"My name is Wyatt." At my struggle to swing my legs over the edge of the bed, he held up a hand. "No, don't get up. I'm a personal assistant, and I've recently been reassigned to work for you."
Frowning, I tried to figure out why Burke would send Wyatt to me. "I have no need for a personal assistant."
"Perhaps not, but maybe we can try it for a little while?" Pulling something from behind his back, he moved closer and held it out. "It's an untraceable cell phone. I've uploaded your contacts and everything else from your previous phone."
Accepting the small box, I held it in front of me and sucked in a breath. "Thank you, Wyatt. You have no idea what this means to me."
"I apologize for not having it to you sooner. Mr. Gallagher asked me to do it this morning, but I had several other things to get done first. After dinner, he reminded me I’d neglected to give it to you."
"He did?" That felt oddly thoughtful.
"Yes. I'll leave you alone, now."
"Thanks again."
As the door closed behind him, I pulled the phone from the box and powered it on. Immediately, I scrolled through my contacts and selected Brenda's number. I sent a text assuring her I was fine and that I would call later, then pulled up the number to my parents' house phone.
Their answering machine clicked on. "Mom, Dad, it's me. I know you don't understand right now, but I promise I'm fine. Call me or text me at this number if you want."
Oddly, I missed Danny and Brenda more than I missed my parents. They hadn't adapted well to me moving away, instead choosing to send out missing persons alerts. Several times, I'd called them from Bristol to tell them I was fine, but they didn't believe me.
Releasing a sigh and shaking off the horrible day, I took a moment to be grateful for the little things. Burke was kind enough to give me a phone so I could get in contact with my family and friends. I had new furniture and everything else I needed to feel comfortable, though God knew where it had all gone. Apparently, magician wasn't listed on Burke's resume, since he didn't have my room set up by the time I got home.
We would be married by the end of the month. Soon after that, I would give birth to our son. Flopping back on the pillow, I tried to reconcile having everything I'd ever wanted with the way it had all come about. It left me miserable to think he was forcing himself to marry me when he really wanted someone more like the snobby blonde bitch with the endless legs, huge tits, and upturned nose.
Stuck was the word I was looking for; we were both stuck.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
15
Kinsley
It seemed only fitting that my wedding day should dawn cold and rainy. Since I'd refused to go to a boutique to pick out a dress, Anna had several choices sent over for me to try on. I didn't ask if the store was named Just In The Nick Of Time or something to that effect. Nobody was overjoyed at the occasion, least of all my fiancé. Burke avoided me at all costs and had since we'd exchanged ugly words at the dinner table.
Wyatt helped me set up my new furniture the day after our introduction, along with a few of the security men. I quickly grew bored when they only allowed me to sit and supervise, but then Maddie came and lifted my spirits. She brought cans of paint for the nursery since I was fond of the forest green in my bedroom and didn't want it changed. Maddie wouldn't let me enter the nursery until she was finished, so I was itching to get up and do something by lunchtime.
Caden came upstairs to check on Maddie and ended up chatting with me. Surprisingly, I found him charming and funny; he doted on Maddie and had the woman giggling and blushing. There were two sides to her personality, one where she acted more like the girlfriend of a mob boss, and the other where she was snarky and not afraid to speak her mind. I aspired to be more like her, but it was just so hard to be polite to Burke—or Anna, for that matter—when he treated me as nothing more than a broodmare. If not for the constant reminders that he wasn't happy with our situation, maybe I could return to the type of friendly woman I'd been my whole life.
A pall of gloom fell over the household on the day we were meant to recite our vows, and I was no exception. Understanding the reason for it and embracing it were two entirely different things, and if Burke had appeared even the slightest bit happy about it, I could have done the same. Instead, I was left dreading the idea of being married to a man who didn't want me.
With my dress on, I sat at the vanity Maddie picked out and tried to apply some makeup. It wasn't my favorite pastime, mostly because I didn't think it looked good no matter what I tried. After half an hour, I gave up. It wasn't as if I was trying to impress anyone by that point.
It surprised me how quiet the house was as I descended the stairs. I expected guests I didn't know, music, and laughter. Something other than funeral parlor silence. Wandering for several minutes brought me to the kitchen where I found the chef.
"I have some hot tea ready for you, Miss Kinsley," Parker said as I entered.
"You're the best." Accepting the mug he held out, I sat at the kitchen table to pass the time. Seriously tempted to pull back the drapes and take a peek out the window, I merely asked, "Where is everybody?"
"Mr. Burke is in his room getting dressed."
"And?"
Parker turned from the stove. "And what?"
Gesturing, I spluttered, "Where are the guests? Surely, Burke knows hundreds of people."
"Oh, um." He went back to his pot, stirring and not answering.
