Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“I know, based on my actions, you’re convinced that I’m a complete idiot, but I’m not. And I wasn’t born yesterday. No one spends that kind of money on anything unless what they’re receiving in return is a pound of flesh.”
I pause, swallowing hard at how accurate his words are, but of course, he absolutely does not need to know that.
“What he’s receiving is the house he’ll get from the deal,” I tell him, trying to sound convincing. “He’s just doing us a small favor by patronizing our agency instead of going to a much bigger one, and it’s because he knows me. He’s just making a fuss now at the beginning because I was rude to him, and that has everything to do with our past and nothing to do with you. So, could you please just stay out of it and back off? I have it all under control, and when it goes beyond my control, of course, I’ll call you for help. Who else would I go to?”
He is silent again for a long while, the pause dragging on until I can feel the tension building in my chest.
“I would believe this if I didn’t know who you are,” he finally responds. “But I do know who you are, and I’m very aware of the lengths you will go to, to ensure that I am not hurt, and this is why I fucking cannot sleep. You know, sometimes I wish that—”
“Wish what?” I ask, my brows furrow. But he doesn’t respond.
“Nothing,” he says, and I shut my eyes again, frustration mounting.
“Dad—” I try again, but he ignores me.
“I’m going to fight this. This nightmare has to end. He can take everything from me, including the business, but he cannot take you.”
“Dad!”
But he has already cut the connection.
Disturbed and angry, I head back to the bathroom. As I set the phone down on the vanity to brush my teeth, another call comes in.
My heart lurches as I imagine it’s my father calling again to carry on his tirade, but it’s Leila, and to my surprise, I’m reluctant to speak to her as well, so I just stand there frozen and let my phone ring until it disconnects. With a sigh, I pick up my toothbrush, but Leila being Leila, doesn’t relent and my phone goes again. She’s not going to stop until I answer. I answer the video call.
Her face is full of concern and worry.
“You okay?” she asks.
“I’m fine,” I say as I start brushing my teeth aggressively.
“Are you sure,” she asks.
“I’m fine,” I reply after spitting into the sink. “I’m fine; everything’s okay. It’s just my dad spiraling.”
“Want me to go check on him?”
“Yes,” I reply, and she nods. “Alright, I’ll drop by a little later.”
“Thank you,” I say, giving her a weak smile.
“How... how are you holding up? Remember, we prepared for this. Don’t hesitate to let me know the moment you want to leave, and I won’t let you down. I’ll go to the police if I have to. You’ll be fine.”
“I’m fine,” I say and continue brushing my teeth. I don’t know if I can endure the shame of not following my own plan from the previous night.
“That’s a gorgeous bathrobe,” she says conversationally. “It looks like it costs a fortune.”
“It probably does,” I mutter.
“You’re extremely cranky.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologize. “I hate it when Dad and I argue. I just—”
“I think we need to get you out of there,” she says, her tone turning serious. “Was it... did he try to touch you last night? Was it that bad? Because if it was that bad, you can’t do this. You can’t endure this. Nothing in this world is worth the psychological damage it will cause you.”
“It wasn’t bad,” I say quickly.
“Oh,” she says, fighting to control her smile.
“It’s not funny,” I say, and she lets out a laugh that echoes across the room.
“Actually, it is,” she manages to say.
I turn away from the sink and start walking back to the bedroom.
“Wow!” she gasps.
“What?” I ask.
“Just taking in the space you’re in. I’m not even going to ask for another close-up, but just for the record, it’s breathtaking. Take some pictures for me, please, so I can use it for inspiration for my own bathroom and bedroom.”
“As if we could ever afford marble bathrooms,” I scoff.
“Oh, come on, Lara, just try to make the best of this situation. Just treat it like a one-night stand of sorts.”
“Well, it’s lasting more than one night, isn’t it?” I retort. “How is this supposed to be temporary when—”
I stop myself.
“When what?” she prompts curiously.
“When I couldn’t say no,” I confess. “I wanted him, Leila… with all my heart.”
“Listen to me, Lara. If you want him then, hell girl, enjoy the month. Do everything you want with him, and when it’s over you’ll have had something that 99.99% of women could never even dream of having. Trust me, we only regret experiences we don’t take, not those we do.”