Page 34 of Defy

Maybe it was the increased stress in my life, and my mind wanted to remember the events of my past.

Honestly, I hoped I never remembered. I had more than enough trauma to deal with at the moment. If my psyche decided to block something from my childhood, more power to her.

Whatever happened in that library needed to stay in that library. Those demons needed to remain locked away.

Rolling from the bed, I strode to the bathroom to freshen up with a scalding shower.

Less than fifteen minutes later, I entered Damon’s closet with one towel wrapped around my wet hair and another tucked around my body.

“What to wear?” I asked myself, tapping my lips.

Until I moved my things from my apartment to this place, my selection of clothing was limited to whatever I could manage to fit me from Damon’s wardrobe. The man’s body mass was more than double, probably triple that of mine, and with his height alone, his shirts would come down to my knees, looking more like dresses than anything else.

Hmmm. That gave me an idea.

I pulled a deep blue button-down shirt and coordinating tie from a rack. I found some tie pins after a quick search through a few drawers. Then, with a few adjustments to the fasteners and the rolls of the sleeves, I slipped on the shirt.

Next, I fastened the buttons and cinched in the waist with the tie.

Moving to the full-length mirror in Damon’s closet, I studied my creation.

It still needed something. Returning to the closet, I grabbed one of Damon’s belts and brought it to the mirror. Sliding the tie off my waist, I wrapped it around Damon’s belt and then clasped it around me.

“Not bad, if I do say so, myself.”

I shifted from side to side. Accessorized with the right jewels and a pair of black stilettos, I could see this outfit on a celebrity as they walked the red carpet at the premiere of a movie or show.

Mental Note: remember this outfit idea.

God, I loved fashion.

Giving myself one last look, I returned to the bathroom, set my hair into a slick knot at the top of my head, and exited the bedroom.

Halfway down the hallway, my stomach grumbled so loudly it could have doubled as a roll of thunder. At least my appetite was back. I hadn’t eaten anything of substance since before the ordeal with the police began.

At least something in my life decided to return to normal. One thing I never shied away from was food. As a model, it also meant I had to work out five times as hard.

Hey, I was an Italian girl who liked her pasta. I would rather eat and then have to hit the gym than deprive myself of the pleasures in life.

Though, I’d heard a rumbling or two from a few designers who commented about my ass.

Those were the dickheads whose jobs I turned down. Then again, I knew I was lucky to have the ability to turn them down.

Just as I reached the archway leading into the breakfast area, I heard the rumble of Damon’s voice. He sounded irritated and ready to give someone a verbal smackdown.

“I told you to have the information to me hours ago. No, that isn’t an excuse. Find out everything about them. Their financials, their partners, every one of their hopes and dreams.”

Moving into the room, I saw him pacing back and forth, pausing every so often to look out the window at the skyline of New York City.

“Obviously, the family has enemies. Everyone knows this. I want all you can get on them, too.” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “No, this is not an option. I’ll work on my end. You work on yours. I don’t want any holes.”

He hung up, dropping his phone on the breakfast table overlooking the city. He braced both hands on the back of a chair for a few seconds as if lost in thought with the worries of the world on his shoulder.

Then all of a sudden, he lifted his head, cocking it to the side a fraction.

A tingle slid down my spine.

“Eavesdropping isn’t polite.”

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