Page 47 of Collide

I shouldn't have been surprised, obviously Kai would want hispersonal assistantto look the part but, holy hell, he'd gone way over the top. Seriously, why did he feel I needed so many items of clothing? I would have quite happily made do with the few pairs of jeans and tops I owned which were back in my apartment.

I'd spent the next couple of hours going through all the items, daringnot to think about how much they cost. After a while, I'd found myself feeling dejected, it was abundantly clear Kai had spent a ridiculous amount of money on filling my wardrobe when really, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

I know that sounded a little ungrateful but I swear, the contents of mycloset could have funded a new school for young kids or a drug rehabilitation center in East Bay, instead, it was being wasted in my closet. I'd never feel comfortable in those sorts of clothes, they just weren't me. I figured I'd speak to Kai and thank him for the gesture but ask him if I could please go to the apartment and get my old clothes, thank you very much.

The thought of my old apartment reminded me that I needed to askhim for Angel’s computer console, and a dreaded feeling had consumed me, fear of what the fuck I'd have to offer Kai in exchange to get something I wanted. I'd gone to bed with the hump and quite frankly, I wasn't feeling much better now that a new day had dawned.

I had just finished in the bathroom when someone knocked lightly onthe door. Quickly grabbing the new robe that had been hanging in the wardrobe and wrapping it around me, I prayed it wasn't Kai at the door, I wasn’t ready to face him yet. I quietly told the person to come in and was very relieved when Jacqueline walked in holding a tray full of deliciousness. She'd tried to get me to eat something last night, but I hadn't been hungry but now, I was starving.

“Good Morning, Ms. Bennett,” Jacqueline said softly as she put thetray on my dresser. She avoided my eyes, instead opting to look at the floor which made me feel all kinds of uncomfortable.

I thanked her anyway and crossed the room to find pancakessmothered in maple syrup on my plate, the smell hit my nose and I instantly salivated. They looked and smelt so good I didn’t wait another second before tucking in. I only paused when I looked over to see Jacqueline making my bed. I dropped my knife and fork in horror and stared at her as she busily went about shaking my bed covers.

“What are you doing?” I asked and then immediately felt stupid. Duh,it was obvious she was making my bed. “I mean, I can do that myself.”

“There’s no need, Ms. Bennett, that’s what I am here for,” she repliedand carried on her chore.

I opened my mouth to protest but stopped myself. There was no pointarguing with her, she was no doubt acting under orders. I hated that Kai deemed I wasn’t capable of simple chores, and I hated having a maid to pick up after me. I stared back at my pancakes, but suddenly they didn’t look as appetizing, and I wasn’t all that hungry anymore. I sighed and pushed the plate away.

"Mr. Wolfe wanted you to know he has some business to attend totoday. He said you are free to roam the penthouse as you wish, but your sister will be starting her education with her new tutor and he would rather you didn't interrupt," Jacqueline said as she finished tucking my sheets in.

Credit where it is due, the bed did look much neater than how I wouldhave made it.

The anger I had been feeling yesterday had been lying dormantunderneath my skin, but at the reminder of the stupid deal I had made and Kai’s orders that I would only be able to see Angel when he deemed I could, it suddenly reared to life again.

I cursed under my breath, low enough so Jacqueline wouldn’t hear,and glared at the abandoned pancakes as if they had personally offended me. I hated every single thing about this stupid agreement. I tried to remember the bigger picture, the life Angel would have if I could just get through the next one hundred and eighty one days.

It was by far going to be the most challenging thing I had ever facedin my twenty one years on earth.

Once the bed was made, Jacqueline asked me if there was anything Ineeded. Aside from my sister and getting the hell out of here, I thanked her but told her I was all good, and off she scurried to do god knows what.

I spent the next couple of hours taking a leisurely shower, followed bylying on the bed to dry off. I was so used to rushing around and working to a schedule around Angel’s school and work, it was nice to just lay down and do nothing but let my body relax. But after a while, boredom set in.

Dragging myself over to the wardrobe, I once again looked over allthe clothes Kai had bought me, but feeling somewhat rebellious, I decided to put on the leggings and sweater I had been wearing when Kai brought me here. It had been laundered at some point while we were dealing with the Blaze situation and returned back to me. So what if it was old and frayed, it was the only thing here I owned.

It felt surreal that it had only been a little over 24 hours since theencounter with Kai in the alleyway, yet so much had happened that it felt like weeks had passed, not just a day.

It took me a few minutes to pluck up the courage to try the door, notreally believing Jacqueline when she said Kai had given me freedom to roam. From what I knew of Kai, he was one controlling asshole so I didn't quite believe he would let me explore on my own.

Placing my thumb on the scanner like I had seen Kai do, my browsshot up in surprise when the locks clicked, indicating the door had indeed opened. Before I could second guess myself, I was out in the hallway, retracing the steps Kai had taken the day before when he led me to Angel's room.

The apartment was huge, and I wasn’t entirely sure I was going theright way. I was also pretty sure that even if I did find Angel’s room, I was never going to get in. But the overwhelming need to see her was guiding me and that was all I could think about.

I had to admit, the apartment was impressive, and now I wasseeing without being slung over a shoulder, I could really take in the decor. It was clear Kai had spent an absolute fortune on his palace in the sky. The entire place seemed to stretch on for eternity. The coloring was simplistic with white walls and the black sparkly marble floor, but it was the accessories that gave the entire place personality.

Each of the hallways were lined with impressive artwork, the odd bitof modern furniture dotted randomly were sleek and shined under the spotlights, and it appeared there wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere. Everything had its place, tidy and organized, just as he was, and I knew confidently that Kai would have had a hand in every inch of the design of this place.

Controlling bastard.

Eventually, I reached a room I was sure was Angel’s and nervousbutterflies fluttered to life in my belly. Not necessarily at the thought of seeing my sister but more from anticipation of what might happen if Kai caught me trying to get into her room when he had specifically said I couldn’t see her. Still, I was so close and I wasn’t yet prepared to let Kai rule over me completely.

I reached my thumb out to the scanner, almost making contact with itwhen a deep rumbling voice scared the absolute bejesus out of me.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Gawking up at the mountain of a man who was leaning against thewall, I realized he was one of the men who had been in the garage when I'd been released from the trunk of the car.

And he was one scary motherfucker.

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