Stolen Fate (11 page)

“Come on. Let’s go,” Drayden says as he walks up behind me in the bathroom while I’m brushing my teeth. It’s probably around two in the afternoon and I had just gotten up for the day. I’m extremely tired recently, so I sleep in a lot. Plus, what the hell else do I have to do to occupy my time?

“Where are we going?” I ask him as I rinse out my mouth and follow him back into the bedroom. I’m hopeful he’s taking me out of this room, but I shouldn’t put the cart before the horse.

“You want out of here for a little bit, right?” He looks over at me, confused as to why I’m even questioning him. He’s actually starting to get a little annoyed, but that dissipates as soon as he sees the huge smile on my face. And because of it, there is now a small smirk forming on his, as well. I beam even bigger knowing my reaction is having some sort of effect on him, even if it’s tiny.

“Is there anyone here?” I ask as I look down at my attire, which consists of my typical fitted camisole and pajama shorts.

“No, you’re fine. The maid isn’t scheduled to come today, and I gave Donna the day off. I don’t need her asking a bunch of unnecessary questions about you.” The look of confusion on my face prompts him to clarify who the hell he’s talking about. “Donna is my cook,” he states before a returning look of irritation plasters across his face.

For as happy as I was a moment ago, the dread creeps back up and starts to snuff out the embers of hope. He doesn’t mean to let me out of this room often if he had to give her the day off for me to come out of my dungeon. I push those thoughts aside, reminding myself to live in the moment. And in this moment, I’m heading farther and farther away from my seclusion.

He leads me down the hallway, around the corner and along another short hallway until we come to the kitchen. Stopping quickly to grab a couple bottles of water from the fridge, we continue on throughout his home. He is kind of giving me a grand tour without actually saying so. He eventually shows me a formal dining room off the kitchen, a grand living room, a separate sitting room and even a library, which ends up being my favorite room. I love to read and I can’t wait to spend some time in there, losing myself in all the glorious books adorning the shelves.

We eventually pass through a sliding glass door which leads to a fancy patio, surrounding an Olympic-size pool. I can’t even remember the last time I was able to swim; it’s been that long ago. I think it was probably when I was a little kid and one of my foster mothers took a couple of us to a local public pool. I do remember that being one of the happiest days of my life, which is pretty sad. It was so freeing to float in the water and feel the sun warm my skin, as if nothing could harm me. As if I was protected by God himself.

“Do you want to swim, Essie? It’s certainly hot enough for it.” He’s watching me stare at the damn thing. He knows. There is no denying the look in my eye, as if the water is going to be my refuge, if only for a little while.

When I don’t say anything, he ushers me toward the pool house. “Are there bathing suits in there?” I ask him, praying he’ll say yes.

“Yes. Unless you want to skinny dip. Either way is fine with me.” He cocks up an eyebrow, daring me to take the bait.

“Yeah, I don’t think so; especially assuming you’re staying out here with me.”

“You know I am. I’m not leaving your side until you’re back in your room.” His words grace me with a conflicting comfort. He’s going to spend all this time glued to my hip, and that very same fact pisses me off. For some inexplicable reason, I want to be near him but at the same time, I want him to back up and give me some privacy in my new sanctuary.

“Fine. I’ll be right back then; I’m going to get changed.” I make my way inside the pool house, but the only thing I can find which will remotely fit is a tiny white bikini. Once I have it all tied up, I glance at my reflection in the mirror and smile. There is nothing left to the imagination. Even though we’ve had sex twice and he’s seen me completely naked, the little scraps of material suggest at what is lying just underneath, teasing and tormenting. My breasts are even fuller than before, but I’m not showing yet so my stomach is still flat and trim.

I receive the exact reaction I’m hoping for when his eyes watch me walk out toward him. I approach him as leisurely as possible, as if the tiny bathing suit isn’t practically exposing every part of me.

“Fuck me,” he whispers as I strut past him, his eyes glued to my form, soaking up every single movement my tempting body makes. I stand at the edge of the pool and smile, knowing he’s probably hard as a rock. Then I stretch, lean forward and dive right into the deep end. When I surface, he’s sitting in one of the lounge chairs scattered by the edge of the pool. He’s staring at me, lost in his own thoughts.

“Do you like to swim, Dray?”

His eyes widen at the intimate nickname I used once before on him before answering me.

“I do.” He keeps his focus on me as he continues. “I incorporate it into my normal workout routine.”

“Don’t you ever just swim for fun?” I’m doing a lazy back stroke, spitting out some of the water filling my mouth.

