15. Fourteen
Fourteen
Kayleigh
A fter I got off the phone with Cillian, I took a deep breath knowing I wouldn’t be staying here and having to witness Eva flaunt herself with Erik. As much as I want to hide in my room, I won’t. I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t hide like I did.
I make it a few hours without seeing either of them. I’m not avoiding Erik but I’m also not going out of my way to see him. I’ve been sitting outside reading, enjoying the fresh air and trying my best to stay calm and keep up the facade that I’m okay, when in reality, I feel like someone has shattered my heart.
“Hello, Kayleigh.” Ugh. Why did she have to find me? I take a deep breath and look up at Eva.
“Hello, Eva.”
“This is my nephew Brodie. He is Malcolm’s son.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Brodie.” I shiver in disgust as his eyes slowly trace down my body.
“Your right, Auntie, she will be fun. I have found my new…doll,” he says, licking his lips.
I shake my head and grab my stuff and stand up.
“I’m not interested in anything you have to offer.” I start to walk away and put some distance between us. I make it to the house before Brodie catches up and pushes me into the wall. He grabs both my hands and holds them above his head while his other hand goes under the elastic of my pants and he forcefully shoves two fingers inside me.
“STOP! Get off me,” I yell as I struggle against him, but as I wiggle my hips trying to get free, I feel his cock harden against my ass. I stop moving instantly.
“You won’t have a choice; your precious Erik will be busy with my aunt, and I will keep you busy. Chained to my bed, where your only reason to live will be to please me. That is until I get bored,” he says, pulling his fingers out of me. He spins me around and I watch in horror as he sucks his fingers, which now have blood on them. , into his mouth.
Eva steps up behind him. “She will keep you plenty busy,” she tells him and turns her attention to me. “If you get in my way, what Brodie will do to you won’t be the only way we will torture you.”
“I have no plans of getting in your way,” I tell them. It won’t matter because I won’t be here much longer.
I watch as they exchange a glance before Brodie lets go of me and they both walk back inside the mansion. I use the servant’s exit and run all the way back to my room before slamming and locking the door. I sprint into the bathroom, rip off my clothes through my blurred vision, and the tears won’t stop falling down my face.
I step into the scalding hot water and grab the loofa and scrub my skin to the point that it is red and the water hurts. But it doesn’t matter, I just need his touch gone.
When I thought being here couldn’t get any worse, his nephew sexually assaults me and wants to keep me as his sex slave. No, I can’t do that again.
I slump to the ground, wrapping my arms around my knees as I rock back and forth crying my heart out. Why? Why me?
“Come on, sweet child.” I look up and see one of the older maids turning off the water and holding out a towel for me. I wobble as I stand up and shiver. I had no idea I had been crying so long that the water was no longer warm.
“It’s okay,” she says as she wraps the towel around me. “Come on, let’s get you dressed, and I will get you some tea.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. She gives me a smile before exiting the bathroom. I get dressed and sit on the bed just staring at the ground in front of me. I look up when she walks back in with a cup of tea and the first aid kit.
“I guess he roughed me up worse than I thought.”
“He left some marks,” she says sadly as she sets everything on the end table. She gently applies cream to my face.
“How bad?”
“I’ve seen him do worse. You can easily cover these with makeup.”
“Good. I don’t want Erik knowing.”
“But Mr. Duncan would want to know if anyone has hurt you.”
I shake my head. “I’m no longer his problem.”
“He is a foolish man if he falls back in her trap.”
“He is, but as you said, he is a man, and he can make his own choices.”
“Are you going to be staying?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m not sure.” She has always been nice to me, but she is loyal to Erik and if he asks her, she will tell him I’m leaving. I don’t want him to try and sway me to change my mind.
“You will be missed, Miss O’Sullivan. You truly are a sweet girl and I wish you nothing but the best in life,” she says before gathering the first aid and heading to the door. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Smart old woman.
