Chapter 7

NELLY:

Rowan's expression darkened as he stared at Elena, who looked as if she would burst into tears.

Indeed, I had seen some young women visit the Santiago mansion. They wore elegant dresses, and I had spotted Rowan escorting each of those beautiful young women whenever they visited.

I'd wonder what Rowan's relationship with those young women was, but I couldn't bring myself to ask him.

At night, I would stand at my bedroom window, peeking out at them. Most of those women seemed to be from noble backgrounds or were top-notch models.

They were slim, wearing designer dresses and sharp-pointed stiletto heels.

My chest tightened each and every time I saw any of those women visit.

Rowan would stroll with the beautiful ladies, showing them around the mansion and chatting amicably with them. The sight pierced my heart whenever I caught him laughing with a lady, but he had never laughed with me.

Rowan stood up calmly from the table. His expression remained cold as he replied, "They're my cousins."

"What?" Elena looked embarrassed. Even I was embarrassed. My cheeks heated up as Rowan demanded icily, "What were you thinking? That I would bring a slut to my father's house?"

"No. I..." Elena stammered, trying to defend her insecurities. "I only wanted to know. You don't tell me about yourself, and I haven't met your cousins."

Rowan's jaw tightened. "My cousins didn't attend the engagement because it's not a proper wedding. They're uncertain whether the marriage will hold, and I don't want to implicate them."

"What do you mean?" Elena trembled, fearing Rowan wanted to call off the engagement.

Rowan picked up the glass of wine and gulped it down to clear his throat. He'd drunk most of the wine left in the bottle, almost emptying it.

He looked at Elena coldly and delivered the final blow. His voice was as cold as ice as he stated, "If you keep suspecting me or asking Nelly about me..." His voice hung heavily in the air as he pointed at me.

"I will pull out of the wedding. Keep Nelly out of this." Rowan turned away to pick up his coat, automatically ending the game.

Elena looked defeated. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she rushed over to Rowan to stop him before he left the room.

"I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to offend you."

Rowan held Elena's hands away from him and replied, "It's fine. I would appreciate it if you didn't bring this up again. I have to head home. Nelly, come over."

I froze at Rowan's command.

What did he want? Why was he calling me?

All eyes shifted to me.

I shot to my feet at the sound of Rowan's cold voice. He seemed pissed off, as if I had wronged him by sharing his secret with Elena.

Were those two stunning models who frequently visited the Santiago mansion Rowan's cousins?

I picked up my black handbag from the table and turned to Maeve.

"Let's go, Maeve." I grasped her hand to accompany me, as I felt nervous under the weight of everyone's stares.

Rowan didn't leave the door. He stood there waiting for me, to see if I would disrespect him.

Maeve quickly followed me, and I felt a wave of relief that she had offered to join us at the VIP booth.

I wouldn't be comfortable in an enclosed space with Rowan. What did he want from me? Why had he summoned me? Did he want to caution me about Elena?

In the more than thirteen years since I had moved into the mansion to live with Rowan and his father, this was the first time in history that he had mentioned my name.

The sound of my name on his lips made my thighs tighten as I felt uneasy.

My core clenched. My pussy throbbed. But I shoved the unwanted thoughts away.

"Rowan." Dave called him before I could reach the door with Maeve.

Elena stood with a disappointed look on her face.

"What's wrong?" Rowan asked in a dismissive tone.

"Are you heading home with Nelly? How about you call your driver to give you a ride? I almost forgot that you came here with Elena in her car," Dave pointed out.

Rowan replied flatly, "There won't be any need for that. Nelly will take me home. We have something to discuss."

Dave nodded and didn't press further.

I didn't want Rowan to ride in my car. What was he up to? His bodyguards were present. Why didn't he ride with them?

When we entered the elevator, Maeve and I were almost pressing ourselves together as Rowan stood in the elevator with us, accompanied by two of his trusted bodyguards.

I wanted to tell him off, to refuse him outright. But I didn't know what he was up to.

Once the elevator stopped in the lobby, Maeve nervously strode out beside me. I held her hand and whispered in her ear, "I will give you a free ride."

Maeve seemed as if she had seen a ghost. Her eyes widened, and she refused.

"Don't worry, Nelly. It's getting late. We will see each other at Santiago Group on Monday, okay?"

"Maeve, I insist," I replied, cutting her off, as I didn't want Rowan in my car. Why would he want to ride with me? This hadn't happened before.

Maeve stopped and turned to face me with pleading eyes. "Please, Nelly. You know that I cannot afford to lose my job. You should head home with the boss. I promise to give you a call once I get home."

I understood her fear. She didn't want to hear whatever Rowan had to say to me. She didn't want to lose her job.

A bitter lump hung in my throat, and I nodded.

"Fine. See you on Monday."

Maeve quickly walked away, and I drew a shaky breath and turned to face Rowan as he towered above me.

I met his striking blue eyes, crossed my arms over my chest, and demanded an explanation from him in the resort lobby.

"What do you want?"

Rowan scoffed and walked closer to me. "You're taking me home."

"Why me? You have your bodyguards. Let them drive you home," I bluntly refused, not wanting him in my car.

Rowan's eyes narrowed. "Are you going against my orders?" His voice was dangerously cold, and I recalled that he was the new Mafia Don.

"No." I bit my lower lip and turned away. "Fine."

I marched outside to my car as I caught sight of the elevator opening and Elena stepping out alongside her brother, Dave with Gianna, and Pablo.

"Rowan, you both are still here?" Pablo called out, rushing over to meet Rowan and me, who had earlier stepped out of the building.

The evening wind blew against my face and made me tremble, as it seemed like a heavy storm was on the way.

"Sure. I have to head home now with Nelly. I will see you later," Rowan replied flatly as he strode towards my black car.

Pablo offered in a high-pitched voice, "Rowan, how about I drop you off?"

"No need. We are not going the same way, and the thunderstorm is on its way." Rowan pointed at the dark clouds and the lightning reflecting in the sky.

Elena and her brother stood watching us. She stepped forward and said, "Alright, babe. Call me when you get home. And Nelly, drive safely."

"Hmm." I rolled my eyes and turned away to unlock my car. I moved to unlock the back seat, as I couldn't afford to share the front passenger seat with Rowan.

It was safer to keep my distance from him.

What if Rowan did something to me? I knew he had a licence to carry a gun, and the thought that he could be holding one made me uneasy.

As I unlocked the back seat, Rowan didn't protest. He sat calmly while I shut the door.

I breathed out heavily, unaware that I had been holding my breath.

"Don't forget to call me once you repair your phone, Nelly!" Pablo called out to me.

I turned to face him and replied, "Sure. I will."

I rounded the car, plopped into the driver's seat, shut the car door, and fastened my seatbelt. I avoided staring at Rowan's face as he reclined against the rear seat. His hand rested on the cool leather armrest of the car.

His heavy amber scent filled my nostrils as the smell of alcohol and cigarettes rolled off him.

The atmosphere in the car became hot, so I turned on the air conditioning and started the car.

I clenched my fist around the steering wheel and drove off, heading back to the Santiago mansion.