Page 87 of The Billionaire's Bride
"I can’t," he mutters. "We all agreed."
"No, the two of you agreed." I throw up my hands. "Oh, for fuck’s sake."
I brush past him, out the door, and run into Baron. He stares at me, then at Ed, a strange look in his eyes.
"What?" I snap. "What do you want?"
"Eve, please." I hear Edward approach, and fuck, I really don’t want to talk to either of them now. I brush past Baron, take the steps two at a time. I reach my room, slam the door and bolt it, then throw myself on the bed.
"Bloody hell." I bury my face in my pillow. This entire situation is untenable. I really have to get away from them. Just be on my own, get a respite from this crazy sexual tension that’s always there when I am with either of them. It’s just not possible that I am so attracted to both… That I can’t make up my mind if I prefer one over the other.
Someone knocks on the door.
"Go the fuck away," I growl.
"You missed lunch," Baron calls out.
"I am not hungry."
"I am leaving your plate by the door."
"Go away," I yell, then bury my face in my pillow again. Exhausted, I fall asleep, and when I awake next, the light is fading outside. My stomach grumbles. I slide off the bed, walk to the entrance and open my bedroom door. I glance outside, then on the floor. On a tray near the door is a covered plate. I snatch it up, shut the door, then sit on a table near the window and polish off the sandwich. It’s a little soggy, but still delicious.
Wonder who made it? Baron or Edward? Probably, Edward made it, and Baron brought it to me. Gah! The two of them have a certain understanding between them that comes from having known each other for years. There's animosity between them, no doubt, but they seem to be getting along better than ever. And hell, if I am not beginning to think fondly of both of them. This, despite the fact that both of them feel that they have the right to order me around.
Shit. I really need to find a way out of here. If I can get to the main road, I can hitchhike back, right? Why couldn’t the alphaholes have trusted me enough to give me a phone? Well, this is why… Because I’d have found a way out of here much faster. Damn it, why can’t they treat me like I can make up my own mind? Because I can’t? After all, I am still dithering over which one of them is my ‘one’? Bloody hell, all this thinking is definitely not helping me any. I jump up, begin to pace. I only have to stay awake until they go to bed. And then I can leave.
I can try to find the keys to Baron’s SUV…and then drive away. They might hear me leave, but that’s okay. They don’t have another mode of transportation. By the time they figure out a backup plan, I’ll be long gone.
They haven’t mentioned any security around the place. I haven’t seen anything either. Bet they thought keeping an eye on me was enough, right? Would it be safe, though? Is it safer to stay here? Not for my sanity, at any rate. I am done bending to their will. It’s time for me to strike out, assert my independence. I’ve come this far, haven’t I? I’ve forged my own way in the world, despite everyone telling me I couldn’t make it. I’m only twenty-one, and an entrepreneur already. I founded my studio, cultivated a successful clientele… I can do this.
An hour later, I am dressed in jeans and a shirt, with a jacket. I still have my handbag, so I pull out my wallet, check the money I have, and my credit cards. Yeah, I’ll be okay. I pace a little, glance out of the window, wait. A few hours later, I hear the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. The footsteps approach, stop outside my door. Then there’s a knock.
"Ava," Edward calls, "are you coming to dinner?"
"I’m not hungry," I call back.
"Did you eat your lunch?"
"Yes," I snap, “now go away."
"You still sulking?"
"What do you think?"
"If you come down, we could provide you with free entertainment."
"If you mean the two of you bashing each other up," I snort, "you forget, I’ve seen that already."
There’s silence, then he says, "We only want what’s best for you, Eve."
"You’re not my parents," I yell, realizing as the words leave my mouth that I sound like a spoiled child. "Now, go away."
I sense rather than hear him sigh. "I’ll leave dinner outside the door for you." A few minutes later, I hear his return and the sound of a tray being placed on the floor. Then, his footsteps recede.
I wait another half-hour before I peek out the door, grab the food and demolish it. The pasta is yummy. Shit, Edward can cook. Or was that Baron? I know he can cook, but there's so much more I don’t know about him. I can stay, of course, and get to know him better. And then what? I’ll still be as confused as I am now. And honestly, I can’t bear that anymore. I can’t.
I pace a little more before finally laying down on the bed. When I awaken again, it’s completely dark outside. I slip on my shoes, slide my wallet into my back pocket, then crack the door open. It’s dark outside and the doors of the other two rooms are closed. I walk across the landing, down the stairs. One of the steps creaks. I freeze, wait… Nothing moves. I blow out a breath I hadn’t been aware I was holding, then walk down, past the living room, to the table near the front door, where I’d seen Baron toss the keys. The bowl is empty. Shit.
