Chapter 16 #2
“Okay. And that’s fine … But you will. You just need to get here, and I’ll help with everything else. I’ll be the freaking sunniest day ever.”
“I might need you to fly with me,” she whispered the confession, as if ashamed, but it was the first time she asked, the first time she went that far in contemplation. “I don’t know if I can do it alone.”
I jumped onto the hope and rode it quickly forward. “Oh, Mare, I’ll come. Just let me know the day. I promise.”
I hung up with a heavy heart, though it held some tiny sliver of optimism. She was considering leaving, and that was the first step.
Maybe I was too preoccupied yesterday and with the phone call today, or maybe I subconsciously just didn’t want to email him after how our interaction ended the day before, but I turned in without emailing Jameson and woke when a message came through hours later.
I expect a report daily regarding my daughter’s studies.
I stared at that screen like my eyes had laser beams that could melt the phone.
It’s 2 a.m.
Oh good. You’re awake. Then you can give me that report for yesterday and today now.
Wow. Or he could fuck right off.
I should have texted that back to him. Instead, every person in the world including my parents would be proud to know that I responded just as a Darling should.
Apologies. Franny had unexpected visitors yesterday that she was able to interact with in the morning, as you know. She loves seeing you every chance she gets. Today was a fun reading day where she made huge strides in reading to Malek and me.
There. Professional. We’d gotten rid of the distractions yesterday like he wanted.
So there we were, acting like boss and employee.
I laid there for two whole minutes before I kicked the plush sheet off and went to splash water on my face, hoping it would cool me down.
I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was sprouting curls every which way while steam practically shot out of my ears with how red my cheeks were with anger.
I hated being a Darling. I hated suppressing everything I was feeling. I hated that it was expected of me.
I considered changing out of my pajamas with the low-cut tank, but screw him and his rules.
I left my room needing a glass of water because if I didn’t distract myself, I’d probably text him something I’d regret.
Now, did I sort of hope Jameson got an alert that I left my room and looked to find me flipping off the security camera in the corner of the hall, sure. And maybe I’d regret that too later.
I mean, obviously, I needed my salary. It’s what was going to help Marian and me later this year, and I actually enjoyed teaching Franny every day. Something about that girl holding my hand and asking for a heart-in-pinkie promise got to me.
I was being stupid acting out, but hopefully Jameson’s guards were the only ones watching the cameras now considering they didn’t sit outside my door anymore.
Plus, Jameson barely did anything himself when it came to his estate anyway, the prick.
He wanted to text me about his daughter when he could have been spending quality time with her throughout the day.
Franny yearned for more interaction with him.
She had talked about him incessantly all afternoon and told me how great of a doctor he was.
Even still, I shouldn’t have given him the power to rile me. Not when so much was on the line.
A Darling I would be.
Even if it killed me.
And how was the afternoon?
Great. Franny did well.
I just needed the conversation to end so I didn’t dig myself a hole by telling him the afternoon was sprinkled with me thinking of his hands on me even though he was a Diamond.
He was a dangerous murderer, and yet I had the audacity to encourage my sister to get out of an abusive relationship? I was so ridiculous.
Tomorrow I’d reset and be able to handle him.
A teacher should elaborate.
I growled in frustration.
In the afternoon, she picked a state to learn about. She was delighted to hear that you can see snow and the beach in the same day in California.
No mention of the academy incident?
I think having you to talk about instead made her forget that for a day.
And you?
And me what?
Did it make you forget about the academy for the day?
I froze in the middle of the kitchen. Had Archer told him about my nightmares? I didn’t want to explain if he didn’t know. But if he did know, I needed to explain. Maybe he was gearing up to find a reason to fire me. To let me go and get rid of whatever complication I was creating.
Not only was I the teacher that saw something I shouldn’t have at the academy, now I was mixing business with pleasure.
Of course he’d be having regrets and want to get me out of here.
I mentally kicked myself and combed a hand through my curls before replying vaguely.
I’m fine. If I can’t sleep, I just get a glass of water and read for a bit. It usually helps.
I set the phone down and opened the cabinet to reach for a glass, but each one of them were now at eye level.
The lowest shelf.
So I didn’t have to reach.