Chapter Three
My fingers drum against the pristine wood of my desk, the sound of her heels a rhythmic tap in the otherwise silent house.
Miranda knocks twice and I wait a beat before I call, “Come in.”
The door swings open silently and Miss Lauder steps into the room.
Her eyes don’t immediately come to me, so I take a moment to appreciate the beauty before me.
Dressed in a tight black skirt and white blouse, she screams elegance and sophistication, not a single wrinkle can be seen in her clothes. Her raven black hair is left down, dead straight and pulled away from her shoulders so it falls down her back like a curtain made entirely of the night sky. Her skin has a glow to it, like the sun has recently kissed it and her eye makeup is so dark it makes her already dark eyes even more fathomless, long lashes and plump lips painted a plum color, slicked with a gloss I itch to taste.
She holds her delicate hands in front of her as she stares at the painting above the fire. Everything about her screams timidness and politeness, even the way she stands, back ramrod straight, shoulders squared with her legs posed in such a way it looks uncomfortable. Someone clearly didn’t forget their etiquette lessons from when they were a kid.
Sweet little Olivia.
Fuck, she’s going to be fun to rile.
Finally, those dark eyes fall to me, flicking back and forth as she takes in the space I am currently occupying. It feels like forever before they finally land on me directly.
So damn pretty.
So put together.
I feel my grin as it pulls up my mouth, my eyes eating her up from across the room.
“Olivia,” I purr, standing from the desk.
My steps are slow, languid as I cross the space between us, wondering if she’ll turn and bolt but I’m pleasantly surprised when she roots herself to the spot, though she keeps those pretty eyes down. With a curl of my finger beneath her chin, I tip up her face, the scent of her invading my senses. Like raspberries mixed with something floral, it’s so sweet it makes my mouth water for a taste.
She stiffens under my touch, her breath stuttering to a stop as I lean in closer, feeling the heat of her wrap around me and then I’m barely a breath away from her.
My smile only widens when she doesn’t move.
“Welcome home,” I whisper, the words landing against her mouth as I speak them so quietly, I wonder if she’ll be able to hear them over the crackle and pop of the fire.
For a few long seconds she does nothing, says nothing, doesn’t breathe or blink but then it’s like the words sink beneath her skin, her brain finally catching up and she jumps away from me, wobbling on those heels.
“Home?” She spits, tipping up her chin in a show of defiance, “This will never be my home.”
I stifle my laugh, “The contract you signed says otherwise, darling.”
I head back to the desk and lower myself into the chair, reaching for the decanter and two glasses, pouring two fingers of whiskey into each. I then push one of those glasses to the edge of the desk, tipping my head down to it in offering to her.
She narrows her eyes, stomping across the room to snatch it off the desk, any elegance she had just shown is gone with her anger.
“Contract or no contract,” She hisses, “This’ll never be home for me.”
“What a very sad life that will be,” I tease, “The estate is beautiful, I should imagine any number of people would dream of calling it home.”
“So why not ask one of them to come live here?” She quirks a brow, bringing the glass to her lips before she knocks the whole of it down. I almost wince. This is a whiskey to be savored not downed like a cheap shot in a shitty nightclub.
“Well, if I did that, Olivia,” I toy with her, “How else would I have made a bargain for your precious sisters’ life?”
A lick of fire brightens the darkness of her eyes as rage twists her face, “I vow to you, Malakai,” Never has my name sounded so good coming from a woman’s lips. “I am going to make your life hell. Miserable. You’re going to regret ever thinking you’re going to get a quiet, obedient little wife with me.”
As excitement works through me, my cock twitching in anticipation, I take a tender sip of my drink, leaning forward until my elbows rest on the desk, “I sure hope you don’t disappoint me, kitten.”
Her nose flares as her teeth bite down and she slams the glass down on the desk. “Where am I staying?” She hisses.
“For now?” I lean back, smirking, “I have a room being prepared for you.”
“And my things?”
“They’re here.” I confirm without telling her they’re being placed in the closet in my bedroom. It’s her room now too, after all.
“May I leave?” She grits out, her politeness outweighing her anger.
What a shame.
“Sure, kitten.”
“Stop calling me that,” She snaps, turning on her heel and heading toward the door.
“You’ll get lost in a house this big,” I warn.
“I’ll take my chances.” The door slams on her way out and I let out a low chuckle. Perhaps I wasn’t expecting the fight so soon and I’m pleasantly surprised by it.
I wander through the house sometime later, listening to the roar of the fires I have going throughout the house. The coffee machine whirs in the kitchen, and I can hear my staff preparing for the evening in the various rooms.
It takes me five minutes to find Olivia.
She is sitting on the very top step, her head cradled in one hand as she swipes through her phone with the other. Her groomed brows are drawn low, her face twisted into a grimace.
“No luck?” I tease.
Her head snaps up and her eyes narrow, “No one will talk to me.”
“That is because I haven’t given them permission to do so.”
“You’re an ass.” Olivia turns her attention back to her phone, dismissing me.
I take the steps two at a time, but she doesn’t move at my approach, even though she stiffens. She’s putting on a good front, trying to play it cool like she isn’t terrified to be here, with me.
I snatch the phone from her hand, locking the screen before I shove the device into the pocket of my pants.
“Hey!”
“If you’ll follow me,” I gesture with a curl of my finger, not stopping even when I don’t hear her following.
I count in my head, getting to ten before her heels stomp after me.
“Give it back!”
I ignore her, pushing on until I come to the door next to mine and step inside, finding the bedroom ready for her. A fire burns in the hearth that sits opposite the four-poster bed, fresh white linens tucked in tight across the mattress. The window has a view of the stables and the meadows, and I know that just beyond that band of trees sits the lake the estate is named for. She follows me inside, stopping just inside the door.
I throw her cell onto the bed, turning to her.
“Dinner is at six,” I step toward her, “Don’t be late.”
“I won’t be joining you,” She snatches up her phone.
“You will,” I demand, “Or I’ll drag you down there. Oh, and Olivia.” I pull the thick cardstock from my pocket, tossing it onto the dresser near the door, “This is for you.”
I leave before she can pick it up and am halfway down the stairs when I hear her scream my name.