Page 109 of Charity's Redemption

“What is cooking?” I asked, trying to get her to engage.

Zoe lifted her head. Her bright blue doe-like eyes caught my attention as a small smile touched her lips. She seemed so innocent with her silky blonde hair placed into a French twist. “We’re having pesto pasta. It’s my favorite,” she said with a slight British accent.

“That sounds delicious.”

“It’s almost ready. I’m just letting it sit for a moment.”

“Why don’t we have a seat,” Adams said. “Would you like a drink?”

“Oh no,” I said, holding my hands out. Nico pressed his lips together and smiled. “I mean, no, thank you. I don’t drink anymore.”

“Right.” Adams pinched his brows together as if he tried to figure out my outburst.

“I had an awful experience,” I said, holding my belly.

Zoe giggled like the innocent woman I thought she was. Then Adams cleared his throat and snapped his fingers, ruining the moment and wiping the smile from her face as though he slapped her.

She jumped from her chair, head hanging down, and hustled into the kitchen while Adams walked back into the living room and poured himself and Nico a glass of clear liquor.

“Sometimes, she forgets herself.”

“She seems really sweet.”

“She can be. But she’s disobedient, and that gets her into trouble.”

“I think all women are like that,” Nico said.

“Nico,” I said through clenched teeth as I glared.

Adams kept his back to us as I chastised Nico through looks alone. With all the chauvinistic comments he’s making tonight, they better be for show. Unless his true colors came out when he’s around his clients, and he isn’t as kind as he portrayed.

A smirk tilted a corner of his mouth, sending the butterflies in my stomach flying.

Adams turned with two drinks in his hands and placed one in front of Nico. “No offense, Charity.”

“Oh yeah, none taken.”

How was a woman not to take offense to something like that? Clearly, he thought women were beneath him by the way he snapped at Zoe. It’s no wonder she wouldn’t testify against him and corroborated his story.

It’s why many abused women do the same thing.

Fear.

Coercion.

Conditioning.

Zoe came back out, wiping her hands on a dishrag with gold emblems embossed on the ends. “Dinner is ready.”

She flicked her eyes from Adams to me, then dipped her head and walked back into the kitchen. Their relationship sent spiders crawling up my back, and it only made me that much more ready to shove a fork in his throat.

“Oh, that’s a great idea,” I blurted, throwing a hand over my mouth.

Nico turned towards me with wide eyes as Adams tilted his head.

“What is?”

“Oh, um…” Clearing my throat, I continued, “Eating.” I patted my stomach. “I’m starved.”

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