Rowan
I spent some time moping about this whole messed up situation, but today I decided to stop stressing so much and just take advantage of the amenities instead. I had Deirdra pick up a bright orange designer thong bikini for me so I could sit by the pool for a while, and by a while I mean I’ve sat out here the entire day and my skin is starting to redden. I’ve been talking to the guard, Alonzo. He didn’t talk much until we got on the subject of UFC , then we pretty much became friends. He’s nice once he gets to talking. All of the staff is, so far.
“I see you’ve finally made yourself at home.” Grayson walks up, wrapping a towel around my waist.
“Hey I wasn’t done swimming!” I say.
“Yeah you are. Let’s go.” He says, clasping a hand around my elbow and pulling me behind him .
I don’t know what the hell his problem is but it’s probably best I don’t question him. I definitely don’t want to lose my privileges of staying in the house and end up in a bunker like he’s already threatened.
“What are you doing dressed like that in front of my staff, Row?”
“Dressed like what? I’m literally wearing a swimsuit because I was in the pool.” I say. Rolling my eyes.
“You can wear a different swimsuit. One I approve of. I’ll be informing Deirdra.”
I stop abruptly as we near the staircase to the bedroom.
“What is your problem? I’m trying to go along with this whole thing like you wanted and now you find an issue with something. I don’t understand how what I wear even matters to you!” I tense as he holds my gaze, something angry in his eyes. No, possessive.
“I don’t care that this isn’t a traditional marriage. I don’t care if you don’t want to be married. I don’t care if you despise me. You are my wife, what’s mine is mine and if you’re dressing like that in front of my men, it puts me in the position of having to cut their eyes out of their fucking heads for looking at you. ”
Why is he so jealous? He married me just to get back at my dad, so I don’t know why he would care about other men looking at me. Brenden didn’t even act like this and I was actually with him voluntarily. I do have to admit though, I like feeling protected. Even by the same man that kidnapped me and is currently holding me captive, forcing me into a marriage. I must be really fucked up to find that endearing.
“Come on. Get changed, we’re going to grab a drink. I need one.” He sighs.
He brings me to the rooftop of the mansion where an elaborate outdoor bar is set up with small tables, a pool, hammock, burnt orange patio couches and two bartenders. We take a seat on one of the couches and Grayson motions one of the bartenders over– a young blonde girl. She looks more like an Instagram model than a bartender. Her hair is tied back into a ponytail without a single hair looking out of place, her skin is a beautiful, golden tan, and her makeup looks almost professionally done. I can see why he hired her.
“Hi Grayson! Maker’s Mark neat?” She smiles and winks at him.
“No. Get me a martini. Grey Goose and make it dirty.” He says without looking at her .
“Okay I’ll get that right out for you!” She smiles at Grayson then scowls at me as she walks away.
“Oh and Brittany?” Grayson calls out to her.
“Yeah?” She turns back with the stupid fangirl smile still on her face.
“Have Miles make my drink. You’re fired.” He says looking down at his phone.
“W-why?” Brittany says, her smile dropping.
“You’re annoying and rude. You can’t mix a decent drink to save your life and you walked away without even getting my wife’s drink order. You can go now. I’ll send your last check in the mail.” He says still looking at his phone.
Brittany stopped at the bar to give Grayson’s order to the other bartender and left without another word. I’d say it was a little harsh to fire her if she hadn’t shot me such a dirty look earlier. She’s obviously hot for Grayson and didn’t like seeing him with me .
“Oh I almost forgot. I have something for you.” He says averting his gaze from his phone to me. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, gold wrapped gift box.
“What’s this?” I ask, smiling on the inside. No man has ever gotten anything for me before him.
“Well, open it and find out.” He says, expressionless.
I pull the small, sheer ribbon off and open the box. What the actual fuck.
“Is- is that a fucking finger?” I scream.
“Pinky actually. It’s Brenden’s. Don’t worry, he’s still alive. I just had to get the pictures of you off of his phone.”
I drop the box and shoot him a look of disgust. I can’t even form words. The bartender, Miles, walks over and sets down Grayson’s martini on the end table.
“She’ll take a ruby port.” Grayson says to him, shooing the bartender away.
“Alright, maybe gifting you his pinky wasn’t the best way to earn your trust. Listen, I like you . You don’t crumble under pressure, the fact that you’re still a virgin after having men chase you is evidence of that.” He says, slowly looking me up and down.
“What you think we’re going to have a heart to heart after you just handed me a fucking finger?” I shoot .
