Bella
“Good morning.” Cal closes the book in his hand and sets it down on the nightstand. He’s no longer shirtless and in gray sweats. Instead, he’s wearing a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of black dress pants with matching socks. The tips of his hair glisten, so I assume he took a shower not too long ago.
I push myself into a sitting position and lick my dry lips. “Did you sleep at all?” I turn my head slightly, trying to avoid him smelling my nasty morning breath.
“Few hours.”
The bags under his eyes tell me he’s lying. If I had to guess, he stayed up and read all night.
Something feels different this morning. A new excitement inside of me, this feeling of contentment. My heart somersaults when he cracks a smile, and it’s a look I’ll never get tired of.
Right now, I don’t feel like a prisoner kept here against her will. Today, I want to be here. And tomorrow, and possibly the next day. There’s something undeniable between Cal and me and I can’t wait to explore the possibilities. Maybe he was right. Maybe fate did bring us back together. It’s possible that he was the one meant to fill that emptiness inside of me all along.
Climbing off the bed, I stretch my arms up and yawn while covering my mouth. I would have thought waking up next to Cal would be awkward and uncomfortable, but it’s not. Regardless, I feel disgusting and need a shower. “I’m going back to my room to get cleaned up. See you at breakfast?”
“You sure will. In fact, we’ll be eating in the courtyard this morning.”
“Oh, that will be nice.”
There’s something about the way he’s looking at me. He seems happy, way too happy. He’s blazing confidence and I get the feeling he’s got something planned for us today. Normally I’d dread it, but now, I’m pretty excited.
I go to leave but stop to give him a double take. Smiling, I finally unlock the door and leave, closing it behind me.
My back presses to the door and I’m lost in thoughts about how much of a breakthrough we had last night. It started off intensely. I thought for sure Cal was going to be furious when he found me in the secret passage. Then came the punishing sex, which I thoroughly enjoyed, aside from the snakes. Cal was dominant, possessive, and so damn sexy. It opened my eyes to a new world of pleasure that I’m anxious to revisit. Not to mention, the passion. God, did I feel it.
That wasn’t the best part of the night, though. The best part is when he opened up to me and shared secrets that I don’t think he’s ever told anyone. It made me feel special and I was able to remember that deep down, Cal is not a bad person. He never was. He just doesn’t know any better. It’s no excuse for murder, but I don’t know the whole story. I’m not sure anyone does. It’s apparent he faced some traumatic events and I’m hopeful that one day he’ll tell me all about them. Even if he wanted to, even if I wanted him to, he can’t go back and change his past. I just hope that with me by his side, he doesn’t have to live there anymore. I want to help him heal—I want us to heal together.
“Good morning, Ms. Jenkins,” Peter says, startling me.
I peel myself off the door with a permanent grin plastered on my face. “It is a good morning, Peter.”
“I couldn’t help but notice your bed was made this morning. And now I see you’re leaving Mr. Ellis’s room. I assume things are well with you two?”
My lips press together as I try to bite back the smile that won’t leave my face. “You assume correctly.”
“That’s quite a compliment coming from Mr. Ellis. He doesn’t allow anyone in his room.”
Peter had mentioned that before, but it didn’t really register, and now I’m curious what he means by it. “Not even the women he brings home?”
Peter leans forward and whispers, “In all my years with Mr. Ellis, twelve to be exact, he has never had a woman in his room.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Really? That’s so strange for a man who entertains women often.”
“You didn’t hear it from me.” He places a hand on my shoulder, steering me away from Cal’s door. “The cook has prepared a special breakfast. I’ll see you later, Ms. Jenkins.”
I thank Peter with a smile and continue down the hall, stopping when I notice the small black camera on the wall outside of my door. I look behind me and see a couple more. They’re everywhere.
Just when I think Cal and I are making progress, whatever that means for us, he proves that he’s still all about keeping me as his live-in prisoner. I shouldn’t be surprised, considering there was a manhunt for me, covering the entire island last night. I’m just hoping that, eventually, I can earn his trust. Now I just have to decide what I’ll do when I get it. Now that Cal is back in my life—as much of a roller coaster as it has been—the idea of him not being part of it hurts. Then again, the idea of never leaving the island hurts, too. There has to be a common ground we can reach, assuming Cal is keen on compromise. I’m not holding my breath, but I’m also not giving up hope.
