Chapter six
I woke the next morningand rolled over to look at Nathan’s untouched side of the bed. He hadn’t come home at all last night, and I felt that funny feeling of jealousy run through me again. I pushed the feeling aside and got up and changed into some house clothes. I don’t know why I even bothered getting dressed out of my pyjamas, it wasn’t like I left the house.
I made my way downstairs to see what lovely foods the cook had made for breakfast. But he wasn’t in the kitchen, Sam was. I smiled at the sight of his big hulking frame wearing Jane’s pink apron.
“Good morning, Sam.” I said brightly. I’d had a few conversations with Sam over the past few days and he turned out to be a very polite and lovely man. I had no idea how or why he came to do the job that he does.
“Good morning, Miss Sommers. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I slept alone,” I said, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.
Sam cleared his throat and glanced away, an embarrassed look crossing his face. “He isn’t a terrible person, just give him a chance.”
I scoffed. “He pays you way too much.”
Sam smiled. “I’m making some pancakes for breakfast, do you want some, Miss Sommers?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve told you, please call me Rose.”
“Rose, would you like some pancakes?” he grinned.
“Banana?”
“Of course.”
I stayed in the kitchen and talked to Sam as he expertly cooked light and fluffy banana pancakes for both of us. He put a small stack in front of me and put a larger stack for himself next to me, then he came around, sat in the seat beside me and we ate together in a comfortable silence.
“Well, what’s going on here?” Nathan asked as he walked into the kitchen. He walked up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders in what felt like a very possessive gesture.
“I was just making Miss Sommers some breakfast,” Sam replied quickly. I noted that he wasn’t making eye contact with Nathan and I felt a wave of anger wash over me on Sam’s behalf.
Sam stood up and carried his plate out of the room without so much as a glance in my direction. I’d already suspected that Nathan had told his men to keep their distance from me, this just confirmed my suspicions.
“Come upstairs with me.” Nathan said, helping me to my feet. I hadn’t even finished all my pancakes.
“Why did you make Sam leave like that?” I asked. Why would Nathan warn Sam about getting too friendly with me? He really didn’t want to share me with any other man, even someone he trusted.
“I didn’t, he has work to do. Now come upstairs.”
It was a demand not a request, but I was too tired to argue with him this morning. I’d tossed and turned all night. I let Nathan led me through the kitchen and up the stairs to his room.
“Were you lonely last night, Rose?” Nathan asked, a sexy, lazy smile formed on his face as he opened his bedroom door.
He had some nerve. “No. In fact, I prefer it when you’re not here,” I replied, keeping my tone casual.
Nathan smiled, a cheeky glint in his eyes. “Who did you cuddle up to then?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You cuddle up to me in your sleep.” Nathan’s smile was mischievous and I could see that he was enjoying teasing me. Who was this playful man?
“I do not.” Secretly, I knew that I did. I’d woken up a few times and had to carefully detangled myself. “Don’t you have to go to work today?” I asked as Nathan walked out onto the balcony.
“I thought we might go out for the day. You have been locked up in this house for three days.”
I was wary, Nathan was not known for being nice. He really was a different person this morning. He must have had a really great time last night.
“Why are you being nice to me?”
“I’m not. I just feel like going out,” he shrugged.
I decided not to question him further on this. I’d take any opportunity he offered to get out of the house. I went and got changed into a plain, but pretty summer dress and walked out to join Nathan, who was waiting for me on the balcony. He was seated at the table reading something on his ever-present iPad. He was wearing grey dress pants and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, showing off his impressive tanned forearms. He was even dressed casual today.
“Nathan, I tried to ring Liam last night and he wasn’t home. Do you know anything about that?” I asked. I tried to keep my voice light, because I didn’t want to ruin our day by starting an argument, but I had to know if Liam was ok.
Nathan didn’t look up from his iPad. “I sent him away,” he replied casually.
“What? Where?” I felt a flurry of nerves run through me. I didn’t trust Nathan one bit when it came to Liam.
An annoyed look flashed over Nathan’s face and he put the iPad down on the table. “To a place up in the mountains that deals with people who have his sort of addictions. You said he’d take help if I got it for him and he did.”
“And Charlotte?”
“She’s still at her mother’s place. Liam told her everything and Charlotte thought it would be best if she stayed there until Liam came home.”
I frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because, my dear, the less you know about that brother of yours the better,” Nathan bit out, his tone malicious.
“Liam is a good person, Nathan, he’d never hurt a fly. He does anything I ask him to around my house...”
“Then why are you here?” Nathan cut in.
“Because that was your deal! The only option we had.”
“We?” Nathan asked, raising an eyebrow. “Why is it we, Rose? Don’t you mean Liam? You have to let him learn from his own mistakes.”
