Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Francesca Rose
After the embarrassing walk to my room last night, it took some time for my mind to relax and not feel as though I was in imminent danger.
Once my heartrate settled and the tightness in my gut relaxed, my thoughts returned to the pantry.
I lay in bed replaying the moments of heaven Michael and I had stolen for ourselves.
This morning my body has that delicious soreness that comes with being well used.
I’ve had one taste and it’s left me desperately wanting more.
How utterly unfair that the one time we decide to act on our physical attraction, we get caught.
Thankfully it was Kathy that caught us. The night would’ve ended much differently had literally anyone else walked through the kitchen.
I don’t necessarily fear that Kathy will give our secret away, but I can acknowledge the situation we’ve put her in.
That’s why this morning, I’m up earlier than the chickens returning to the scene of the crime to smooth things over.
In my early days here, I discovered that Kathy starts her mornings in the kitchen.
She brews a fresh pot of coffee for the incoming staff and enjoys her breakfast before the business of the day takes over.
Kathy glances over her shoulder as I sheepishly walk through the room. The smirk that forms on her lips lets me know she was expecting me to show my face this morning.
“Your secrets are safe with me,” she declares before I have a chance to think of what to say. “Even if I think you two are idiots.”
I snort because Kathy is nothing if not blunt. She always says sugar doesn’t belong on the truth. Shoot it straight like whiskey.
“It never crossed my mind that you would say something,” I respond truthfully, hoping that she hears the sincerity in my voice.
“You’re down here for a reason. We both know you don’t leave that room before noon unless you’re forced to.”
She turns around holding two cups of coffee, setting one in front of me. I wrap my hand around the cup, allowing the heat to warm my chilled fingers.
“You're my only friend here. I never want to put you in a situation that could cause you harm.”
My confession comes out in a whisper, like it’s easier to relay that way.
Kathy is my only friend here, and I never want to make life harder for her.
If Michael and I are caught, and it’s discovered she knew, she would be on the chopping block with us.
Kathy’s loyalty belongs to Ashton’s father Evander, but I know Ashton holds her in a place of high respect.
Kathy comes back to the island with two plated donuts and a soft smile, “Well, I’m most certainly not the only friend you’ve made.” One of her brows arches in question. “Are you both crazy?”
“I don’t know how it happened, but I can’t stop it.
You know this isn’t a life that I would’ve chosen for myself.
” My head drops into my hands as I stare down at the untouched coffee.
“I don’t want to stop it. He makes me feel something in a world that drives me to shut down.
I feel in control of my destiny with him. ”
A contemplative silence falls between us before she responds. “You must be more careful. Anyone could’ve walked in last night.” She repeats my earlier thoughts without judgement.
“Yeah, I barely slept a wink thinking of that,” I agree with a sigh
“What’s keeping you from sleeping?” Ashton’s voice breaks the comfort cloaking the room.
I choke down the shock of him being here. When did he get back from his travels?
“A book I’ve been reading kept me up last night. I had to know the ending.” The lie comes out so easily, I almost believe it myself.
“Reading seems like such a waste of time. Why not just watch a movie?” A deep southern drawl breaks through the room.
That would be Victor, Ashton’s second-in-command, and the most obnoxious man on God’s planet.
Even though he says the most outrageous things, I’ve learned he only does it to get a rise out of people.
He loves watching the bomb of outrage go off.
Of all the men on the Rose’s staff, he is the one who looks the most like a crime boss.
He’s shorter than both Michael and Ashton, copper red hair and a shit ton of freckles.
His only redeemable quality is his wife.
A beautiful, brown-skinned queen that he actually dotes on.
“Victor, there’s a lot you could learn from a romance book that I’m sure your wife would appreciate,” I say with a snicker. “How is sweet baby Nathan doing and when are you going to bring him back over so I can get some cuddles?”
“Nothing a book written by a woman could teach me,” he winks and I roll my eyes. “My son is doing wonderful. I can already tell he will be a strong, healthy leader. Kathy, honey, can I get one of those donuts Francesca is devouring?”
“That’s probably why you aren’t pregnant yet. Treating your body like shit. We’ll look into a diet and exercise plan,” Ashton barks, finding any reason to make the lack of pregnancy my fault.
I swivel around on the barstool, taking a sip of my coffee, only to practically choke on it when I notice Michael standing in the doorway behind Ashton. My eyes snap back to Ashton’s face in time to register the sneer pulling at his lips.
Michael’s gaze is drilling a heated hole into the back of his boss's head. A warmth spreads through me seeing his emotion on my behalf. I know he wants to step in to defend my honor, but I’ve never needed anyone to speak for me.
“Over my dead fucking body,” I retort, adding an exclamation to that statement by taking a big bite of the donut.
Kathy turns away, but I don’t miss the smirk on her lips. My attention returns to my husband to find his eyes in narrow slits. Behind his shoulder I don’t miss the smirk painting Michael’s face, and I relax knowing that he isn’t stressing over Ashton’s earlier words to me.
