1. Ella
1
ELLA
“ Y ou two are brave,” a man says as he opens the large oak doors leading into Mr. Lorde’s mansion on the outskirts of the city. “You’re really going to leave the girl here?”
I turn back to stare at Eli and Wes. They didn’t say much on the drive to Vegas, and I didn’t offer conversation, either.
Matching smirks cross their mouths now. “It’s what Rue and Soren want,” they say in unison, making it sound like that’s all the incentive they need.
“Theias is going to kick some ass,” the man mumbles.
“Tell him she’s Rue’s gift,” Wes calls back, amusement in his tone. The statement is confusing to me but not to those around me because the man in front of me now looks like he’s assessing me.
“What happened to your face?” Well, he’s kind of rude.
“What happened to yours?” I snap back, regretting it but not showing it. My mouth is the reason I’m in so much trouble.
“You are not going to last if you keep that up,” he warns, pushing open the door in welcome.
“Then I guess I better leave.” I move to turn around, but he grips my arms gently while dragging me inside.
“Not on my watch,” he mutters, closing and locking the door. I notice that the entrance is fingerprint accessed.
“What, am I a prisoner here or something?” I’m half joking, but as he raises a brow, a sense of unease runs up my spine.
“My name is Lucas; I’m Mr. Lorde’s personal assistant. Everything goes through me before it reaches him.” That sounds like a threat. “He’s out for the evening and should be back around lunch tomorrow. You are expected to remain in the house until his arrival.”
“You sound like an automated machine.” I roll my eyes when he scowls.
“Your quarters are this way.” He offers his hand as he leads me up a curved staircase resembling something from the castle in the Anastasia movie she lived in as a girl.
“It’s nice here,” I say, stopping to admire an abstract image of color with what feels like no real direction. Like my life.
“It is,” Lucas agrees. “So don’t break anything.”
My face heats at his warning. He can’t know just how clumsy I am sometimes.
“What exactly am I supposed to do here?” Soren wasn’t very clear on that.
“That will be discussed once Mr. Lorde returns.” Helpful one this Lucas is. “Here is your room. Feel free to explore the house. There is an indoor pool on the main floor as well as a fully-stocked kitchen and gym if you like to work out.” His tone implies that I don’t. He wouldn’t be wrong, but I won’t tell him that.
“A pool, you say?” I do love swimming.
“Yes, at the back of the house off the sunroom. Hard to miss.”
“Thanks, Lucas.”
He grunts and takes his leave.
Alone, I quickly unpack, marveling at how large the room is. A queen-size bed sits against one wall, with floor-to-ceiling windows on either side, and periwinkle drapes flow along their length, leaving me breathless with the view.
Lavish trees sprawl over a vast yard, hundreds of feet wide, before meeting an iron fence at least fifteen feet tall spanning the property. Theias is rich-rich. The kind of rich that intimidates. I’m not sure I should even be here.
Focusing on the room again, I love the crown moldings along the ceiling and floor. The pearl white pops in the room, adding to the luxurious appeal of the periwinkle color palette. Even the bedding showcases soft shades of cream and light blues, with purple accents.
This is a room I’d have chosen for myself. Something I’ve dreamed of being mine since I was little, with bookshelves on either side of a brick fireplace, and one of those oversized chair sofas in front for comfortable reading.
I grab a swimsuit I just put away, wrap my hair up in a bun, and find a towel in the bathroom that I’ll have to explore later after spotting a jacuzzi tub, and head downstairs to find the pool.
I pass Lucas coming out of an office just as I spot it and ask him, “Are there speakers I can connect my phone to for music?” He’s frozen in place as his eyes roam along my body, and I realize the bikini might not have been the best idea. “Lucas?”
“Sorry,” he mutters. “Yes, I’ll show you.” Thankfully, my sun-kissed tan hides the blush I try to suppress as I follow behind Lucas. “Phone?” He holds out a hand for me as we enter the pool room.
Unlocking it, I hand him the device, not thinking he’ll do anything more than open my music app. I bristle when I see him click on the messages showing over forty notifications that I was ignoring. “Hey! That’s not for you.”
He turns his head to face me, arching a brow. “When I see a message threatening your well-being, it’s for me. Especially if that type of threat can affect my boss.”
“Whatever.” Feeling scolded, I drop into one of the lounge chairs, squeezing the towel tight to my chest.
“This what happened to your face?” His tone is less accusatory this time. I only shrug. I don’t really want to talk about it. “You need someone to handle it?” The question surprises me, and I turn to stare at him as he scrolls through the messages, the frown between his eyes deepening in anger with every word he reads.
“No. He won’t follow me.”
Lucas grunts in response before getting the music going a minute later.
Handing me back my phone, he doesn’t relinquish it until I look up at him. “He comes here; he won’t be leaving. Remember that.” Swallowing, I nod and watch as he leaves.
I’m not a complete idiot, I know what he’s insinuating. Glancing down at the last threatening message from Blake, I ponder Lucas’ words about him not leaving if he came. For a fleeting moment, I debate telling Blake where I am. The desire for him to be punished for his behavior nearly overrides my common sense.