“I do not know what’s going on here, and I do not care. But if you touch him again, he will not live to see the sunset. Is that what you wish for him, Bambina?” Sebastian’s silky but firm voice skates across my skin, and as pissed as I am about him ruining a perfectly innocent moment, I can’t help the way my body reacts to him.
“Boss, I was only showing Ms. Diaz the gardens. I apologize if-” Enzo steps back, putting plenty of space between us.
“Absolutely not. Do not apologize, Enzo. And let me go right now.” I wrench my body from his grasp, letting my anger overpower my desire for him. “Nothing about our conversation was in any way inappropriate, and you have no right to dictate who I speak to, who I hug, or who I do anything with, at all. You don’townme. If you think you have any shot at a future with me, you need to think very carefully about the way you speak to me. Maybe you were able to treat the women before me like cattle, but I am not the one, Sebastian.” I shove his chest, pushing him away from me and turning on my heel.
“Thank you, Enzo. I appreciate you showing me the gardens. They are beautiful.” Enzo looks at me wide-eyed, unsure what he should say or do.
Sebastian doesn’t say a word, glaring down at me with fire in his gaze. He’s pissed, and I don’t give a flying fuck. Stomping through the open doors, my mind reels. Who the hell does he think he is? He says all the right things when we’re alone, but his overwhelming possessiveness at the least opportune moments is wholly unwelcome.
Turn after turn, I lose my way in the labyrinth of the villa. All I want is to find my room and lose my fucking mind on my own, but I can’t even do that. Tears sting my eyes the way they always do when I’m pissed off, and I swipe them away. Curse my Latina fire for making me so quick to anger, but also just as sensitive when my feelings are hurt. My vision blurs again as I round another corner, bumping straight into Rosetta.
“Oh, God! I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention! I’m so sorry, Rosetta!” I frantically wipe my eyes, schooling my features.
“I’m quite alright, Miss Vanessa. But you don’t look so well. Can I help you?” She offers, and I give her a watery smile. “Maybe I can lead you back to your room? A little rest can go a long way. I could bring you some tea, perhaps?”
All I can do is nod as she takes my hand and leads me back to my room. Suddenly, the shine of this life and palace feel more like walls closing in, faster and faster. But who knows, maybe my mind will feel clearer after some rest.
twenty
I paceback and forth in my study. Never in my life has anyone ever spoken to me the way she does. I can’t stand her defiance. But at the same time, it turns me on more than anything ever has. She doesn’t understand the nuances of this world, doesn’t understand where the boundaries are. It’s my job to show her. But I can’t do so if she’s constantly behaving like such a fucking brat. She’s driving me insane. The self-control I’ve perfected over a lifetime seems to evaporate in her presence.
Deciding I can’t give her a moment more to behave this way, I make my way directly to her room. This back and forth, unknown boundaries, and wondering where the other one stands ends now.
Coming to the door, I turn the handle and find it locked. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. She locked me out of a room in my fucking house?! I have no more patience for this. Rearing back, I kick the door open. Wood splinters as the latch gives way. Vanessa shrieks, shrinking back on the bed where she was sitting.
“What the fuck are you doing, you psychopath?!” she screeches.
“Honey, I’m home. It’s been such a long day already. And we have much to discuss. Like your fucking mouth.” I growl, stalking across the room.
She stares at me, speechless. Her eyes are red-rimmed. She’s obviously been crying. She thinks I am to blame for her distress, but I’m not. If she’s going to live in this world, she’s going to have to learn her place in it.
“Please, just leave me alone, Sebastian. I’m tired and I need some space from you right now.” She tells me, and I hate the sound of that.
“Well, I hate to tell you this, but that’s just not an option for me.” She needs to know what being with me is going to be like if she intends on making this work. And I hope she does. I never expected to care for her as deeply as I do, but I can’t stop it. I never saw myself planning a future with anyone before Vanessa.
“Sebastian, please, can we just talk later?” She does look and sound tired. But I can’t push this off. I can’t let my mind continue to go down a never ending rabbit hole.
“No, Vanessa. I don’t understand why you’re upset. I won’t apologize for my nature. I can’t stomach the idea of another man touching you in any way. I don’t understand why you won’t just let me care for you. Let me…just…loveyou.” The word just slips out, my frustration breaking down all my defenses.
I know immediately that I’ve said the wrong thing. She looks at me with rage in her eyes, as if I’ve betrayed her in some way by admitting too much. I can’t lie to her anymore. I don’t want to.
“How dare you say something like that to me, Sebastian! Something so fucking manipulative!” She explodes, lashing out at me in an unexpected way.
“Manipulative? By admitting to you that I fucking love you?! How could that be manipulative?!” I match her energy, anger building inside my chest.
“Because you don’t want to love me, Sebastard!” She screams, coming chest to chest with me. “You want to hold me captive here with you, suffering and compliant until we both wither and die together! Because then at least you don’t have to be alone!”
Her words feel like acid against my skin. She feels like staying here with me is the same as captivity?
“But that’s the difference between you and me, Sebastian. I would rather be alone forever than spend it trapped in this fucking prison of self-loathing and jealousy!” Every word feels like a slap to the face. I feel like I’ve done all I can to make sure she’s spent all her days here in comfort.
“Stop! You’re done! If you want to spit your fucking poison at someone, you can do it to someone else. I’m done being your punching bag, Vanessa. You are a fucking brat, and I'm tired of it. I’ve given you all the possible comfort I can give, and you’ve made no concessions to even try to accept me or my lifestyle. You demanded my truths, and I gave them to you. You have no idea how difficult all of this emotion is for me, but still you act like every time something doesn’t go your way, you’re ready to walk out the fucking door.” I tamp down my rage, knowing it can be impossible to come back from if I don’t control it. But she started this.
“You think I want to feel the weight of this empire looming over me every fucking day, all day, balancing on a knifes edge, and then come back to this bullshit? You have no idea what kind of responsibilities I have to manage. I don’t need you adding to the fucking list, Vanessa!” Resting my hand against the bedpost, I pant, my shoulders heaving. Adrenaline courses through my veins, my heart pounding against my ribcage.
“Sebastian-” her voice is softer now, but I can’t hear it. I can’t be nice to her right now.
“No. You want to go, then fucking go. I’ll have Enzo inform the pilot. All you have to do is tell him you’re ready. The choice is yours.” Turning, I leave her behind.
