“Would your driver take me home? I need to change before work.”
Cadeon moved and stood behind her. He wore a black business suit with a crisp white shirt and a tailored jacket.
“You’re not going back there,” he said to her reflection in the mirror.
“I have to. It’s my home.”
He took the brush out of her hands and began to brush her long length of hair. The action he used was smooth. “I told you last night I wouldn’t let you go back to that house.”
“But everything is there. My stuff.”
“Give me your keys. I’ll get my men to clean it out. I don’t want you back in that street.”
She turned round and took the brush out of his hands. “You don’t know me. You can’t just bombard my life like that.”
“Can’t I?” He folded his arms over his impressive chest. “Violet, I hate to break this to you, but no one knows where you are.”
“You won’t hurt me.”
“No, I won’t, which is why you won’t be returning to that place. Give me your keys. I’m taking care of you from here.” He opened his hand, waiting.
“I’m twenty-one years old. I can take care of myself.”
“Then do so, and understand what I’m offering you. Give me your keys. Don’t make me take them from you.”
Violet had never had another person be so protective of her. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she glanced down at the floor. Cadeon was so different from everyone she’d heard about.
“I don’t have the keys. They’re in my bag, which I left downstairs,” she said.
“Fine. Finish getting dressed, and we’ll go down to breakfast. You can give me your keys, and then we’ll go to work.”
Violet nodded. “People will talk if I turn up with you.”
“Do I look like the kind of man who gives a shit about stuff like that?” He spun away and walked out of the room.
Alone, Violet brushed out her hair. Why couldn’t she tell him no? But there was another, more confusing, question for her. Why didn’t she want to?
****
Cadeon walked down the corridor and went straight into the kitchen. Anne was buttering some toast. She gave him a look and continued in her work. He went for the coffee and poured himself a mug.
“Where is she?”
“Getting dressed.”
“I noticed no other bed was made up,” Anne said.
“She stayed with me.”
The only sound was the scratching as she spread the butter over a crispy slice of toast.
“You know she isn’t like most of the women you’ve dated.”
“Don’t give me the third degree. I’ve never brought a woman back here,” he said. Anne always knew what to say to put him in a bad mood. He watched as she slammed the knife on the side and stalked over to him.
“Cadeon Ashwood, don’t you ever raise your voice at me. You may be my employer, but I can still put you over my bloody knee and smack that backside of yours.”
He burst out laughing. Anne had been the best nanny and housekeeper in the world. She’d never punished him even though sometimes he’d deserved it.
“Don’t laugh at me, boy. I know what you get up to, and don’t ask me how I know. I just do. That girl up there isn’t like your circles. You’ve got to be careful with her or risk losing everything. Do you understand?”
Cadeon knew what she was talking about. His lifestyle was kept from the media and press, but it didn’t mean his private life was private. The life of an Ashwood was stressful. He’d seen the way his father had reacted with his mother. Always in her company and bestowing her with gifts and favours. His father’s possessiveness of his wife had been open for all to see. Cadeon had wanted the same, to be so completely taken by a woman he couldn’t bear to be without her.
“I would never hurt her. I promise. Ah, here she is.” Violet stood in the door looking beautiful and perfect as ever. With great pride he watched as she walked toward him and handed her the house key. The first move in a line of trust. At least he hoped she saw it that way.
Thinking of her alone in that awful place was more than he could stand.
“Do you want coffee, tea?”
“Tea, please.” She sat at the counter, and he kept his gaze fixed on her. Every little move she made and the way she held herself so still and silent was as if she was scared of anyone knowing she was there.
“Do you want any toast, love?” Anne asked.
“No, thank you.”
“You’ve got to eat,” he said.
“I’m not hungry.”
Cadeon went to order her to eat but stopped himself as he caught Anne’s warning look.