9. Verity
CHAPTER NINE
Verity
T he security guards are waiting for me at the penthouse when I arrive home later that afternoon. I had a wonderful day with Red. I knew that by the time I got back here there would be extra press out about us so when my father is waiting at the front door to confront me with the same question he asked yesterday - this time I am honest about it.
“Where the fuck were you?” He snarls.
“With Rufino at the waterfront.” I say, tossing my purse onto the sofa and flopping down onto the soft pillows to prepare for the inevitable lecture that is about to ensue. I may as well get comfortable whilst waiting for it.
My father stands over me, looking down with that all too familiar expression of disapproval and disappointment on his face.
I hate that look.
I see it all the time.
It’s like when he looks at me he never seems me for who I am. He never sees me. Only what he wishes I was and all the things I’m not.
He makes me want to rebel just by giving me that look.
“I’ve given you more than enough chances to show me you can be a lady - or anything other than a defiant, reckless, selfish spoilt brat, Verity.”
“Jeez, calm down. I honestly think you’re overreacting a bit here.”
“Overreacting?” he screams. “Your face is all over the media again . Right after I told you to break it off.”
“Daddy.”
“Don’t fucking daddy me. I don’t want to listen to it. This is over. You are not leaving the house.” He gestures towards the two security guards standing nearby. “You two - she is now on lockdown inside this house. She is not to leave under any circumstances. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir.” They reply in unison, nodding like obedient soldiers.
“Dad.”
He spins and points his finger at me, the snarl on his lip curving it up so high I can see his teeth. He’s beyond furious. This is not good. The red veins along his temple are popping blue now and it looks like he’s about to have a heart attack his eyes are so wild.
I press my lips together and swallow hard.
Say nothing, Verity. You are asking for more trouble. try to talk to him tomorrow, rather. Give him a chance to calm down and then you can smooth this over.
I sit still on the sofa, unsure about what I should do.
My father is still glaring at me.
I nod three short quick nods. A submissive gesture in his eyes.
With one last glare thrown in my direction he storms out of the living room.
I breathe a massive sigh of relief and grab my phone, running to my room and slamming the door.
He doesn’t really mean it. He wouldn’t lock me in this house.
I’ll wait a day or two and suss out his mood then I’ll be able to smooth this away like I always do.
I flop face first down onto my bed and groan into my pillow.
This whole thing is a mess.
People should just learn to mind their own business. I’m an adult but my father still treats me like a child, as though I’m not free to make any choices for myself.
If I stretch my arm towards the bedside table, I can just reach my phone without having to get up.
The bright light makes me squint so I turn it down a little and then open the messaging app to talk to Rufino.
For so long now I have been alone.
Yes, I have great friends who I love to party with - but I don’t have someone who understands me. Someone who sees me. Not just the party version of me. But me .
I don’t know what it is about Red that makes me so comfortable around him. I love how he not only puts up with my snarky comments but grins at them and then gives back as hard as I throw out.
He really challenges me and push me in ways I’ve never felt before.
Right now, all I want to do is to be around him.
I think it’s cruel that my father wants to keep us apart. Why wouldn’t he want me to feel this love?
Me: Hi sexy, I miss you already.
Rufino: Hey gorgeous girl. I miss you too. Did all hell break loose when you got home? I saw the new articles.
Me: Yes, my father is turning into a lunatic. He said I’m not allowed to leave the house. But I think he’ll calm down by tomorrow. He always overreacts about things.
Rufino: Mm. I don’t like the sound of that. He can’t keep you from me.
Me: Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. But for now…I took a little picture for you.
I giggle, sitting up on the bed and pulling my top off, then snapping a cheeky photo for him. I hit send and grin while I wait for his response.
Rufino: If you keep sending photos like that I am going to have to break into your bedroom tonight while you’re sleeping and tie you up so I can do whatever I want to you.
My heart races and my mind runs wild.
Me: Well, maybe I’ll leave the window unlocked. But it’s on the top floor so kind of impossible for you to get to.
Rufino: I think you underestimate just how much I want your body against mine. There is no such thing as impossible.
Talking to Rufino makes me forget the fight I had with my father.
Our messages go back and forth for hours before I’m too tired to keep my eyes open.
After saying goodnight I curl up hugging my pillow against my body and wishing it was him lying next to me.
When I close my eyes I fantasize about him doing crazy things to reach me because he’s so in love with me. I’ve never had someone treat me this way. Someone who makes me feel like they really would tear the world apart to be with me.
There is a tapping sound drifting into my dream and pulling me awake. I blink in the darkness of my bedroom and realize that the white curtains are catching a breeze from my open window. I could have sworn I closed it.
I sigh, sleepy and comfortable, pulling the blankets a little tighter over my shoulders.
But then I feel it.
And my heart races with fear.
Someone is in my room.
My eyes shoot open and I see the tall, dark figure standing next to my bed.
“ Don’t be afraid, vixen.” A deep voice whispers, ominous.
I open my mouth to scream for help but a massive hand clamps over my face.
“If your guards come running in here, I will be forced to kill them - I don’t want to do that,” he growls in warning.
