Chapter four
After a restless nightof tossing and turning and little sleep, I rose in the morning and went to sit out on the balcony, leaving Nathan asleep. It was a beautiful, clear day and the harbour was already full of boats going for an early sail.
“Good morning, Rose. Did you sleep well?”
“No, terrible,” I replied truthfully as Nathan came and sat beside me. I turned to look at him. He looked gorgeous, even though he’d gotten straight out of bed and wrapped the robe around himself. His morning beard made him look rough and dangerous, even more dangerous than that dark Prada suit from the night before.
“I slept fantastic, the best I have in ages,” Nathan replied. “I think there’s something comforting in having someone soft beside you.”
“Depends who it is,” I muttered.
“Now, now, Rose. Don’t get the morning off to a bad start with your sharp tongue,” he said, like he was disciplining a small child.
I decided against arguing. I was too tired. “Are you going to let me go to my house today so I can pick up my things?”
“I’ll take you to your house, yes,” Nathan answered, his voice calm.
There was a knock on the door and Jane wheeled a trolley out to the balcony. It had coffee, tea, toast and spreads, and fresh cut fruit. There was also an iPad with the business pages already loaded on the screen. Nathan thanked the older lady and she smiled at him, while ignoring me, and she walked back out without a word.
Nathan offered me a piece of toast and I realised I was starving. I hadn’t eaten much at dinner time and was now feeling it. I helped myself to three pieces with honey, while Nathan drank a strong black coffee and read the latest news.
“I’m certainly not worried about you turning to skin and bones anymore,” Nathan remarked while watching me eat the last bite of my third piece.
“I’m hungry. Don’t you eat breakfast?” I asked, wiping my hands on a thick white napkin. I reached for a piece of watermelon.
“Yes, but I like to read the news first. I read the business section’s first thing every morning.” He grabbed a piece of wholemeal toast and spread marmalade all over it.
“I didn’t know people still read newspapers, even online.”
Nathan shrugged. “It’s true there are faster ways to get the news, but there is something about reading a newspaper, even a digital one, first thing in the morning that I enjoy.”
After we’d finished breakfast, we went back inside and I noticed my clothes from the day before were freshly washed, ironed, and lying on the end of the bed. I picked them up and walked into the bathroom to change. Nathan left me alone and went to another bathroom to get ready. A short time later we were in Nathan’s SUV on the way to my house.
When we pulled up in the driveway, Nathan and I got out and walked inside, leaving Sam in the car. Nathan looked big and awkward standing in my small lounge room. He looked around slowly, taking everything in.
“Cosy, isn’t it?” he commented as he walked towards the bedroom.
I sighed and glanced around. I knew he was being sarcastic, but I loved this house. It had taken me months to get it just right. As Nathan walked into the bedroom, I noticed how tiny the room looked with him in it. It hadn’t felt that small when I was here on my own.
Nathan looked around then sat on the edge of the bed. “You’d better start packing some clothes, we haven’t got all day.”
I felt my stomach lurch and my whole body felt heavy. He really wanted me to go through with this, I realised.
I went to my wardrobe and pulled out a large suitcase. “What should I pack?”
Nathan shrugged. “Everything.”
I paled. “Everything? Nathan, I really don’t think I can go through with this.”
Nathan got up and moved so he was standing in front of me. “That’s fine, Rose, we’ll just go to your brother with the other two options. At least with all his arms and legs broken he won’t be able to go out and gamble,” Nathan taunted, anger flashing in his eyes.
I felt the fear slid through me and I knew that I didn’t have a choice, I had to go through with this. Liam dealing with broken bones or a jail sentence wasn’t an option. He needed a chance to be the best father he could be. A long sigh escaped my lips. “Alright then, Nathan, you win. I’ll start packing.”
Nathan took the suitcase off me and opened it up on the bed. He sat back down and watched me take all of my clothes out of the wardrobe and pack them into the suitcase, taking my time. When it came to packing my intimates, I quickly shoved them into my bag, not wanting Nathan to see anything so personal.
I finished packing my clothes and a few personal items, then I walked into my kitchen and disposed of all the perishable items. I walked around my house, turning off all the power. As I switched off the last power point, I turned to have one last look around. I felt a tear slide down my cheek. Leaving this place was too much for me to bear. I’d worked so hard for this little house, for my independence, and I was about to lose it all.
