We were supposed to be at a meeting on the other side of town ten minutes ago. And, as my boss likes to remind me, we are never late.”
His dark eyes twinkle with mischief as he stands, and I like him right away.
My thoughts are scattered as I sit in a chair near the window. The view is stunning from here, but it makes me sad that Jafar is alone in the house. He should have someone to enjoy it with.
As if I summoned him, he says from the doorway, “Why am I not surprised you found the library?”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to be found in the gym.”
He moves toward me as I stand. There’s a pull between us that I wonder if he can feel.
“I have a meeting. Will you be okay while I’m gone?”
“You don’t want me to leave?”
His gaze searches mine. “No, I don’t want you to leave.”
“I figured you’d be tired of me by now.”
He closes the distance between us, pulling me against his body. “I’ll never tire of you, little mouse.”
Tears prickle my eyes. “Okay.”
“So, will you be fine, or do I need to cancel my meeting?”
“I think I can manage for a bit.”
“Good. I’m having some clothes sent over. We’re leaving when I get back.”
“Leaving? Where are we going?”