Page 64 of Monster

“Come. With me.”

I sighed. “Fine, whatever. Lead the way, Gruff McScruff.”

I followed the man back down the stairs to the small landing before turning to take three more steps down to the level of the house where Teo’s bedroom existed. We walked through a door and down the familiar hallway Teo and I plodded along when he was first leading me up to my new place. But, instead of going back down another set of steps to get to the main floor, we continued down the hallway toward what looked like a plain old wall.

Until the guard reached out and pushed it.

“What in the world?” I murmured.

The door clicked before it swung open and I was in absolute shock. I would have never known that there was a door there had someone not shown it to me, and my curiosity piqued. I followed the stacked guard through the door before we hit another set up steps. Only this time, the steps surpassed my apartment and led straight to the roof.

And that’s when I realized something.

Teo wants to show me that I don’t have direct access to the roof.

In fact, I’m sure he also wanted to show me that I had to pass by his room in order to get to the roof access in the first place.

“Touché, Teo,” I murmured to myself.

The guard and I walked up the steps before he shoved his shoulder into a door. And when I stepped out onto the roof, the twinkling fairy lights caught my eye. They flickered in colors of periwinkle and pale blue, creating a beautiful ambiance as the sun slowly approached the horizon of the water spread out for our eyes to behold.

And right in the middle of the flat part of his rooftop was a table set for two.

“You look ravishing, Miss Pettigrew.”

I grinned as I sauntered up to him. “Seems like we had the same idea in mind.”

He looked down at his all-black suit. “This old thing? I haven’t worn it in ages.”

I held my arms out. “Same with this dress. Had to knock the dust off it.”

He chuckled. “I paid a pretty penny for that dress, I’d surely hope it didn’t have dust on it. Allow me.”

He pulled my chair out for me and I sat down. He helped me scoot underneath the table before he poured me a glass of rich red wine that had my mouth salivating. The man looked absolutely decadent in his suit. His skinny black tie sat against a crisp black button-front shirt with diamond cufflinks that sparkled in the setting beach sunlight. Salt water backdropped the breeze that wrapped around us as his brooding brown eyes twinkled with mischievousness. I squeezed my thighs together to keep myself grounded. I couldn’t get swept away by the romance of it all. Because no matter how I felt, I wasn’t this man’s lover.

I was his hostage.

“So, what's for dinner?” I asked.

Teo sat down in front of me. “Freshly baked lobster tail with filet mignon, a smooth mushroom sauce, fruit salad, fresh bread with butter, and tiramisu for dessert.”

My stomach growled. “This is the part where I tell you that my body is ready.”

He chuckled. “Good, because I’m starving as well. I haven’t eaten all day.”

I furrowed my brow. “Why not?”

“Ah, just got away from me, is all.”

I leaned back in my chair. “You sound frustrated. Is everything okay?”

He shook his head. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

I grinned. “Let me guess: my mother’s fighting you on my ransom note.”

The delightfulness from his face washed away, and in its place sat a stone cold, barricaded, lifeless poise that robbed me of my breath in all the wrong ways.

“Is the apartment to your liking?” he asked coolly.

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