Chapter 11
Sofia
Did I spend nearly an hour and a half in the bathroom getting ready?
Yes, yes, I did.
Because, fuck Miles.
Fuck Kai for guilt-tripping me into agreeing to give Miles a chance.
And fuck Papa for putting me in this position in the first place.
Everyone had a breaking point, and as the hot water cascaded over my skin, washing away the blood staining my thighs, I realized I’d reached my point.
Since my mama died, and aside from Rafe, I’d been starved of love and affection, and the thought of spending the rest of my life in a loveless marriage, where my husband couldn’t bear to look at me, let alone touch me, shoved me violently over the edge.
I was done with being a pushover. Done with certain men thinking they had any right to control my life. And it started with not bowing down to Miles’ orders.
My shower and pampering session would have been a lot quicker had Miles not been pounding the door every few minutes, demanding that I hurry the fuck up. He eventually got the hint that any time he hammered on the door, I added a few more minutes to my ‘me time.’
Once I was finished in the bathroom, I spent far too long in my wardrobe picking out my outfit for the day. What could I say? I wanted to look my best for my new husband, and I couldn’t quite get the right look.
Opting for a tight, knee-length black dress with a thin red belt around the waist, I emerged from my wardrobe to find Miles sitting on my couch, glaring at his phone.
Hearing the door close behind me, he looked up.
His eyes raked over my curves, and a muscle ticked in his jaw.
Despite his hostility, a heat I didn’t want to acknowledge prickled my skin.
“About time,” he huffed, pocketing his phone as he stood. “What the fuck are you doing now?”
I swivelled on the seat I’d just sat down on, giving him my best innocent look. “My makeup.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “You don’t need makeup, you’re fine as you are.”
If anyone else had made that statement, I was sure I would have taken it as a compliment, but not coming from the mouth of Miles Wolfe, the man who had vowed to hate me for all of eternity.
“I’ll just be a few minutes,” I replied dismissively, turning back to start applying a layer of primer.
Truthfully, I didn’t normally wear makeup. Yes, I had a table full of expensive brands, but I only bothered to put it on when Papa insisted I made an effort. But I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to drag my heels.
Like I said. Fuck Miles.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about my attitude being as bad as Riley’s, before sitting down again. Only this time, he didn’t examine his phone; his intense gaze was fixed firmly on me as if he could get me to hurry up with the power of his mind.
Ignoring him, I took my time applying my makeup when a thought occurred to me. This would be the last time I’d be sitting at my makeup desk. Last night was the last night I would ever sleep in my own bed.
I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what came after the marriage. Sure, I knew I’d be living with Miles in Hollows Bay, but it hadn’t sunk in that the home I’d grown up in wasn’t going to be my home anymore.
Not that it felt like home these days. Since returning after I finished my final school year in Italy, the house had lost its warmth. I’d miss the memories of my mama the place held, and of course, I’d miss Rafe, but that was all.
With reality dawning on me, I let my gaze drift around my room as if it would be the last time I would ever see it.
“Hey,” I said, twisting to look at Miles, who was still glaring at me. “What about all my stuff? I need to pack. I can’t move without any clothes.”
His face remained expressionless. “You don’t need to pack. I’ve made arrangements with your father to have your belongings moved by the end of the day.”
“Oh,” I replied glumly, not liking the idea of people rummaging through my stuff.
Checking his watch, Miles stood. “If there are any essentials you want to take now, you’d best get them because I’m not waiting any longer.”
I didn’t need to think about it. I crossed to my bedside table and pulled out a framed photo of Mama with her arms wrapped around me and Rafe, the three of us with our heads thrown back as we laughed together.
It was taken shortly before she died, and it was probably the last time I was truly happy.
“That’s it?” Miles asked with a raised brow, no doubt expecting me to have demanded he wait while I packed up expensive jewelry and shit.
The photo was the only priceless possession I had, or needed.
“Yeah.”
“Right. Let’s go then,” Miles huffed after a few seconds of silence as I stared at the photo.