Nathan returned from putting my things in the SUV and noticed me standing there, crying. I couldn’t help but think of why he doing this to me. What possessed him to make an offer like this. His heart must have been made of steel.
“Why are you doing this?” I whispered, turning so I could look him in the eyes.
His body stiffened. “Because the last person I trusted betrayed me with my best friend, after they’d taken a small fortune from me, and I swore that I would never let anyone do that to me again. Nobody will ever get away with stealing from me.” His eyes darkened to black granite. “I will use you and treat you anyway I see fit. You are a mere toy for my pleasure and I will never offer you anything more than that. If you want to do this in order to get your brother out of trouble, then that is your problem, not mine. It wasn’t his only option, nor was it your responsibility.”
I was surprised by the pure ice in his tone and his admission. As I looked at him, I could almost see his heart hardened even more. He ignored the pain in my eyes and grabbed me lightly on the arm.
“It’s just a house. Let’s go.” He lightly pulled me outside and locked the front door, pocketing my keys.
When we got back in car, I fumbled though my bag looking for a tissue. When I couldn’t find one, I just sat there, tears running down my face. I couldn’t stop them. I know I looked weak and I hated that, but I had no strength left to hold it all in.
Nathan asked Sam to stop the SUV in front of a convenience store. He got out and walked inside, returning a few minutes later with a box of tissues.
“Stop crying, Rose,” he said as he handed them to me. “Is this really all over some old house?”
I wiped away my tears and looked up at Nathan’s cold, uncaring face. “That house may not seem like much to you, but I have worked damn hard to get it. It is my home. This is my life.”
Nathan shrugged one big shoulder. “Most people would be happy to go from your small house to live in my mansion.”
“Well, if it wasn’t your mansion then I probably would like it,” I bit out, regretting how childish I sounded. “But knowing that it has anything to do with you makes me sick.”
Nathan’s eyes darkened and I could almost see the anger radiating off him. “I won’t let you talk to me like that, Rose. I am doing you a damn good deal here. I could just as easily call this off and take my problem back up with your brother. Is that what you want?”
I shook my head, unable to use my voice. My throat felt like a desert. I’d never seen anyone look so angry before. He was terrifying.
“If you treat me with some respect, then I will treat you the same.”
“I really don’t see how making me your mistress is treating me decently,” I said before I could stop myself.
“See? There you go again.”
I could see him getting angrier and I didn’t want to live with him like this. I didn’t want to live in fear, so scared of him. “Alright, I’m sorry, okay? This isn’t easy for me, you know. I’ve always been very independent. I’ve never wanted a man to rule my life.”
Nathan sighed and his anger visibly subsided. “Try harder, Rose. I have a very short temper.”
We arrived back at Nathan’s house and I suggested we go for a swim in Nathan’s impressive swimming pool. We needed some sort of distraction so we didn’t argue for the rest of the day. I was surprised when he agreed.
As Nathan and I carried my things up to his room, I realised how impressive his house was, I’d been too distraught the night before to notice anything. Everything was so modern and stylish, and expensive. So very expensive. However, I did notice that it lacked any real personality, like it had been decorated by a stylist and never had any input from Nathan.
“This really is a beautiful house,” I remarked as we settled down beside the huge, perfectly landscaped pool. My brother was at least good at his job.
“I told you it was,” he said matter-of-factly.
I shook my head and smiled. He was such an arrogant man. I had no doubt he always got his own way in the end.
I stood up and walked over to the edge of the pool. I was wearing a basic black bikini that covered everything it needed to cover but I still felt exposed. It was a far cry from the sort of swimsuit that other women my age wore, but I guess I was going to have to get used to feeling like this in front of him. He would see me naked soon enough. I gingerly stuck my toes into the water, delighted when it felt cool and inviting. It was a hot November day and I could feel the sun already burning my skin.
“Are you going to come for a swim?” I turned and looked at him. Nathan was watching me over the top of another iPad and he had a slight bemused expression on his face.
“Maybe later.” I could still feel him watching me as I turned and dived under the water.
I focused as I swam a few laps, not looking in his direction. The exercise felt good and helped to clear my mind. After fifteen minutes or so, Nathan got up and dived smoothly into the pool. He surfaced right in front of me, his impressive chest glistening with drops, the water running rivets through the dark hair.
“Couldn’t resist?” I asked.
