Aurora certainly didn’t believe the housekeeper’s words. After all, three years ago, they had shared a night of love, and nothing more. It was just their first meeting, with no feelings involved. Who would wait three years for someone from a one-night stand? The way the housekeeper spoke, it was as if Julian had already decided on her. These clothes must have been prepared for other women similar to her in build. The housekeeper was an employee of Julian’s, so naturally, she was supposed to speak in his favor.
Perhaps noticing Aurora’s anger, the housekeeper continued, “Miss Montgomery, Mr. Barnet is quite stubborn. If you don’t like him, don’t go against his wishes. Instead, speak gently to him, and he might lose interest in a few days.”
Aurora raised her eyebrows. She had to admit there was some logic in the housekeeper’s words. Was she actually helping her? “Why are you helping me?” she asked. The housekeeper smiled respectfully but did not respond. “I want to talk to him,” Aurora said, feeling frustrated. “Sure thing, Miss Montgomery. Please hold,” the housekeeper replied, dialing Julian’s number.
“Missed me already?” Julian’s lazy voice came through the phone, exacerbating Aurora’s already heightened emotions. “Julian Barnet, if I don’t sign the agreement, are you going to keep me here forever?” she asked sharply.
Julian, his voice deep and magnetic, responded, “How am I keeping you? I prefer the word ‘nurture’.”
“Is there a difference?” Aurora snapped coldly. “Of course, but you didn’t call to discuss the nuances of ‘keeping’ versus ‘nurturing’, did you?”
“Julian Barnet, I am not your possession, and I won’t sign that agreement,” Aurora stated firmly. Julian seemed to have anticipated her refusal. “I don’t mind ‘nurturing’ you for a lifetime, little bunny.”
“Mr. Barnet, what do you really want from me? If you’re still bothered by what I did to you that day, I’ll let you get even. I just want my freedom, and I have a lot to do. Please let me go.” Regardless of the housekeeper’s motives for her advice, Aurora softened her voice, perhaps realizing that her constant desire to escape intrigued him, a man who could have everything delivered to him by others, despite her resistance and bold acts of revenge, which presented a challenge he found appealing.
“Perhaps that’s why he’s taken an interest in me,” she thought. Julian’s tone cooled significantly due to her change in attitude. “How would you like to get even?”
“Just let me go, and you can set the terms,” her voice carried a hint of distress, and Julian knew she had returned for revenge, and she wasn’t lying about it. “Shall I tie you to the bed and ravage you?” Julian scoffed on the other end.
But imagining that scenario, if it ended just in play without fulfilling the final desire, it would be he who suffered. However, the thought of her bound to the bed, showing a pitiful look, stirred some anticipation in him. “If you let me go, I can spend tonight with you, at your disposal,” Aurora’s voice lowered slightly.
“Really?” the man on the phone perked up, intrigued. He had only threatened her with the agreement, never truly intending for her to sign it, as it wouldn’t hold anyway. Julian was just afraid she’d run off like she did three years ago. He didn’t want to spend another three years searching for her. “Hmm, do you think I could escape your control?” Aurora scoffed.
“That’s true,” Julian laughed. “I still have some errands to run today, but if you want, I’ll come back here tonight to fulfill our agreement,” Aurora said sullenly. “Tonight, I’ll send my people to pick you up.”
“That works. Can you now have them step aside and let me go?” Aurora demanded coldly. “Hand the phone to the housekeeper.”