I’m on pause, gawking at him for just a split second, until I get it together and croak, “Uh, sure. Why not.”
“I just figure I’ll have to learn my way around.” He shrugs.
I’m a bit baffled. By all accounts, this man is being blackmailed into working and living here. Uprooting his life without ever being asked whether hewantedto do so. You’d think a twenty-six-year-old with a life of his own wouldn’t be so welcoming of being trapped on an island miles away from civilization with no one around, aside from a few miscellaneous robot staff and hisboss, the dangerous stranger who’s enslaving him.
But John Chevelle isn’t pouting, or fighting it. The lack of consent isn’t what’s bothering him…He’s more concerned with finding his way to and from work.
“In that case, let’s take the Maybach.” I nod at Kent, who rushes to the garage.
Jonathan’s face lights up even more.
Dios… Who is this guy??
We wander over to the garage as the door opens, revealing my cars. Well, the ones that arehere. My new Maybach S680—ivory white, naturally—and a saddle brown Range Rover that is quite fetching. Not necessarily my style if I were driving them myself, but so far the idea is that I’ll be chauffeured about the island—because I’m El Presidente.
The Yukons are for the guards, and for everyday use.
Jonathan cocks a dark eyebrow—the one with the metal barbell in it. I have to wonder if that’s why he has that piercing… Because it’s sort of sexy when he does that.
If that’s the case, then I wonder what the tongue ring is for…
I’m grinding my teeth aggressively at the direction my thoughts are taking.
“What? No Rolls?” He turns a smirk on me, and I blink.
“I’ll add it to the shopping list,” I grumble. Not necessarily joking, but he chuckles, so I shrug and grin warily while we hop into the Maybach.
He must be a car guy. His zeal is palpable in the driver’s seat. “If you’re feeling generous, I’ll take one too. In black.”
His smile is far less strained than I’ve seen it up until this point, and I make a mental note that he likes this.
Things that go vroom make Jonathan smile…
It’s an abnormally bright one, too. Perfect teeth…He could be in a toothpaste commercial.
“You like the car?” I ask, watching him closely.
He’s driving like he’s done it a hundred times, with a confidence to him that’s a bit hypnotic, despite having no idea where he’s going.
Sure, there’s only one way to go, but still. I’m becoming truly captivated by the way he’s taking to this whole experience. The mansion, the prison, the island… The change.
Either he’s adaptable as fuck, or he wasn’t too keen on the direction his life was moving as it was, and this arrangement is an unexpected gift for him as much as it is for me.
I won’t say it doesn’t concern me ever so slightly that maybe he’snotjust a body for me to program as I see fit, like I’d thought when we met. That said, I’ve never been one to shy from a challenge.
He’s here for the foreseeable future.Plenty of time for him to grow to hate me…
Jonathan’s teasing voice cuts into my angst-ridden thoughts. “It’s alright.” Grin just resting there. Not dampening, even when his forehead lines. “Definitely nicer than my Acura.”
I nod, recalling his mention of selling his car.
He had quite a few loose ends to tie up before coming out here. I helped where I could, but I was highly aware of how it would seem if I started just throwing money at him.
That wasn’t part of this, after all. I’m not some wealthy benefactor, paying off his loans and buying him stuff to get him on board.
Thisisa job, yes, but it’s also non-negotiable. At the end of the day, he doesn’t have a choice, and sure, I want him to be comfortable because I happen to think he’ll work better that way. But he’s mine, regardless.
As anemployee. Like the rest of them.
