Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
“I would believe you, but I don’t think you even believe yourself,” she challenges me.
What the fuck? Are we even still talking about the apology, or is this something else?
“You don’t get to tell me what I do or don’t believe. I’m apologizing to you, and instead of accepting my apology, you’re critiquing it.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “Don’t apologize unless you mean what you’re saying. I don’t accept half-hearted apologies.”
“Then don’t accept it. I don’t really give a shit.”
“Sure, whatever.” She frowns, then schools her expression. “Apology done; you can leave, conscience free of any wrongdoing.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I growl, surprised by her change in attitude and response. I won’t lie. I kind of expected her to accept the apology and move on. Instead, she’s throwing it in my face, and I don’t like it.
“Nothing is wrong with me. I’m just done letting you believe that I don’t see things for what they are. I’m tired of pretending since we both know you didn’t come out here to apologize or make sure I’m okay. Since we know ‘maid’ status doesn’t get that kind of treatment, I figure what’s the point.”
“Look, I said I was sorry. You misinterpreted what you heard.”
“And I told you I don’t accept your apology, so let’s move on.”
I shake my head because my only other option is to grab her by the throat and kiss the fuck out of her, and that’s not going to help either of us right now.
“Outside of apologizing, I came out here because security sent me an alert that someone was in the cottage. I figured it was you, so I told them I’d come and check it out myself.”
“Great, well, you checked, and all is well. As you can see.” She gestures at herself.
“Yeah, I don’t really believe that, and if you’re trying to evade the question I asked earlier, I’m not leaving until you tell me what the hell is going on.”
There’s no witty comeback or immediate response, and my heart sinks into my stomach as the seconds drag. Her gaze darts from mine, and I see raw shame filling her blue eyes. She can hide from everyone else, but she can’t hide from me.
“Elyse,” I warn. “I’m trying really fucking hard to let you tell me what happened and not force it out of you, but my patience only goes so far.”
“I know.” Her voice wobbles.
“Then tell me what happened so I can try to help.”
She releases a harsh breath, her body sagging. “Fine, but I’m only telling you because you’re making me and not because I want you to do anything.”
I nod in agreement, and she speaks again. “When we returned from the trip, a couple of days after or something like that, I came home from classes and found my room trashed. I thought maybe it was you trying to get even with me.”
“What? Why would I?” I pause, and then it dawns on me. The suits. She thought I would be getting revenge on her. “Sorry, continue…”
She exhales slowly. “I was going to find you and give you a piece of my mind, but I decided instead to clean up the room first. Cool off a little. Then I found a note.”
Her entire body quivers at the confession, her gaze far away.
“A note from who?” I have a sneaking suspicion, but I need her to say it just to be sure. To make it real.
She looks away. “Yanov.”
Fuck. I release her with a snarl and shove to my feet. How did he get in the house? I thrust a hand through my hair and start pacing the small room so I don’t return to my bedroom, grab my gun, and hunt the fucker down myself.
My thoughts are going a million miles an hour. How did this happen? Why didn’t my security tell me?
I should’ve anticipated this, should’ve been prepared.
“And this is why I didn’t want to say anything to begin with. I’m not looking for sympathy or help. I have it figured out already; in fact, I’m going to handle it myself,” Elyse tells me almost proudly. Or fucking stubbornly.
I let out a dark, humorless chuckle. “You’re going to handle it? By doing what? Waiting in the trap he set for you? By offering to suck my cock again? By begging him pretty please to let you go?”
Stupid, stupid girl.
She wrinkles her nose at me. “There’s no need to be mean. I said I’m going to deal with it, and I will. I’m not some princess in need of rescuing.”
I snort. “Good, because this isn’t a Disney movie, Elyse. This is real life. Real fucking life. Life-and-death.”
“You say that like I don’t know what it’s like to be on the fringes of death. News flash, Sebastian, but I’ve been dealing with Yanov for the better portion of my life. I’ll take care of it.”