Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 134133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
To be honest, I have no idea what happens to our trees after Christmas. “You’d have to ask the housekeeper,” I tell her.
She shoots me a look to let me know she is not impressed. “I will,” she says primly. “If you’re going to kidnap me, then I’m going to make sure you’re disposing of your Christmas trees responsibly.”
I smirk. “That seems like a fair trade-off.”
“Sure, for you,” she murmurs, but her voice lowers as we enter a room where we aren’t the only occupants.
In the main living area, we find the lights dimmed and my mom and dad on the couch in front of the fire.
Mom is curled up next to Dad with his hand on her waist. She pops up when she realizes I’m home, then straightens a little more when she sees I brought a guest.
“Richard, honey, Silvan has a friend with him,” she says, trying to peel his hand off her waist.
Dad’s hand doesn’t budge. He’s enjoying a nice cognac and a nice cuddle with his wife, and I’m damn sure not going to interrupt it. At her behest, he glances over at us. “So I see.”
“Mom, Dad, this is Sophie. She’ll be organizing our Christmas tree disposal this year.”
Beside me, I hear Sophie groan, “Oh my god,” and I can’t help grinning.
Mom blinks, confused.
Dad cocks an eyebrow. “Bit early for a consultant in that particular area, isn’t it?”
“He’s kidding,” Sophie says.
I open my mouth to tell them she’s actually my girlfriend, but despite our playful banter just a moment ago, Sophie decides to narc on me.
“Your son has actually kidnapped me a little bit. If you could help me out, I’d like to go home.”
“How do you kidnap someone a little bit?” Mom inquires, sounding merely curious. “Is this another joke?”
I grab Sophie’s waist and tug her close, seeing the need to get out of here quickly. “Yeah, Mom, it’s a joke. Don’t mind her. We’re going up to my room. Sophie’s spending the night.”
“I’m not kidding,” Sophie says. My warning grip on her waist tightens, but she keeps talking. “I really do want to go home.”
“Very funny, baby,” I say, grabbing her arm and turning her in the direction I want to go, my other hand still at her waist. “We’re in love,” I assure them.
“No,” Sophie says, looking back at them. “No, we are not.”
“Beauty, brains, and a tenacious sense of humor,” I say, shaking my head. “Surely, you can see why I’m so taken with her.”
“Your son has been stalking me, and I am not here of my own free will.”
I drag Sophie out of the room, shooting her a look as I do. “Remember when I told you I’d prefer if you didn’t do that?”
“Yes. I paid it as much heed as you do when I tell you I don’t prefer things to happen,” she answers.
Sighing, I pull her closer and haul her toward the stairs.
She’s such a lovely pain in the ass.
She doesn’t say much as I haul her up the stairs, but I can feel the tension in her body when she realizes she’s been this way before. Her alarm grows when we come to the ballroom doors and her gaze darts to me, but I don’t return it.
“I thought we were going to your bedroom.”
I don’t answer, just drag her little ass inside.
Her brow furrows as she looks at the escape room that hasn’t been decommissioned yet.
“What are we doing in here?”
I open the doors and give her a little shove into the first of the four rooms we had to go through the night we met. I step inside with her, but only long enough to grab an axe.
Sophie is confused and doesn’t catch on until a moment too late.
“Silvan, wait!”
Taking the axe with me, I pull the door shut and the lock engages.
“You brought this on yourself,” I tell her.
“You took half the key! I can’t get to the next room. I’ll be stuck in here for an hour!”
“I’ll release you when I come back up. After that little performance downstairs, I have to talk to my parents—alone.”
“Silvan,” she calls, beating on the door.
I take the axe with me and start to make my way back the way we came.
I only make it to the stairs. Mom is heading up, but she stops short when she sees me coming down alone. “Where’s the girl?”
“I put her in the escape room.” I hold up the axe. “She can’t get out.”
Mom shoots me a disapproving look. “Silvan, you can’t kidnap people.”
I ignore that and continue down the stairs. “Dad still in the living room?”
“He’s waiting for you in his study. He’d like to talk to you.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I head to Dad’s study with Mom right on my heels. When we get there, he’s waiting inside, finishing up his cognac in the chair behind his desk.