Saying goodbye to Rafe was the hardest thing I’d ever done in my life. He hugged me tight as I failed to hold back my sobs, telling me that we would speak all the time, and he’d come to see me as soon as I was settled.
When my sobs eased, Papa pulled me into his arms, kissed me on the cheek, and whispered in my ear that he was depending on me not to mess up this union.
I nodded before getting in the car, and as soon as Miles pulled away from the house, surrounded by his entourage of bodyguards, a sense of relief swept through me. I was free of Papa. Even if it did mean I was trapped with a grumpy asshole.
Maybe living with Miles wouldn’t be too bad; he’d made it clear that he wanted as little to do with me as possible after the wedding was over, so who knew? Maybe we’d find a way to co-exist around each other.
Now that we were on the road to Hollows Bay, a million questions raced through my head.
What would it be like living with the Wolfes?
Would I have a room to myself, or was I expected to share with Miles?
At least I’d have Riley to keep me company.
And Angel. I’d managed to learn a few words in American Sign Language, and with extra time with her, I could learn more.
For the first time since Papa had agreed to marry me off to Miles, a zap of excitement hit me.
I’d only been to Hollows Bay three times in my entire life.
Once, when I wasn’t supposed to set foot in the city.
The second, for Riley’s surprise birthday party, and most recently, when Miles had found me at Bar Forty-Four and brought me back to his house.
Something I was still yet to get to the bottom of.
So, as much as I didn’t really know where we were going, I was somewhat confused when we drove past a turning that I was certain would take us to the Wolfe mansion.
“Um...where are we going?” I asked tentatively, breaking the silence.
“Home,” Miles replied, not taking his eyes off the road.
“But-”
“We’re not living with Kai and Riley,” he gritted out as if the admission took a whole lot of effort.
“We’re not?”
“No. We’ll be living in our own place.”
For some bizarre reason, butterflies danced in my belly at learning the news that Miles and I would be living alone, but they were quickly doused by a flood of disappointment.
I’d be on my own. Again.
Before I could ask any more questions, Miles took a turn off the main road, slowing down when a barrier prevented us from going any further, and four men, all armed with guns, faced us. Upon seeing it was Miles, though, one of them opened the barrier, and Miles drove through, nodding to them.
My body thrummed with nervous energy, and my eyes darted everywhere. Not that there was much to see, thick trees lined either side of the track we were on. When they opened up to reveal the house, my heart began to race.
The three-storey building was made entirely of glass, the sun glinting off the enormous windows. It was much smaller than Kai and Riley’s home, and even my old home, but I liked that it wasn’t huge, even without setting foot inside, the size made it feel cozy.
Homely.
Bringing the car to a stop in the circular drive, Miles got out.
I followed his lead, my eyes trained on the house, taking in every detail.
Despite it being made of glass, I couldn’t see through the windows to the inside, making me think it had some kind of coating to stop people seeing in and offering privacy.
“Sofia,” Miles barked, dragging my attention away from the house. When I met his gaze, I realized two men had joined him, appearing from…somewhere.
I’d seen enough bodyguards to know that both men were armed under their smart suits. Both remained stoic, not even looking in my direction when Miles introduced them.
“This is Connor and Rob,” Miles said, pointing to them in turn. “They’re your appointed bodyguards. If you go anywhere, they go with you. Am I clear?”
I scoffed. “Where would I go?”
Miles shrugged. “Wherever you want,” he said as if that answer was obvious, before adding, “You’re not a prisoner here. If you want to go somewhere, go. So long as these two are with you at all times.”
My brows lifted as exhilaration rushed through me at my unexpected newfound freedom. It wasn’t as if Papa never let me out of the house, but if I wanted to go somewhere, I had to seek his permission first, and if he refused, there was nothing I could do about it.
Aside from convincing my bodyguard to help me sneak out, of course.
“Come on, I’ll show you inside.” Miles stomped toward the door, and the two men, who were still to look at me, walked away to where a small building was tucked away in the corner that I hadn’t noticed before.
