XIX
Tori
A t JKU, Syn’s bedroom is… plain. Sure, there’s some color on the walls, but the only thing that really made Syn’s bedroom stand out was the giant terrarium. Even with the few personal items there were scattered around the room, like his laptop and tablet on the desk, or his toiletries and cologne in the bathroom, it never felt personal.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from his bedroom at home, but this isn’t it.
There’s more of a feminine touch here, though I’m sure that comes from his mother’s influence with the interior designer. It feels more like a hotel suite. There’s a contemporary feel to the room, but even without a closer inspection, I’m confident that not a single piece of the white beech furniture is mass produced.
Even the tiny room that I consider my home feels more lived in than this place. There’s nothing that gives me any clues or insight into Syn, and even though I shouldn’t care, I can’t stop myself from wondering if the guy who couldn’t possibly want for anything really has nothing.
And just as I start to feel a hint of pity for Syn, he opens his mouth.
“Is this your idea of making yourself comfortable?” he asks.
“What time is dinner?”
“Guests will be arriving within the hour. We’ll have another hour before we should make an appearance.” Syn cocks his head. “If you’re tired, feel free to take a nap.”
A nap would be nice, but no matter how tired I am, I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep easily tonight, never mind now, for a nap to be worth it.
“Where are my bags?” I ask. “I’ll take a bath and get ready for dinner.”
“I’ve asked for your things to be brought to the room. They’ll be here shortly. The bathroom is fully stocked.”
I don’t really feel the need to shower just to get ready for dinner. I just want some time alone. The door to the ensuite bathroom is ajar, so I don’t have to go guessing what’s behind each door, and instead, walk straight to the bathroom. The first thing I do is close the door and lock it.
Syn’s bathroom has double sinks, a walk-in shower, and a freestanding bathtub with the faucet in the middle that looks big enough for two adults to fit in comfortably. There’s also space for an armchair.
Before I do anything else, I set the water running to fill the bathtub, using the bubble bath from the small side table next to the tub. Then I sit down in the armchair, taking a deep breath as I close my eyes.
“One night. One more night, and we’ll have convinced Preston my brother didn’t kill his best friend. One more night, and I might even have some information that could lead to Cole being released. One more night, and I can finally walk away knowing that I did absolutely everything that I could,” I remind myself.
I pull my phone out of my hoodie pocket. There are already several messages from Penny. I left her this morning after promising I was going to be okay, and that she could focus on going home without worrying about me. By the time I’d gotten into Royal’s car, I’d messaged her to let her know what I thought the plans were, but I haven’t sent anything since.
While I wait for the bathtub to fill, I quickly update her on the latest developments.
Penny: I know that I’ve said this a million times, but you can still come and stay with me. The diamond could be the size of the moon, and it still wouldn’t be big enough.
Tori: I told you, I’m fine.
Penny: OMFG! You’ve got some revenge planned!
I stare at the phone screen, irritated because that thought had never crossed my mind.
By the time my skin is suitably shriveled an hour later, I’ve got several scenarios plotted out in my brain. I get out of the bath and wrap a towel around my body. After unlocking the door, I stroll back out into Syn’s bedroom. Syn, still seated on the couch, looks up from his phone.
“Where are my things?” I ask him.
Syn stands up, sliding his phone into his pocket as he walks over to me. He doesn’t stop, instead, walking straight past me to a set of double doors that he pushes open. On the other side is a dressing room.
I walk in, looking for my bags.
“There will be more dresses delivered tomorrow for the event, but everything here is yours.” He points to everything on our right.
From floor to ceiling, there are rails full of all kinds of clothing and shelves filled with shoes. There isn’t a single thing I recognize as my own.
“Where are my things?” I ask again.
“What’s missing?” Syn walks over to some drawers and pulls one open. Inside are several bra and panty sets. “Underwear is here, and your hair and make-up products are there on the vanity. We both know your things have seen better days.” He grimaces.
I turn and glare at him. “How many more times do I have to tell you to stop acting like I belong to you?”
“The word never left my mouth,” Syn responds looking genuinely confused.
Reaching out, I grab one of the garments hanging on the rail and pull it towards me. “For my initiation, you took away all of my clothes and gave me what you wanted me to wear, like you owned me. The diamond might be real, but this engagement is as far from real as it can possibly get. Even in an alternative universe, where the engagement was real, I wouldn’t be your wife: you’d be my husband.”
Syn stares at me, his lips pressed tightly together, like he’s trying to stop himself from saying whatever is on the tip of his tongue. Finally, he calmly closes the drawer and then takes a half step back. “You were only able to attend James Keyingham University because of a scholarship. One of your suitcases has lost a wheel, and the other looks like you found it in a dumpster. The only new items of clothing you have are your uniforms, which were also provided to you due to the scholarship. Has it not crossed your mind that I’m simply giving you a gift?”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
I release the fabric I’m still clinging onto with a little more force than necessary, causing the hangers to clink against the railing. “Why would I think any of this is a gift? Have you ever actually given a gift without there being strings attached?”
“There are no strings attached to this, Victoria. Every tag has been removed—both literal and metaphorical. Why can’t you just accept the gifts?”
“Because I doubt a gift is just a gift with you. The ring and clothes have got to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.” I cross my arms. “With you, this is either a bribe or…” Frowning, I shake my head. Because the other option isn’t really possible.
“Or…?” Syn presses.
“All this is your attempt at an apology.”
Syn glances down as he slips his hands into his pants pockets, and then he looks up at me. “And what if it is?”
The surprise has my arms falling to my side at the same time as my lips part. Then, narrowing my eyes at him, I plant my hands on my hips. “Then it’s a piss-poor attempt. You apologize by saying you’re sorry.”
The room falls silent. Then Syn licks his lips. “I am sorry.”
It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. “For what?”
“What do you mean, for what?”
I really want to shake him, even though I know I shouldn’t be surprised by this. “What are you actually apologizing for, Syn?”
Syn’s eyes narrow as his nose wrinkles. Then he shrugs. “For whatever you need me to be sorry for.”
All this time, I’ve never really expected to get an apology from Syn. ‘I’m sorry’ are two words I didn’t even think were even in his vocabulary. Hearing them now doesn’t fill me with any sense of satisfaction. But how can they when he doesn’t even know what he’s apologizing for.
I suck in a deep breath and turn my attention to the clothes. Syn’s empty apology hasn’t deterred me from my plans, but not having my own clothes means I need to amend them slightly.
“That’s it?” Syn asks.
“If this is all I have to choose from, I’ll find something to wear,” I tell him.
“No, I mean that you accept my apology.”
I pause in flicking through the clothes hanging on the hangers to look at him over my shoulder. “Does it count as an apology if you’re only saying it because you’re told to? I never expected an apology from you. If you really do feel bad, if you want to apologize properly, think about why.” I pull out whatever dress I happen to have hold of. “I’m going to get dressed for dinner now.”
“Victoria—"
I allow the towel to drop to the floor, and then I take the dress off the hanger. Before I put it on, I turn to face Syn.
His gaze is roaming over my naked body.
All this time, he’s acted with revulsion at the idea of being with me, but I’ve seen the way he looks at me, even when he said he hated me. The last thing I want right now is to pretend I’m madly in love with him, much less have sex with him.
But I will leave here satisfied in the knowledge that I got him frustrated enough that if he wants me to get him off, he’s going to have to do it with his imagination.