My hair is still wet from the quick shower I took. After I brushed it out, knowing that it would be extra frizzy and curly since I didn’t dry it, I put on a pair of yoga lounge pants and my old Hickory Knoll High ‘Class of 2016’ sweatshirt. I’m hoping Cal doesn’t plan to do much work today because as the morning goes on, the sorer I begin to feel. My first time hurt, but this is a whole new level of pain. Each step has my lower half aching while a sharp pain shoots from my vagina to my abdomen. Cal gave me quite the beating last night—I’m pretty sure there’s even a bruise on my ass from him slapping it three times—but damn if it wasn’t worth the pain.
I go over to my nightstand and open the drawer to take my birth control. They’re tiny pills, so I’m able to swallow it down without water.
My mind wanders to Trent and how he’s going to react when he finds out what I’ve done. There’s no way I can’t tell him. It’s also going to be my opportunity to end things for good. Being here, away from him, has made me realize that it’s time to chase my dreams while he lives out his own. I’ll always care about him, but the way my heart is beginning to open up to Cal assures me that I never really loved Trent.
I’m sure by now he and my parents are wondering why I haven’t reached out. I did tell them there was a chance service would be sketchy and not to worry if they didn’t hear from me for a while. It’s been almost two weeks, though, and by now, I’m sure worry has set in.
Thanksgiving is in two days and I’m not sure what that looks like here, but I know I’ll miss the family dinners I have back home. Maybe I can assist the cook and make a good old-fashioned turkey dinner for Cal. I’m not even sure that he’s had one since The Webster House. Even though Thanksgiving there wasn’t exactly memorable. It consisted of two dozen kids fighting to get the last slice of turkey before we were sent to our rooms, so the adults could settle their stomachs without the commotion of us kids.
Sliding my feet into my house slippers, I leave the room, closing the door behind me. As I’m walking to the elevator and passing Cal’s room, I think back to the secret door in the closet. Obviously I know Cal didn’t put that door there and, of course, he’d use the extra space that’s given through it, but I can’t help but wonder what he could be hiding that would require a passcode for entry. Eventually I’ll find out, but right now is not that time. Right now, my hunger pangs are reminding me that I need to eat.
The elevator doors open and I expect it to be empty. I’m surprised to see that Peter is onboard. “Oh, Hi, Peter. Going down?”
He’s standing next to the panel with his hand hovering over the G, for the ground level. “Yes, ma’am. And you are as well, I assume?”
“Sure am.”
He presses the button on the elevator then looks at his phone, there’s a static noise and muffled voices coming from it that has me peering over his shoulder.
It’s a video of some sort. It looks like camera footage, which doesn’t surprise me since they armed the entire castle last night.
We make it to the fifth floor, then fourth, and that’s when I hear Cal’s voice on the phone. He sounds angry. Peter immediately goes to silence it, but like a savage child, I snatch his phone from his hand.
“When is this footage from?” I hold up the phone, wondering why the hell Cal is walking out of the mystery door on the main floor with a girl. Wait…not just any girl. That was our waitress—Serena, I think, was her name. She’s wearing some sleazy-looking, leather skirt that barely covers her ass and a top that looks more like a bra, with a large black duffel bag hanging over her shoulder. That’s not what gets to me, though. It’s the way she’s rubbing up on him and he’s not pushing her away. His head turns slightly as she kisses all over his neck and I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
My stomach twists in knots, and for the first time since I’ve got here, I’m jealous. Really fucking jealous. In fact, I might just go claw the bitch’s eyes out once this elevator stops.
“Please give that back to me.”
“Is this live?”
“Yes, Ms. Jenkins, and Mr. Ellis would not be happy if he knew you were viewing security footage.” He holds his hand out, but I grip his phone like my life depends on it.
I shake my head no. “Not until you tell me where that door goes.”
“I can’t do that.”
The elevator comes to a stop, but I squeeze my body between him and the panel and press the button to hold the doors shut. “Then I can’t give you your phone. Where does that door go?” I look back at the screen and both Cal and Serena are gone from the camera’s view.
“It’s a private room that’s off-limits for staff, as well as…you.”
“But Serena is a staff member, or at least she was, until Cal fired her.” If he really did fire her. “Why was she in there if it’s off-limits to staff members?”
It seems the cat’s got his tongue. I remove my finger from the button and hand him his phone. “Fine. I’ll just find out for myself.”
The doors open and my heart is pounding. Instead of going to the courtyard, I turn the opposite direction and walk straight to the door. Knowing that I’ll have no luck, I turn the handle anyway.
Locked. Of course.
“Cal,” I holler, walking toward the main entrance, curious if that’s where he shuffled Serena to in an attempt to hide her. Or maybe he doesn’t even want to hide her. Maybe she’s here so they can flaunt their past in my face. “Cal,” I holler again, once I’m on the front side of the castle.
