My head cocks to the side, and an amused smile touches my lips. “Is that so? You’ll leave?” I ask.
She nods, folding her arms across her chest. It seems like a gesture of both defiance and self-protection. Her eyes are wild with fear.
Instead of pushing her further, I decide to treat her with gentleness.
“Your room is upstairs. Follow me, and I’ll show you.”
She sucks her cheeks in and pouts her lips out, shaking her head.
“You can sleep down here in the foyer if you prefer?” I say, testing her.
“I don’t want to sleep anywhere here. And it’s notmyroom. My room is back in my apartment in town. And tomorrow I have to go to work, or I’ll lose my job. And all my clothes and belongings and… you can’t rip someone from their life like that and claim that they are your wife now just because you say so,” she sasses.
“Where did you work?” I ask.
Her cheeks flush pink. “It doesn’t matter. The point is, it was my life.”
“I assure you, Athena, you no longer need that job. You never have to work a day in your life again. I will take care of you and provide whatever you need. Tomorrow, we will get you new clothes and whatever else you would like.”
“Anything I like?” she scoffs. “I would like to go home!”
Pressing my lips together, I sense my patience slipping.
It’s not her fault, though. It’s been a long day and I’m tired.
“Come on,” I say, ending the argument and walking toward the stairs. I don’t look back to see whether she’s following or not. But I do hear her footsteps on the stairs behind me.
Upstairs, I show her to her bedroom, the one next to mine, which allows me to be close to her without forcing her into my space. It will take her time to settle in.
She walks into the room, and her mouth drops open. “It’s bigger than my whole apartment,” she mutters to herself.
“I’m going to throw some pizzas into the oven. I usually prefer to cook, but it’s been a long day. Are you ok with a pizza?”
“Sure,” she mutters, her brows furrowed as she looks around the room. I don’t even think she heard me properly.
“There are some basic clothes in the closet. I tend to keep things on hand in case I have guests.”
“Guests?” she scoffs. “I’m not a guest. You literally kidnapped me!”
“Well…. In case I need tokidnapsomeone, then,” I roll my eyes. “I’ll bring your food up when it’s ready, or you can come down. It’s your choice.”
Downstairs, I pull out two frozen pizzas. Certainly not my favorite choice, but after a night like tonight, it’ll be fine. I’ll just throw some extra cheese and some bacon bits on there before I grill it.
While I’m busy in the kitchen, I listen for her, hoping she’ll come down, but knowing she won’t. She’s probably up in the room fuming and angry at me.
If she lets me—I’ll show her a life her father couldn't have. I’ll give her the type of luxury most people only dream of experiencing in their lives. I’ll give her everything. Because she’s mine now, and I take that role very seriously.
The pizzas don’t take long at all, and in no time, the kitchen is rich with the aroma of melted cheese and assorted toppings. My stomach growls in anticipation of the food.
But before I tuck into mine, I cut hers into triangles and put it on a board to carry it up to her room.
However, when I get there, the door is open, and she is nowhere to be found.
An ice-cold breeze shoots through the otherwise warm bedroom, and my eyes drag over to the open window.
I set her pizza down on the bedside table.
“Athena?” I sigh, realizing what she’s attempting.
