He opens the passenger door, then looks at me, his eyes on my baggy clothes before he waves to his door. “Let me take you to get your car, which I know you haven’t collected from your work.”
“What is your name?” I ask, realizing he’s never given it to me.
Oh, Thea, when was he meant to give it to you? When he kidnapped you?
I shake my head at his open door and his non-answer of my question.
So, he can know everything about me, but I am not allowed to know anything about him?
“Get in the car, Theadora, we have things to discuss.”
“You won’t hurt me?” I touch my forehead where a bruise is still forming from when he took me.
His gaze skims over the spot, then focuses back on my eyes. “No. I will not touch you at all.”
I believe him. I don’t know why, but for some reason, I do.
Walking over to his car, where he’s already standing, I climb inside, and he shuts the door behind me. Looking forward, I see the car is even flashier inside than my boss’s and think that maybe this is an upgraded model.
“You don’t plan to kidnap me again?” I ask while buckling my seatbelt.
“Not today,” he says, pushing the button to start it. He heads off in the direction of where I work. At first, no other words are spoken, and my leg starts to involuntarily bounce as I wait. He can’t seriously offer me a lift and demand I get in the car with him if he doesn’t plan to speak to me. What’s the point?
“You seem agitated. Do you get agitated a lot?” he asks with his hands firmly on the wheel, staring ahead.
“Just when I’m in a car with a kidnapper,” I retort while scrunching up my nose, but with a smile.
He huffs as if he finds my words amusing. “Maybe you should take better care of your family.”
Oh no, he didn’t just say that! He has some cheek, I will give him that. Take better care of my family? Who the fuck does he think he is? All I have ever done is take care of Lucy. In the end it got tiring, and I couldn’t keep doing it. The fact it was bringing me down as well meant I needed to allow her to stand on her own two feet. She is an adult, and it was time for her to grow up.
“You know fuck all. Keep your damn words to yourself, unless you plan to use them in a way you know is true.” My hands clutch together, and I sit there waiting for him to tell me off, to tell me he’s planning to punish me for the way I’ve just spoken to him. Anything. But he does nothing but drive in silence until my blue car comes into view parked exactly where I left it.
Guess he didn’t want to talk after all.
When he comes to a stop, he clicks the doors unlocked and stares straight ahead. “You’ll accompany me tomorrow night to a function. Your payments start then,” he growls with his fists clenched and eyebrows firmly pinched together in a scowl.
I know there’s no room for me to argue. I am to go to whatever function he wants me to and do as he asks, it’s part of the deal.
“Dress?” I ask, in a voice that I hope isn’t shaky. I don’t want to give him anything.
“Cocktail. Something will be sent to your house in the morning.”
“I have work.”
“It will be there before you leave.” He dismisses me.
I slide out of his car and head to mine, and when I turn back, he’s watching me. But I can’t make out his expression.
And that?
That’s what scares me.
Chapter Four
Theadora
My hands freeze in my hair as I’m tying my locks up into a messy bun, due to a knock on my front door that comes hard and fast. Taking a deep breath, I quickly finish tying it up and walk with steady steps to my front door. Another knock, louder this time, comes before I get there. Whoever it is, they’re impatient. Touching the door, I pull it open, but standing there is a girl with glasses on her face, black hair tied back into a tight ponytail, her lips painted red, and dressed in a black dress shirt and pencil skirt. I have never seen this woman before in my life, but the way she is looking at me makes me believe instantly that she dislikes me.
“Theadora,” she snaps.
“Thea,” I correct her.
“Yes, well, here is your dress. Be ready by six sharp. The car will be here to collect you.” She pushes the dress into my hands and turns, walking away while I watch. As she reaches a waiting black car, she turns back. “Don’t be late. He hates tardiness.” Then she climbs in and drives off.