Страница 26 из 92
Chapter 11 Eden
“Where is he?”
The guy…servant…whatever role Damien hired him for—which apparently includes being at my beck and call—pays me no mind as he continues hunting through the closet in this God-forsaken prison cell of a bedroom.
“Found it,” Geoffrey declares triumphantly, holding up a black dress. “This is what he requested you wear for the funeral.” Before I can protest, he shoves it at me. “Put it on.”
“No.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighs deeply. The action makes him appear much older than his estimated twenty-five years.
It’s kind of strange he’s wasting his youth working for a ruthless asshole like Damien King—but I have more important things to worry about.
“Where is Damien?” I ask again, sharper than before.
Geoffrey shrugs. “Not in here.” He picks the dress up off the floor and hands it back to me. “Now get dressed.”
My blood is boiling like lava, but it’s obvious fighting with the help isn’t getting me anywhere.
Given Damien instructed his servants to keep me locked up like a prisoner, it’s time for Plan B.
I shimmy out of my silk sleep shorts and yank the matching tank top over my head. Biting my lip, I meet his gaze as I toy with the clasp of my bra. “Are you going to keep watching me?”
His cheeks take on a tomato color, which would almost be adorable if he didn’t work for the enemy.
Faster than lightning, he skedaddles to the door. I hear the sound of his key entering the lock a moment later.
“Ouch,” I shriek.
As expected, Geoffrey comes rushing to my aid. “Miss, are you—”
I don’t hear the rest of his statement because I make a mad dash for the door.
I have no idea which of the many rooms down the hall belongs to Damien, but if I had to take a guess, it would be the one at the very end.
The one with the balcony.
Geoffrey calls my name and his footsteps get closer, but I pick up my pace, ignoring the shocked look another servant gives me as I pass him.
A few seconds later, I turn the knob…and barrel right into a woman wearing a maid uniform.
Given her hair and makeup are perfect, and her uniform is crisp and spotless, it doesn’t look like she does much cleaning around here.
She closes the door behind her and pops a hand on her hip. “Can I help you?”
The way her expression contorts into disgust has me feeling all kinds of self-conscious. Especially since I’m standing here in nothing but my underwear…and she looks like she just walked out of a magazine titled, ‘Better Homes and Sexiest Housekeepers.’
“Sorry, I must have the wrong room.”
“You’re not permitted to roam around the castle,” Geoffrey scolds when he catches up. “It’s against the rules.”
Rules. A
Had I known this deal with Damien involved taking away my basic human rights—I would have hurled myself off that balcony.
I miss Cain. The thought makes me feel stupid, given the circumstances—but it’s no less true.
I miss my life. I miss my home.
I miss being able to walk into the kitchen to get myself a goddamn glass of water.
Cain never treated me like a hostage.
The maid smiles coldly and flicks a hand in my direction. “Too-da-loo.”
“Have I offended you in some way?”
I have no idea what I could’ve done to make her act like I’m worse than the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.
She looks past me to Geoffrey. “How much longer—” she starts to say, but the door behind her opens.
“Get back to work,” Damien barks.
Geoffrey takes off like a bat out of hell, but she saunters backward down the hall, pouting at Damien. “Will I see you later?”
A weird mixture of suspicion and what feels a whole lot like jealousy slams into me.
It’s now crystal clear why she’s not too fond of me, but what’s not clear is why the thought of Damien sleeping with someone else feels so…unsettling.
I mean, I certainly don’t want him. For one fleeting moment, I thought I was attracted to him and that there was this unfathomable co
Needless to say, Damien screwing another woman should be the least of my worries. If anything, I should feel relieved he’s set his sights on someone else.
And yet…there’s a sliver of resentment making its way through the hollow space in my chest.
The one created by another man.
I don’t have time to digest all these bizarre feelings though, because Damien turns those sinister blue orbs my way.
A wave of heat courses through me as he rakes his gaze up and down my body meticulously, lingering on my panties before meeting my eyes. “Get in here.”
My windpipe feels like sandpaper as he opens the door wider and I tread past him.
I let out a heavy breath the moment I’m inside, feeling like I made it past the lion’s den. However, I suck it right back in when Damien begins to corner me.
“You’re out of your room.”
His eyes narrow as he inspects me. I do the same to him, taking in his black t-shirt and gray sweatpants. His casual appearance throws me, but not so much that I miss his damp forehead or the faint smell of sweat…no doubt due to his morning workout with the maid.
“Looks like I’ll have to find someone who isn’t so easily seduced to look after you.”
“I didn’t seduce anyone,” I fib as my back hits the wall. “I pretended to be hurt so I could escape.” Fearing he’ll hire that maid to do the job, I add, “It wasn’t Geoffrey’s fault. He was only trying to help.” I jab his chest with my finger. “For what it’s worth, I don’t need anyone to look after me.”
“Says the girl who marched down to my bedroom in her underwear.”
“I needed to talk to you.”
“Well, you’ve got my attention.” He places his arms on either side of my head. “Now, I suggest you tell me what the problem is...or do something else with that pretty mouth of yours before I lose interest.”
“What’s the matter? Your bitch of a maid didn’t do a good job?” I snap before I can stop myself.
“Your little kitty claws are adorable.” I want to bite his mouth when it curls into a mocking grin. “Don’t bother wasting them on me, though. Save them for someone who actually gives a fuck.”
With that, he turns and walks away.
I follow him into the bathroom. “You want to know why I’m so fucked up, but I think we should start with you, Mr. Damien King.”
Paying me no mind, he turns on the shower.
“Why are you such an asshole?”
There’s nothing but silence as he slips his t-shirt over his head.
Anger churns in my stomach, picking up speed with every passing second, like a boulder rolling downhill.
I’m prepared to deal with nearly anything he throws my way, but I can’t stand being blatantly ignored.
And I know Damien’s only doing it to get under my skin.
Maybe I should return the favor and push a few of his buttons.
It’s not like Damien will kill me.
You don’t assassinate someone you deem indispensable.
“Let me guess, Mommy and Daddy spoiled you.” I take a step closer, watching the muscles in his broad back tense up. “Which would explain why you reek of entitlement and take things that don’t belong to you.”