Those two words again.
“Keep this phone on you,” he says, bringing me the device he left on the counter earlier. “And everything in those bags is yours. If you want to wash anything before you wear it, the laundry room is at the end of the hall on your side of the penthouse. I mean it when I say to make yourself at home, Anastasia. I have a feeling you haven’t ever had the chance to do that before, but that’s changing now.”
Then he walks away, leaving me alone in the enormous living room with nothing to do except whatever I want. And I’m not sure if I’m scared or more excited than I’ve ever been in my life.
Chapter Nine
Patrick
I can’t stop watching her.
As soon as I got into my home office, I turned on my computer and navigated straight to my camera system. Then I watched. And I haven’t stopped. I should be working, but nothing will be getting done tonight. The only thing I’m interested in is making sure she’s okay.
At first, she stood in the middle of the living room looking around like she wasn’t sure what had just happened. She hadn’t expected me to be nice to her. It pissed me the fuck off. She isn’t used to being treated like a human.
Every second she hesitantly walks around the penthouse, I want to put a bullet in her father’s forehead. Part of me wants to beg her to tell me all the bad stuff he’s done to her, while the other part is scared to know because I might really lose my shit and torture the motherfucker for a long time before I let him die.
Then, when she disappears into her room, one of the few places in the house where I don’t have a camera, I sit and stare at the screen, willing her to come back out so I can see her again.
Finally, at ten minutes to six, she emerges slowly as if walking on eggshells. My fingers tighten around my glass of whiskey. She shouldn’t be scared of moving around the house. This is her home. At least until the one on the estate gets built.
I am pleased that she’s changed into a new outfit. I’ll burn the clothes she arrived in. I will do everything possible to make her forget everything in her past, even what she was forced to wear. I did okay choosing the right size for leggings, but the fuzzy pink sweater I picked out practically goes down to her knees. Maybe it’s meant to be oversized. Either way, it’s adorable as fuck, and she looks warm and comfortable.
She opens the refrigerator and bends down slightly to look at the array of dishes my housekeeper has left. As she checks them out, her ass sways, and I curse. Fuck. She’s so small, but her ass is perfectly rounded.
The way she pulls one container out, looks at it, and then moves on to another is adorable. I’m not sure if she can’t decide what she wants or if she’s so hungry she wants it all.
Fuck it. She’s getting it all. Even if I have to make the decision for her. Slamming my laptop closed, I head out to the kitchen as quietly as possible, not wanting to startle her. The heels of my shoes click softly on the tile floor when I walk into the kitchen, and she instantly tenses, her knuckles turning white as she grips the fridge door.
“Easy, Anastasia. I just came to get some supper.” I keep a distance from her, leaning my hip against the counter on the other side of the island so there’s something between us. It kind of feels like I’m trying not to scare a baby deer. The cutest damn deer I’ve ever seen.
“What are you eating? Anything in there look good?”
Slowly, she holds up a container of spaghetti and then looks at the microwave behind my head.
Right. She needs to heat it.
“Heat it for four minutes, and it should be perfectly hot. I’ve done a lot of trial and error.” I chuckle and move out of her way, then take her place in front of the fridge to pick out some more options.
Unsure of what she would like more, I grab a meatloaf and a sliced sirloin with vegetables and mashed potatoes. All the best comfort foods. I have a feeling she’s going to need a lot of comfort.
When the microwave dings, I hurry over to grab her food before she does so she doesn’t burn herself. The quick movement causes her to gasp and step back, but when I set the container on a plate and hold it out for her, I swear, her eyes are smiling.
“Go sit at the table. I’ll bring you a bottle of water unless you’d prefer something else?”
She shakes her head and scurries away from me. I hate that she’s not speaking, but I’m a patient man, and I can deal with head nods and shakes for the time being. At least she’s giving me that much. Her entire world has been tipped upside down, and while I’d like to think it’s for the better, it must be terrifying for her. She has no idea of my intentions or that I truly have none other than not being able to leave her with that bastard.
I pop my food into the microwave just as my phone sounds. After I slide it from my pocket and glance at the screen, I see a message in my group chat with all the girls. I sigh. I’m sure the word has spread quickly.
Chloe
Cali said you have a girlfriend. Are you her Daddy?
Cali
Chloe! You weren’t supposed to say anything.
Scarlet