Page 29 of Ward

“It’s not that I don’t like it. If you told me to clean your office from top to bottom, I wouldn’t like it, but at least I would feel like I was doing something of value.”

“Maintaining your grades isn’t valuable?”

“It is. But I would be doing it even if I wasn’t serving you.” I pick up my fork and then lay it down again. “I want to be challenged.”

“Challenged.” He studies my face. “How?”

If he’s not going to touch me, then I at least want to be made to feel something. “I want you to make me do things that are hard.”

“You keep using that word, things.” He takes a drink from his tumbler and resumes eating, his expression thoughtful. I have no idea what’s going through Aidan’s head right now, and it’s killing me that I can’t just reach inside his mind and find out. Finally, he says, “Once we’re finished here, I’d like you to join me on the lower level.”

I squint at him, my curiosity piqued.

“Yes, Sir.”

After a light dessert of fruit trifle smothered in whipped cream, I follow Aidan down to the basement, past the rec room and the home theater. As we come upon the laundry room, I wonder if he’s going to ask me to wash his socks.

But instead of leading me to the machines, he stops in front of the wine cellar.

My throat closes. He opens the door, triggering the automatic light feature, and motions for me to step inside.

“Not the sort of challenge you had in mind, little one?”

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