Page 16 of Fiercely Protective

He had me there.“That’s exactly why I can’t accept your help. I’ll think of something. Needing money and running away from a dangerous man is not exactly new to me.”

The tremor in my voice as well as my words must have tipped him off. He tilted his head to the side and his face turned serious. “Are you running from something, Angel? Has someone hurt you?”

I looked away quickly. “No, I just need the money. Like I said earlier, if you weren’t listening, some of us in the real world find it difficult to pay our bills.”

The car came to a stop outside a large skyscraper. “Where are we?”

“This is where you will be staying, at least until I deem it safe for you to be elsewhere.”

The driver came around and opened the door for us. Mr. Delaney gave me a boost from his lap and then followed behind me.

“An office building?”

He chuckled. “There is a penthouse on the 21stfloor. I hope you will find it adequate.”

We walked through the glass doors into the building and two security guards at the front desk jumped to attention.

“Good evening, Mr. Delaney.”

“Good evening, Craig, Brian.”

We continued walking to the elevator, he took a card from inside his coat and swiped it. The elevator doors closed, and we began moving up to the 21stfloor.

“Let me try to explain this to you again. Apparently, you are having difficulty understanding me. I have rent to pay. If I don’t have a job, I will lose my apartment, and I can’t just move without giving notice to my landlord. Besides, I have things at my apartment that I need. I wasn’t thinking when I left for my interview this morning that I would not be returning. I don’t have time for this.”

“I will deal with your landlord and hire a moving company to pack your things. Any more concerns?”

I put my hands on my hips. “I need to tell my friends where I am. I don’t want them to worry about me.”

“The same friends from the club that allowed you to disappear with a man you didn’t know? The friends that never bothered to look for you when you didn’t return? If so, you don’t need them.”

I clenched my teeth tighter, hoping he would notice my frustration. “I have other friends.”

The elevator stopped and the doors opened directly into the luxurious penthouse. He held his arm out for me to enter first. The only sound was the echo of my heels clicking across the marble floors. My eyes widened as I took in the expansiverooms before me. I shouldn’t be surprised that a man like him would have access to such luxury, but after living in a small one-bedroom apartment that was just barely large enough for me and the few things I owned, this seemed like a mansion, and I suppose it was.

I stopped and watched as he walked farther into the room, his steps slowed as he removed the jacket he had been wearing and casually draped it across the back of the leather sofa. The interior and furnishings were reminiscent of his office. Everything was black or white, with dark color schemes, leather, sparkling crystal chandeliers, and cold expensive tile and marble.

“Shall I give you a tour?”

My feet felt heavy, but I managed to cross the room to where he was waiting for me.

“There is a large kitchen equipped with everything you could need, well…except food. If you make a list, I will have someone do the shopping for you.”

I looked around at the extra-large professional kitchen with shiny stainless-steel appliances that appeared to have never been used. “I can do my own shopping.”

“You won’t have time for things like that. As I mentioned before, you no longer have to worry about trivial matters. I will take care of you.”

He stepped closer and I got a whiff of his cologne and perhaps a touch of brandy.

“There is coffee here and the bakery down the street delivers. They do have the best cinnamon rolls in the city.”

He gripped my elbow softly before letting his fingers slide down my arm to take my hand and then pulled me through to the dining room where a large table for eight dominated the space. A crystal chandelier hung above it with an ostentatious fresh flower arrangement as the centerpiece.

“Feel free to order any flowers you like. The florist in the building changes them out weekly. If you have a preference, simply let me know.” He continued pulling me forward. “There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.”

We stepped into one of the bedrooms. There was a king-size bed along the wall with a thick white down comforter and at least a dozen pillows.

“This is to be your room. Through those doors is a large closet where you will find the purchases you made today. The bathroom is on the opposite side, and I feel you will find it more than adequate. I had it stocked with products and what I felt you may need, but of course, you need only make a list if there is anything else you wish for.”

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