5. Ella
5
ELLA
I ’ve been huddled up in my room all day, thinking over the last twenty-four hours. Picking through every word Mr. Lorde and I spoke to each other and dissecting why he was so cruel to me. How I was so brave as to talk back to him. I never would have dared challenge Blake the way I have Lucas and Mr. Lorde. I’d have been in bed for a month with the beating I would have received.
Yet now, I find I can’t bring myself to disobey Mr. Lorde. He banished me to my room before leaving, and every time I’ve tried to walk out the door and into the hallway, all I remember is how Blake would hit me when I didn’t listen.
Do I think Mr. Lorde is the same? No. Not after Lucas’ enraged reaction to my texts from last night. He is not his boss, but I can tell he’s cut from the same cloth, and being a fly on the wall for so long has given me the ability to read men. The violent ones hide their cruelty behind charming smiles and cunning looks. But, Mr. Lorde, while growly and standoffish, was honest in his brutal words and callous actions. Not once did he move to lift a hand towards me. I just wish I could have known more about him before coming here. I should have thought to ask Rue and Soren more questions.
Sighing, I drop back onto the bed, staring up at the shadows of trees and leaves from outside as they sway on the ceiling. Life seems so easy when you get lost in the beauty of nature, even if it’s in the dark.
As easy as it would be just to give up and surrender my freedom, it’s not only me I have to think about. Mom and Dad were upset when I told them I was leaving without any further information. My little brother, Oliver, he was angry. He wanted to storm over to my old apartment and give Blake a piece of his mind and a right hook.
It took a lot of convincing on the way here for them to believe I would be okay. I promised to stay in touch because I love my family to pieces despite everything Blake has done. They would have protected me as best they could if they’d known how bad it was.
The news I received last week changed everything, however. I can’t risk Blake doing more damage to me than he already has. Placing my hands over my still-flat belly, the tears I’ve been fighting off all day slip down my face as I think of the little life growing inside me.
Blake had been so charming when we met almost two years ago. I’d turned eighteen a week before, and he was so sweet and playful when he came into the diner where I worked. He had an easy smile and was quick to laugh, but all that charm and playfulness was just a ruse to hide the monster inside him. He hungered to break me down to nothing but a shell. What he didn’t realize was that I was raised to be a strong woman, equipped with the means to take care of myself. It’s that same strength that left me new bruises every other week.
I should have left sooner. I wish I had. All the should haves and could haves won’t do me any good now, though. I have a precious being growing inside me that needs all my care and attention. I have to put this life ahead of my own, and that’s why it was so easy for my friends to convince me to leave.
A fresh start.
Something we desperately needed.
All I must do now is stop mouthing off and get on Mr. Lorde’s good side. Which will be difficult if he insists on being an asshole all the time.
The sound of slamming doors grabs my attention. I can’t see the front of the house from my room, but with the open window and silence, the sound reverberates around the grounds. Sitting up in bed, I quietly pad to the door and open it a crack. I can’t see down the stairs, but as the alarm is shut off and the men enter the house, I can hear them.
“Be nice to her,” Lucas growls before his heavy steps fade off into another room.
“He’s really taken a liking to this girl,” one of the other men says.
Someone grunts. I assume it’s the person who wasn’t too chatty earlier.
“He likes a project.” That’s Mr. Lorde. His gravelly voice does something to me, and I don’t know if I like it or not.
“But you like her, ” his friend says, and I freeze, waiting on pins and needles for Mr. Lorde’s response. “Isn’t that why the girls sent her here? I don’t know about you, but I’m seeing a whole lot of what you’ve been looking for in this one.” That statement confuses me because we weren’t in each other’s company for more than a few minutes.
“Doesn’t matter. They’ve sent girls before. They all run.” My stomach clenches, and my chest constricts with the hurt from his words.
They’ve sent other girls here?
What have I gotten myself into?
Without much warning, I notice Mr. Lorde bounding upstairs, and while my fight or flight instincts scream at me to run, I decide to stay put. If for no other reason than to gauge his reaction to me being out of the room again.
“Ella.” Our eyes connect, and for the quickest second, interest flashes in those storm cloud midnight irises of his. “You listened to me.” He frowns as he checks his watch, realizing I stayed up here all day. “Have you eaten?” I shake my head vigorously. This seems to disturb him because he pulls out his phone and shoots a message to someone.
We remain locked in this staring contest, neither of us making a move to reassure one another.
“Will you join me for dinner?” His question startles me out of my haze.
“If I do, will you tell me what is expected of me while I’m here?” I lift my chin in challenge, and his lips quirk the tiniest bit on the right.
“If you’ll wear a dress I had delivered for you.”
Surprise me right out of my shoes.
“You bought me a dress?” Tears burn my eyes, and I curse these damn pregnancy hormones. “You don’t even know my size.”
His eyes roam up and down my body in a slow caress that sends shivers down my spine. “I bet I do.”
Reaching out a hand for me, Mr. Lorde leads me downstairs to where a garment bag hangs on a coat rack near the door. He relinquishes my hand long enough to slide down the bag’s zipper, pull out the epitome of a little black dress, only in a lavender color, and hold it up for me to inspect.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper in awe. There’s a tag with the boutique name but no price, and that’s enough to know that I could never afford it in my wildest dreams. “So soft,” I murmur as my fingers glide across the bodice of the dress where a small crown is pressed into the material. “It’s mine?” I look up to see Mr. Lorde watching me with an intensity that leaves nothing to the imagination. His desire shines bright in his eyes.
“All yours.” He reaches forward to grip my chin between his thumb and pointer finger. “Will you wear it for me?” All I can do is nod eagerly like a puppy with a shiny new toy.