“I told you I was doing this for Charlotte, not Liam.” I said though gritted teeth.
“Alright, enough. I don’t want to argue about your brother anymore. He is safe and will be home as soon as he can sort himself out. Charlotte is fine as well, Ok? Now let’s go.”
Nathan and I walked out the front of the house and I noticed Neil was waiting for us with the black SUV. No Sam today. Neil opened the back door and I slid in first.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we took off down the driveway. There was a small amount of excitement growing in my stomach. Knowing Nathan, it could be anywhere.
“I thought I would start by taking you shopping. If you are going to appear to be one of my girlfriends, then you are going to have to look like someone I would date.”
“What’s wrong with the way I look?” I felt offended. I admit that I have never been the type of girl who was into fashion and that sort of thing. I could never justify spending large sums of money on clothes, but I’d always thought my dress style was classic and always neat and tidy.
“There’s nothing wrong with the way you dress, Rose. Don’t get all worked up,” Nathan said calmly. “It’s just that I think people would be suspicious if I started dating someone who gets all her clothes from a discount chain-store. I want you to look like an expensive, sophisticated woman.”
“Not everybody has your kind of money,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could manage dripping from my voice. Boy, he could be a jerk.
“I’m not having a dig at you,” Nathan said, sounding exasperated. “I never said there was anything wrong with the way you look. Stop taking this so personally. I just want to buy you some new clothes. I don’t want you to feel out of place with the people in my circle. You should be grateful,” Nathan shrugged.
“Well, I prefer my own clothes and my own life,” I bit out. I could see his point but I still felt offended.
Nathan wrapped one of his big, muscular arms around my shoulders and he kissed me lightly on my forehead, causing a warmth throughout my body. “I really don’t care, my darling. This is what I want and this is the way things are going to be.”
Twenty minutes later the car pulled to a stop in front of a string of shops in the expensive part of Sydney’s CBD. I felt more than a little nervous and completely out of my league at the thought of going into the luxury stores. I’d never stepped foot in any sort of luxury store. Nathan must have sensed my hesitation because he took hold of my hand and lead me into the first shop, his natural confidence showing in his every stride.
As soon as the salesman saw Nathan, his face lit up. He glanced at me and his nose wrinkled slightly, clearly in distaste, before he turned his full attention back to Nathan. I felt about two inches tall. That’s why I would never even dream of shopping in a place like this.
“Hello, Mr Davenport. What can I do for you today?” the salesman asked, his voice as cool as ice.
“Winston, I’m in need of some new clothes for my friend, Rose,” Nathan replied, his voice smooth and authoritative as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
Winston didn’t even glance my way, he just continued to stare at Nathan like he was the only one in the world. You could almost smell his man-crush floating in the air. “And what exactly are you looking for?”
“Everything. I want to buy her a whole new wardrobe.”
Winston’s eyes lit up for a brief moment before returning back to their ultra-cool gaze. “Alright then...” Winston waved to a pretty, young blonde woman standing by the counter. She quickly walked over to us.
“Lenny, this is Mr Davenport and his friend. I would like you to help them with whatever they want. Mr Davenport is a very valued customer,” he said as he gave Nathan a small wink.
Lenny smiled warmly at me and I felt relief flow through me. I could tell her warmth was genuine. “So, Rose, what are you after...?”
Lenny showed Nathan and I out to a private dressing room at the back of the store. It was bigger than my whole house. Nathan led me over to a lounge seat with his hand on the small of my back and we both sat down and waited for Lenny to come back with some clothes.
“That Winston guy didn’t like me,” I whispered to Nathan as we waited.
“So? His opinion doesn’t matter,” Nathan replied calmly.
“I guess, but it’s still not nice to be looked down on like that.”
“Angel, Winston comes from a low-income family from a small town in the south east of Queensland. He’s a notorious high society wannabe on the local party circuit. His real name is Gary,” Nathan said with a smile.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Really?”
“Really. So don’t let anyone judge you and make you feel bad about yourself. You’re better than that.”
“That’s easy for you to say, nobody would be game enough to talk to you like that.”
Nathan simply smiled. He knew he was intimidating and it wasn’t because of his height and broad shoulders either. He knew how to stare somebody down and I knew he’d never back down from a fight, whether it was in a boardroom or in the streets. A trait I’m sure had gotten him into trouble in his youth.
Lenny walked back into the changeroom with her arms full of clothes. She hung them up behind a curtain and nodded politely for me to go in and try them on.
Two hours later I had tried on every item of clothing in my size. Nathan had sat patiently and watched as I came out and showed him every piece, like I was in my own movie montage. He shook or nodded his head giving his opinion of each outfit, putting down his phone or laptop to give me his full attention, but the final decision was mine and he brought me whatever I wanted.
