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38
Cole
In the days that followed, she turned inward. I didn't care. I had what I wanted and the drug was working on her. The addiction was becoming a thing of the past, and her defiance was breaking down in the light of reality.
But just giving in and letting things stand wouldn't help her. For her sake, and my enjoyment, she needed more challenges.
I started making plans.
"How's your father?"
The day before she'd had a fifteen minute phone call with him. As far as his records would show, if he ever looked, she was calling from within Washington State. There was a good chance he wouldn't look. He understood the concept of undercover. But in case his records came to light, the trail led away from where she really was.
It was safer for her. For the day when she'd go back to her life and her career.
It was safer for her, keeping her out of sight of anyone who might want to kidnap a billionaire's property for ransom, or a competitor who wanted what I already had.
It was safer for me. She was my property.
Annie looked up from loading her pancake with strawberries and whipped cream. There was bacon on her plate, and eggs. Briefly it had looked like she was developing an eating disorder, as if the need to control something was eating at her. But this morning's breakfast proved otherwise.
Her smile was genuine, even if it wasn't meant for me. "He's doing so much better. He's home. I mean, he's still home, there's been no more damage, he hasn't been readmitted to hospital. It's been weeks and he's better and stronger every day. He said a lot of it is because of the nursing staff and trainers and nutritionists that the grant paid for, and – "
She stopped mid-sentence. Eyes narrowed, she looked at me. "I'm an idiot."
I smiled and forked up a mouthful of fish. "You're just hopeful."
She shook her head hard enough to dislodge a strawberry from her fork. "No. That's not it. There's no grant for disabled or ill police. That was made up. It's you – you're the funds for him to have round the clock care and access to all the other extras." Her mouth hadn't properly closed yet.
"And if I am?" I bit into the fish. Annoyingly, her pancake looked better.
She closed her mouth again. "Thank you. That's all."
"I didn't do it."
She just nodded, clearly allowing me my fiction. "All right."
I considered that to be borderline actionable but the morning was full of rain and wind and I wanted out of the rural and into the city. I had business to do in Las Vegas with donors and with the pharmaceuticals company, St. Martin Pharma. Normally the day to day business was run by my people but every so often my presence was needed and I can't keep working from wherever I've holed up with whoever I've holed up with.
It would do her good to get out of the compound for a while.
It would do me better if she encountered some temptation along the way.
She was still talking, about her phone call with her father.
"We're going to Las Vegas," I said into her stream of words. She stopped chewing and looked at me.
"For – for how long? Sir?" There was an undercurrent of excitement in her voice, but also fear.
Good. She was already off balance.
"For as long as I say. After breakfast, get packed." I told her what to take. Then I told her to take the fourth cane from the left in the first armoire, the door of which was unlocked. To take it with her and lie face down on the bed, her pants below her ass, and to wait for me.
It had been a week. She should be healed.
And there was the change I was waiting for. Annie went completely still all over, her fork poised over her plate, her breakfast clearly forgotten. Her eyes wide, she asked, "Have I done something wrong, sir?"
No, she hadn't. And that was the point. To break her down until she was so angry, so hurt, emotions that the fight built up again. Until she fully accessed the part of Annie that wouldn't run from a fight but that might actually have the courage to try – again -- to run from me.
She wouldn't succeed. But she'd be stronger for the attempt.
