Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Did you put those glasses on because they look like mine?” I ask.
The girl offers a smile, revealing one missing tooth, and I can’t help but offer her a small one back. A reminder of the photos I’d just been given; one in particular of me with the same missing tooth.
I pluck my glasses from my hair and look at them. I have a million of these anyway. I offer them to her. “These are Versace. Very expensive. Very beautiful. If I give these to you, you have to look after them.”
Her eyes go wide. “Will I look like you in them?” she asks quietly and clings to the doorframe shyly, and another small part of me breaks. A reminder of the child I once was. A time when I, too, understood innocence until it was taken away.
“Even better,” I whisper as I hand her the glasses. Because every part of me hopes that with the financial contributions I offer to this establishment, the only problem this little girl will face is whose heart she wants to break next.
I stand and notice Lucy watching from the end of the hall with a smug smile. My jaw tics as I hold my chin high and walk back out the front to be greeted by Clay waiting at the door.
“I told you to wait by the car,” I scold.
“But then you went inside,” he says unapologetically. I adjust the hem of my jacket but proceed to stride across the road, two steps ahead of him.
I fish out the envelope of photos. “There’s a photo of a girl in here during the time we stayed in this orphanage. I want you to find out everything you can about her.”
He says nothing as he plucks it out of my hand.
Every time I leave here, a small part of me feels like I’ve done at least a little bit of good in this world. This time feels different, though. And it’s as unsettling as it is loud.
Fucking River Bently.
CHAPTER 23
River
It’s either a risk or stupidity taking her to another business meeting. I’m not sure which. What I wasn’t expecting of my she-devil was her appearance at the orphanage. When she told me she wasn’t available to meet until now, I had one of my men follow her. Out of curiosity, of course. Not that I’ll mention it to her, because I’m certain hell will freeze over if I insinuate she has one kind bone in her body.
I’m discovering many things about Anya. Especially that her venomous tongue and steely resolve, as beautiful as they are, are also used as a shield to protect herself. And it’s another thing I would never imply unless I want my brains blown out the very next second.
After last night and the kiss we shared, I now realize Anya is more precious than I gave her credit for. This woman has never had a lick of love or affection in her life. Although I’m not sure I can give it to her, I’m certainly willing to give it my all.
I never thought there would be a woman I’d cherish or want to literally give everything and anything to. I may not have all the answers, but I’ll make it my mission to do whatever it takes to make her happy. Even if I go broke in the process.
I pull up to the curb of my new restaurant, and she lets out a frustrated sigh, seemingly unimpressed to be brought back here. I chuckle as I unclick her seat belt.
“It’s not that bad, Anya. If you ate the food, you might come to realize you actually enjoy it,” I say.
“I’d rather go through a greasy fast-food drive-through,” she bites back.
I laugh again. “I doubt you’ve ever been through one of those.”
Her lips purse, and I know I’m right. She’d dealt with the reality of living off bare essentials until she and Alek were taken in by their third and final foster mother, who is extremely wealthy. But this little princess hasn’t “roughed it” a day in her life since.
I haven’t been able to find very much regarding their birth parents. At four, they could barely spell their first and last names, let alone provide anyone with any pertinent information about their parents.
“It feels almost full circle bringing you back here since this is where we first met,” I say when she doesn’t continue the conversation. She’s been prickly with me since yesterday. I knew she would eventually come to me, especially when she found out I purchased the mansion next door. One second, she was there asking about my niece, and the next, she locked up and vanished.
I’m certain it’s because of that fucking kiss.
“Unless we’re doing a drive-by on this shithole, are we getting out of the car or not?” she asks with her arms crossed over her chest. I laugh again and step out of the car as one of my men comes to collect the keys. Another one of my staff collect the keys from her two bodyguards who park behind us. I was lenient in allowing her to bring them, considering they would’ve found a way to come in anyway.