Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Not right now, but I’m sure we’ll talk about it at some point.”
“Fine, be secretive if you want, but I’m just glad that you’re heeding my advice. In the meantime, you really should go out there and apologize to Cheri. The poor woman is beside herself.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good.”
“I don’t have any more meetings today so I’m going to pack up and take off early.”
Chris stood up. “Okay, man, you take care of yourself, and if you need anyone to talk to, you know I’m always here for you.”
“I know.”
I couldn’t think of a time when Chris didn’t have my back, and I was grateful he was here to tell me things that I didn’t want to hear but needed to.
As I was packing up, I picked up my phone to let Frankie know that I would be on my way home, but I stopped myself. I’d be there earlier than usual, and though I hadn’t told her what time I usually left the office, it was still early enough where most people would be at work. I wanted to catch her off guard to see what she was actually doing with her time.
My heart pounded in my chest and my pulse raced at the thought of seeing her. I told myself that it wasn’t because I was happy to see her but all the things I intended to do to make her miserable. I was dead serious about making her life hell. Now that I’d be home most of the time, it was something I could do more thoroughly.
After packing up, I called the florist and ordered the largest bouquet to be sent to my assistant, but I knew that wasn’t enough. On my way out I gave Cheri a verbal apology for being so difficult, and I was thankful that she quickly accepted.
Once I was out of the office building, my mind was razor focused on one thing: getting home to torment Frankie. When I stepped inside, the house had the kind of quiet that signaled no one was in residence. My house was large because I had bought it as a good investment, and when I’d first started dating Frankie, I could picture us raising a family inside these walls. That was simply a foolish man’s pipe dream. This house would be her prison.
She wasn’t in the kitchen or any of the other common areas, and once I admitted to myself that she wasn’t actually here, my anger from earlier returned with a vengeance.
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed her number.
No answer.
Had she backed out of our arrangement already? The woman had absolutely no honor, so I shouldn’t have expected otherwise. As I was stewing however, I heard the front door opening, and she walked in wearing a pair or yoga pants and a sports bra. Beads of sweat glistened all over her body giving her the appearance of glowing. It was clear that she’d left the house for some exercise, but I wasn’t in the mood to be reasonable.
“Where the fuck did you go.”
She rolled her eyes heavenward. “As you can see, I’m dressed to work out. I went for a run if that’s okay with you, Your Majesty.”
“Cut the attitude? What part of don’t leave the house is so hard to comprehend.”
“When you said that, I figured getting a little exercise on a nice day wouldn’t be a big deal. Don’t tell me I’m literally stuck in the house all day?”
“My words were don’t leave the house. Which means all activities outside of the house counts as leaving. You couldn’t wait one day before defying me, but I should have expected that from someone like you.”
“I honestly didn’t see the big deal.”
“The big deal is that I told you to do something, and you fucking disobeyed. That’s the big deal. Do you know what happens to people who can’t fucking follow instructions?”
Frankie placed her hands on her hips, which pushed her breasts out even more than they were. “I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“10…”
“Ten what?”
“9…”
She cocked her head to the side. “What are you doing?”
“8…”
“Why are you counting, Nick?”
“7…”
“If you’re trying to intimidate me, it won’t work.”
“6…” I took a step forward.
She took a step back.
“5…”
“You’re being ridiculous Nick.”
“4…” I took two more steps.
Her eyes widen, and she begins to back up. “I just needed some air. You can’t expect me to stay cooped up inside all day; it’s inhumane.”
“3…” That she dared to utter something being inhumane only justified to me that she deserved everything coming to her. Inhumane was what she’d done to my brother.
She continued to step back as I advanced. “Stop this.”
“2…”
She held her hands out like a protective shield. It wouldn’t stop me.
“1….run!”
Frankie turned and took off faster than I expected. She made it halfway up the stairs by the time I caught up with her and gripped her ankle, making her trip. To my surprise, she turned over and shoved her sneaker-clad foot against my chest sending me flying backward.