George walks over and places Joe’s plate in front of him with a warning glare. I’m sure I wasn’t meant to see it, but I did. But George’s warning is temporary when a delivery man comes in with some boxes asking where George wants to put the stuff. George motions towards the pantry, and soon, they both disappear.
“What’s eating him?” Joe asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe your cockiness.”
“You think I’m cocky?”
I look up from my eggs at him. “I’m pretty sure we’ve had a similar conversation.”
He leans forward to whisper. “Have you been having fun up in your tower?” He wriggles his eyebrows at me.
“I see we still like overstepping the mark.”
“I can overstep a lot more if you’ll let me.”
I sigh. “Can I just eat my breakfast in peace?”
“Sure,” he replies, going silent.
For the next couple of minutes, we eat in silence together and when I finish, I get up and move towards the sink. In a flash, I wash my dish, dry it, and put it away.
“You seem to know your way around already.”
I turn looking at Joe. “Well, I have been coming here since I was thirteen. You would think I would know my way about by now.”
He frowns. “Doesn’t it bother you that you’ve known Drake since then, and now you’re … what are you … lovers?”
I show him my ring. “Fiancée, actually.” I wouldn’t normally show my commitment to anyone, but this guy seems to push my buttons in the wrong direction.
“Oh, yes. I always seem to forget that part.”
“Yes, it seems you always do.”
“So, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“Bother you?”
That part doesn’t really bother me. It’s more the fact that I’m being forced into a situation I can’t get out of. Well, at least for now I can’t seem to find a way out.
“No, it doesn’t bother me.”
“So, if I were to offer to take you away from all this, you would turn it down?”
I inhale a little at his question. Would I take it if someone gave me the opportunity? I suppose I would. I can’t tell Joe this. For all I know, he could be secretly working as Drake’s snoop.
“Yes, I would turn it down.”
Joes stares at me for a moment before slightly shaking his head. “You and I both know that’s a lie, but I’m sure one day you’ll come to me asking the question.”
“Ask you what?”
“To take you away. Give you your freedom back. I know as well as you do that you’re being forced into this.”
My heart starts beating rapidly in my chest. I guess everyone knows, but up until this point, only Joe has blatantly pointed it out to me.
However, I don’t know this guy, and again, he could be secretly asking me this so he can report to Drake later. I suck in a breath, and I’m about to answer him when I hear a bellowing voice.
“So, where is she? I need to meet my soon-to-be daughter.”
I frown at Joe, but all he does is smile at me. I walk out of the kitchen to see if it’s who I think it is when I’m met with a middle-aged man standing tall amidst a couple of armed guards. They’re Drake’s guards, and they look a little out of sorts like they don’t know what to do.
The man—who I now recognise as Drake’s dad—stands regally in his three-piece grey suit, white shirt, and navy tie. His hair is still black, but it’s now greying slightly at the sides. I remember meeting him once when I was thirteen, but I also remember Drake not being pleased by this. I doubt the situation has changed. Maybe Drake’s dad knows he’s not here and is taking the opportunity to see me knowing this. Maybe this is the reason why the guards are standing by him, looking like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
At first, he doesn’t say anything. He creepily looks me up and down and then extends his hand. “Evelyn, how nice to meet you again. I don’t know if you remember me?”
“I do.”
He smiles wickedly at me. “Did I make that much of an impression?”
What a slimeball.
“Do you remember my name?”
I shake my head. “No. That part I don’t recall.”
“Sebastian.”
As much as I don’t want to, I offer him my hand. He leans over, gently placing a kiss on my skin. For some reason, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I remember instantly disliking him when I first met him. Today is no different.
“You’ve turned into a beautiful woman. I can see why Drake wants to keep you.”
Keep me?
“Why don’t we go to the living area where we can have a little chat? Considering you’re marrying my son shortly, I would like to get to know you better.”