“No, not really.” He leans forward and rests his forearms on his knees. The sunlight is casting a glow on his dark hair, making it appear shiny and very touchable. A small lock falls forward over his right eye and with an aggravated swipe, he pushes it back before continuing to challenge me with his stare.

“Doesn’t your family ever come over for barbeques and to hang out? Don’t you have any little nieces and nephews?”

His demeanor instantly turns on me, a hard look glistening in his eyes. “Why don’t you tell me, Essie? I know you did your research on me, you know, before trapping me.”

We were having a decent time until he brought that up. All right yes, I did do my homework on him. I know all about his parents, who are divorced and can’t stand one another. Apparently, his father cheated on his mother with his much younger secretary; you know, the typical bullshit. I also know he has three brothers, two of them married with children.

“You’re right. I know you have siblings and young nephews.” I take a slight breath before continuing on with the conversation, wary it can end as quickly as it started. “So, you’re telling me you don’t ever have them over to swim and hang out?” I stand up in the pool, my breasts bobbing up and down in the water, catching his attention rather quickly.

“Not often.”

Wow, that’s it? That’s all he’s going to give me? Fine. I’m not pressing anymore. I’m about to duck under the water when his question stops me.

“What about you? Where’s your wonderful family? Surely someone has to miss you by now?” Every single word is laced in sarcasm. He doesn’t know about my past, does he? Is he just screwing with me, knowing I have no parents? Knowing I grew up in foster care? An orphan? A ward of the state?

My eyes make contact with his, but I keep my stare blank; I don’t want him to witness the emptiness held within. “No. No family to miss me.”

He inches forward in his seat, intent on starting up some more shit with me. I’m just sure of it. “Well then, let me ask you something else.” The look on his face is anger mixed with curiosity. I can’t even begin to fathom what is going to come flying out of those tempting lips of his. “What did you ever do with the so-called evidence?”

I inhale a strangled breath. I know exactly what he’s talking about. I don’t need to play dumb and ask him to elaborate; it’ll only prove to anger him further, and I think I’m in enough trouble as it is, so I decide to fess up. But before saying anything, I back up a few steps in the pool. I need for there to be as much distance between us as possible for this one.

“It doesn’t exist.” He abruptly stands up and kicks his chair back so it skids across the concrete.

“So, what you’re telling me is, you lied to me yet again?”

I try to figure out what the best course of action would be right now. Should I beat around the bush, making up excuses, potentially creating more lies? Or should I just come out with it? Before he can start screaming at me, I decide it best to tell him the truth.

Tell him everything.

“That night,” I start off slowly, “I really did record our interaction. Or at least I thought I did. But when I got home, I realized my phone didn’t pick up anything.” My eyes follow him as he walks back and forth, clenching his fists at his sides. He looks murderous. “So when I came to confront you at your office, I knew at that point I didn’t have any such evidence. I was just hoping you wouldn’t call my bluff.” I looked away from him at this point because I couldn’t bear the sight anymore. “And you didn’t.”

He stops pacing and stares down at me. He remains silent, his face expressionless. Before I can even muster up the courage to ask him anything, he turns and abruptly walks away.

The next month is pretty much more of the same behavior from both of us. We fight back and forth, mainly over me being bored with nothing to do and him reminding me I put myself in this situation so I should shut up and deal with it. He does, however, let me out of my room nearly every day when he returns home from work, accompanying me to wherever it is I wish to go. And if he’s going to be late, he makes sure his good
buddy
Hedge is around to watch over me. But I have to remain in the confines of his home or out by the pool. He tells me if I cause a ruckus and attempt to escape, I’ll never see the light of day again.

I believe him.

I spend a decent amount of time in the library, reading as many books as I can devour. They are the perfect shelter from my current life. I love delving right into the stories, pretending I’m always the leading lady. These books help with my loneliness. Sure, Drayden is always around, but he doesn’t offer much in the way of companionship, seeing as he hates me and everything. And when he’s called away for work, Hedge is again enlisted for the babysitting duties, making sure I don’t try anything tricky. Little does he know, I’m not planning on escaping this house. Where the hell would I go? I have no apartment anymore because I wasn’t able to pay my rent, seeing as how I’ve been locked up here and all. Plus, I have no money or health insurance to take care of myself while I’m pregnant. Yeah, I’m trapped here by not only him but by pure circumstance now.

