Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 240(@200wpm)___ 192(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 240(@200wpm)___ 192(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
I have a tiny refrigerator under the table. Everything is in miniature, which suits me because I’m actually not that tall.
I only notice how short I am standing near Brandon, who still has to stoop to stop his head from hitting the ceiling.
His eyes narrow, and although I know he’s not mad at me it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that he’s not happy with what he sees when he looks at where and how I’m living.
“This ends today,” he says in a deep, gravelly voice. Almost talking to himself, but I know he means for me to hear it too.
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling suddenly defensive.
“I won’t have you living like this, Ashlee. If I’d known they were doing this to you, I would never have given them the wedding account. I would have just come to get you myself and a lot sooner,” he says with conviction. His whole body tensing up as the corners of his mouth drop into an angry frown.
“What are you talking about?” I exclaim, my own voice rising higher and my hands shooting up in the air.
“Cynthia and Mark have done more for me than anyone else in my whole life. They’ve given me a job and a place to stay. My dream job I might add,” I almost shout, but I can feel myself trembling with nerves. My eyes starting to mist over.
“They haven’t done anything to me, Brandon. They’ve done a hell of a lot for me, and I appreciate it and them,” I add, holding back tears now.
It’s useless to argue with someone like Brandon, he can seem so arrogant once he’s made his mind up about something. But I’m very defensive of anyone who’d try to criticize my bosses.
They’re more like family to me than employers. They’re also my only friends.
I half expect Brandon to counter my comments with more of his own. But he falls silent, only nodding his head as he looks around again.
The look of a man who’s already made his mind up about something.
Planning.
I cover my face with my hands and wiping my eyes dry I force a smile to try and break the awkwardness of the moment.
“Are we gonna fight now?” I ask, forcing a nervous laugh that sounds more hysterical than anything as it bounces off the walls.
Brandon shakes his head slowly, his own features softening as he moves towards me, taking me by the elbows.
“I only want what you deserve,” he says softly. “I don’t think your bosses are bad people, but I know you deserve more than this Ashlee, and I can give it to you,” he explains.
I feel a ripple of nerves run across my belly.
I know he’s right but I like it here. It’s so snug. Everything I need to keep busy is at my fingertips and I really don’t have to go anywhere.
It’s…
“Safe,” Brandon says suddenly, reading my thoughts and bringing them to an end in one word.
“You’re safe here and that’s why you like it. Even though you get paid a pittance, I imagine and do a lot of the heavy lifting for people who make a profit from it. I get it, I run a business too ya know,” he says thoughtfully.
I hear myself swallowing hard. Knowing he’s absolutely right.
It’s like he’s finally giving a voice to all the feelings I have but could never admit, even to myself.
“They’re good people,” I affirm again and he nods.
“No doubt they mean well, but I’m talking about you, Ashlee. The rest of your life, your future.”
His eyes blaze with such intensity that I feel dizzy. Not just from thinking about my life now, but because I can see what Brandon is driving at.
A future with the two of us in it.
Me, Ashlee Baker as his equal. His woman. And Brandon Silver as my man. My one and only.
Forever.
If meeting Brandon, and having him do what he’s done to me just now downstairs wasn’t enough, I’ve confessed my virginity to him too.
He’s just blown a hole in the view of my world, my place in it.
“I’m just a dressmaker,” I hear myself telling him calmly. “It’s really hard to get a foot in anywhere without contacts,” I add.
Brandon listens patiently.
“My own business, if you’d call it that? It wouldn’t be enough to buy a meal let alone a lifestyle. Cynthia and Mark have given me a start, and that’s what it is a start in the industry. I can’t just walk away from it and them, especially this weekend. We’re flat out busy and they’ve both come down with something.”
He nods in agreement. “I thought they looked a little rough earlier,” he muses. “When they left,” he explains.
“You were watching the store?” I ask, sounding shocked but I really shouldn’t be surprised at all.
“I was watching you,” he grins, letting his eyes run over my body again before settling them on mine.