Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Part of me breathed a heavy sigh of relief when he led me to one of his guest bedrooms.
“You can sleep here tonight. If you need anything, you can get it yourself. My housekeeper is taking a much-needed vacation, and I might as well put you to use while you’re here. Set your alarm for six o’clock to fix me breakfast as I’ll be downstairs at 7:45 for my meal.”
“Wait, you expect me to cook for you?”
“Among other things. Will that be a problem Francesca?”
I thought about it for a moment, and while I didn’t think he would bring me here in the capacity of a maid, maybe that was better than the alternative. Cooking and cleaning I could handle. The other stuff…well, I didn’t want to think about it.
I shook my head vehemently. “No, I have no problem with it. I suppose you want me to clean the house for you as well?”
“I guess no one could ever accuse you of being stupid. You can clean all the rooms except mine. I’ll take care of that myself. Mary keeps the cleaning supplies in the utility closet by the laundry room. I will call you when I’m on my way home from work. I will expect dinner by the time I get home. You should have plenty to do during the daytime. You are not to leave this house without my permission.”
“What if I need groceries?”
“Mary has set up a weekly delivery. If you need something added to the grocery list, then you can leave a list on the refrigerator for me to add. Any more questions?”
A lump formed in my throat. I didn’t know why after all this time and all that he’d thrown at me up until now sliced into my heart. I shook my head.
He stared at me long and hard, his expression giving nothing away. For a moment I thought he would approach, but instead he turned on his heel and headed out the door. Just as he made it to the threshold, he turned.
“Francesca, welcome to your new life for the next two months. Don’t for one second think this will be a walk in the park for you. As I said before, I’m a man of my word, and I intend to make you suffer for what you did.”
And with that, he was gone leaving me standing in the room feeling as if my entire world was about to explode.
Chapter Nine
Nick
This was a huge mistake. I shouldn’t have brought her to my home, but I couldn’t stop myself once the words were out. Maybe it was because I wasn’t 100 percent sure that she was telling me the truth about the mystery man in her house being her brother. When we were together, she wasn’t that open about her family, only saying that her parents were both deceased and that she had one brother.
I figured since she didn’t talk about her only surviving family member much that they weren’t close, so I never pressed. I always assumed she’d eventually open up. It just seemed odd now that he would show up out of the blue.
It didn’t matter because she was mine for the next two months, and it was my intention to break her. She’d be damaged goods by the time I was done with her.
So why did I get up before the crack of dawn and head to my office just to avoid her? I’d specifically told her to be up a certain time so that she could have my breakfast ready, but I avoided her instead. It stayed on my mind all morning and put me in a foul mood. I found myself snappy at everyone around me. Cheri took the brunt of my ire and was now avoiding me. I barely made it through my meetings without completely blowing up. By mid-afternoon I was done.
I was on the verge of calling it a day when my office door burst open. Only one person could do that and get away with it.
“What the hell is your problem, man?” Chris, who was probably one of the most laid-back people I knew, stormed inside and closed the door none too gently.
I really wasn’t in the mood, especially since my head was starting to throb with tension.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’m sure you’ll tell me?”
“Cut the bullshit. These last few days, you’ve been an absolute asshole, and today you were borderline rude to one of our biggest clients in this morning’s meeting. Now I see Cheri crying at your desk. You might tell me its none of my business, but it damn sure is when it’s affecting this company. If you can’t tell me what the problem is as your business partner at least tell me what’s going on as your best friend.”