Page 20 of Cruel Dominion

It sounded…boring.

Suffocating.

“How about if I—” Summer started, then faltered, snapping her lips closed.

“What?”

She smiled sheepishly.

“I mean, James has friends… you said you weren’t looking, but neither was I when I met him,” she said with a suggestive raise of her eyebrows.

I was in no shape to be anybody’s girlfriend. Not even one of James’s eligible colleagues. A surgeon boyfriend would impress my father, for sure, but after Josh, I wasn’t interested in any man. With my luck, I’d garner the attention of Josh the sequel.

“I just got out of something so no. I’m not.”

The expectant look didn’t leave her eyes, but she nodded, giving up. My last relationship took from me a year I was never getting back. Maybe one day I’d try again, but right now, I still felt empty and anyone who tried to look inside would just be disappointed.

Summer and I departed with a hug and a promise to see each other again soon. I’d promised to get home for a dinner with a guest Dad was hosting tonight. He told me that under no circumstances was I allowed to be late.

I rested my head against the window as David drove me back home.

“David?”

“Yes, Miss Vaughn.”

“You can call me Anna,” I said.

He paused.

“Yes, Anna?”

“You wouldn’t happen to know who is coming to the house this evening, would you?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have that information.”

I didn’t believe him, but I didn’t think it was any use pressing him. David knew all my movements outside the house. The security at the compound knew when I left and came back. There were cameras outside and inside the house so whoever watched them knew how often I checked the fridge for snacks.

I thought my freedom was worth everything that I lost when I ran away. There had to be more to life than what I was allowed to have. At the moment, I wasn’t sure anymore.

Rosie let me in when I got to the house, and I found my will to smile when I saw her face, pulling her soft body to mine for a tight hug.

“Miss. Vaughn,” she protested, but when it became clear I wasn’t letting go just yet, she patted my back, beginning to relax.

“I missed you,” I said, straightening, her familiar scent still in my nose.

“Yes, well,” she said, face red as she straightened her apron. “If you hadn’t left, you wouldn’t have had cause to, now would you.”

I only grinned wider. There was the take-no-shit attitude I’d missed so much.

“You’re right,” I told her with a little laugh. “Like always.”

She coughed into her closed fist but couldn’t entirely conceal the ghost of a smile tugging at one corner of her mouth.

I sighed, knowing this welcome would be the only warm thing I’d experience for the rest of the evening. A chill skated up my arms. Whatever, no, whoever, my father had in store for me was bound to be a fucking treat.

“Guess I should…” I trailed off, my limbs heavy as I crossed the entry to the grand staircase, but Rosie was having none of it. She trudged up after me, huffing as she followed.

“Anna, your father left instructions for you to get ready for dinner.”

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