I can hear Peter talking to someone behind me, likely ratting me out for taking his phone. I spin around and see him talking to Cal as they both move at a steady pace toward me.
“Bella, what’s going on?” His eyebrows are dipped into a sharp V. The top three buttons on his shirt are undone and I try to remember if that’s the way they were when I left him this morning. Cal stops directly in front of me and places a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “I’ve got things from here. Please tend to our guest.”
Rage cripples me. “Your guest? As in, Serena? So you fire her but let her stay as a guest?” Cal lifts his lip in a knowing smirk, only fueling the flames. “Why are you smiling? This isn’t funny.”
“Didn’t you learn your lesson last night? Or do I need to remind you of what happens when you start snooping?”
I give him a shove and he takes a few steps back, but I quickly eat up the gap between us. “Why the hell is that waitress still here and what were you two doing?”
Cal grabs both of my wrists and that cocky grin is still plastered on his face. “Someone’s jealous.”
“I am not,” I huff, “but I would like to know what’s behind that door and why you two just came out of it together.” I eyeball the door and he looks to our right, acknowledging it.
“More guest quarters.” He begins pulling me toward the back exit to the courtyard. “Come on. There is someone here to see you.”
“No,” I snap, jerking my hand away, “did you have sex with her just now?”
He wears a defensive but also perturbed expression. “What? No!”
“Have you slept with anyone else since I’ve arrived?”
The door to the mystery room opens and the bartender from last night stands in the doorframe. Her movements freeze as she looks from me to Cal and quickly shuts it. Cal gives her a warning look and clenches his jaw.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I grumble. “You really are a manwhore, aren’t you? Byron wasn’t lying.”
Cal instantly becomes agitated. “What the hell does Byron have to do with any of this?”
“He told me you aren’t as lonely as I think you are and didn’t deny that you sleep with hookers.”
Cal laughs. “Hookers? Byron’s a damn idiot. I don’t have to pay women for their company.” His lip curls. “They beg for it.”
“Of course they do. Because you’re such a catch.” I push past him.
“Bella, would you wait a damn minute?”
“No.” I look him dead in the eye as I choke back the tears begging to break free. “This was all a big mistake. We never should have—”
“Nothing is ever a mistake. You coming here was always meant to be. But we all have skeletons in our closet and you can’t expect any less from me.”
His words hit hard. Like a knife digging into my chest, twisting and turning. I don’t know what I expected from him, from us. Certainly not a relationship. That’s insane. A happily-ever-after? It’s not possible with Cal.
“Now who’s this guest you were going on about? A new maid in a skimpy dress with a feather duster?”
He never answered my question when I asked if he’s slept with anyone else since I’ve arrived. He doesn’t need to. It’s apparent he has had the company of other women, as he’d put it. In my words, he’s fucking them.
I’m disgusted as I walk quickly to the courtyard. My hunger has subsided and been replaced with nausea. I was starting to feel settled here. It was beginning to feel like home, even though it’s temporary. Part of me was excited that Cal and I were moving in the right direction. The undeniable spark was there and I couldn’t wait to see him this morning, ready to spend the day only growing closer. Then I saw the cameras, and after that came the footage.
I’m so lost in my thoughts when I enter the new courtyard that I don’t even notice the man seated with his back to me until Peter snaps me out of my trance. “Right this way, Ms. Jenkins.”
“Who is that?” I ask, while we make our way to the table.
“Your guest.”
My guest? Nervousness sweeps through me. The man sits there quietly in a slate suit, not even turning around when he hears us coming.
Part of me knows before we get there. Call it intuition. I hoped I was wrong, but my guess is proven to be right when Trent looks up at me from where he’s sitting.
“Bella,” he stands and wraps his arms around me, “God, I’ve been so worried.”
I’m rendered speechless as I stand there with my hands at my sides. I slowly raise them, embracing the hug while my heart pounds against his chest cavity. “What are you doing here, Trent?”
He pulls back, looks at me, and smiles. “I came to see you. We’ve all been worried sick that something had happened. I called the ferry company on the main island and they confirmed that you made it here safely, but no one’s heard from you.”
If he’s here, that means Cal allowed it. He let Trent come on his island even after claiming to hate him. I wish I could have seen the reunion between the two of them. It’s possible that they patched up old wounds from the past and are ready to move forward, much like Cal and I were trying to do.