“Are there guards here all the time?” I asked as Miles unlocked the door.
“Planning your escape already?”
“Oh, no,” I said sheepishly. “I…I’m just used to having guards outside the house at all times. It makes me feel safer. Especially after what happened with…”
I trailed off as my cheeks heated. I didn’t know why I’d volunteered that information, and I certainly didn’t want the reminder of the time my home was invaded and I was handed over to the enemy by someone I thought cared about me.
With the door half open, Miles paused, his brows furrowed. “You’re safe here, Jailbait. Not only are there guards stationed around the property twenty-four-seven, but there are cameras and infrared sensors all around the place. Plus, there’s a panic room inside. No one will hurt you.”
My jaw almost hit the floor. Not at the measures in place to protect the property, but at the sincerity in Miles’ voice. For a minute, it sounded like he genuinely cared.
As if catching himself in a moment of sharing something more than hate, his eyes hardened as he shoved the front door open. I stepped inside behind him, looking around at my new home.
“Kitchen.” He waved a hand to the left before waving a hand to the right. “Living room.” He pointed to the staircase in front of us, the steps lined with a thick white carpet. “My bedroom is upstairs on the far left, yours is on the far end to the right.”
I couldn’t stop the snort from leaving me. “Ever thought of being a realtor, Milo? You have a real knack for selling places.”
My little quip earned me a scowl. “You’re belongings will be here in the next few hours. I’m sure you will acquaint yourself with your new home while you sort through them.”
“I’m sure I will.”
His scowl deepened. “Right. Well, I’ll leave you to it.”
He turned, ready to head out the door, when I stopped him. “That’s it?”
“What do you mean, ‘That’s it?’”
My mouth opened and shut, not knowing what to say, but not ready to be left on my own yet. “What about the staff, do I get to meet them?”
A malicious smirk spread over his lips. “I hate to disappoint you, princess, but there are no staff. I don’t like people in my space.
Cleaners will be here twice a week, but that’s it aside from my men outside.
No maids to make your bed each morning, no chefs to cook you dinner.
You’ll have to learn to fend for yourself.
” He paused before sneering, “You never know, it might do you some good.”
It was my turn to scowl. He was yet again assuming that I was a pampered princess who had people to wait on her hand and foot.
Joke was on him though, my mama taught me how to cook, and after she died, I grew up enjoying the company of the family chef who continued teaching me how to make a variety of meals.
And I was more than capable of making my own bed.
Asshole.
“I’m sure I’ll manage,” I replied, giving him a saccharine smile.
He glowered at me before schooling his features. “I’ve got a shit load of work to catch up on, so don’t expect me to be home any time soon.”
“I’ll try not to miss you too much.”
A mumbled curse left his mouth before he stormed to his car, slamming the door and wheel spinning out of the drive. As soon as his car was out of sight, an overwhelming feeling of loneliness rolled through me, as I knew it would do.
Figuring I may as well explore the house and work out where to put my stuff when it arrived, I headed to the living room first, freezing when my feet crossed the threshold.
It wasn’t the stunning glass fireplace that caught my attention, or the view of the city from way up high. What caught my attention was the beautiful black grand piano standing in the far corner.
Drawn to the instrument like a moth to the flame, I crossed the room and ran a finger delicately over the closed lid, my gaze roaming over its sleek curves.
The exterior had been polished to perfection, to the point where I could see my reflection, and my eyes caught on the brand, one I recognized instantly, and knew would have cost a small fortune.
Or rather, a significant fortune.
As if the piano had shocked me, I whipped my hand away as a sinking feeling cascaded through me. I didn’t know if Miles knew how to play the piano, but it didn’t matter. It wasn’t mine to touch, and it wasn’t mine to play.
Disappointed, I turned away and headed back to the stairs, ignoring the urge to go back to the piano and tap the keys to hear the beautiful melody it would make.
It was yet another thing in my new life that I wanted, but couldn’t have.