Groaning, I rubbed my head as it throbbed from a headache unlike anything I had ever experienced, peeping through one squinted eye at the darkened room around me.
“Drink the water on the table” Derek said somewhere to the right of me.
“Shhhh!” I said back, my head hurting at the sound of my own voice as I sat up. The room wouldn’t stop spinning so I quickly clamped my eyes shut, pushing down the wave of nausea that came with it.
“Water Avery. Then aspirin” he demanded. This time he shoved the items into my hands. I gulped down the water and pills blindly.
We sat in silence for what felt like to me an eternity before I braved to open my eyes agai
I wrapped my legs around Derek as he pushed me harder into the wall. Derek gasped at the motion, dropping my legs as I slid to the floor. He clutched at his side, blood seeping through his shirt. “Fuck I think you tore some stitches” he said, pulling his shirt off to revealing the bleeding wound. “I’m so sorry” I apologized, running into the bathroom to grab a towel. He took the towel from me and pressed against it. “Do you need anything else?” I asked him. He looked at me blankly. “I need you to leave” His harsh tone shocked me and I don’t know why it also hurt. I bit down onto my teeth to stop myself from crying as I nodded and hurried out the door
I slept the majority of the plane ride home. Home. That’s what it was now. I had nowhere else to go. I sulked around my room most of the days, unsure what to do with myself.Derek had avoided me for almost two weeks now, not a word, barely a glance in my direction whenever I did see him.I had asked Linda what I could do and she said that I was only to assist Derek, no one else. Well that was helpful.By now, I had memorized every room in the penthouse. The beautiful library full of books, I had taken a few and stashed them in my room when I was truly bored. There was also a small gym on the other side, tucked away almost hidden. It was a small room of mirrors with only a bench and a set of weights.
“I’m sorry” Derek said again. I had moved to the farthest corner of the elevator, crossing my arms glaring at him.He leaned across from me, staring back.“I had no right to view your past, but I didn’t say anything to make you feel… less than.” He paused as he spoke, as if choosing his words carefully.The flame of anger inside me started to dwindle but I still refused to speak to him.“I… I’m not good at casual conversations, okay? Business. No problem.” Derek said, running a hand through his hair, tossing it slightly. I snorted at the fact that it only made him look better, his hair out of place.He
Thankfully Natalie didn’t press me for any information on what had happened. She let me quietly head to my room with no explanation and disappear for the rest of the night. As I took off my dress, my hands retrace the spots he had touched, sending shivers down my spine. I have had my fair share of partners, one of the easiest releases for quick happiness growing up. But this was different, there was nothing quick about it. It was a slow burn that was all consuming, I had never felt anything like it. Butterflies turned my stomach at the thought of him touching me again, and finally getting the chance to return the favor. I shook my head, clearing it as I took a very cold shower.When morning came, the bed was drenched from my dreams of the night. My mind had played over and over again the ways I wanted to be taken. I got out of bed for a second shower and determined to play the gam
I glanced down the aisle with the ridiculous amount of choices, I thought about how this would be the first time I could afford to buy whatever I wanted. That I didn’t have to make my way to the public health clinic and ask for free supplies for those few days during each month. I let myself smile at the thought and then quickly glared at the amount of choices again. “Well, I’ll be damned. I figured you would never leave that hellhole of town.” A nasally woman's voice said next time. I glanced up at her and looked around, it was only her and I in the aisle. I looked at the perfectly manicured woman in front of me, there was nothing out of place about her. There was not a hint of familiarity about her. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” I asked, I was certain she had the wrong person.
“Make everyone scarce” Derek ordered at Michael, as we stepped off the elevator.Michael hurried off without a word, as I furrowed my brow.“That was rude.” I told him.Derek shot me a glare and nodded toward the kitchen. “Sit.”Refraining from rolling my eyes, I sat down without argument. I watched him in silence as he grabbed food out the fridge, throwing it into the microwave. He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms as he stared back.“Explain.” He said, setting the food in front of me with a loud bang. The noise made me flinch slightly. My stomach growled at the food
When I woke up the next morning, I was eager to start the day. I quickly got dressed and made my way to the kitchen, in hopes of talking to Derek. My disappointment was short lived when Linda and Natalie lingered there instead, their laughter carrying down the hall. “Oooo here comes the jailbird.” Natalie teased as I sat down. She set food in front of me as if she knew I was coming beforehand. I groaned at her joke while my stomach growled. “Please don’t call me that” I said as I started stuffing my face with the food. Linda giggled now. “In all seriousness, I think only you could go to the store and be falsely accused and then
I worked through the remaining tasks Brianne had given me yesterday without a second thought. Impatiently waiting for Derek to get back from his trip. I spent the majority of the day lost in made-up scenarios of what might happen when he arrived and the rest flashback to our very lengthy phone call.My cheeks remained flushed, and I was thankful I was able to work alone. Disappointment was hard to hide when I got up to the penthouse and he still wasn’t home. Instead, Linda stood leaning against the wall across from the elevator as if she was waiting for me.“Need something?” I asked as I tried to make my way to my room, but she quickly stepped in front of me.“I have been instructed to get you glammed up for dinner” She replied, a faint smile on her lips.