My husband’s jaw flexes before commanding, “You aren’t to leave the compound today. All main security will be with me. There will just be enough left here to guard the grounds.”
He turns to leave, snapping his finger at Michael and Victor to follow.
I don’t miss the flex of Michael’s hand at the silent command to follow like a dog.
His eyes are warm when he nods first at me and then at Kathy before turning to leave the room.
I fidget a bit in my seat thinking of that man loving me last night.
“You ladies don’t have too much fun here, today,” Victor says around a bite of donut before kissing Kathy’s cheek on the way out.
“Wow. Y’all are fucking crazy.” Kathy sighs, shaking her head.
8 Weeks Later
I grip tightly to the bathroom counter as my vision wavers, struggling to catch my breath.
The sound of blood rushing echoes through my ears in time with the panic rising in my chest. Two pink lines stare back at me as a vision of my future flashes before my eyes.
A potent mixture of relief and fear floods my veins while my mind processes that everything changes after today.
Relief that I will no longer have to tolerate being held in place, with force, as Ashton finds his climax in silence is dizzying.
No more being subjected to the least erotic sexual experiences of my life with a husband who very clearly hates me.
There’s no romance–not that I want any from him–but it’s all business and not pleasurable in any way.
Per our arrangement, now that I’m finally pregnant, he has no reason to ever touch me again.
My hand drops to my lower abdomen, holding the place an innocent soul will grow into a human.
Guilt flashes through me, warring with the relief I was feeling seconds ago.
I’m bringing another person into this world knowing exactly what will be in store for them.
This baby will be born to a mother who barely wants them and a father that will use them as a business asset.
Am I any better than my father or Ashton Rose?
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my bathroom door. I freeze, unsure of who entered my bedroom without permission.
“Francesca, you in there?” Michael’s low voice filters through the door.
I quickly open it, pulling him in and throwing the lock. I spin around, pressing my back to the door to find him staring down at the two pregnancy tests resting on the countertop.
“We knew this time would come,” I say quietly, tears sliding down my cheeks.
He looks up at me through the mirror’s reflection, studying my face in that way he has since the first moment we met.
My brain decides to remind me that Michael and I never bothered with protection that night in the pantry.
Or any time since. That thought alone adds another checkmark in the fear column of my emotional tally.
How could I have been so reckless?!
“Come here,” he commands, holding his arms open for me.
I move to him with no hesitation, breathing in his woodsy cologne that always seems to calm me. This is why I’ve been so reckless–being treated as someone special who should be cherished is intoxicating.
“I’m going to be a terrible mother. I can’t be a mother,” I confess between sobs.
“Hey now, look at me.” I do as I’m told and he gently grasps my chin, looking down into my eyes. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll be here to help you, along with Kathy.”
“The baby could be yours,” I toss out quickly, wanting him to know everything that’s spinning through my mind. I know it has to be on his mind as well.
His hand absently rubs up and down my back. “That’s a bridge for us to cross at a later date. Right now, let’s make sure Ashton knows. The sooner he knows you're pregnant the sooner he will stop making comments that make me want to slit his throat.”
I chuckle at his protectiveness and nod my agreement. Ashton and I have a deal, and now that I’m officially growing a life, that arrangement is set in motion.
Michael walks me to Ashton’s office, squeezing my shoulder before I knock, giving me confidence as I mentally prepare for this conversation.
“Enter,” the cold, distant voice reaches me in the hallway.
I briefly lay my head on the door, before pushing my way into the study.
I've visited numerous times for him to use my body as a breeding machine. This moment of sharing a new life should be celebratory and not feel like I’m walking to an execution.
I’m immediately thrown back to our wedding day, that feeling of being tossed into the tiger’s cage.
My father could’ve prevented this, found a way to break the cycle.
Instead, I’m turning in the news of my pregnancy like a quarterly report.
It’s been a while since I’ve thought about the hate I have in my heart for my own father forcing me into this position.
I guess finding out you’re about to become a mother will do that to you.
Ashton looks up from his paperwork as I move to stand in front of his desk.
“Make it quick, Father will be here soon, and I won’t keep him waiting for your nonsense,” he snaps.
“I’m pregnant.” I declare, tossing a pregnancy test on his desk, making him give me the attention this moment deserves. “Any sex between us is over starting today.”
“Good to know that you’re not defective.
I was beginning to wonder what I was going to do with you.
” He slides his glasses back on, before swiping the test to the floor in disgust. “Work with Kathy to schedule your doctor appointments. Make sure your visits are discreet. Now that you’re carrying my seed, there will be a target on your back. ”
My hands clench at his ability to treat me like just another spreadsheet or business meeting.
I know that even with my faults I could never be a worse parent than him.
There’s no point in responding when he wields words expecting people to always follow his command.
Instead, I turn to leave the office holding back all the comments I want to spew at him.