Page 9 of Shattered Hope
“That’s even harder to believe,” he stated, as his tone dropped to icy-cold.
“Why? Are you famous or something?” I asked, intrigued.
The truth was I had been living off the grid for over three years. Daniel didn’t allow me to own a cell phone, and the television and internet services in the house had passwords I couldn’t access. He had done a thorough job keeping me out of touch with the world around me.
His frown became more profound, and I realized I had only increased his doubts in me.
“Some would say so,” he replied.
“Well, I’m sorry, but I have no idea who you are, and my presence at your door was a coincidence. I had been wandering the area looking for a job and was caught by nightfall before I could find a place to spend the night,” I explained. “You don’t have to believe me. All you have to do is open the door for me, and I will be out of your life forever,” I added, gesturing toward the door.
He shook his head. “I don’t buy it, and until I get the answers to my questions, you’re not going anywhere,” he assured her.
“That’s kidnapping,” I replied.
“Hardly. I would call it common sense. There is footage of you entering the garage, walking with me to the elevator, and at the elevator. You came here on your own. I’m only preventing you from getting killed in the storm outside,” he stated, in a matter-of-factly tone.
“You dragged me here,” I protested.
“Your word against mine, but we both know your protest has no ground. You didn’t struggle, nor put up a fight while I was bringing you here,” he pointed out.
Of course, he was right. I had been too nervous, too freaked out to do much.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to regain my calm and find a solution to the ordeal I was in, thanks to my big mouth.
“What do you want from me?” I finally asked, sure I wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Why don’t we start with you getting rid of those wet clothes and taking a warm shower? The bathroom door can be locked from the inside if that’s what worries you,” he said with a derisive grimace.
I pursed my lips, and knowing I had limited options right now, I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Do you have dry clothes in that bag of yours?” he asked, as I was turning around to head down the hallway he had mentioned before.
“Yes, thank you. I’ll be fine.”
Once behind the bathroom locked door, I dropped my things on the counter and leaned against the nearest wall, feeling suddenly weak. How the hell did I get into this mess? Would he let me go in the morning after the storm was over, or was he turning me in, to the police? I knew he had grounds to accuse me of trespassing, but he seemed more concerned with something else. Probably he thought I was into industrial espionage, considering his questions and his insistence on knowing what I was doing in the building.
Taking a few deep breaths to calm my shattered nerves, I decided to play by his rules and see where it led me. There wasn’t much else I could do.
I rapidly took off my clothes and stepped into the luxurious shower stall for the quickest shower of my life. Being completely naked in a room so close to him was stirring confusing reactions in me, and I didn’t like it. The sooner I had clothes on, the better.
A few minutes later, I was leaving the bathroom with a pile of wet clothes in my hand, not sure what to do with them. Putting them in my bag would only dampen the rest of my things, so I was hoping he would give me a plastic bag to put them in.
He frowned when he saw me coming into the living room. “You should have left the wet clothes in the bathroom. My housekeeper will take care of them,” he said in a disapproving tone.
“That’s very kind, but not necessary. I just need a plastic bag to put them in. I’ll take care of them as soon as possible,” I said, feeling embarrassed.
The whole situation was uncomfortable and awkward, and I hated to be in this position.
“I thought you said you had no place to go. Where exactly do you plan taking care of the clothes?” he asked, oozing scorn. “I doubt you have another coat inside that bag, so you’ll need the one you were wearing if you don’t want to freeze the moment you walk outside.”
He was right, of course, but I didn’t know what else to do.
5
Shaking his head impatiently, he walked over to where I was and grabbed the clothes, taking me by surprise.
Before I could utter a word, he was walking down the hall towards what I learned a few moments later, was the kitchen. I quickly followed him.
