I would have to remove my family from theequation. Thankfully, my family was small so hiding them might notbe terribly difficult. I just didn’t know how in the hell I’d beable to reach them without giving away their location. If I reachedout to Jason, I was afraid he wouldn’t listen to me and just try tofind me instead. My mother would be too hysterical to contemplateanything I said, and Jason would be pissed if I called Jordanover him. I would have to figuresomething out eventually, but I had plenty of time to plot andprepare.
Until then, I needed to focus on gainingDarren’s trust. I could give it to him that he had won only one ofthe many battles ahead of us and I was fine with that. As long ashe didn’t win the war, I would be okay. I could survive him. Iwould survive him.
When the sun had risen fully, I decided itwas probably best to get ready for breakfast with Darren. I took aquick shower, did my hair and makeup, and selected a burgundy sundress and black flats for today’sslave uniform. I really hated wearing dresses, especially with onlya barely-there thong to cover myass. I felt so vulnerable and exposed. With my manicured nails andattire, it almost seemed like my wardrobe was designed todiscourage me from fighting, but Darren should know better thanthat. It didn’t matter if I was wearing six-inch stilettos or if I was bare-ass naked. I wouldfight no matter what I was or wasn’t wearing. I could kick anyone’sass in a dress; I just preferred to do it in pants.
Around 8:55 a.m., I made my way down to thedining room and found Darren sitting at the head of the table, hisphone in hand.
“There you are.” He smiled at me. He wasdressed in a raspberry red dress shirt and black tie, his blackjacket hanging off the back of his chair with his hair gelled intosleek perfection. Clean-shaven and with the scent of a god. FuckingA, he was gorgeous, and it only made me hate him more.
“Good morning,” I said blankly and sat downat his right.
“Good morning,” he said politely, his eyesglancing over my body as I sat down.
I began to make myself a cup of tea from theset up on the table when he spoke again.
“Enjoy the sunrise this morning?”
I could feel his eyes on me as I paused foronly a second. He wanted me to know he was watching me, as if I wassurprised.
“I did,” I said, pausing to take a sip of mytea. “Did you?”
“Oh, I was watching something far morebeautiful.” He smirked.
Creeper …
“Well, I hope you enjoyed the view,” Ireplied.
“Oh, I did. Did you not sleep well lastnight?” he asked.
“Not really … but I’m sure you already knewthat, as well,” I said almost sweetly. I stared at him for hisreaction. Perfect poker face.
“I’m sorry to hear you’re not sleeping well.Perhaps these will help,” he said, nudging a small silver containertoward me that I hadn’t noticed earlier.
“What’s this?” I asked, taking the smallcontainer and twisting it open. Inside were a bunch of large, whiteoval-shaped pills. I looked at him incredulously.
“They’re multivitamins,” Darren said now returning his gaze to hisphone. “I reviewed the results of your blood tests from thewarehouse the other night and noticed you were deficient invitamins A, B-12, and calcium. Those should correct thedeficiency.” He nodded over at the container.
“Probably thanks to the lovely treatment Iendured in that warehouse,” I sneered.
I didn’t know why I said that or why I was starting shit so early, but Istill didn’t know how to use my mouth filter yet.
“Probably,” he said plainly, not taking hiseyes off his phone.
Wow, what an admission. I examined the pillscarefully, more suspicion clouding my mind.
“How do I know these are vitamins and notsome line of bullshit?” I glared at him. Like I could trust his asswith medication for me.
The glare he returned to me was far moreintense and scarier than I thought mine could ever be, and Isuddenly felt it softening.
“I’m going to give you three seconds tocheck your attitude before you regret it. I may be a lot of things,Jaden, but a liar is not one of them.”
I continued to stare at him for a moment, myhands balling in to fists before I turned my eyes to the wall infront of me.
“Now, take your goddamn vitamins before Ishove them down your throat,” he threatened and turned hisattention back to his phone.
I turned my eyes to the glass of water thatwas sitting next to my plate. He did say he would always keep hisword and that he would never lie to me. If they were just vitamins,then it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe they would benefit me in the endif I really did have some deficiencies. I took a single pill,popped it in my mouth, and washed it down with a sip of water.
“Good girl,” Darren said, his eyes still onhis phone.
Fuck you.
I made myself a cup of tea and sipped on ituntil David came out with my breakfast. He placed a bowl of oatmealand a cup of sliced fruit in front of me and turned back toward thekitchen without a word. I caught Darren’s eyes shift in myperipherals checking to see if I looked at David, but I kept myeyes on my plate.
I pushed the oatmeal around with my giantspoon, not really hungry as per usual. Darren sipped on his coffeequietly, but I could feel his energy start