I’d never had anyone spoil me in such a grand way, it made me feel special and secretly, I enjoyed his attention more than the stuff he brought me. I was usually the person in the background, watching other people be spoilt. And while I was happy being an independent woman, relying on no one but myself, it was nice to just relax and let someone else take care of everything for a while. I’d been looking after everyone else for way too long.
Nathan walked over to the counter and paid for my purchases using a black credit card, much to the delight of Winston. He turned and signalled Neil, who came in and took all of my bags out to the SUV.
“Now something for me,” Nathan said sheepishly, a sexy smile forming on his face. He took my hand and led me to a store a few metres down the road. It was a lingerie store.
“No way, Nathan,” I said, my cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “I don’t need any of this kind of stuff.” I’d never owned a piece of sexy lingerie. I was mortified to buy it in front of him.
“I said it was for me,” he added, grinning devilishly. He opened the door to the shop and all but dragged me inside.
The older lady behind the counter looked up at us and smiled. “Hello. Well, well, Mr Davenport, it’s been quite a while since I saw you in here last.” She walked over and gave Nathan a kiss on the cheek.
“It has been a while, hasn’t it, Diana,” Nathan replied, smiling fondly at the woman.
“It has. And who is this lovely young thing standing beside you?”
“This Di, is Rose, and she is in desperate need of your help.”
Diana smiled kindly at me. “Really? Well dear, I’ll see what I can do.”
“Is it alright if I use your office to catch up on some work?” Nathan asked.
“Of course. You know where it is.”
Nathan nodded, gave my hand a small squeeze, and he walked out to the back of the shop, leaving me, thankfully, with some privacy.
“So dear, what exactly are you looking for?” Diana asked as she led me over to the changerooms.
“Umm, I don’t really know... I just got a strapless dress, maybe a strapless bra?” I shrugged. I had no idea what I wanted. I felt butterflies flapping in my stomach. Could I be more inexperienced?
Diana gave me a kind smile. “Alright love, leave it to me.” She walked out and came back into the changeroom a few minutes later with an assortment of strapless bras in exactly my size. When I asked how she knew what size to get, she just smiled and replied, “I’ve been working in this industry for forty-five years.”
I tried on a few different items and Diana came in and checked if they were a good fit. On seeing my old bra hanging on the peg, Diana insisted I try on all sorts of bras and sets. Some were quite expensive and a little flashier than what I would normally buy. I couldn’t imagine wearing half of them, in fact most were only half the size of what I would normally wear. But Diana insisted that every woman should own something sexy, even if it was just for feeling good about herself. Plus, she assured me, there was nothing wrong with occasionally looking sexy for your man.
After I’d made my decisions, Diana took my choices over to the register and totalled them up. Nathan walked out from Diana’s back office and looked at all the bags.
“Well Rose, did you get everything that you needed?”
I smiled, feeling more confident in my sexy choices. “Yes, and more.”
Nathan used the black credit card to pay Diana and Neil came in and carried the bags out to the car.
“Thank you for your help today, Diana,” I said.
“You’re welcome, dear. Goodbye Nathan, not so long between visits now, hey?”
“No, definitely not. Goodbye Di.” He smiled and kissed her on the cheek.
Nathan and I walked out and got into the SUV. Nathan told Neil to take us back home. The car took off smoothly from the curb and started to edge its way through the busy Sydney traffic.
“Was this morning as bad as you thought it would be?” Nathan asked as we sat at a set of traffic lights.
“No, anything to get out of that house. I’ve always been the sort of person who gets ‘cabin fever’. I don’t mind having a break for the afternoon and doing nothing, but when it drags on for days, I go crazy.”
Nathan smiled. “Me too. I like to be active. I like to spend my holidays travelling and seeing the world, not sitting around home.”
“Yeah? Where have you been to on your holidays?”
“Everywhere. All over Europe, all over America, China, Japan, Africa.”
“I haven’t been anywhere. I haven’t even been over to London to see my mum and dad.”
“How long have they been gone?”
“Two years,” I replied sadly.
Nathan’s phone rang, interrupting our conversation and he answered it in his brisk business-like tone. We’d had a few conversations like this in the past few days. I really enjoyed the more human side of Nathan, he could be a pleasant person when he wanted to be.
I vaguely listened to Nathan’s conversation as we drove. I liked the sound of his voice, deep and smooth. I could tell by Nathan’s tone that he was talking to his secretary. She was one of the only people I’d heard him talk to in an almost human way.
When we returned from our shopping trip, Nathan told me to go upstairs and get my swimwear. I went to question why, but thought better of it. Nathan wouldn’t have told me anyway. He wanted a mistress who would do as he said and not ask questions.