Relinquish(49)

Landon flicks his gaze to mine, his jaw clenched.

“I’ll have Osborn give her a cell phone paid for by the company, so if she wishes to come by anytime, or speak to you, she can.” He picks up the phone on his desk, breaking eye contact. It’s not entirely what I was hoping for, but it’ll have to do. I nod, accepting his offer.

“Can you get Charlie a room in the east wing, please? Yes, the east.” He hangs up and turns back to me.

“That will be all, Charlie. A housekeeper will meet you at the stairs to show you to your room. Try and get some sleep; you have a big day tomorrow.” My lip curls with disgust. Disgust with myself. He acts like he cares, that he wants me undeniably so when he’s f*cking me. But as soon as he pulls his dick from me, I feel like an expensive ho.

I spin toward the door and hold my head high.

“You might want to take that condom off,” I sneer as I’m leaving.

I head toward the stairs, where I find Veronica standing at the bottom step, her arms crossed.

“Charlie,” Veronica greets. It sounds as if she’s speaking of some disease that kills innocent people rather than my name.

“Let me give you a piece of advice. Stay away from Landon. You think you’re the only whore he’s showed any interest in? Do yourself and me a favor and keep your legs closed. I don’t want to have to find another slut to replace you when Landon can’t stand to look at you.” She arches an eyebrow and pops her hip out.

“Whatever you think is going on—”

“Don’t try and lie to me. I know what I walked in on, and his father would kill him if he found out. If I find you two together again, I’ll make sure not even Mick will take you back when I throw your ass out onto the streets.” She narrows her eyes in anger as I bite my bottom lip, rage flowing through me like a steady poison. I’m so sick of being told what to do, and how to do it. Just as I open my mouth to tell Veronica what I think of her, she stomps past me, her heels clicking against the floor as she heads off into another room.

“Charlie?” I turn around, finding a short, black-haired woman in a maid outfit.

“Yes,” I mutter.

“I’m Jean. This way, please.” She smiles and walks up the stairs slowly. “And don’t worry about Veronica. Nobody likes her,” the housekeeper huffs as she climbs another stair.

“Is she Landon’s ex-girlfriend or something?” I ask. The way Veronica got so possessive over him, I can only guess there’s some kind of connection between the two.

“No. Landon’s father, Miller, got remarried to Tara, and Veronica is Tara’s daughter from another marriage,” she explains, finally reaching the top step.

“So they are—”

“Brother and sister,” she smiles, heading east. My head nearly explodes with the information. Does Veronica want in Landon’s pants? But then again, look at Landon. If he were my stepbrother, I’d still be just as attracted to him.

“Here you are. There’s a phone in your room if you need anything. Or you can ask Landon.” She points to a door all the way down the hall.

“Landon stays in the east wing, too?” I ask, looking at the door. It sits all the way at the end, by itself. There isn’t a door near it except mine.

“Yes. I’m surprised he has you down here and not in the west wing where all of the girls stay.” She shrugs and turns to leave.

My eyes flutter with the information as I inhale deeply. Why did Landon want me so close? Is this a game to him? My feelings, my emotions, my life?

“Do the other girls live here, too?” I question, still looking at his door.

“They come and go,” she informs me. I tear my eyes from Landon’s door finally and find a bright-eyed Jean looking back at me.

“Goodnight, Charlie.” Jean smiles.

“Night,” I whisper, my eyes trailing back to Landon’s door. I wonder what his room looks like. Is it just a room, or does it look like a house? Is he a slob, or very clean?

I shake my head and open the door to my room.

A large canopy bed sits in the middle, white and black sheer fabric hanging off it elegantly, and a huge, white comforter is placed perfectly on the bed. I gaze along the grayish walls, finding expensive paintings of half-naked people and a floor-to-ceiling window covering the entire back wall. A dresser and armoire are made out of the same dark color wood as the bed. This room is overwhelming, so many nice things.

Removing my dress, I kick off my heels and climb into the plush bed. I pull the covers over my head, hiding myself from the world, from myself. I take advantage of the expensive thread count surrounding me and cuddle close with the fine fabric. I’m so confused. I thought I could fight my attraction toward Landon, but I can’t shake the pull I have toward him. If I’m being honest, though, a piece of myself wants to be here with Landon. The moments he looks at me like I’m his world, and the way his fingers pull toward me when he’s near… it’s all surreal.

But the way he acts as if I’m his stars one moment and then the dirt on his shoe all in a blink of an eye, I know I shouldn’t feel anything but resentment toward him. What is wrong with me?





LANDON


I toss the condom in the trash and zip my pants. My heart drums against my chest and my forehead sweats. I just f*cked her. I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. The way she looked in that black dress, though, it was like watching a black panther prowl into my chambers. Something possessive and dominant escaped me without me even acknowledging it.