Hailey
I skipped another day. Well, two days, actually. Maybe I’d skip tomorrow too-I hadn’t decided yet. What I did know was that I needed time alone to deal with myself. No way was I going to let some self-absorbed asshole reduce me to an emotional wreck.
Speaking of said asshole. We’d crossed paths this morning when I left my room, then again in the kitchen, and a couple more times throughout the day. It seemed he hadn’t left the house either. Each encounter followed the same script: I ignored him, walked past him like he didn’t exist, and he returned the favor. So far, it was working splendidly.
Flipping through my notebook, I reviewed the equations I’d solved, trying to find some satisfaction in the routine. Then, my phone buzzed, cutting through the quiet. I glanced at the screen. Mom.
Why was she calling out of the blue?
“Hello, Mom,” I answered.
“Hi, baby!” Her voice was bright, practically glowing with joy. “How are you?”
Her cheerful tone set off alarms in my head. This wasn’t just a casual call-she had something to say. I knew her too well.
“I’m good,” I replied, suspicion creeping in. “What’s going on? You sound… giddy. What am I missing?”
There was a pause, followed by a nervous laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing grand or celebratory,” she said, though her tone suggested otherwise. “It’s just… Coby decided to extend our stay for another week. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Her words were like a lead weight dropping into my stomach. Wonderful? Sure. Except it meant another week of him. Another week alone in this house with Damien. I wasn’t sure if I could survive it.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Mom’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “You’re so quiet. If you’re missing me too much, I can come back early. Just say the word.”
“No, Mom,” I said, forcing myself to sound calm. The selfish part of me wanted to scream, Come back. Save me. But I couldn’t do that to her. “Enjoy your honeymoon. Relax, have fun-just don’t come back with baby announcements, okay?”
Mom laughed, and it was comforting, even if my chest still felt tight. “Noted. And don’t get too used to the peace. I’ll be back soon enough.”
“Tragic,” I quipped, earning another laugh from her.
“By the way,” she added, “could you let Damien know about the change in plans?”
I froze. Not him. Anyone but him. “Can’t you or Coby call him?” I blurted, my voice a little sharper than intended. “It’d be easier.”
“Oh, come on, sweetheart,” she teased. “It’s just Damien.”
Just Damien. If only she knew.
“But, mom-”
“We’ve tried calling him a few times, but his line is always busy,” Mom said in her usual pleading tone-the one that always worked on me. “Pretty please just let him know for me?”
I rolled my eyes, emitting a small scoff before giving in to the absolute last thing I wanted to do. “Fine.”
A flood of thank-yous and love-yous later, she finally hung up, leaving me with a task I’d rather burn in hell than complete.
Now, I had to inform him. A task that required me to stand before the devil himself.
Perfect.
Dragging myself off the bed, I debated whether this was the right time to approach him. Then again, better to get it over with now than accidentally bump into him later. God knows what twisted thoughts might spiral through his head if that happened.
I exhaled sharply and headed toward his study. I’d seen him go in there half an hour ago, so chances were he was still there. Not that I would ever step into his room-even if Mom begged me.
Reaching the door, I knocked twice.
“Come in,” came his voice-hoarse, low, and strangely… strained.
Why did he sound like that?
Something about it made my hesitation grow, but my hand betrayed me. Twisting the doorknob, I stepped inside-and instantly regretted it.
There he was, sitting behind his desk like a goddamn king. Except this wasn’t some royal portrait. Blonde wisps of hair peeked through his clenched fist, the rest tangled as he guided a woman’s head up and down his cock.
My cheeks burned hot, embarrassment and something else tightening in my chest. Something sharp, unwelcome, and far too familiar.
His stormy gray eyes locked on mine, a dark haze of lust and challenge swirling in their depths. “What brings you here, Bunny?”
Bunny.
The nickname crawled under my skin, sticking to me like a leech draining every ounce of blood. I’d missed hearing it-God, I hated that I’d missed it-but not like this. Not in this moment. If anything that name did right now was to make me feel worse.
Steeling myself, I stepped further into the room, pretending the sight in front of me didn’t exist. My voice stayed cool, casual. “Mom wanted me to let you know that she and Coby are extending their stay by another week. They’ll be back later. That’s all. Enjoy.”
I spun on my heel, ready to flee, but his voice stopped me dead, along with the sound of that woman’s gagging noises that made me feel warm all over in a sickening way. I remembered gagging on that cock. Wouldn’t say it was unpleasant at all.
“You could stay. Enjoy the show, maybe.”
His words dripped with velvet smoothness, the kind that once made me weak in the knees. Now, they only left a bitter taste in my mouth because it was not only like velvet, it was heavy and I knew the reason-because of what went under that desk.
I turned back, forcing a smile, my gaze sharp. “I have a phone with perfectly working internet, Damien. If I wanted to watch something like this-” I waved my hand toward him and the woman, my expression laced with disdain, “-I could find much better options. Better men. Better faces, bodies, and certainly better cocks.”
His jaw tightened, lips pressing into a thin line, but I didn’t stick around for the fallout.
Turning on my heel, I strode toward the door, ignoring the low growl rumbling in his throat. Just as I closed it behind me, I caught his bark.
“Get out.”
A soft whimper from the woman followed.
I smirked bitterly, heading back to my room. Well it seemed I ruined someone’s mood! Whatever that was? It wasn’t my problem anymore.