“I guess not. It’s a fairly hot day for November. We are definitely in for a long hot summer.”
“I think you might be right,” I replied. However, judging by the look in his eyes, I doubted he was talking about the weather.
I floated on my back and drifted away from him, but Nathan looked at me like he wanted to grab me and pull me closer to him. He must have decided against it though, keeping his word about giving me a few days to settle in.
We swam for a while, until I could feel the sun begin to really burn down on us. Nathan got out first and surprised me by helping me out of the water. He wrapped a towel around my shoulders and gave my arms a quick rub when I shivered.
“I can’t figure you out, Nathan, you rip me to shreds one minute with a look of total hatred in your eyes, then you look at me like you just did and I wonder...” I trailed off, feeling embarrassed. I hadn’t known Nathan long enough to talk this openly, and I didn’t want to make either of us uncomfortable.
“I told you, Rose, if you treat me with respect, then I will do the same. That’s all it is.”
Nathan led me back up to his bedroom to shower and get changed for dinner. Again, Nathan left me to shower alone, going to another room to get ready. We met back up in the dining room and once we were seated, Jane brought out our meals.
The food was fantastic, everything tasted so beautiful, and it was one thing I could get used to about living here. Luckily, my appetite had returned and I savoured every bite of the gourmet food. Nathan and I even managed to make some light small talk.
After dinner, Nathan retreated to his study claiming he had some work to do, leaving me to do as I pleased, as long as I didn’t leave the grounds of his home. I had no doubt Sam and Neil wouldn’t be too far away from me, no matter where I went.
I decided to take a walk around the massive mansion. It was two stories high and the whole back of the house, including the pool, overlooked Sydney Harbour. It was truly breathtaking. Inside the house there were five large bedrooms, all with ensuites, and there were another two bathrooms downstairs. The bedrooms took up the entire top floor. On the bottom floor there was a large kitchen, dining room, two lounge rooms, a media room and what I guessed was Nathan’s study. After I had a look around, I went back up to Nathan’s room and finding a landline, I decided to ring my brother. Nathan never said I couldn’t call Liam.
“Oh Rosie, I’ve been so worried. Are you alright? Has he hurt you?” Liam’s words came out in one long jumble.
“I’m fine, Liam, really. Nathan has a beautiful home,” I reassured him. I was here indefinitely, there was no point upsetting him with all the little details.
“He hasn’t hurt you, has he? Just forget this, Rosie, and come home. I can deal with whatever he does to me. I deserve it.”
“You do deserve it, but I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for Charlotte and the baby. Charlotte’s been through so much, she needs you and so does that child. You need to step up and beat this, Liam, you’re going to be a father. The gambling has to stop.”
Liam sighed and I could hear the shame heavy in his voice. “I know, I’m sorry. I’m never gambling again, I promise.”
Sadly, I didn’t believe him.
“When does Charlotte come home?”
“Tomorrow.”
I could hear someone coming up the stairs. “I have to go. I’ll speak to you soon.”
I quietly placed the phone back in the cradle just as Nathan opened the bedroom door.
“Were you just on the phone?” Nathan asked, a deep frown forming on his face.
I decided that it wasn’t a good idea to lie to him. “Yes. I rang Liam.”
“Why?” he demanded, his eyes darkening.
“Because he is my brother and I knew he’d be worried about me.”
Nathan scoffed. “Really? If he’s that worried about you, why are you here?”
“It was my choice to be here, not his.”
“But tell me, Rose, why are you here? Why take the fall for him? Maybe it would help your brother if you didn’t help him.”
“Let him learn from his mistakes?” I bit out. “What about Charlotte? She suffers too.” Just saying her name broke my heart.
“Maybe it would be good for her as well. She’d learn the consequences and leave him,” he said with no compassion.
“Liam’s not a bad person, Nathan. He has a problem, an addiction, I know that. But I’m not going to let it break up their marriage. They love each other.”
Nathan laughed a dry laugh. “Love? What’s that? If he loved her, he’d stop gambling, simple.”
“It’s not that simple, Nathan,” I said defensively. “He needs professional help.”
“Alright then. If I organise it, he’ll take it?”
“Of course he would.”
“Fine. I’ll organise it tomorrow,” Nathan said, his voice serious.
“Really?” I asked, not hiding my surprise. “Why are you going to help him?”
Nathan shrugged. “For Charlotte?”