Page 11 of We're Not Strangers Anymore

Grayson

I noticed the tension in Rowan's shoulders as we entered the dimly lit penthouse. "Come on," I urged, guiding her to a plush seat. "Pretend to like me just for a little bit, you’ll feel a lot less stressed."

She rolls her eyes. “Try not feeling stressed whenyou’rekidnapped.”

Pouring a couple of drinks, I try to coax a smile from her. "Don’t look at it like that, look at it like we’re just on areallylong date,” I chuckle. “It's just us here. I’m not so bad when I’m not working." I say with a smile, attempting to make her feel more comfortable.

Rowan takes a hesitant sip, eyeing me warily. As the warmth of the drink touches her lips, I decide to lighten the mood. "I miss your pretty smile I saw the other night. You liked me at first, remember?”

“Please,” she scoffs, “I need another drink or ten so that I don’t have to remember that night. You’re a great manipulator, you know that?”

I laugh at the tough exterior she’s trying to portray.

“I was just doing my job, Row. If it helps, I actually did want to know everything about you– for myself, not just for business.”

“Well I might have told you a thing or two had youactuallytaken me on a date instead of to a warehouse in the middle of bum fuck.” she says, looking away from me. Yeah, not my mostperfect gentlemanmoment.

I plop down on the seat opposite her. “What if I take you on a date now. Would you still tell me about yourself?”

Rowan’s laughter bubbled up and she leaned in with a serious expression. “I won’t accept that offer again, I’d hate to end up with another chloroform rag over my face.”

I nod, grinning at her fiery attitude. The girl is quick-witted, I’ll give her that. “Believe me, I didn’t want it to have to be that way, but I couldn’t risk you trying to jump from my car on the highway.”

She leans back, shaking her head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You could have just, oh I don’t know–notkidnapped me.”

“And when you understand why I did you’ll be grateful.” I clip.

She scoffs. “You know, you’re actually such an asshole. I get plenty of guys hitting on me in my line of work and nine times out of ten I reject them. I finally accept a date and I get drugged and abducted.”

I lean in, resting my arms on her legs, she twitches at my touch for a moment but doesn’t move. “I know plenty of men would kill for the chance with you,”That’s what I’m literally doing.“And I’m sorry things happened this way. But there’s just so much you can’t understand right now, Rowan.”

“You’re fucking weird.” Not exactly what I expected her to say. “You keep trying to pretend like you’re saving me from something. My life in Detroit wasn’tthatbad so if that’s whatyou think you’re saving me from you’re not. You’re stealing the independence I worked for.”

I’d rather let her make her assumptions. Whatever it takes for her to ask less questions.

“Why did you leave Chicago, Rowan?”

“I’ll answer that when you tell me why you’re doing this.” She snaps.

“Because your father stole from me. Your turn.” I say flatly.

“Yeah I got that but why didn’t you kill him or have him pay it off?”

“That’s not important,” I tell her, pouring her another scotch, “you’re safe with me Rowan, but you can’t try to leave or I can’t promise you will be.”

“What is that supposed to even mean?”

“It means stop asking questions.” I snap.

Rowan’s eyes narrow, a touch of irritation in her voice. “Fine. If you’re so secretive I won’t bother asking anymore. Just don’t expect me to stick around.” What the hell does she mean by that?

“You seem to have forgotten you don’t have a choice, darling. I decide what you do and where you’ll be. Your job is to trust and obey. Got it?”

“Andyouhave seem to forgotten I’m not a fucking dog and you don’t get to tell me what to do!”

“Or what?” I challenge.

“Huh?” she says confused.

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