She felt one of Nero’s hands leave her for a moment before it returned and started soothing her.
This time, when the elevator went up, it didn’t stop for quite a bit. When she heard the elevator door open, Nero moved for her to walk again. That’s when Elle noticed the button lit, indicating they were on the top floor.
Nero took a right and led her down a long hallway until he reached the last door on the left. He pulled out a key and slid it through the slot like a credit card before opening the door.
Elle walked through the door Nero held open for her and her mouth dropped open. It was a loft. The downstairs had a big, flat-screen TV, a leather sofa, and a huge kitchen and dining room all connected. Everything was black and white, and everything was brand new and modern. Elle still couldn’t pick her mouth off the floor when she saw the view. It was a corner suite with floor-to-ceiling views.
Nero took her hand and led her up the steps where she saw a huge black and white bed low to the floor. The windows had carried up behind the bed, making the city the backdrop.
“Where are we?” She was in complete awe, never having seen anything like this even in a magazine.
Nero couldn’t take his eyes off Elle’s amazed face. “Home.”
Elle, shocked, turned to look at him. “You live here now? How?”
“My father owns the hotel, and he’s been saving this room for me since I could remember. I got to design it a few months ago, and it was just finished last week. Do you like it?”
“Yes, it’s beautiful.” Elle looked down at the black, hardwood floors. “Was he waiting to give it to you when you joined the family business?”
Nero sighed and walked toward her. Taking her hand again, he brought her to a door and opened it.
Elle saw a huge, walk-in closet just as big as Maria’s—wait.
“Are those my clothes?”
Nero took Elle’s chin in his hand. “Yes. I’ve been telling you this is your home now.”
What in the hell? “Did my parents approve of this? How in the world did they agree to this?”
“I told them you needed to be monitored, and I could provide that. I have a doctor on call who will check on you. Baby, you hit your head pretty hard this time. You clearly just had a headache, and if they get worse, that’s not good.”
Elle moved away from Nero, all of this too much, too fast for her to handle. She felt a little betrayed by her parents and by Nero for not even asking her if that was what she wanted. He’s acting like I don’t have a choice.
“I need to take a shower.” Then I’m calling someone and I’m leaving. Elle would leave now if she didn’t feel so gross. She still felt the hospital all over her.
Nero nodded his head. “The bathroom is over there.” He pointed to the only other door up here.
Elle looked through the closet rack, trying to find something comfortable for her to wear; nothing. She noticed some of her clothes were not here, mostly just the ratty ones. Elle decided to look through the drawers of a big chest in the closet and saw a bunch of lingerie with tags still on them. What the fuck?
She looked at the sizes and saw they were all correct for her. You have got to be shitting me.
Elle went through the rest of the drawers, hoping she would find something comfortable to wear, but the only thing comfortable-looking were Nero’s t-shirts. Fuck!
Elle went back to the rack and snatched down a pair of jeans and a sweater. Before she left the closet, she saw a white dress hanging up. When she realized what dress it was, she wanted to stomp on it.
Elle came out of the closet with just her sweater and jeans. When she saw Nero sitting on the bed smiling, she stomped off into the bathroom where she slammed the door shut.
Fuck you!
Chapter Forty-Seven
Wash Me
Elle rested her head on the bathroom door, trying not to cry. She was feeling far too overwhelmed; just days ago, she had felt nothing, and now she could feel everything again. All these different emotions were hitting her full-force from reading Nero’s letter, being in the hospital, and then talking to Nero again.
Elle’s tears started to flow as she silently cried in the bathroom. When she turned around, the bathroom was just as gorgeous and modern as the rest of the apartment. It was floor-to-ceiling black and white tile, a huge walk-in shower, double sinks, and a bathtub that looked like a huge bowl.
She tried to muffle her tears as she began attempting to pull her shirt off. A moment later, she felt Nero’s hands at her shirt.
“Get out!” she yelled at him through her crying.
“Let me help you, baby,” he murmured to her as he pulled the shirt over her head.
Elle quickly covered her exposed breasts and began to shake. “P-Please g-go.” Please, please, please. Elle knew she wasn’t strong enough to fight him.
Nero saw the huge blue and black marks on her stomach. “No.” His hands returned to her body and pulled down her sweatpants and panties. “I am not fucking leaving you again.”
It was too hard for Elle to stifle her crying anymore, so she merely let it out. “You hurt me, Nero.”
He pulled her to his body. “I know I did, and I’m sorry. I am so fucking sorry, Elle, for everything. I’m sorry I didn’t notice you for all those years, and that I didn’t say anything when they picked on you. I should have told you about my family, no matter how afraid I was to lose you, because I lost you anyway.” Nero made Elle look up at him. “I shouldn’t have let you go and left you alone for all those months, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”
Elle blinked back her new tears. “I’m sorry I didn’t see you hurt—”