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I finished packing my clothes and a few personal items, then I walked into my kitchen and disposed of all the perishable items. I walked around my house, turning off all the power. As I switched off the last power point, I turned to have one last look around. I felt a tear slide down my cheek. Leaving this place was too much for me to bear. I’d worked so hard for this little house, for my independence, and I was about to lose it all.
Nathan returned from putting my things in the SUV and noticed me standing there, crying. I couldn’t help but think of why he doing this to me. What possessed him to make an offer like this. His heart must have been made of steel.
“Why are you doing this?” I whispered, turning so I could look him in the eyes.
His body stiffened. “Because the last person I trusted betrayed me with my best friend, after they’d taken a small fortune from me, and I swore that I would never let anyone do that to me again. Nobody will ever get away with stealing from me.” His eyes darkened to black granite. “I will use you and treat you anyway I see fit. You are a mere toy for my pleasure and I will never offer you anything more than that. If you want to do this in order to get your brother out of trouble, then that is your problem, not mine. It wasn’t his only option, nor was it your responsibility.”
I was surprised by the pure ice in his tone and his admission. As I looked at him, I could almost see his heart hardened even more. He ignored the pain in my eyes and grabbed me lightly on the arm.
“It’s just a house. Let’s go.” He lightly pulled me outside and locked the front door, pocketing my keys.
When we got back in car, I fumbled though my bag looking for a tissue. When I couldn’t find one, I just sat there, tears running down my face. I couldn’t stop them. I know I looked weak and I hated that, but I had no strength left to hold it all in.
Nathan asked Sam to stop the SUV in front of a convenience store. He got out and walked inside, returning a few minutes later with a box of tissues.
“Stop crying, Rose,” he said as he handed them to me. “Is this really all over some old house?”
I wiped away my tears and looked up at Nathan’s cold, uncaring face. “That house may not seem like much to you, but I have worked damn hard to get it. It is my home. This is my life.”
Nathan shrugged one big shoulder. “Most people would be happy to go from your small house to live in my mansion.”
“Well, if it wasn’t your mansion then I probably would like it,” I bit out, regretting how childish I sounded. “But knowing that it has anything to do with you makes me sick.”
Nathan’s eyes darkened and I could almost see the anger radiating off him. “I won’t let you talk to me like that, Rose. I am doing you a damn good deal here. I could just as easily call this off and take my problem back up with your brother. Is that what you want?”
I shook my head, unable to use my voice. My throat felt like a desert. I’d never seen anyone look so angry before. He was terrifying.
“If you treat me with some respect, then I will treat you the same.”
“I really don’t see how making me your mistress is treating me decently,” I said before I could stop myself.
“See? There you go again.”
I could see him getting angrier and I didn’t want to live with him like this. I didn’t want to live in fear, so scared of him. “Alright, I’m sorry, okay? This isn’t easy for me, you know. I’ve always been very independent. I’ve never wanted a man to rule my life.”
Nathan sighed and his anger visibly subsided. “Try harder, Rose. I have a very short temper.”
We arrived back at Nathan’s house and I suggested we go for a swim in Nathan’s impressive swimming pool. We needed some sort of distraction so we didn’t argue for the rest of the day. I was surprised when he agreed.
As Nathan and I carried my things up to his room, I realised how impressive his house was, I’d been too distraught the night before to notice anything. Everything was so modern and stylish, and expensive. So very expensive. However, I did notice that it lacked any real personality, like it had been decorated by a stylist and never had any input from Nathan.
“This really is a beautiful house,” I remarked as we settled down beside the huge, perfectly landscaped pool. My brother was at least good at his job.
“I told you it was,” he said matter-of-factly.
I shook my head and smiled. He was such an arrogant man. I had no doubt he always got his own way in the end.
I stood up and walked over to the edge of the pool. I was wearing a basic black bikini that covered everything it needed to cover but I still felt exposed. It was a far cry from the sort of swimsuit that other women my age wore, but I guess I was going to have to get used to feeling like this in front of him. He would see me naked soon enough. I gingerly stuck my toes into the water, delighted when it felt cool and inviting. It was a hot November day and I could feel the sun already burning my skin.
“Are you going to come for a swim?” I turned and looked at him. Nathan was watching me over the top of another iPad and he had a slight bemused expression on his face.
“Maybe later.” I could still feel him watching me as I turned and dived under the water.
I focused as I swam a few laps, not looking in his direction. The exercise felt good and helped to clear my mind. After fifteen minutes or so, Nathan got up and dived smoothly into the pool. He surfaced right in front of me, his impressive chest glistening with drops, the water running rivets through the dark hair.
“Couldn’t resist?” I asked.
“I guess not. It’s a fairly hot day for November. We are definitely in for a long hot summer.”
