Page 91 of The Painter and His Poet

His eyes narrow, studying me. “Just remember I will hit you where it hurts the most if you don’t do as I fucking say. By refusing me, your mother suffers. All I want is peace in my house, and if this is the only way I’m going to get it, then so be it.”

I nod, trying to ignore the simmering fury inside.Peace? This is nothing more than control, and he’s not going to stop until he has it all. What he fails to realise is that neither will I, and more importantly, he has played right into my hands.

TWENTY-FIVE

STERLING

“So, what exactly have you been doing whilst we’ve been away?” I hear Melody ask Harlow as I step into the kitchen a couple of days later. Harlow is making herself a coffee and her mother is leaning against the counter eyeing her with a mixture of frustration and disdain. “You know we have staff who can do that. Why do you insist on doing it yourself? I suppose you’ve been cleaning your own room too?”

“Because I want to,” Harlow replies tightly, her back to me. “It’s just a cup of coffee, and yes, as a matter of fact I have. I don’t need anyone to wait on me hand and foot.”

“You always did love Cinderella. I never could quite understand why the prince would marry a pauper when he could’ve had his pick,” Melody scoffs, and her meaning is clear. God, what a bitch.

“Pretty sure the prince married Cinderella because she was the only woman whodidn’twant to marry him for his money or for notoriety,” I remark darkly as I scowl at Melody, before resting my gaze on Harlow. “Plus she was fucking beautiful inside and out.”

Harlow gasps and Melody visibly pales before she waves her hand in the air with a fake smile.

“You know what I meant.”

“Oh I knowexactlywhat you meant.”

Melody clears her throat as she slowly drifts her gaze from my face to my bare chest, then to my workout shorts, before trailing her eyes back up again. “Did you sleep well?” Her voice lowers a few octaves, as she blatantly checks me out. Does this woman not have any shame?

“I’ve been up a few hours already, working out,” I say, reaching for the towel chucked over my shoulder and swiping at the beads of sweat gathering on my forehead.

“Yes, you have been, haven't you?” Melody replies, her brow arching as her gaze flickers with appreciation. I try not to throw up on my feet.

“I was about to take a swim, then head into the sauna, but I think I might grab a coffee first,” I say, heading towards the counter. There’s no fucking way I’m leaving Harlow alone with this bitch.

Harlow peers at me over the rim of her cup as she watches me approach, and I can’t help but notice the flicker of both desireandfear in her gaze. Thank fuck her mother is looking the other way.

“Well, there’s plenty here,” Melody says, waving her hand in the direction of the coffee machine. “Perhaps Harlow can pour you a cup seeing as she’s so insistent on playing housemaid.”

“Like Harlow, I prefer to get my own coffee,” I bite back, wanting to prove to Melody that, unlike her, I also don’t need to be waited on, but the insinuation is lost on her as she continues to ramble on.

“... Your darling father has arranged for a spa day for me at the hotel whilst he catches up on some business. I’m rather looking forward to relaxing. Harlow, you couldn’t be a darling could you, and take a look at the emails my agent sent? I think she wants Robert and I to do an interview with one of thenational newspapers next week. Oh, and I really think that you should be getting back to work too. Just because I’ve been away on honeymoon doesn't mean you should be slacking.”

“Slacking?” Harlow tenses, her mouth opening as though she wants to say something to the bitch.Please, Harlow, just tell her to fuck off. Instead, she just sighs. “Sure, I’ll take a look.”

“It’ll do you good to get back to work instead of moping around the place, and doing jobs that other people have been paid to do,” Melody says, only adding insult to injury.

Fuck me, if this woman says one more nasty comment I’m going to lose my shit. Instead, I grit my teeth, and grab a cup from the cupboard, reminding myself that I have to curb my thoughts right now despite how much it pains me to do so.

“Excuse me,” I murmur, stepping in between Harlow and Melody as I help myself to some coffee. Harlow edges out of the way, making a point of not looking at me, and it’s taking a great deal of effort not to reach out and pull her in for a hug. She sure looks like she could use one, and I know I certainly do.

Fuck, it’s hard not to act on my desires, and whilst I’ve purposefully stayed out of her way these past couple of days after my conversation with my father, this morning, admittedly, I had hoped to get a few moments alone with her. There are things we need to discuss.

“Perfect, well, I’ll leave you to it,” Melody replies, pressing her fingertips against my arm. It’s all I can do not to jerk away from her touch, which lingers a lot longer than necessary. “Actually, Robert was looking for you. He’s in his study. I was heading there myself.”

“I’ll drink this first,” I say, giving her room to pass.

“I think it was rather urgent,” she insists when I make no move to go with her, and instead lean against the kitchen island.

“I’m sure it can wait a few more minutes,” I cut out, my patience slipping.

She looks at me, her eyes narrowing a little before she nods her head. I get the distinct impression that she’s not used to being defied. “Well, I’ll tell him you’ll be along shortly. Have a nice day, won’t you?” she says directly to me, ignoring Harlow entirely.

With one last smile, which I don’t bother to return, she leaves.

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