Chapter 14 A Stranger in the House
BELLA
As soon as we arrived home, David silently lifted Jasper from my lap, carrying him to his room without a glance in my direction. Left alone in the stillness, I let my thoughts whirl.
The Copperfield family… they’re absolutely insane.
I was still lost in thought when David’s driver approached me. "We’ll be heading to Miss Thalassa’s home at 10 a.m. tomorrow," he informed me.
I nodded absentmindedly. "Okay," I replied, though a flicker of uncertainty gnawed at me. I was his assistant now, wasn’t I? Shouldn’t I be at the office?
Needing clarification, I made my way to his room and knocked softly.
"Come in," his voice called, steady yet detached.
I stepped inside for the first time, taking in the stark contrast of his space book-lined shelves and workstations, all cold and impersonal. A place for everything, except warmth. I realized just how little I knew about David beyond his public persona as the ruthless billionaire.
“Do you need me for anything tomorrow? I’ll be at your mother’s by 10 a.m.,” I said.
He looked up from his laptop, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, the air between us felt charged, electric. "No," he said flatly.
I turned to leave, relieved to escape the tension, but his chair scraped against the floor, and suddenly he was right behind me.
"Did you forget about the promise we made to my mother?" His voice lowered, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "The one about a daughter?"
I froze. A daughter? That was all his doing, not mine!
As he stepped closer, I instinctively backed up until my back met the cool surface of the wall. My fingers fumbled for the door handle, but before I could grasp it, his hand shot out, trapping me.
"Running away, Bella?" he asked softly, amusement lacing his tone.
I stared into his eyes, my heart racing as his gaze bore into mine. His lips brushed the sensitive skin of my neck, and a soft gasp escaped me. No… this was dangerous.
"David, stop," I whispered, my voice trembling with a mix of emotions I didn’t want to acknowledge.
But his lips found mine in a deliberate, slow kiss that sent shivers through me. His tongue teased mine, lighting a fire inside me I didn’t know existed. What’s happening to me?
Summoning my strength, I shoved him away, breathing heavily. His smirk remained, full of smug confidence. "You can’t escape me," he said, his voice low and dripping with certainty.
I didn’t respond. I rushed out of the room, my heart pounding, vowing never to set foot in his room again.
The morning came too soon, my alarm jarring me awake. I groaned, smacking it off. In the bathroom mirror, my cheeks were still flushed with the memory of David’s lips, his hands on my waist. What am I thinking? I scolded myself, splashing water on my face. Snap out of it.
In the kitchen, I was surprised to find David cooking while Jasper watched. The absence of the maids felt strange.
"Where are the maids?" I asked.
“Dad gave them the day off,” Jasper said, matter-of-fact.
David glanced at me briefly, then back at the stove. "Eggs and toast," he said simply.
I watched him in disbelief. David Copperfield cooking? I tasted the eggs, surprised. They were delicious.
“My dad’s a cook,” Jasper said proudly, a smile lighting up his face.
David’s lips twitched, just the smallest hint of pride as he finished plating.
When we arrived at Mrs. Thalassa’s, the scent of flowers overwhelmed me her garden was a burst of color. The house stood serene, a stark contrast to the whirlwind personality of the woman herself.
She greeted me with open arms, pulling me into a tight embrace. “We’re going shopping today,” she announced. "I want to show you off to my friends."
Jasper groaned, folding his arms. “Grandma, I’m here too.”
She gasped in mock horror, peppering his face with kisses. "Forgive me, little popcorn?"
Jasper’s smile returned, and we headed to a high-end boutique where Mrs. Thalassa wasted no time introducing me to her friends, her pride clear. But the social niceties soon took a sharp turn when she mocked another woman’s daughter-in-law, leaving the air tense.
On the drive back, Mrs. Thalassa continued gloating. "Can you believe they’re jealous of my beautiful daughter-in-law?"
I stayed quiet, nodding as Jasper shot me a knowing look: I told you she’s crazy.
Once back home, we were greeted by an unfamiliar woman who looked shockingly similar to Vivian, but Mrs. Thalassa called her Veronica. I couldn’t shake the unease in my gut. Who was Veronica, and how was she connected to David and Vivian? I had a feeling there were secrets lurking just beneath the surface.