Chapter Twelve - In For A Shock

Sydney

“Mr. Barlowe? Are you Mr. Barlowe?” I whispered in a dazed state, while Killian glared at Pete.

He turned to give me a look of hatred. “Yes. I’m Killian Barlowe, and this glamping site belongs to me.”

Why did his surname sound so familiar? I had heard it somewhere before I met him. But I couldn’t recall where I had heard it.

“Oh, then why did you appoint me as an assistant?” I didn’t even know my scope of work. “Who would I assist?”

He gave me a look of disbelief. “Me. Who else?”

Pete gaped at his boss. “Oh! I appointed her as my assistant. My mistake, sir. I misunderstood.” He stammered nervously while Killian gave him a death glare.

He grabbed Pete by his collar and breathed fire on his face. “Stay away from my girlfriend. Or I’ll destroy your career. Is that clear, Hendricks?”

I gaped at him, staggering backward at the mad fury on his face. At that point, Killian looked like an obsessed lover. But only I knew the truth. He didn’t love me. Then why did he introduce me as his girlfriend?

Was it just to get into my pants? After all, he had wanted me to be his se* slave.

I had no idea what I had agreed to. What would be my scope of work as his assistant? What if he asked me to please him in bed?

“Sorry, sir. I didn’t know. I’ll stay away, I promise,” Pete stammered, and I felt sorry for him. He was nice, friendly, and helpful. I needed genuine people like him around me.

“You’re not staying here. I’ll terminate your employment with us, Hendricks. Get out!” yelled Killian, releasing his collars.

I felt guilty about causing problems in Pete’s life when all he did was help me. “Stop, Killian. He just helped me, that’s all. Please stop overreacting when we aren’t in a relationship. I don’t want your job. I’m leaving.” 

I ran out of the restaurant blindly towards the tent. All I wanted to do was pick up my luggage and get out of here. I wanted to go as far away from Killian Barlowe as possible. He was as bad as my dad.

In two minutes, I reached and unlocked the door. Dashing to the bedroom, I grabbed hold of my luggage and trudged out, only to collide with a furious Killian at the door.

“What the f*ck is your problem, Sydney?” He gripped my arm, snatching the luggage out of my hands.

I saw red. “You are my problem. Do you know you’re worse than my dad? I’m sorry I ever met you.” I tried to get free, but his iron-like grip held me captive.

“Stop comparing me to your dad. I’m nothing like him. This is my property and you’ll be punished if you disobey or disrespect me. How did you manage favors from Hendricks? Did you promise to sleep with him?” He seethed, his eyes glittering with malice.

I couldn’t believe he could think so low of me. “No. I don’t sleep around with random men. Maybe it’s too difficult for you to understand. You might be the owner of this property, but your mindset is pathetic. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far. I have no wish to stay with you any longer.”

He regarded me with disgust and then shook his head in dismay. “I don’t believe this. Are you leaving because I sacked the loser?”

“No, I’m leaving because I don’t need your help anymore.”

He pulled me closer, trapping me against his chest while his eyes bored into mine. I could see the hatred clearly in them. There was no doubt he hated me with a vengeance. Then why did he want me to stay with him?

He was the most complicated guy I had ever met.

“I won’t let you leave, Sydney. So don’t even try to escape. I’ll bring you back every time, even from hell.” The look on his face was grim and spiteful. Why did I feel he wanted something from me?

Should I decline the job offer? What if I ended up in his bed as a se* slave?

“You’re scaring me away, Killian. I can feel how much you hate me. Then why do you want me to stay with you?” I placed my hands on his chest to push him away. But he tightened his hold on me instead of letting me go.

He watched me in silence, trying to control his temper. “I don’t hate you. Maybe I was a little jealous of Pete. He was interested in you, Sydney. You’re mine, and I don’t share what’s mine. Please don’t leave.”

I gaped at the bipolar guy. How did he switch his mood in a fraction of a second?

“I don’t believe you. I know why you’re doing this. You want a se* slave, right? Does an assistant mean that in your dictionary? Then I’m sorry, I can’t take up the job.”

He released me with annoyance and closed the main door. “No. Assistant means my PA. So you can relax.” He stormed into the bedroom with my luggage to ensure I couldn’t escape. “I’ve ordered dinner. It should be here any minute.”

I sat in the lounge pondering over what he just told me. His contradictory words echoed in my head. I noticed how they didn’t match his facial expression.

You’re mine!

Didn’t you say that to the one you loved, craved, and cherished? We weren’t in a relationship, even. Then how could I belong to him? A knock on the door announced our dinner. I had to miss mine after the ruckus Killian made at the restaurant. I felt bad for Pete. He lost his job for no fault of his.

The staff member gave me a weird look when I opened the door. I was sure he had witnessed the drama at the restaurant. “Your order, please.” He handed me the tray, eager to get away. No one wanted to cross Killian, it seemed.

Killian emerged from the bedroom, and the server ran before I could thank him. I walked over to the table to serve the food, with Killian following me closely. “Why aren’t you eating?” he asked me when I served him and turned to go.

“I…” He intervened before I could complete my sentence.

“Oh, did I interrupt your cozy dinner date with Hendricks?” He glared at me, his tone dripping with malice.

I rolled my eyes at him. “You have no reason to be jealous, Killian. It was just dinner. I don’t even know the guy.”

He clenched his jaw to control his temper. “It didn’t look that way at all. He recommended you to me. I’m sure you’re hiding something from me.”

I lost my temper and faced his accusations now. “Excuse me? Am I hiding something? Well, it’s nothing compared to what you’ve hidden from me. You made me look like a fool who didn’t know her boyfriend’s full name. Do you know how I felt? I felt like a who*e you hired for a night.”

He scowled at me for a minute before turning away. “I’m sure you’re overreacting. I don’t go spilling my beans to strangers. Did you expect me to?” He helped himself to the food, dismissing me totally.

I walked away to the bedroom to freshen up first. After a day of roaming around, I felt filthy. In ten minutes, I felt human again, the warm shower working wonders on my skin.

Killian was still at the table, scrolling through his phone, when I joined him. He looked up, his gaze sweeping over my damp sweatpants and T-shirt-clad body.

I noticed his untouched plate. Why didn’t he eat? Was he waiting for me? “You haven’t touched your food. Do you want me to warm it?”

He nodded, still avoiding my gaze.

I rose to warm his food. When I returned and placed it before him, he looked up. “Thanks. Do you know you’re wife material?” His lips puckered up as he curbed the smile, trying to break free.

I rolled my eyes at the guy. Again a mood swing?

“Is that why you appointed me as your assistant? You wanted me to perform the wifely duties, right?” I served myself while he laughed.

“You’re putting ideas into my head, Princess.”

“As if you’re short on ideas. So this is your actual business, huh? Why did you start something here? Do you live here?”

He shook his head. “No. My home is in LA, but I haven’t been there for months.”

“Oh, why don’t you live here? It’s so much better than LA.” I hated LA because my family lived there.

“My head office is in LA.”

“Oh, you can shift this glamping site to California. It’ll be easy for you to keep track.”

He shook his head. “I share a special connection to this place. This was my parents’ last vacation together before they died. Mom loved it so much that Dad had wanted to buy it for her. After their death fifteen years ago, I wasn’t in a position to buy it for her. It took me time to earn the amount and build this for her. Anyway, I don’t expect you to understand.”

A staggering sigh escaped my lips. “I do. I lost my mom too, fifteen years ago.”

He nodded with a scowl. “Yes, a month before my parents’ death.”

My jaw dropped to the floor. How did he know that?