Page 67 of Power and Possession

I was just about to go for a run when Steele asked me to join him in his office. It was odd the way he asked me. It felt so formal, and just so unlike our relationship. I sat across thedesk from him. His hair was the longest I’d seen it, and he kept pushing it out of his eyes uncomfortably as I fidgeted in my chair.

“What’s going on?”

He passed a legal envelope across the desk. I opened it, and my mouth dropped.

It was the deed to a small house near where I’d lived before. A set of car keys fell out of the envelope, and credit cards in my name. A phone. Fake identification.

“Steele, what the hell is this?”

His jaw was tense, but when he met my eyes, he instantly softened.

“I can’t keep you here anymore, Ashlynn. As much as I want to, it has to be your choice. I’m giving you your freedom. You’ll have a house, a car, credit cards and a large bank account, all in your name. Think of it as reparations for kidnapping you.”

I leaned back in the leather chair, shook. “You don’t have to do this. I don’t need your money.”

“Ashlynn, because of me, you have no job. No apartment. Most likely no trust fund. I’m sure your father disinherited you the second he figured out what you’d done for me. I owe you this.”

“I can’t accept it.” I pushed the envelope towards him, but he put his hand over mine.

“Please, take it. It’s the only way I can let you go. The house is in a safe area, and I don’t want you walking or running at night anymore. Promise me you’ll make smart choices. Stay safe.” His hand clenched mine tightly, and then he released it and stood up. He walked over to where I sat and brushed his lips gently against mine.

“I love you, Ashlynn. I’ll always love you. If you ever need anything, I’m here for you. Please know that.”

He looked at me one last time, and then blinked rapidly, and turned away and walked out of his study.

His men packed up my things swiftly, and by the afternoon, there was nothing left to do. Quincy pulled my new car around, a cute little white sedan that fit me perfectly. A few men loaded my car with the suitcase I was taking with me; the rest of my items would be following behind in a small moving truck.

I tried to say goodbye to Steele, but I couldn’t find him. I guessed that he’d left while I was packing, unable to watch me drive away. I was hurt, but I understood. The second I left his property, I’d no longer be his.

That fact alone hurt me more than I thought it would.

I hugged Glinda, who was crying, and shook hands with Quincy.

“No hard feelings, right Quincy?”

He gave a small smile, so tiny and fleeting that I thought I’d imagined it for a second, before he ignored me and looked ahead.

“Glinda, look after Steele,” I whispered, as she pulled me tight for another hug. “Try to get him to cut back on his drinking.

“I will,” she promised.

There was nothing left to do. I slid into the driver’s seat and started the ignition. I circled the loop, and then started down the long driveway. Out of my rear-view mirror, I could see Steele standing in the window of the room I’d occupied. He was watching me off, watching me disappear from his life.

I didn’t even get down to the gate before I burst into tears.

The house was bigger than I needed, and it had a gated drive and a pretty advanced security system. Based on the bits of plaster on the floor directly underneath the control pad, I had a feeling that Steele had it installed just for me.

He wanted me safe.

His men were instructed to move all my furniture in and set everything up. The rooms were much larger than the ones in my flat, and I’d have to get some extra furniture to fill the space. I had two free rooms now, and I planned to use one as a dark room so I could focus on my photography, and then turn the other one into a guest room.

I finished organizing the kitchen the way I wanted it, and then I went upstairs to unpack my clothes and accessories. I’d told Steele’s men to leave that stuff to me; I didn’t want his cronies sorting out my bras and underwear.

The elegant evening gowns had been packed, and I sighed, not having the slightest clue what I’d need them for now. But I hung them in the closet anyway, and I continued to put away my shirts and pants in the dresser drawer.

When I pulled out my last pair of jeans, a tiny box slipped out.

A ring box.

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