Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Changing into his gym equipment, he made his way to the basement to find Harper already there, cleaning. She had a polishing cloth in her hand, and he saw her sideways look. Did she even realize that both of them were constantly sharing looks between each other?
He knew a lot about her—everything a file could garner. He’d read high school accounts from teachers. She’d been a bright young woman, and college should have been in her future. Instead, there were no applications. Some teachers were disappointed.
Again, this wasn’t stuff he could get from simple files about her. Her father had said she didn’t want to go to college, that she wanted to start working and making an honest living. He didn’t trust Bradley.
“Tell me about yourself, Harper,” he said, going toward the treadmill. He turned it on to start a speed walk.
Harper moved toward him. “What do you want to know?”
“You’re twenty years old, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you go to college? I’ve seen you in the library. You’re obsessed with learning.”
“Is the library off limits?”
“No, answer my question.” He was happy to use a firmer voice to get what he wanted.
“I wasn’t allowed.”
This made him look at her, but she stared at him. “Allowed?”
“My father forbade me to go. He told me a woman didn’t need to learn, and then he got me a job here.”
Enzo gripped the sides of the machine, holding it tightly. “Did you want to go to college?”
“Yes, I even came up with a plan that meant I could work my way through. I had everything organized and planned, but he refused.”
Enzo had a feeling the father used fear to keep her in line.
“Why haven’t you left this house in the last two years?” he asked.
“I was told I wasn’t allowed to leave,” Harper said. “My dad said my job was here, and I was to do everything you asked, and well, I also don’t have any money.”
This made him stop using his treadmill, and he pressed a few buttons and stepped off.
“What do you mean you have no money?” he asked.
“My dad took my bank cards.” She shrugged. “I don’t even know if I’m getting paid here. He paid me two hundred dollars last Christmas.”
Enzo’s anger was starting to build.
“Two hundred dollars?”
She nodded.
He’d paid her close to eighty-thousand dollars. He was a wealthy man.
“And you don’t know what you’re being paid?”
“My dad controls everything.”
He was going to have to have a word with her dad.
Moving from the treadmill, he went to the weights, taking off two twenty-kilo weights. He moved to a bench and started to pump his arms. He was aware of Harper watching him as he worked.
“If you could go to college, what would you study?”
“I don’t know. English. No, not English. I can read and enjoy books at my leisure. Perhaps psychology would be good. Learning about human behavior so there’s a chance I could help people who are suffering. I don’t know. This is the only difficulty I have. I love to learn, and choosing one subject is always the hardest for me.”
He saw the animation in her eyes.
“What else do you enjoy?” he asked.
Harper frowned. “I’m not really sure what else there is to enjoy. I like walking in your garden. I also like helping with the garden. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. Other than reading, I don’t have a lot of hobbies. Reading was free, especially if I went to the library back home. There was not a lot we could do.”
He hated her father even more.
“Do I get to ask you a question?” she asked.
Now this did surprise him. He was used to people being afraid of him, especially women. They were either afraid of him, or attempting to seduce him. He was a wealthy businessman and held a high position amongst the Villa Mafia. He’d earned that badge of loyalty.
“Sure,” Enzo said.
“What do you like to do for fun?”
“I work out.”
“Is that it? There’s nothing else you like to do?”
He finished pumping his weights and stood, placing them on the stand. Harper was close, and he smelled her rich vanilla scent that always teased his senses when he was close.
“What more is there?” he asked.
“I don’t know. What do men enjoy doing?”
“At times, we enjoy the chase.”
“The chase?” she asked.
Damn it, she was so innocent.
“We like hunting things, taking our time, learning their weaknesses, so when the time is right, we catch them when they least expect it.”
“You go hunting?”
“For all kinds of things.”
“Are you good?” she asked.
“I’m the best.”
He watched as she nibbled her lip, and the urge to pull that lip from between her teeth was strong.
“Go and get changed, we’ll go out for lunch,” he said.
“Wait, what?”
“You heard me.” He grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat off his brow.
“But I’m not going out. I never leave the house.”