I stepped out and tried not to look like I’d just swallowed a bug.
Luca didn’t wait for me as he approached the double doors that opened for him like he was a king.
I followed and entered a majestic entryway as high as the gate outside. Full of Parisian artwork and enormous statues, it looked like the lobby of a luxurious hotel before it became a personal asset to this enigmatic man.
A butler appeared in a tuxedo, hands behind his back. He said nothing, just emerged and waited for orders. He glanced at me, dark hair slicked back with gel, a thick mustache across the top of his mouth. He looked at me like he didn’t know what to make of me but didn’t dare ask.
Luca had just texted on his phone before he looked at his butler. “Prepare the guest room for—” He turned to look at me. “Who are you?”
“Aliénor.”
He looked at his butler again. “Aliénor. She’ll be staying for three days.”
“Of course. Anything else, sir?”
“No.” Luca headed to the stairs and began to walk up.
I felt out of place in this villa, but I felt even more awkward just standing there with no purpose, so I followed him up the stairs. It wasn’t just one flight of stairs, but several, three to be exact. Luca made it to the top without being winded, but I felt the tightness in my chest, probably because I wore heels.
By the time I caught up to him, he was already heading into his bedroom. “Wait.” I gripped the banister as I stood with my hand on my hip, trying to catch my breath.
He turned to look at me, eyebrows slightly raised like he couldn’t believe I’d issued an order.
I caught my breath enough to approach him, the stitch still in my side.
His stare continued, growing in hostility.
“Why are you doing this?”
“What?” The coldness was in his voice, expressing his annoyance candidly.
“Letting me stay here.”
“Because I wasn’t given a choice.”
“You do have a choice. You could have just thrown me out, and to be honest, you seem like the kind of guy who would.” He’d saved me, but he didn’t strike me as some altruistic gentleman who would open a door for a woman or pull out the chair for her. He was complicated. That much was certain.
He stared at me with that hard gaze without needing to blink. “Would you like me to throw you out?”
“No—”
“Then don’t annoy me.” He turned to enter his bedroom.
“Wait—”
“Tell me what to do again in my goddamn house, and your ass is on the street.” He said he was no danger to me, but when he looked at me again, his eyes were like bullets. Once he squeezed the trigger, my entire body would be pumped full of lead. “You have three days. Use them wisely.”
2
ALIÉNOR
The guest bedroom was an extravagant primary suite. Parisian in every way, from the furniture to the wallpaper and the artwork, it screamed luxury in the sexiest whisper. I had large windows that showed breathtaking views of the city below and the adjacent buildings. It smelled like a garden when there wasn’t a plant or flower in sight.
I knew nothing about Luca, but I knew I was untouchable here.
Even if those assholes did follow me, they wouldn’t cross the threshold.
And if they tried, Luca would smile.
