“Don't leave me, little doll.” He pleads, clinging to the back of my leg like a child being dropped at school on the first day. “I know I'm broken, but I'm not when I'm with you.”
I try to breathe around the confusing swirl of emotions like a tornado in my stomach. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, what I'm supposed to say. It's on my tongue to tell him I forgive him, but that doesn't feel quite right.
DoI forgive him?
I'm not entirely sure yet. Even if he hasn't been the greater evil, he's still responsible in part for what happened to me. He keeps wicked men in their wicked business by purchasing from them.
And even if I can find it in me to forgive him for what he did to me, I don't know if I can forgive him for what he did to the girls before me. I can't forgive him for what he did to Katrina or his fiancé, and especially for the girl he buried in his family mausoleum.
I can't forgive him yet, and he hasn't apologized.
So, I settle for all I can give him.
A promise, a truth.
“I'm not leaving. Not today.”
31
Amber
My life is fucking weird.
What’s even weirder is that I enjoy it.
I was never normal growing up, so I suppose it makes sense that my life now isn’t normal, either.
But different doesn’t equal bad.
I suppose Cal is my boyfriend. It feels strange to say, but what else would I call it? We sleep together, we eat together… we doeverythingtogether.
And the sex? Fucking hell, the sex. It just keeps getting better, especially now that I have a key hidden to the handcuffs and have used them on him more than a few times, experimenting with reclaiming power.
He doesn’t leave me to go anywhere, and somehow that feels safe instead of annoying. He’s handling all of his work remotely, which means I see Dex most days, too. I like himandthe fact he doesn’t judge my presence. I suppose it would be a bit hypocritical, though, if he did.
One day when I wander into the kitchen as they're having a brainstorming session, I overhear a little bit about their work. Neither of them seems bothered when I linger instead of carrying on my way. They're both too absorbed in whatever they're buried in. Papers are spread all out on the tabletop, and I catch glimpses of small-typed numbers of data, graphs, and charts.
“I just don't know how we're going to stay afloat with the Tinseltown Theater outbidding us for independent films.” Dex frowns, dropping his head in his hands to massage his temples.
I watch them as Cal lifts a stack of papers and looks it over again, trying to run another analysis of the numbers. “There has to be a way.”
“Not without cash.”
“So, I'll liquidate.” Cal decides. “Sell off some assets. That combined with what I've got in my accounts…”
I frown, suddenly feeling guilty for the random purchases I've been making lately. His home looks way cozier now, but I've definitely spent a small fortune as I've been scrolling through the internet. Haven't bought a person yet, but I've got just about everything else.
“Are you…” I swallow, not sure how to ask the man who bought me if he's poor.
“I'm fine.” Cal assures me. “It's the business that's in jeopardy.”
I frown, tapping the back of the chair thoughtfully. “What's going on?”
“It's kind of droll financial stuff.” Dex says dismissively.
I don't think he means anything by it, but his dismissal feels a little harsh, like he didn't say what he was really thinking.
“Do you need me to return the 3D printer?” I bite my lip, worried Cal will say yes... and even more worried he will say no and leave me to my guilt.
