“I want three emails,” he said, ticking them off as he spoke. “One for family, one for roommate, and one for professors.” You’ll explain that you’re having a difficult time-I’m sure they’ve all seen how depressed you’ve been since losing Nicola-and you’ll say-”
“Please excuse me?” I interrupted him. “A mess?”
He furrowed his brow. “Yes. A mess. I had people looking at you. Would you like to see the before and after pictures? I have some from when you were with Nicola, as well as some from later. If it makes you feel any better, he doesn’t usually look this bad. To be honest, he’s a little vain.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Nicola said, his voice genuine and warm. “You’re stunning, angel.”
“I never said she wasn’t beautiful. I only said she was a shambles after you left.” Mathew’s words were defensive, but he didn’t come across as contrite. If anything, he seemed annoyed by the exchange, as if it didn’t matter.
“So, before you interrupted me,” he warned, “I was telling you what you’ll write in your emails.” You need to sound genuine, which is why you have to write them rather than me making stuff up for you. It’s up to you what you say, but keep it vague. Assure everyone that you’re fine.”
“And where am I supposed to say I’ll be staying while on sabbatical?” Some of my fire had returned now that Nicola wasn’t holding me down, and I asked as direct a question as I dared.
Mathew shook his head. “I’m sure your family can afford to take you to a spa or a fancy chalet.” I couldn’t care less what you come up with. Just make it sound genuine.”
“You know nothing about my family,” I exclaimed, my temper flaring.
“Do you mean that they can’t afford it?”
“But that isn’t the point. My father had never denied me anything I want, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t worked hard to get into Nevada. Not only had I succeeded in academics, but I’d also worked as a tutor twice a week and spent many hours with the swim team throughout high school. ”
Mathew made me sound like an entitled snob who thought money could buy me anything.
“The point is that you persuade them,” he stated firmly. “Say anything you need to say, but know that I’m going to read them all very carefully to make sure you’re not giving away your true location.”
“I’m not even sure where I am.” Exasperated, I threw up my hands.
“You’ve arrived to my family’s estate. You don’t need to know where precisely. All you need to know is that you’ll be living here permanently. Write now.” The simple geStunre was crisp with authority as he pointed at the notebook.
“How about tomorrow? What about the next week? “What should I answer when they ask when I’ll be back?”
“You’ll explain that you need some alone time. Will your parents expect to hear from you on a daily basis?”
I averted my gaze to conceal the anguish he’d just shown, but my hesitation provided him with the answer he needed.
“I’ll take it as a no,” he added, ruthlessly clinical about my familial alienation. “I’ll keep track of their answers and notify you when you need to send another email.”
I raised my chin, my pain making me stubborn. “And how do you intend to get access to my email account?”
He gave me a calm expression. “You’ll tell me your account and password.”
I laughed. “Not going to happen.” All that gave me hope was the fact that I was absent. Someone would soon be wondering where I was. They’d go looking for me. The cops would be called. They’d locate me and protect me from my kidnappers and their foes.
Mathew turned his head to the side as if he were thinking. Moments later, he nodded briefly at Nicola. ” The onus of dealing with her is on you. I’m done with this spoiled nonsense. Send me a message after you’ve finished dealing with it. ”
He stepped out of the room, and I stared at his back as the door closed.
The guy was frightening and aggravating in equal measure.
After Mathew left, I had the confidence to approach Nicola from behind. “How could you stand to have him treat me that way?” I insisted. “He isn’t even bothering to speak to me,. There I am, sitting right here, and he’s telling you about me. You’re going to sit back and let him to mistreat me? Oh, so you’re just going to sit back and let him abduct me and treat me like a piece of dirt? ”
A furrow formed between Nicola’s brows. “He is not being dismissive of you. Actually, that’s simply Mathew. He simply took you as a precautionary measure. Yes, we have elucidated this for you. ”
My eyeballs rolled. “Yes, it is really generous of you. You kidnapped me and are holding me against my will, rather than giving me a fair warning and the chance to seek police protection. ”
“I don’t trust the cops to keep you safe,” he says, suddenly enraged. ” I can’t put your security in the hands of just anybody. I abandoned you because I thought it was the safest option. I would have never allowed you out of my sight if I’d realized you were in danger. “