Page 31 of Room Service
I brought Elise up to my penthouse, and she’s currently sat on the sofa, the red mark on her cheek looking like a fucking beacon and making my blood boil. I will never condone a man hitting a woman. It’s one of the most cowardly things a man can do, and that guy sure as hell was no man. I’m not going to presume anything here. There is clearly a story, and Elise needs to be the one to tell it, if she chooses to.
I may have a heart carved of stone, because my past has made it that way, but for Elise… fuck, what am I thinking?
I shake my head and carry the tea I made her over to the coffee table in front of her, and I place it on a coaster. Her eyes are red-rimmed, and she hasn’t so much as uttered a word since she composed herself just enough for me to get her up here without me carrying her like some kind of fucking caveman. I didn’t fail to notice the deadpan expression Hayley gave me when she saw me whisking Elise away, but I also don’t have to explain my actions to her, and she will quickly learn that if she is to stay working for me. At present, I have no plans to change the staffing arrangements around here, but if my hand is forced, I’ll have no problem in putting certain people in their place.
“Drink,” I say as I point to the cup and Elise finally looks at me, her eyes showing the broken parts inside of her. I thought those broken parts were on the way out, but whatever that little showdown was that I heard from the corridor, and then walked in on, have clearly set her back.
“Thank you,” she whispers as she reaches for the cup and takes a sip. I put extra sugar in there for the shock she must have experienced. I don’t know how it fucking helps, but it’s the British way—drink a cup of tea and it’ll ease all your problems. If only it were that fucking simple.
“I should get back to work,” she says quietly as she sets the cup back down, only that one sip taken.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I tell her. “You’re going to take all the time you need.”
“I can’t afford to,” she admits, biting her bottom lip and blinking rapidly.
“You will still be paid, Elise, so there’s no rush.”
“I don’t need you to make allowances for me, Dorien.” Her tone is a little sharper, that flare igniting that holds me captive. It’s still there, still simmering away. Good. She’s going to need all the fucking flare to deal with me.
“I’m not making allowances. I’m merely making sure my employee is cared for.”
“You do this for all of your employees?” she asks, stumping me. Bugger. “That’s what I thought.” She stands up and brushes down her uniform, probably just for something to do.
“Okay, fine, I might have a soft spot when it comes to you,” I admit.
“But why?” she asks, as if it’s an impossible thought that someone may actually give her some kindness, some compassion, some goddamn grace to fall apart.
“I’m still figuring that one out myself.” It’s true. I have no idea why she’s so endearing to me, but I plan to keep on finding out. I haven’t even thought about being with another woman since our first night together—another fucking first for me.
“I appreciate it, Dorien, I really do, but Hayley will have my arse if I don’t go back out there.”
“Hayley will do no such thing.”
She scoffs. “You don’t know her very well yet.” And then her eyes widen as she admitted something I already knew. Hayley has seemed like some kind of shark since I first met her, which isn’t a bad thing when it comes to business, but when it comes to actually dealing with the very staff that keep this place running, I’m going to need her to stop being so fucking callous.
I clench my jaw at the thought of her walking out of here still broken, but who am I to make her stay? Who am I to make her talk to me about what happened? Who the fuck am I to try and delve into any kind of feelings when I’ve had mine shut off for so long?
“If you need to talk, I’ll be here,” I tell her, giving her a nod to show I’m not going to stop her. Her lips are pursed as she nods back and then makes her way to the door, but she stops as her hand lands on the handle and turns her head back to look at me.
“Thank you for your kindness. You have no idea how much it means to me.” A soft smile graces her face, and fuck me, why does she have to leave again? But I don’t speak as she disappears, the door shutting quietly, leaving me with nothing but thoughts of how on earth she’s making me feel something for someone other than myself.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
ELISE
My phone has been blowing up all evening, alternating between my parents and Derrick. I have nothing to say to any of them, and as I switch my phone off for the time being, I know that tomorrow I need to take the next step and contact a divorce solicitor. It’ll take what pitiful savings I have, and it will probably cost me months of wages, but I need to start the ball rolling and be done with it all.
I’m sat on Celeste’s sofa, and I’ve poured my heart out to her. She’s let me cry and then rage, and now I’m throwing a little pity party for myself as I sip a vodka tonic and wonder how my life became so fucked-up to start with.
“Elise, you know you can stay here for as long as you need,” Celeste tells me, for what feels like the millionth time. I hate imposing on anyone, which is probably why I stuck out my shitty marriage for as long as I did, if I’m being honest. I want to be able to stand on my own two feet and show the world what I’m made of, but I’m going to have to suck it up for the time being and graciously accept my best friend’s offer of help.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I tell her honestly, thanking my lucky stars that we made friends all those years ago.
“Good thing you don’t have to find out,” she says as she throws a pillow at me and laughs. “Now, what are we watching? I’m going to say an action flick rather than a chick flick, you know, what with you having no tears left to cry.”
“Sounds perfect,” I say as I throw the pillow back at her and we curl up on the sofa, and I try to push all of my worries out of my mind, even if it’s only for tonight.
* * *