I stare at him with wide eyes, full of fear and - desire.
He grabs the edge of my blanket and pulls it off my body. Exposing my naked skin to the crisp, cool air.
A low rumbling sound vibrates through his chest and sends shivers down my spine.
I mumble against his hand, my words are muffled and inaudible.
“Sshhhh.” His breath is hot against my ear as he leans over me. “I’m not here to talk.” His hand brushes up my leg, over the inside of my thigh.
I squirm and kick him away and his eyes flash with excitement.
“I was hoping you would put up a fight.” He laughs.
Using his free hand he yanks his belt loose and my body tingles with anticipation, eyeing the bulge pushing up against the crotch of his pants.
“Don’t make a sound.” He snarls, lifting his hand off my mouth.
Rufino wraps the belt around my wrists and through the bedpost above my head.
I whimper when he yanks his pants open, standing over me so that I can see the full size of his cock.
His shirt is hanging open, those gorgeous sculpted muscles running over his stomach and dipping down towards his cock are making me crazy with lust.
He grabs my legs roughly and pulls them open, kneeling between my thighs.
I squirm away and he grins.
His hands dig into my hips as he pins me down, lying his body over mine.
I take a sharp breath in, but before I can let out a sound, he clamps his hand around my throat and presses hard enough to cut off my voice.
Then his cock slams into me.
My pupils dilate with pleasure when he pulls out and slams into me again.
Lightheaded dizziness swims through my head, my air restricted just enough to make me feint. Under his control, I am completely defenseless.
He is still fucking me, his cock forcing my pussy wide open every time he pushes deep inside me.
Grunts of pleasure sound against my ear from his forceful thrusts.
“Fuck, you are so perfect, I will never let you go.” He moans while he fucks me.
My legs shake.
I arch my hips upwards.
His cock slides in and out of my pussy and the sensations all become overwhelming.
An orgasm crashes into me like a tidal wave.
Washing through my entire body, ripping me open and leaving my lying bare.
He goes rock hard inside me and I feel the pulsing release of his own pleasure.
I wake up with a smile on my face, wanting to go back to sleep and return to the dream.
My body is tingling with the remnants of how he made me feel. The excitement. The delightful games I want to play with him.
Glancing at my phone I see it’s already past nine.
My legs flex as I stretch them out beneath the blankets. It’s time for coffee. A shower. A new day.
Padding my way down to the kitchen, still trying to yawn away the last drowsy faded bits of sleep, I have a silly smile on my face.
My father looks up at me from the coffee station.
“Morning, daddy.” I mumble sweetly.
He grunts his response, picking up his coffee and turning towards me.
“Your flight is booked and paid for. You leave on Thursday night.”
My heart stops cold in my chest.
“Leave?” I rub my eyes, trying to force myself awake and deal with the thick vein of fear that has flooded my veins.
“I warned you, Verity. And now you will have to deal with the consequences.” He says coldly.
“Leave to where?” I say, my voice reaching a higher octave as panic tightens my throat.
“To the convent.”
“Daddy, I’m sorry, can we talk about this? You don’t have to send me away, it was just a silly.”
“It’s done, Verity. The time for talking is over. You had your chance. You made your choice.”
He walks out of the kitchen, and I grab his arm. “Daddy.”
“Get your fucking hands off me.” He snarls in anger and I wince away from him.
I’ve never seen that look on his face before.
Frozen in place my bare feet are cold against the marble floor. But not as cold as the thread of fear and anger mixing inside me. I don’t know what to do. There is no fucking way I am going to go live in a convent. Not a chance. I have to find a way out of this.
I have to convince my father to change his mind.
Taking the stairs two at a time I run back up to my room and grab my phone.
Me: My father has booked my flight to Europe. He is sending me to live in a convent. I’m leaving on Thursday.
My stomach is churning with worry.
Rufino: I will never let that happen, vixen. You are not going anywhere. I will fix this.
Me: What are you going to do?
Rufino: Let me worry about that.
A thrill of fear and excitement pulses through me.
But I also know my father. He will never change his mind. There is no chance in hell that Rufino is going to talk him out of this.
As much as I want to believe there is a way out - I also accept my fate. My father is a powerful man.
He always gets what he wants.
I have just under a week before my entire life is going to change for the worst.
Over dinner that evening, under the watchful gaze of my reinforced set of body guards, I try to convince my father to let me enjoy one last weekend of fun before my life comes to a devastating end.
“I want to go to Vegas this weekend - with Sammy and Bella.”
“I said no.” He snaps.
“Daddy, I’ll have four security guards with me. You won’t have to worry about anything. Please, I won’t even complain when you put me on the plane to Europe if you let me have this last weekend in Vegas.” I pout my lip a little, trying to plead with my eyes.
My father sighs heavily and drops his fork on his plate.
“Fuck sakes. Fine. One weekend. But those security guards are going everywhere with you.”
I jump out, eager and looking forward to the weekend.
But as Vegas gets closer, the anger does too. This will be my last weekend of freedom. I can’t believe he is doing this to me.