Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Wow. World-class asshole right here, folks.
I shouldn’t be bothered by his crass response. It’s not the first time he’s spoken to me that way, and it won’t be the last. He’s all about cutting me down, reminding me that I’m a bug beneath his shoe and that if he wants to, he can and will step on me.
“You know, if you were a little nicer…” I grit my teeth, only then realizing that he means right here and now. Yeah, he’s lost his mind if he thinks I’m going to strip down to my bra and panties in front of him.
“Nice gets you stepped on. I’m not nice. We both know that, so let’s skip the pleasantries. Now try on the damn dresses.”
All I can do is shake my head and roll my eyes. This man is beyond bossy. I quickly grab the green dress off the stack and turn toward the bathroom. If he wants to see me in the dresses, then fine. Hopefully, I look terrible, and he will change his mind about taking me with him. A girl can dream, right? I’ve taken only a step when he speaks again, “No, Ely, I need to see it all. Put the dress on in front of me.”
See it all? Everything in me freezes. “Why can’t I just do it in the bathroom?”
“Are you going to be able to get the zipper up on your own?” I open my mouth to respond, but he’s talking over me before I can get a word out. “Never mind, your response isn’t needed. Besides, I want to ensure that if clothing comes off, you’ll at least be adequate enough to be in my company.”
If clothing comes off? Where the hell does he think he’s taking me? I grit my teeth and ignore his words. He’s just trying to break me down, trying to see if he can make me cry. It’s like his favorite thing to do. See how much he can hurt me before I snap. I’m not really sure why he hates me so much, and I try not to think about it. No point in worrying over something I’ll never get an answer to.
Fear furrows low in my belly. I want to tell him no, that I won’t change in front of him, but I can’t make the words come out. A startled yelp escapes my lips when he snaps, his voice booming around me. “Stop acting like you have something to hide. You aren’t the first woman I’ve seen naked, and you won’t be the last.”
Jesus, does he have to be so blunt?
“I don’t understand…” I start, but he cuts me off with a singular icy glare.
“Do I look like I give a fuck if you understand something or not? I’m certain I warned you once already about repeating myself. If you intend to piss me off, you’ve succeeded. I don’t want to hurt you, Ely, but I will if you make me.”
Hurt me? I don’t think he knows what being hurt looks like. Anger boils to the surface, and I clench my hands into tight fists. I really want to punch him in the face for being so condescending, but I’m kinda forced to work with him until my asshole father’s debt is paid off. So while I don’t punch him in the face, I don’t stand there letting him toss stones at me either.
“Fine,” I growl and grip the hem of my polo, ripping it over my head with a jerk. My chest heaves with every breath I take, and I know I need to get a grasp on my anger before I unleash it all on him, but honestly, he deserves whatever comes out of my mouth.
I can feel his eyes on me, and I look up in time to notice his smoldering gaze as it flicks over the threadbare lace of my bra. I’m barely a B-cup, and while I’m slim, I’m also short. Never mind that I’m missing the sensual curves most women my age have. That doesn’t seem to matter to Sebastian, not when I notice the ember of desire glowing deep in the depths of his emerald gaze. A look that wasn’t there just moments ago.
Over the course of the months I’ve been here, I’ve learned things about Sebastian. Although he doesn’t vocalize every emotion, he feels things deeply. And so I know that look, because I’ve put it there more than once or twice before, and as much as I loathe his existence, I find it hard to breathe when he looks at me like that. Hard to exist.
The moment is ruined when a voice carries from the hallway to the room through the still-open door. “Well, well, what do we have here?”
Ugh, no. As if this situation couldn’t get worse. I let my eyes flutter closed and hug the cotton shirt to my chest, trying to shield myself from her gaze. Of course she would stumble upon us when I’m half naked in Sebastian’s room. Innocently, half naked.