She’s silent for a moment. “Why me?”
“Camden has a penchant for virgins.”
“The pot calling the kettle black,” she spat.
“The only virgin I want is you.”
“How does he know I’m a virgin? she asks accusingly.
“I found out about you because Camden has a big fucking mouth. You both attended the same school, and college campuses are breeding grounds for gossip.”
“Who can I trust?”
“No one, least of all me.”
“But you saved me.”
“For my own selfish purposes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“No one takes my toy when I’m not done playing with it yet.” I get out of the bed. “Your purse is on the dresser, and the bathroom is through that door. I’ll have food brought to you.” I leave the room.
I’m fucking restless. Goddamn, Pepper drives me crazy.
I check my cell phone, and, not surprisingly, I have dozens of missed calls and texts from my father and Patrick. I quickly type out a message.
Me: Sorry I missed church, but I had a bad case of food poisoning.
Dad: I stopped by the condo and you were not there!
Me: I went to the hospital.
Patrick: Feel better, sis.
Me: Thanks.
I hate lying, but the truth can’t be known. Questions would be asked, and Dom could get into a heap of trouble. I can’t betray him. Whatever he did was for me, though his methods are unsavory. I head to the bathroom and shower. Afterwards, I don a T-shirt and lounge pants belonging to Dom, since I couldn’t find my own clothes, then leave the bedroom in search of him. Doors line both sides of the expansive hallway. How many rooms are there? Gold accents shimmer through the glossy marble floors. Surely this is a palace. I turn the corner and bump into a woman, causing her to drop the tray of food she’s carrying.
“I’m so sorry.” I help her gather the broken shards of glass.
“It’s fine, dear.”
My five-six frame towers over the short, thin woman. Her silver-gray hair is styled perfectly in a French twist. She’s the epitome of professionalism.
“You must be the housekeeper.”
“Yes, please call me Jackie, short for Jacqueline. And you’re Pepper.”
“I am. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, dear.”
“I suppose you were bringing me this lovely meal.” I sniff. “Butternut squash soup?”
“Yes, and there’s plenty more in the kitchen.”
“Great. I’m starving.”
