A Debt Owed(63)

A sudden hand on my shoulder makes me jolt.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Jill says.

“No, it’s fine. I was just lost in my thoughts,” I joke, laughing it off as though it’s no big deal.

“Look what I found.” She holds up a bunch of dresses and skirts and tops, the type Easton would like. “I even found a cute hairpin to go with it. Pretty, right?”

“Yeah …” I reply, unsure what she wants from me.

“Let’s try them on,” she says, and she hurries me to the changing room, grabbing a pair of heels along the way. She hands me the clothes and heels, and says, “If you need help, call out, okay?” And then she closes the curtain.

Finally, I can breathe again. I sit down on the stool and stare at myself in the fancy decorated mirror, wondering what the hell I’m doing here.

I’m in a store. An actual store. In an actual city.

Not his mansion and not his property, but the outside world.

Freedom is right within my grasp. I should reach out and take it, right?

But how? How do I get out of here without Jill noticing, without his bodyguards following me?

And my father … Easton will surely kill him if I’m gone. But maybe there’s some way I can prevent it. If I can get to him sooner, I could warn him and tell him to hide. Maybe it could work. But how do I shake off Jill?

And will I be able to survive outside, not knowing any of the people or even the language?

I shiver from the thought and smile at myself in the mirror. Maybe I should just put on this dress and take my mind off things for a second. Maybe being Easton’s captive isn’t all as bad as it seems.



Easton



With my newly made key in my hand, I immediately go into my study. It’s been too long since I last looked at the cameras. I admit I’m addicted to them since she’s set foot in my mansion. All I want is to look at her. Is that so wrong?

Well, fuck being right. While she isn’t here, I can watch back old footage and enjoy myself. Maybe then I can forget about her not being here. This huge mansion can get lonely pretty fast.

With narrowed eyes, I look around, but nothing seems missing or out of place. Everything is still as I left it the last time I was still here … when she was in here with me.

Her scent still lingers in the air, and I sniff it up like drugs.

Delicious.

I go to my desk and pull up the laptop, starting the feeds. With my key, I open the drawer to find my lube next to her notebook … which is no longer here.

My eyes widen as I draw away from my desk and stare at the drawer.

My eyes aren’t lying … the notebook is gone.

What the fuck?!

Who did this? Who took my notebook?

Then it hits me. My disappearing key. Her sudden rage towards me this morning … and her seduction the night before … it was all a farce.

She stole my key, so she could get into my study and steal the notebook.

Fuck. Fuck!

An unbridled rage flickers the fire inside me, and I roar out loud and reach for my phone.

Time to make a fucking call.





Chapter 27





Charlotte

Present



I take off my clothes and put on the long white dress with the slanted shoulders. It looks good on me, and my knees are neatly tucked away underneath the dress, which are always an eye sore. I bunch up my hair and push in the hairpin. When I put on the pumps, the picture is complete. It looks fabulous … but I don’t feel the same way. There’s a pang of guilt in my stomach, and it shows on my face.

“Yes?” I look up and hold my breath. It’s Jill. “Easton? Why are you calling? Is something the matter?”

Shit.

“Oh no, that sounds bad,” she continues. “A notebook? No, I haven’t seen her carry it.”

Double shit.

How does he know the notebook is missing? I still have his key in my panties. There’s no way he could’ve looked inside his drawer unless he has a spare key.

My mind is reeling, and my body is shaking right now.

What do I do now? Easton knows I stole the notebook, and he won’t take it lightly. I can’t go back to the mansion. But now that Jill’s found out too, she’ll probably take me back on his orders.

She can’t see me, not now. I have to get away.

“Hallo? Heb je hulp nodig?” It’s a voice I don’t recognize and language I can’t speak, so I lift away the curtain a tiny bit. It’s the cashier, and she’s smiling at me as if she’s trying to sell me something and I don’t think Jill knows. But maybe I can use this to my advantage.

“Do you speak English?” I ask in a hurry.

“Oh, yes, of course.” She clears her throat. “Do you need any help?”

“I love the clothes,” I say, sucking up to her. “I just … I was wondering if I could use your bathroom?” I add a cutesy smile as a gesture of goodwill.

She frowns and parts her lips, then rubs them together as though she’s contemplating it. “I’m sorry, but it’s for staff only—”

“It’s just that I’m pregnant, and I have this terrible urge every time I leave the house, even if just to shop. Maybe I should’ve stayed home.”