“I need to live somewhere.” Homelessness is not fun. I’ve seen posts on social media, and I’ll take my chances with my apartment rather than that. “Just until my exam, and then I’ll try to find my parents. I think that’s what they’d want.” Obviously, I can’t know what they want, except they were clear I shouldn’t phone them.
“I’ll find another apartment in this block for you,” he says easily. “It might take a few days, though.”
“Are you sure?—”
“Absolutely,” he cuts me off. “Your current residence isn’t safe, and as your landlord, it’s only right I provide you with somewhere secure. And you can stay here until it’s ready.”
“That’s really kind.” I toy with a strawberry and try not to wish that he’d offer for me to be his secretary or something. What he’s offering is more than generous.
“Not at all,” he replies, and I must imagine the twist of cynicism in his words. “Now. I have urgent work to do today?—”
“Yes.” I almost fall over myself standing up, even though I don’t know where I’d go.
“And so do you?—”
“I’ll get out of your way.” He’s clearly a busy, important person, and I’m a bedraggled kitten he’s saved. “I’m sorry for disrupting your morning.”
“Enough apologising.”
“Sorry.”
He raises one eyebrow, and I smile sheepishly and bite my lip to prevent myself from apologising for apologising. I just nod.
“I understand your exam is important, but I hope you could do me a favour before you settle into studying.”
“Of course. Anything.” Literally. If he asks, I’ll happily do anything.
“Good girl.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a credit card, which he slides across the table. “Use this, and purchase whatever you need.”
It’s matte silver, but shiny too, and gleams with wealth.
“I couldn’t?—”
“Caterina,” he says seriously. “Your comfort is important to me, and I’m not having you return to your apartment for anything. And do not be tempted to send down Denis, either.”
“That hadn’t occurred to me,” I say faintly. And truthfully. I’ve never had anyone to do things for me.
“Good.” From underneath his newspaper, he nudges a shiny tablet towards me. “Use this. I’ve set things up for you.”
“That’s too much,” I protest weakly.
“Underwear, dresses. That sort of thing.” He doesn’t seem to hear me at all.
I nod warily. I could do with some clean knickers.
“The other task I want you to do for me is care for your injuries. Ice every hour. Painkillers at four-hour intervals. Denis will be here all day and has instructions to provide anything you need.”
“Thank you.” I’m overwhelmed. Just when it seems everyone who cares about me has either overlooked or left me behind, I’m not dwelling on which, I have an unexpected saviour in the form of the man I’ve been lusting over for three years.
But this morning, he appears to have forgotten making me orgasm on his face, and me admitting to never having had a kiss. It’s all about caring for me as though he’s a hot authority figure, not the person I’d love to have babies with.
“No need to thank me.” He stands and for a second he hesitates. He twitches like he wanted to lean forward and touch me. Kiss me, maybe. But instead, he straightens his cuffs.
Probably my bruises put him off.
“We’ll discuss everything else when I return.”
I spend the day studying and trying not to think about Brody constantly. I manage to access my university account, and I refuse to dwell on what happened yesterday, my parents, or what the whole thing means for my life.
