Page 34 of Treason's Temptation
“Rapunzel dreamed of something more, right? Maybe this isn’t the tower but the bridge to everything you’ve ever wanted.”
She hesitated, not expecting my response. It was evident she was used to nigga’s that couldn’t hang with her. Throwing a wrench in whatever comeback she pre-planned, Navie moved on.
“How did you know about that cop making comments to me? I never told you that.”
“He was looking at you the way I do. I have an early morning. My door is open if you get scared. Goodnight.” My hand landed on her shoulder, causing her frame to tense and jump. “You can’tdo that in public, or we’re dead in the water, and I plan on living a long time.”
I kissed her head, while she muttered, “Night,” the heat from her gaze burning my back as I walked to my room.
Navie didn’t have to like me. Not yet, anyway, but I was confident that it would come in time. For now, she had to need me the way I needed her.
Chapter 10
Iwoke up to the kind of silence only money could buy thanks to Treason. Too high up for the world to reach me, but the baggage was still attached. It was always packed and ready to follow me, even in Treason’s penthouse.
He’d uprooted my life without asking or warning. Like I was a piece on the board, he could slide into position. It made it hard to breathe, let alone sleep, anticipating the day his lust turned to anger. I was slowly realizing there was no way out. Treason had me locked out of my place and arrested easily. I couldn’t risk putting Rayven in danger.
For the first time in my life, I thought,What would Sloane do?
On night three, I heard her whisper,“If you know how to speak to a man’s spirit, he’ll follow your voice without even realizing he’s doing it.”
That echoed in my head louder than the one screaming at me to fight Treason on his level. Then, Sloane warned me about that, too.
“Control is quiet, Vie. Loud women get dismissed. Smart women get things done. Which one do you want to be?”
This nightmare felt reminiscent of the hell I escaped. A luxurious lifestyle that many envied was nothing more than a golden cage. For now, this was my life, so I had to make the best of it.
Swinging my legs to the floor, I stared at the skyline stretching beyond the glass. The clouds moved slowly, like even time had to respect this floor. Footsteps moving around the hallway piqued my curiosity. It would’ve gotten me murdered in a horror movie, but I opened the door and found Treason in the kitchen bobbing to whatever track flowed through his headphones.
He was fine and always so goddamn composed. It drove me insane and horny enough to leave the Gala with him.
“Did I wake you?” he asked, pulling his headphones down. They dangled around his neck while he dabbed his sweat-riddled forehead with a hand towel.
“Yeah, you did. Thanks a lot.”
Treason smirked. “Lying ass.”
“You knew that when you sentenced me to this manor or misery,” I quipped, tilting my head.
“I’m sure there’s a cell still open?”
“Do you get up this early every day?” I asked.
“Yeah, I have a lot of shit to do. Who else will pay the bills in thismanor of misery?” Treason asked.
“Not me. I don’t even wanna be here.”
My eyes flipped to the wall, anything but watching his arrogant smirk.
“I’m going to shower before work. Don’t get any ideas,” he warned, his voice full of threat, before walking to his bedroom.
Dragging my feet to the bedroom, I hung my clothes and organized my belongings. That worked up an appetite, so I ventured to the kitchen and opened the fridge. The shelves would've been bare if not for the water, fresh-squeezed juicefrom a local source, and a few prepped meals that needed to be discarded.
Just like a man.
Treason’s footsteps neared, holding the phone to his ear, telling someone he didn’t have time for whatever they were saying. When he neared, I could hear a female on the other end. Not that I cared, but I needed his attention, so she had to wait. Snatching his phone, I glimpsed the name Thandie before hanging it up.
“There’s nothing to eat here,” I fussed.