One morning, as I’m about to head into the bathroom to take a shower, my bedroom door opens and the doctor walks in. He’s carrying his medical bag as usual, but I’m not expecting him; I had a checkup a few days ago and everything was fine. I see Drayden stroll in behind him and my eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“Today is the day, Essie.” He stops by the entrance and leans against the door, hands in his pockets and looking quite smug.

“What are you talking about?” I ask as I’m looking back and forth between the two men who are taking up my personal space.

“Today, I find out if I’m going to be a daddy or not.” He has a cocky grin spread wide across his face and he’s doing a great job of not portraying his actual emotions. Does he want to be a father? Or is he hoping he isn’t? I can’t tell and I’m not about to ask him because he’ll never answer me truthfully. I just know it.

My focus is now on the good doctor. “Is this going to hurt?” I simply don’t know what to expect, and I’m a little afraid.

“I hope so,” I hear Drayden mumble from where he’s standing.

“Oh, go to Hell!” I yell over at him, not caring that we’re acting very inappropriate in front of Dr. Higgins.

“What is wrong with the both of you?” He raises his hand before either one of us can respond. “Never mind; don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.” He turns his body so he’s fully facing me. “No Essie, this is not going to hurt. It’s a simple blood test. That’s all.”

I physically relax. This is the first time I’m going through all of this, so I’m nervous about everything: about the changes my body is going to go through but worst of all, I’m petrified of actually having this baby. I’ve seen movies and heard my share of horror stories from girls I’d known who grew up in foster care with me. They said it was the worst pain they had ever experienced. It hurt so bad they were surprised the pain alone didn’t kill them. So, yeah, I’m a bit scared to say the least. And the fact I don’t have anyone to confide in about any of this is unnerving.

I can only hope Drayden will change his tune and come around more once he finds out this baby is actually his. That’s if he even
wants
it to be his.

Once Dr. Higgins is done drawing blood, he gathers up his stuff and makes his way toward the door. “The results will be back in a few days.” Making eye contact with Drayden, he says, “I’ll put a rush on it for you.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

“I’ll see myself out.” He turns back around toward me for a second. “I’ll see you in a couple weeks.”

I just nod.

Once he’s gone, Drayden stays planted right where he is. He doesn’t move. He doesn’t say anything; he just keeps staring at me. His face is devoid of any emotion. After about five minutes of him leering at me, I can’t take it anymore.

“What?” I grit out through clenched teeth. “Why are you still here? Do you want to ask me something?”

My little outrage snaps him out of whatever state he was just in, prompting him to walk over toward the edge of the bed where I’m sitting. “What are the test results going to reveal, Essie? Tell me.”

“You already know what the results are going to be, you ass. I already told you you’re the father.” I look away from him, trying to focus on the dumb reality show playing in the background. “And in a few days, you’ll realize I was telling the truth all along, and you kept the mother of your unborn child locked up like some kind of criminal.”

He steps closer, his legs practically brushing my own. “Ahhhh, but you
are
a criminal because you tried to—”

I cut him off before he attempts to beat a dead horse. “Blah, blah, blah, Drayden. I know! I tried to trick you. I tried to extort money from you. You think I tried to trap you with a baby, which by the way is not true at all.” I look up at his face, not afraid to speak my mind. “I get it already.” Looking back toward the television, I say, “But the great and powerful Drayden Warner played me at my own game. You didn’t let me get away with it, so let it go already.”

There are a few minutes of silence. I can see him out of my peripheral vision. He isn’t moving; he’s just staring at me, hands stuck in the pockets of his grey dress pants. When I do finally work up the courage to look at him, I can see his eyes are wide and his breathing has increased, causing his chest to rise and fall in short spurts.

He is beyond upset right now.

I laugh inwardly to myself, making sure not to smile. It’s taking all of my resolve not to bust out and laugh at him. I got to him. I angered him yet again.
Good
.

After another intensity-filled minute, he spins around on his heel and makes sure to slam the door on his way out.

Well, I guess he’s not going to let me out of here today, but I’m okay with that. The mere fact I was able to upset him that much does wonders for my spirit.

I can’t get the Cheshire smile off my face.

~~~~

Two days after Dr. Higgins drew my blood, the results are back. I am indeed pregnant with Drayden’s child. I knew it all along and now he knows it, too. He tells me the breaking news when he drops off my supper that evening. He acts as if it’s no big deal, as if he is merely discussing the weather or something, but I see it. I see the look in his eyes when he looks over at me. I’m not arrogant enough to say I know exactly what is running through his mind, because I don’t, but he looks like a man who has a tiny bit of pleasure and hope tightly restrained inside him.