“Let’s sit.” I gesture to the chairs. “I told you that I wasn’t sure I’d have service and not to worry.” I force a smile on my face, as hard as it is. It feels like Trent just walked into my new world, but he doesn’t fit here.
“I figured you’d be a little happier to see me, considering I took the time off work and came all this way. A thank-you would be appropriate.”
“Thank you?” I say it as a question, not as a statement.
“You’re welcome. Now, let’s eat, then you can give me a tour of this place.” He glances behind him, looking up at the castle. “It’s nothing like I’d expected when you said you’d be designing a hotel.”
“It’s not what I expected either.” The words coming out of my mouth couldn’t be truer. I never expected my boss to be the only best friend I’d ever had. I thought I’d come here and put in laborious hours, staying up until the next morning working on designs and having meetings with contractors. I also never expected to fall out of love with Trent and give myself to another man. I came here a virgin, with imponderable dreams. No idea which direction I was headed in. I played the piano again. I looked in the eye of the storm, and I conquered it. My heart began to open and ten minutes ago, I was reminded why I’ve kept it closed all my life. I was a fool, and I still am.
“I told you it was a pipe dream. Come home with me, Bella. Let’s start our life together.”
“Trent, can you excuse me for a minute.” I push my chair back, scraping the legs against the cement. I don’t even wait for his response as I put a hand over my mouth to stop the sounds of my shattered heart from spilling out.
I’m looking down at my feet when my body crashes into another. I peer up, my tear-soaked eyes looking into Cal’s.
His hands set on either side of my waist. “What the hell did he do to make you cry?” His gaze shifts behind me, locked on Trent.
“It’s not him. It’s you.” I step around him and walk back into the foyer of the castle. I keep going until I’m at the front doors. With both hands, I swing one open and walk outside. When I think that Cal is going to talk to Trent, he surprises me and follows me instead.
This time, I don’t run away. I turn around and shout with a pointed finger, “Why in the world would you bring him here?”
“I didn’t bring him. He came on his own free will.”
“And you let him? I thought you hated him.”
“I do, which is exactly why I allowed it. He needs to know it’s over with you two. Now go out there, tell him you’re fine, so I can send him on his way.”
A dry laugh scales up my throat. “No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not telling him that. In fact, I should go out there right now and tell him everything. How you lured me here with the perfect job wrapped in a shiny box with a glittery bow. I can even tell him how you forced me to take my clothes off and stole my virginity from me without my approval.”
He gives me a side-eyed glare. “Hey now, you never told me to stop.”
“You never asked me if I wanted you to.”
“Does a thief ever ask for permission?”
My mouth falls open at his arrogance. “You’re such an ass. I can’t believe I was actually starting to like you.”
“Like me?” He chuckles. “I had you eating out of my hand, Bella.” He closes the space between us and presses his body against mine. His groin digs into my hip bone, igniting every cell inside of me with a burning desire.
His way with words is repulsive, but the chemistry that sizzles between us when we touch is undeniable.
“Maybe I should go out there and accept Trent’s proposal. Your contract says I have to stay, it doesn’t say I can’t have company. He can live here with me until my time is up.”
Cal grinds against me, his lips ghosting over mine as he cups my cheeks in his hands. “Your time is infinite and if he stays, I’ll kill him and make you watch while I do it.”
I swallow hard. “You don’t have any power over me. I can get out of the contract.”
“And allow your parents to lose their jobs. Go for it.”
Damn. I forgot about that.
“Now, I want you to walk back out there like a good girl and end things with Trent, so we never have to deal with his uptight ass again. And if you dare tell him anything about our agreement, or anything else that’s taken place on this island, your family will suffer.” His lips crash into mine in a tantalizing manner. Hard and forceful, as if he’s the one I’m kissing goodbye.
He’s so bitter, but he tastes so sweet. Like temptation on a platter—a forbidden fruit. But I’ve bent over backwards for him since I arrived. Maybe he needs to bend a little, too. I’ll go back out there, and I’ll keep my mouth shut because I love my family, but now it’s time for Cal to feel the sting of rejection. He’s fucking other girls, so why should he care if I have relations with other men? If the other women stay, so can Trent. I might not want him here, but Cal doesn’t know that.
I break the suction of our mouths and smile coyly. “Will you be joining us for breakfast?” My fingers sweep across his bottom lip, wiping the excess saliva from our hard-pressed kiss.
“You think I’d leave you alone with that animal? Of course I am.”
“Good. Let’s get this over with.” I walk around him and pull open the door. He presses a hand to it, allowing me to enter first.
“Let’s.”