“No.” He deadpans. “I’m saying you make the perfect wife in a business like this because you’re not weak,” he says, licking his lips and holding my gaze. “I’m going to need you to submit to me a little bit though, . Let your guard down with me but keep that guard up when it comes to everyone else. I mean it when I say you’re safe with me but you have to do what I tell you without arguing with me. Shits about to hit the fan and if you want to remain untouched you have to trust every word I’m telling you.” The bartender comes back to set the stem glass of port wine on my end table and walks off.
“Okay what the hell is going on? Because I’ve been going along with everything you’ve asked yet I still have no idea what’s going on with my father, why you are hinting that I’m in danger and why the hell I’m married to you. You want my trust then tell me what this is all about because ripping me away from my life over a man I no longer speak to is unfair especially if you won’t even tell me why.” I can feel my cheeks heating up with anger, or maybe I’m trying not to cry, I don’t know.
“I never said you’re in danger. I am saying if you want to avoid it, do as I say and try not to ask so many questions. ”
Of course I can’t expect someone like him to divulge details of his business to me or really anyone. I expected that but it was worth a shot.
“Can you just give me something to go off of? It’s hard to ‘submit’ to a situation I know nothing about.” I lean back, sipping my wine.
Grayson blows out a long breath before finally speaking. “I was watching you for a little while.” He looks down, almost embarrassed.
“You were watching me?” I asked.
“Yeah. Stalking, whatever you want to call it. But I’m glad I was. You know how many times random men have tried to follow you home? You have got to me more aware of your surroundings, Row.” He says it so casually.
“So, you were stalking me because of Frank?” I ask, trying to sound disgusted. But the dark side of me wonders what he saw. Or if he liked what he saw.
He stares for a moment, licking my body up and down with his eyes.
“No. You’re beautiful. Unlike any woman I’ve ever seen. I just liked looking at you. ”
“I doubt that. I’m sure you fuck plenty of women that look a lot better than I do.” I look down, suddenly feeling stupid for how insecure I sound.
Grayson tips my chin up.
“I’ve fucked women with plenty of money. They spend it all on their appearance and don’t manage to look half as good as you do in your work t-shirt with your hair in an effortless ponytail. I don’t know why I watched you, . Maybe I just wanted to look at you. Maybe it was a protective feeling. Maybe I liked feeling in control when I stroked my cock over your sleeping, defenseless body inside your little studio apartment.” He smiles maliciously.
My body is reacting in a way with what he’s saying that my brain doesn’t like. What kind of fucking creep breaks into a womans home to get his rocks off? My brain wins. I go to slap him and he catches my hand, pulling it to his cheek.
“Don’t pull a stunt like that, Row. Next time there will be consequences, and I think you know what that consists of,” he says with a grin. “Now as I was saying, at that time I started watching you, I got curious about your relationship with Frank. So I dug deeper and gained access to his phone carrier account. I noticed that you two don’t speak. Why is that?”
“Long story.” I say, pulling my hand out of his .
“Do you remember anything about your mother?” He changes the subject.
I laugh dryly, swallowing the pain that comes with the thought of her. “Yep. She was kind, she used to love me. Then she ended up on drugs and wasn’t the mother I knew. She left when I was still little.”
He sits back, silent for a moment. “Did you ever find out what happened to her?”
I look at him quizzically. “No. Why do you ask?”
“She died, .” He looks into my eyes, waiting for a response.
All these years I’ve wondered about her. Where she went, what she was up to now. I shouldn’t care I really shouldn’t fucking care. She never even made things right. She wasn’t there to save me from Frank and his fucked up ways. She was never around to teach me how to stay away from boys that are trouble or to help me pick a prom dress or to help me understand my first fucking period. Does my dad know about this?
“H-How?” My mind is racing and I can’t form the rest of my sentence. How does he know? How did she die? When did she die ?
“Drugs. Frank told me almost a year ago. I’m sorry, . I thought he would’ve told you.”
I scoff. “Fuck off, Grayson. I don’t know if you’re trying to find a weak spot and fuck with me or what your motive is but I don’t give a fuck. I’m glad she’s dead.”
Grayson nods. “I understand if you’re upset but–”
“I’m not upset I don’t fucking care!” Just as the words fall from my lips, I feel tears stream down my face.
I don’t care. I know I don’t. But it would have been nice to know why she did what she did. I’ll never have closure and I had to hear about this from the same man that took me against my will. It’s bullshit.
Grayson moves to the cushion beside me and wraps an arm around me. If I were in my right mind I’d push him away, I wouldn’t even be crying in front of him. But I don’t even care right now. At least he told me.