A Debt Owed (The Debt Duet 1)

I don’t know why she’s so happy, but it’s scary since she knows this is all a farce. I’m still a prisoner inside Easton’s mansion. This “going out” isn’t really out … just another place where I don’t get to walk without supervision. I feel like a kid with a helicopter mom. Although this helicopter mom doesn’t know a thing about me, and that could definitely come in handy.

When we arrive at the store, Jill walks to my side and helps me get out, just like Easton always does. He probably told her how to do it because she too locks her arm in mine, preventing me from escaping.

The boutique we walk into is called Luuks, a high-end designer store. Each rack is sorted by color instead of a specific article of clothing, and they’re all very minimalistic. Jill sifts through them like crazy, but all I can think about is the notebook clenched between my top and underwear.

I couldn’t leave it at his house. The cleaning ladies would probably find it in a heartbeat, no matter where I hid it. There was no safe place in that house, so my only option was to bring it with me.

I hope to God Jill doesn’t try to come into the changing room with me.

Or that Easton doesn’t open that drawer in his study today.

A sudden hand on my shoulder makes me jolt.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Jill says.

“No, it’s fine. I was just lost in my thoughts,” I joke, laughing it off as though it’s no big deal.

“Look what I found.” She holds up a bunch of dresses and skirts and tops, the type Easton would like. “I even found a cute hairpin to go with it. Pretty, right?”

“Yeah …” I reply, unsure what she wants from me.

“Let’s try them on,” she says, and she hurries me to the changing room, grabbing a pair of heels along the way. She hands me the clothes and heels, and says, “If you need help, call out, okay?” And then she closes the curtain.

Finally, I can breathe again. I sit down on the stool and stare at myself in the fancy decorated mirror, wondering what the hell I’m doing here.

I’m in a store. An actual store. In an actual city.

Not his mansion and not his property, but the outside world.

Freedom is right within my grasp. I should reach out and take it, right?

But how? How do I get out of here without Jill noticing, without his bodyguards following me?

And my father … Easton will surely kill him if I’m gone. But maybe there’s some way I can prevent it. If I can get to him sooner, I could warn him and tell him to hide. Maybe it could work. But how do I shake off Jill?

And will I be able to survive outside, not knowing any of the people or even the language?

I shiver from the thought and smile at myself in the mirror. Maybe I should just put on this dress and take my mind off things for a second. Maybe being Easton’s captive isn’t all as bad as it seems.

Easton

With my newly made key in my hand, I immediately go into my study. It’s been too long since I last looked at the cameras. I admit I’m addicted to them since she’s set foot in my mansion. All I want is to look at her. Is that so wrong?

Well, fuck being right. While she isn’t here, I can watch back old footage and enjoy myself. Maybe then I can forget about her not being here. This huge mansion can get lonely pretty fast.

With narrowed eyes, I look around, but nothing seems missing or out of place. Everything is still as I left it the last time I was still here … when she was in here with me.

Her scent still lingers in the air, and I sniff it up like drugs.

Delicious.

I go to my desk and pull up the laptop, starting the feeds. With my key, I open the drawer to find my lube next to her notebook … which is no longer here.

My eyes widen as I draw away from my desk and stare at the drawer.

My eyes aren’t lying … the notebook is gone.

What the fuck?!

Who did this? Who took my notebook?

Then it hits me. My disappearing key. Her sudden rage towards me this morning … and her seduction the night before … it was all a farce.

She stole my key, so she could get into my study and steal the notebook.

Fuck. Fuck!

An unbridled rage flickers the fire inside me, and I roar out loud and reach for my phone.

Time to make a fucking call.

Chapter 27

Charlotte

Present

I take off my clothes and put on the long white dress with the slanted shoulders. It looks good on me, and my knees are neatly tucked away underneath the dress, which are always an eye sore. I bunch up my hair and push in the hairpin. When I put on the pumps, the picture is complete. It looks fabulous … but I don’t feel the same way. There’s a pang of guilt in my stomach, and it shows on my face.