The Billionaire’s Burden(4)

Maybe I was just sinking into a depression. I was too apathetic to even care at that point.

"Good morning, Macy," Came a shrill voice that unluckily did not belong to Harry, "I was wondering when you would bother to climb out of that bed."

"Good morning, Karina." I replied, trying to hide my pained grimace.

My dark haired mother in law turned in her chair, watching as I approached. Too late to run away, I reluctantly sank down into the chair across from her.

"How are you this morning?" I asked, struggling for polite conversation.

I glanced up appreciatively as Harry handed me a big mug of coffee.

Though Karina and George did not live in the same manor as their son, they stopped by all too frequently.

"Quite well." She replied primly, sipping at her cup of earl grey tea, "You know that Sebastian is due to return in a few days, yes?"

"Of course." I replied quickly, clearing my throat.

Or at least, I probably would have known that if he and I had talked for more than a single awkward text.

"No doubt he will be jet lagged and cranky. I trust that you will be able to take care of him?” She continued, ebony eyes shooting up to pierce me harshly.

I swear, her stare was like looking into the pits of hell. At any moment, she could spring up and wring my neck like a crazy woman.

I needed to get out of here.

"Sure." I shrugged, just trying to keep her wrath at bay.

How exactly did she expect me to care for Sebastian? He was a thirty year old man, I was pretty certain he could look after himself. He probably didn't even care to see me.

The older woman hmph'd under her breath, all but rolling her eyes. Her confidence in me was astoundingly low.

"What are your plans this afternoon?" She asked accusingly, flipping the page of her newspaper over. Did people even still read the news anymore?

My plans? I never had plans. Or perhaps that was her point.

For some reason I had the feeling that hanging out with Harry would not have been an acceptable response to the prissy woman.

What else did she expect me to do, though? Was she planning on hanging out all day?

Escape. Escape. I needed to get the hell out of here, and I needed to do it five minutes ago. I could feel my head inching closer and closer to explosion.

"Actually, I was just going to head on over to the bakery." I said hurriedly, taking another sip of my coffee as I climbed to my feet, "I need to make sure that all's well on that front."

I chuckled, a bit manically, as I began to edge towards the grand arch of the dining room.

I was going to miss out on Harry's magnificent breakfast, and that bacon smelled more appealing than anything else in the world, but I absolutely could not spend one more minute with my persnickety mother in law.

I'd never forget how often she drilled into my head just how much I did not deserve her son's last name – whether or not she was right.

"You're actually leaving the house today?" Karina Davis replied, in mock surprise, "How enthralling. I'll alert the press right away."

This time it was my turn to somehow resist a huge roll of my eyes.

I wasn't sure why she insisted on tearing me down at absolutely every point possible. I'd done my best not to engage with this behavior, to let it roll right off my back, but my patience was fraying thinner and thinner.

"Alright then," I sighed airily, "I'll be off. Have a good afternoon, Karina."

She grunted slightly in response, not even glancing at me as I slid from the dining room and basically ran towards the front door.

It wasn't until the heavy mahogany wood slammed behind me that I finally sucked in a deep breath of relief.

Being around that woman was like being drawn closer and closer to a black hole.

With a firm shake of my head I wandered over to the red BWM Sebastian had purchased for me. I'd never driven it, afraid to ruin such an expensive gift. Desperate times called for desperate measures, however.

I climbed into the driver's seat, sending another glance towards the front door as though Karina were going to come running out of it to hound me again for wearing improper shoes or something.

When all remained calm, I sent a mental apology to Harry, who was no stuck with my mother in law, and started the car. Obediently, the engine quietly rolled to life.

In a matter of seconds, I was on the road to freedom.





Chapter Three





The road to the bakery was more crowded than I had ever seen it before. I even had to park nearly half a mile down the road. It used to be that I could pull right up in front of the doors. Luckily enough for me, I could sneak in the back door instead of waiting in the line that circled around the block.

Just what had Sebastian done to make this place such an attraction? I couldn't even imagine what my parents would have thought seeing this.