I look down and see I need to get ready for dinner. When I go into the bathroom, my cheek has scrapes and a bruise is starting to form around them. After I apply my makeup, I give myself one final look. “Good enough,” I say to myself. Then I put on a black dress. It’s nothing special but definitely reflects my mood.
I take one final deep breath as I leave my room. On my way I see the maid. She gives me a wink before carrying on. Good. At least you can’t tell my face was mashed into the wall.
You can do this, Kayleigh . Last dinner with them. That is a bittersweet thought.
I walk in and Erik, Eva, and Brodie are already eating.
“Oh, Kayleigh, you changed your mind and decided to join us?” Eva asks.
“I was never asked to join dinner, but if this a private family affair, I can have dinner outside.”
“No, sit,” Erik says. I pause for a moment, staring at him, but I nod and walk over. I try to sit away from them, but Erik isn’t having it. He stands up grabs my hand as he barks to Eva, “Move.”
“What? Erik, I’m already eating.”
“And this is my house. If I want you to eat in the fucking bathroom, then you will. Now move.”
She opens her mouth to speak but decides against it. She moves to the other seat across the table, next to Brodie. Erik pushes me down into my chair before pushing my chair into the table.
A maid quickly brings out my plate after Erik orders one to be brought out for me. I thank the maid before quietly eating. Erik is talking to Eva and Brodie. After a few minutes, he must notice how quiet I am.
“Kayleigh?”
“Hmm?” I look up.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh yes, I’m just thinking about the exam I have coming up.” I hear a scoff and look across to see a look of pure hatred on Eva’s face.
“How much are you spending on your mistress’s school? You know she doesn’t need a degree to open her legs.”
“LAOIDH!” He stands up and glares down at Eva with so much fury that it is suffocating the room.
“You are my ex-wife, and I only tolerate you coming around because you are Malcolm’s sister. But you are my ex-wife because of what you did. Either you remember your place, or I will help you remember.”
“Erik, she is just a homewrecking slut. You cannot be defending her to me.”
“Did you just call my seamrag bheag a homewrecking slut?” he growls.
“I called her what she is.”
“First of all, you are the one who is beneath her. I’m guessing you never bothered to ask her what her name is.”
“I know her name is Kayleigh.”
“But do you know her last name?”
“I don’t see why it matters,” she says shrugging her shoulders, which causes Erik to laugh.
“The one you are calling a homewrecking slut is none other than Peter O’Sullivan’s oldest daughter.” I watch as the color drains from Eva and Brodie’s faces before they exchange a glance. Apparently, they realize how badly they have fucked up.
“She is not a homewrecking slut because there is no home for her to wreck since we are divorced. And whom I have in my life and how I chose to spend my money is none of your business. Kayleigh is more valuable than you, and as I said, you are the one who is beneath her.”
“Kayleigh, I am so sorry,” she starts to apologize and tries to reach for my hand, but I pull it back. I give her a polite smile before telling her it is okay.
“You both can leave.” He orders his security to escort Eva and Brodie out. Erik takes a deep breath once they are out of the room and then turns to me.
“Kayleigh, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine, Erik.”
“No, it’s not.” I pat my lips with the napkin and stand up; Erik stands with me. He pulls me into his arms, and I wrap my arms around him, closing my eyes. I soak in the way I feel safe in his arms, the way he smells, and the feeling of his heart beating against mine. He lifts my head. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes,” I say and lift my head a bit more and press my lips against his. Erik tightens his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I immediately open my mouth when I feel his tongue pushing against mine. I hold onto his arms. Do not cry , I tell myself, knowing exactly what this is.
As much as I want to keep going and have one more night with him, I can’t. I won’t be able to keep it together if I spend more time alone with him. Erik has a way of unraveling me.
I pull away with a final peck to his lips and lower myself back onto my feet.
“Kayleigh…” he starts but I cut him off.
“I have to go study.” The moment I am through the dining room door, the tears fall from my cheeks, knowing that will be the last time I kiss Erik and there will never be Kayleigh and Erik ever again. This is goodbye.