“Call your little spitfire friend Anna and let her know you’re safe. She loves you and there is no need to worry her.” Helen can see my eyes widen as I go to speak. She puts her finger on my lips.
“Have a burner phone. No one can trace ya. I’ll leave it in the bookcase outside. I’m closing up now. I’ll see you in the morning with Karl’s famous breakfast bagel and a coffee.”
She walks to the door and turns back to me. “Stop worrying about tonight. Call your friend and tomorrow we will work out the rest.” She blows me a kiss and closes the door.
I settle back on the bed, curling onto my side, hugging the pillow, and stare out the window. I am constantly making mistakes. Every move I make seems to cause chaos in my wake. I know it was stupid to sneak out, but I didn’t think. I just went on instinct.
The rain is hitting against the window when I wake up, so I must have fallen asleep. I stretch and roll over to click on the lamp. I don’t know what time it is, but I need to leave Anna a message.
I get up, open the door, find the phone on the shelf, and close the door. When I dial up Anna, it goes to voicemail. I tell her I’ll talk to her tomorrow. I’m safe, but I won’t be at work tomorrow and to let Professor Daniels know I’ll make up the extra time on the weekend.
I tell her I am sorry for walking out, that I love her and I’ll see her soon. I hang up, and turn off the phone. I strip down to my underwear and crawl under the covers. I grab my book and read until my eyes water.
Turning off the light, I roll over and fall asleep thinking about Mr. Darcy and what an ass he is.
∞∞∞
Chapter 18 ~ Alexander
I had good intentions when I woke up this morning. I was going to play nice today. Trying a different approach might have a better outcome than how things have been playing out between us.
I shower and put on my best black Armani suit. I check my tie in the mirror; grab my wallet and head out my bedroom door to cross the hall, thinking I’d be a gentleman for once, and escort her to breakfast. knocking, she doesn’t answer. So I open the door and say her name, but the room is dark. She must have already left.
So, I head down the first set of stairs, reach the second landing, and look down to see Carlos and Isabella smiling and chatting away. Jealousy rears its head at the way they smile and get along so well. Isabella is comfortable with Carlos and it pisses me off that all we do is argue.
Overhearing that she slept like a log. I can't help myself, smiling I chuckle as my voice carries over the foyer.
“That’s what happens when you finally trap a bunny and give them nowhere to go.”
They both swing their heads up and look at me. Carlos pinches his eyebrows together in disapproval, and Isabella’s face turns red as she turns and looks at the floor.
I’m so used to taunting her, but I made a conscious effort to try to play nice today. I make my way down the stairs and with nothought; I cup her head and kiss her temple and tell her good morning. It feels natural like it's something I do every day; the shocker is it's something I’d enjoy doing every morning.
Her green eyes look at me in stunned silence, and I feel the same. I have no idea why I did that and even more; it annoys me that I liked it too much.
Pulling back from that thoughts, moving past them both, avoiding Carlos’ scrutiny. I turn the corner and head to the dining room, not waiting for her.
I take my seat, and Rose has made a full breakfast. I wasn’t sure what she eats in the morning, so I requested a bit of everything, making sure she has something to eat. It’s our first breakfast, so I’m trying to learn as I go.
She comes over and sheepishly takes her seat. So far, all our meals together, Isabella has run from the room, so I’ll try to be nice this morning. She looks nervous, so I tell her to eat. I even pour her coffee and mix it for her. That’s what normal husbands do, don’t they?
She’s blowing on her coffee cup with both hands, with her long braid hanging off her shoulder. She looks cute like she snuggled up with her sweater by a fire.
So, I ask her how her tit is. I might have gotten overzealous last night and with her struggling, I expect there might be more bruising than I had intended.
She coughs and spits spilling her coffee all over. Her hands are shaking and she is spilling coffee all over the table.
For fuck sakes! Really?
One question sends her into a coughing fit. I am so done with this “be the nice guy” bullshit.
Once she recovers, she wants to grab a coffee from the kitchen and meet me in the foyer. I toss my napkin down, heading for the door when she tells me Carlos is in the office.
I glare at him as I pass by his stunned face and head to my desk and yank out my chair, dropping into it.
“That was fast. Did you even eat?”
“Yes, no.” I wave my hand at him to sit. “I had a bit, but she didn’t eat. She choked on her coffee and spit it everywhere ruining her plate of food.”
