Page 11 of Something Borrowed

“I stayed at Sammy’s place.” I smile. “Morning, daddy.”

“Like hell you did. Where the fuck were you? His fury clear as the veins on his forehead protrude. Which means they pretty much always stand out.

“Daddy, stop being such a worrier. I was at Sammy’s.”

“Stop doing this, Verity. You can’t be out all night and sneaking home in the same dress you went clubbing in. When are you going to grow up? I can still smell the alcohol on you. People see you. People I know and work with. What do you think they say about your behavior?”

I sigh, grin and roll my eyes.

“Stop being so dramatic. And I’m notsneakinghome.” I laugh, ignoring his obvious annoyance.

“Verity, I need you to take this seriously? Don’t make me send you away. Start learning to behave like a lady.”

He’s always threatening to send me to a convent in Europe, but I don’t believe him. Even if I thought the threat was real, it wouldn’t change who I am - I don’twantto be a lady. I want to havefun.

“I’m going to shower.” I call as I walk up the stairs towards my bedroom.

“Verity - I’m talking to you?—”

His voice fades when I close my bedroom door.

I’m twenty-three. I’m not a kid anymore but he still tries to control everything. It drives me crazy.

After a shower and a fresh new outfit I’m almost human again. But if I really want to get rid of this hangover, I need to get some food in my body.

Picking up my phone to see if anyone is free for breakfast I scroll through my messages and my heart stops.

Unknown: You left in far too much of a hurry. I want more.

Of course, I know exactly who it is. But how did he get this number? No one gets this number unless I give it to them.

Me: Who says that what you want matters?

I giggle when I hit send.

Why do I feel like a girl with her first crush?

I can’t let this guy get to me in this way.

I’d better be careful.

Rufino: What I want matters because I always get what I want.

Me: Prove it.

If he wants to see me again, he’s going to work for it. I won’t make it easy, just because it’s more fun that way.

Besides, I can’t let him know I want to see him just as much.

CHAPTER FOUR

Rufino

Verity left my penthouse with my coffee mug.

The audacity of it makes me want her a hundred times more. I chuckle every time I think about it.

She’s so fucking cocky and full of shit.

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