Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Save me a plate. I have an event tonight. I won’t be here for dinner.”
It’s not as if this is something new. Half the time he’s not around. I’m not sure why he’s bothered to come and tell us this.
“Lila will save you a plate. Won’t you?” I just nod my head and drain the pasta as I imagine putting the leftovers down the disposal so he can’t have any. It’s only a fantasy, though. It doesn’t matter that I have a bank account filled with money, and food that I can access at any time. I still find myself having a hard time being wasteful. Not when I can still recall the many nights as a child I went without.
“Don’t wait up for me tonight,” he tells Beau. I stiffen, wondering what that means. Is he not coming home tonight? Mason might avoid me, but he’s typically home at night. He spends most of his time in his office, but he’s still here.
“Lila will read to me. Won’t you?” Beau again tries to pull me into the conversation.
“I’ll do anything for you, Beau.” I turn my head to give him a giant smile, making his little face light up.
Mason stands there for a long moment before he finally turns and leaves the kitchen. I let out a breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“He’s being weird,” Beau announces a few seconds later.
“What do you mean?” I grab a couple of plates for us. He shrugs his little shoulder.
“I don’t know. He’s not around much.”
“Is he normally around a lot more?” I ask. Beau nods his head.
“He’s probably just giving us some time together since he gets you all the time,” I lie. If I had any question about whether Mason disliked me before, tonight kind of settles it. What sucks is that as much as I want to dislike him right back, I can’t.
I’ve got some silly crush on him that I can’t break. I tell myself it’s because I love how he is with Beau, but it’s also part of how he’s taken care of me. He might be doing it because he feels he has to, but no one has ever done shit for me. Gosh, I’m pathetic.
“We can all hang out.” Beau huffs, getting annoyed too.
“Let's eat.” I finish plating our food, setting our plates down on the island. I push my food around, suddenly not so hungry. My mind keeps going to Mason being in his tux. I didn’t think the man could get more attractive. I was wrong.
Where the heck was he going? Did he have a date? A shot of anger rushes through me. What the hell? He can go out and do whatever he wants, but I can never do shit. I’m eighteen, and I’m not even allowed to have a damn phone.
“You're not hungry?” Beau asks, noticing my plate is still full.
“What if we go out for ice cream?” His eyes light up at my suggestion.
“Can we?” I think of my secret cell phone and the bank account Mason is always so insistent that I keep.
“Yeah, we can. I think maybe the park too.”
“Yes!” Beau jumps up from his chair.
We can go out too. Screw you, Mr. Mason.
7
HENDRIX
“My dear Drix. To what do I owe this singular pleasure?” Marina Kovalenko pauses dramatically at the door of her dressing room, one gloved hand stretched above her head and the other planted on a jutted hip. She is one of the most renowned opera singers in the world, a first-class beauty, and daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Europe. Every dick around would be standing up in her presence.
Every one but mine. I give her a cool once-over and take a sip of my brandy. “Your father’s invitation, of course.”
“You could at least pretend to flirt with me.”
I take another drink.
My non-response dims her bright smile. She drops the seductive pose and stomps over to her makeup table. “Did you enjoy the performance at least?”
“Of course.” I toss back the brandy and set the empty glass on the table. “I’m not here for that, and we both know it. Tell your father to sign the papers while it’s still a good deal for him.”
“He wants us to marry.”
Our eyes meet in the mirror. “That is not going to happen.”
“Who is it then?”
“None of your business.” I rise and flick a piece of lint off my trousers. “Your dad has until Friday or I’m pulling the deal.”
“So you do have a woman!” Marina flies out of her chair and launches herself at me. I catch her wrists up and thrust her back.
“I said it wasn’t any of your business.” I set her aside and leave. Something loud and breakable crashes near my head. A few pieces of shattered glass sprinkle down on my shoulder. My driver, Nathan, brushes the debris off.