The next day
GRAVES VILLA
9:56 a.m.
“Are you planning to wake up someday?”
I open my eyes with difficulty and immediately shut them again because of the daylight. Then I reopen them, remembering
where I am.
I run my hand over my face. I can still feel the multiple injuries.
I look over at Alexander–his face is close to mine. He’s standing, dressed in a black suit.
His face is glowing and his eyes are sparkling.
He’s handsome, the bastard.
“What time is it?”
Ten o’clock.”
I get up, tossing the blanket off me. I look at my clothes on the dresser–they look like rags.
You’re going to wear those again?”
“It’s all I have to wear.”
“Erika can lend you something.
So that my father starts questioning the night I just spent? No thanks. I’d rather wear my filthy clothes.
Alexander shows so much kindness toward me that it throws me off. This sudden concern is very suspicious.
I should be happy he’s being less harsh with me, but this all feels fake. I can’t figure this man out. One thing is certain: I don’t trust him. He has an incredible ability to hide his emotions and turn into a psychopath in a split second.
I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
“You want to eat? Take a shower?”
I give him a strange look.
“Stop whatever it is you’re doing right now.”
He frowns as I slip my hand under the t–shirt I’m wearing to touch one of my bruises.
“What are you talking about?”
“I want you to stop pretending like you care about me and like you feel something for me. We both know it’s manipulation.”
Might as well be honest with him and make it clear that just because I slept at his place and in his bed doesn’t mean he’s
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managed to win me over.
“I show you a little kindness and now you’re acting like a diva, is that it? You don’t know me, so I suggest you shut your
mouth!”
He looks irritated. He clenches his fists and shoots me a death glare like he’s about to jump on me and rip my throat out. “Exactly, I don’t know you. That’s why it’s logical I don’t trust you.”
Gre
“If you knew me, if you knew what I’m capable of, you’d already be on your knees begging me to forgive you just to avoid getting slapped.”
I frown.
“You think I’m scared of you, is that it?”
He clenches his jaw.
“Shut your damn mouth! You don’t even know what fear is and you’re really lucky I don’t feel like breaking you in two!”
Maybe I’m being ungrateful, but I can’t bring myself to be thankful toward him. I know that behind this fake kindness is the will to manipulate me to hurt me even more.
“What’s your problem? I’m not disrespecting you. I’m just saying what I think. I don’t know what you’re trying to get from me, but forget it right now.”
He steps toward me aggressively, then stops.
“You think I’m one of your clowns, is that it? I let you sleep in my house, in my bed, and yet you keep acting like a cold. arrogant bitch!”
“Why are you so offended? You have to admit it’s very strange how nice you’re being to me. We both know you just want to put a bullet between my eyes.”
“Oh really? Last night when you were clinging to me and I had you in my arms, you weren’t thinking all that crap! You were damn glad to feel protected, weren’t you?”
“You’re mixing everything up, Alexander. I’m telling you I don’t trust you and that you’re trying to use me. Nothing happened between us!”
He looks at me with disgust.
“You’re a f*cking whore.”
I widen my eyes at the violence of his words.
“You’re picking a fight just to save face and avoid me telling everyone you slept in my bed! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone, not with the way you look! I wasn’t nice to you to win you over, to manipulate you, or to get you in my bed–1 was nice because I pity you! If I’d wanted to, I could’ve taken you every which way last night!”
I feel my heart tighten. I bite my lip hard to stop myself from saying something that could get me killed. He’s humiliating me, but I don’t show it. I don’t care what people think of me. He should know that.
He wanted to hurt me. It worked–but he’ll never know.
“I don’t care what you think of me, and even less about what you think of my appearance. You’re as filthy on the outside as you are on the inside. You think I’m a whore? Good. That’ll keep you from making trips back and forth to my room.”
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10:27 pm
Chapter 64
I quickly grab my clothes and head for the exit without giving him another glance. I hurry down the stairs and bump into Aymen. I mumble an apology and leave.
23
Alexander
She leaves the room, slamming the door. I let out a small smirk. A whore. That’s all she is.
Aymen enters shortly after her departure and looks me up and down, probably waiting for an explanation, while my smile
grows.
I pull a cigarette from my pocket, put it in my mouth, and light it.
“What were those screams I heard?”
“She questioned my sincerity and it pissed me off. I insulted her.”
He looks at me with confusion.
“What are you smiling about? You had gained points by letting her sleep in your bed and you just ruined it all!”
“She thought I was being too nice. I had to prove to her that I don’t give a damn about her so she stops thinking I just want her in my bed.”
“I don’t get how making her hate you is going to help you reach your goal.”
“She doesn’t hate me–not even close.”
“Judging by how she stormed out of that room like a tornado, I think she wants you dead.”
I let out a little laugh.
“She wants my dick more like!”
I can’t wait.
“Last night, when I woke up next to her, her ass was super close to little Alexander, and her hand was on it.”
“You’re a twisted guy. I swear, sometimes you seriously freak me out, and I think you should be institutionalized.”
Lots of people think I’m crazy. I mean, the genius flowing from my brain isn’t understandable to most minds.
I hope you didn’t actually believe any of that was real. Do I look like someone who’d care about anyone who isn’t one of
mine?
She’s an enemy. And for enemies, there is no such thing as mercy,
It’s exhausting having to pretend to empathize when none of those emotions belong to me.
“You play the part so well that people could really think you care about her. Erika was surprised too—she told me she was glad you were finally opening up to someone.”
I let out a nervous laugh.
“You can laugh, but still, the state of her face shocked me. Hakim hired an animal to go after her. She looked like she got run
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10:27 pm
Chapter 64
over by a truck. I’m surprised she’s still standing, and even more so that she’s still alive.”
I lose my smile.
“I admit I felt a bit guilty, especially when she told me the story about the kid. I couldn’t look her in the eyes because her injuries reminded me that I could’ve stepped in to help her–and I didn’t.”
“She managed to get through it all alone. It’s impressive.”
“You underestimate her too much. If she finds out you’re trying to seduce her just to get to her father, she’ll burn your balls. off.”
I let out a little smile thinking of the moment she tried to burn Sergio’s.
“She won’t lay a finger on me. Don’t forget she’s going to fall in love with me. She acts tough and tries to keep up the mask of a cold, arrogant woman–but it’s just a front. Last night, I saw the real Inara and her weaknesses. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was something.”
“You’re really sure about that?”
“I’ve analyzed her. She’s sensitive. She’s a little doll who just wants to be respected. She acts like she’s a true villain, but she’s far from it. When she’s asleep, she’s different–she lets her guard down.”
“Meaning?”
“When we were sleeping, she was holding on to me like she was afraid of falling. She clung to my chest to feel safe.”
“When you talk about her like that, it sounds like you actually like her.”
Impossible.
“Even if I did like her, she’ll always come after my ultimate goal.”
“If you say so.”
“She’s a little doll who wants to be protected.”
“As long as she doesn’t become your doll, I’m good.”
My doll?..
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AD
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