Chapter 47 Capter 47
Kai
I made it through my day without any trouble from her. When I walked out of the building, I was almost seven. I made it home and headed to the gym.
At 8:45 I walked into her house; I heard music coming from the kitchen. I made my way over and leaned against the door and stood looking at her. She was dancing. Fuck me, you couldn't even call that clothes. A short-ass pair of pants and a top that had half of her stomach showing. She was relaxed. An open bottle of wine and half a glass sat on the kitchen island.
I started to make a move, and I froze. “Stop sneaking into my house,” she said. She didn't even turn around, and I never made a sound. I leaned back and looked at her.
“How did you know?”
“The air just changes,” she replied, turning around and looking at me.
Tessa
I felt the pressure change and knew he was here. I stood looking at him; his eyes were distracting. He was wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants; he was still wearing a hat and a mask.
“Like what you see, beauty?” he asked, and I laughed, actually laughed.
“No.”
He crossed the kitchen in three steps and was standing in front of me looking down at me. “Do you know how many seconds it would take me to pull that mask off?” I asked, and he pulled back.
“Exactly,” I said, turning back around and beginning to put the food into the box.
“Let me explain something to you, Kai. I spent years living in fear. You have already done the worst, and that was raping me. I cannot and will never forgive you for that. Even though you got rid of them, it doesn't change that you raped me. You took what didn't belong to you.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. I turned back around and looked at him.
“No. Saying sorry doesn't fix it; it doesn't change it. Only apologize to me when you really regret doing it. I can live with not knowing who you are for now. And this…” I let out a sigh.
“This arrangement here, where you decide you want dinner, is fine. Don’t sneak around; make yourself known. If you want to touch me, ask for my permission first.” I said he just stood there and looked at me. I don't know if he was pissed and I didn't care.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“No.”
“Fine,” he said, walking back into me. “I’ll be back later tonight. Thank you for dinner, beauty," he said, grabbing the bag and walking out. The second I heard the door close, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Well, that went better than I thought it would… He wanted me to be scared of him, but then he was in for a rude awakening.
I cleaned up the kitchen and grabbed my wine and headed to the living room with the laptop. I turned the TV on for background noise. I needed to find a job. Yes, he gave me money, but that was just there. I needed to keep busy.
I began checking online forums and saw one. It was for a server at an upscale restaurant. That would work; I jotted down the name. I kept scrolling until my wine finished.
I guess I fell asleep because I woke up when I felt someone touch me, and panic took over. The entire house was pitch black. I realized I was in someone's arms.
“Relax, You fell asleep. I’m taking you to bed.” He said, I felt him walking and heard the room door. He put me on the bed; I felt the bed dip, and he pulled me into him.
“Why are you here?”
“Because I want to, relax and go to sleep, beauty,” he said, his voice low, pulling me into him tighter.
“This is insane.”
“Why?” he asked.
I pulled away and sat up. “Are you serious?” He grabbed me and pulled me back down onto the bed and into him; I was facing him now. I could feel him breathe on my cheeks. He began caressing my face.
“Everything in my life was decided for me, every single thing. I built my empire from scratch, and it belongs to me. I am used to having everything I want, no matter what; I use any means necessary to get it. Sympathy? Never felt that for anyone. Emotions are useless for me,” he said.
“The second I saw you, I wanted you; I had someone dig into your past. I watched you before coming after you. I’m sorry; I did that to you.”
“And do you mean that?” I asked.
“Yes, now stop talking and sleep; I’m tired,” he said.
I just laid there letting my mind drift as sleep consumed me. When I woke up. I was alone. I checked the time; it was six AM. When I turned, there was an envelope on the pillow. I opened it and pulled the paper out.
Good morning, Beauty. Stay out of trouble, I mean it. Call me if you need me. - Kai
I dropped it onto the pillow and went about my morning. By nine I was out the door and heading into Manhattan. I headed to the restaurant. It was bigger than I expected. It was on the Upper East Side, looking exactly like the kind of place where a bottle of wine costs someone’s rent. I smoothed down my blouse, took a deep breath, and walked in.
The size of the place was intimidating. The air conditioning was set to a temperature that suggested money doesn't sweat, and everything smelled like fresh flowers and lemon polish. I made it two steps past the velvet rope before I collided with someone rushing around the corner.
“Oh, damn, sorry!” I exclaimed, stumbling back.
The girl I hit a girl, She was wearing sharp black pants and a pristine white shirt, clearly staff, even though the restaurant wasn’t officially open. She had a tight, frustrated look on her face, and her arms were full of linens.
“Watch it, tourist,” she snapped, but then she caught sight of my face and softened a fraction. “Wait, are you here for an interview? You look like you just saw a ghost,” she said smugly. That casual way of talking is what I needed.
“Yeah, where do I go?” I asked.
“Julian is in the back office. Just push through the swing door,” she said, nodding toward a dark corridor near the bar. “Don’t look intimidated. He eats nerves for breakfast,” she said with a smirk.
“Thank you,” I said as I headed down the corridor. The kitchen smelled like expensive spices and imminent hostility.
Jullian, the manager, I figured, was even sharper than I expected.
“You are here for a serving position, right?” he asked, his voice cool and precise. “Why The Luxe? We require a certain level of professionalism,” he said.
“I have experience managing high-stress situations, and more importantly, I understand the value of discretion. I’m reliable, and I’m ready to start immediately.” I said, making it clear.