Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(35)

“Evey?” His confusion told me he wasn’t expecting me. “Who’s this?” He gave a nudge of his head as he cautiously studied Parks. I didn’t answer; I just put my head down and pushed past him. However, Parks spoke to my father all formally.

“We’re here to collect Evelyn’s belongings.” Even his strong, American accent didn’t fit in with my parents’ dreary flat, and when my mum screeched from inside, it made my toes curl, and I cringed that Parks had to witness this embarrassing part of my life.

“Who the f*ck is it, Frank? You’re causing a draft with that door open.”

My shoulders rolled back, trying to ease tension that had built. Parks followed as I entered, and although I couldn’t see his expression, I knew his eyes were wide, alarmed, as his gaze darted around the mess my parents lived in. I didn’t intend to see my mother. I didn’t even intend to talk to her. I went straight into my bedroom, blocking out the images that haunted me and quickly packed my suitcase.

“Who the f*ck have you brought into my home?” My mum was suddenly standing in the threshold, eyes rolling, and she was biting her dry lips. She was a foul site. A baggy T-shirt drowned her gaunt frame, and she wore holey black leggings. Her pixie cut was unkempt and scraggly, and her arms were on full show, exposing her scabs.

“Leave it, Mum. I’m getting my things and going.” The first thing I did was look for my ruby, and when I found it on the floor, where I left it, relief instantly swept over me.

Parks zipped up my suitcase and picked up the two holdalls. From his clenched jaw and dilated pupils, I knew it took everything in his power to stop himself from interfering.

“Care to tell me who you are?” she sneered, turning her nose up at Parks.

“I don’t care to do anything where you’re concerned.” I could see his anger steaming but he remained calm.

My mum backtracked. “Who the f*ck are you to talk to me like that?”

“Mum,” I yelled. “Get out of the way and let me leave.” I made sure the ruby was safely tucked in my pocket as I stared her down. She glared at us, sizing us both up, then her skinny frame moved aside to let us pass.

“Go on, then. Fuck off. Good riddance, I say. I don’t have to look after you now.”

I scoffed out of disbelief. “You’ve never looked after me.”

She stepped forwards, snarling in my face. “That’s because I never wanted you from the moment I found out I was pregnant.”

“You’ve made that clear,” I argued. “My life has been hell since birth.”

“Your life hell?” She laughed. “What about mine? It was hell bringing up a child I didn’t f*cking want.”

“That’s enough,” Parks barked at her, stepping in front of me. “How the hell you produced something as special as Evelyn will never cease to amaze me, but if I have anything to do with it, I will make sure she never gives you any of her precious time again! I will take care of her from now on, something you should have done a long time ago. You should be ashamed of yourself.” He turned to my dad. “Both of you.”

My parents were stunned, my father guilty, my mother blustering. “Get the f*ck out of my flat,” she snarled.

We walked back to the car in silence. My silence stemmed from the burning within me. My mother was a state, my childhood home a wreck, far from the high life Parks was brought up in. He had just taken a glimpse into the darker half of my life. Although he knew a little about my alcohol addictions and what my parents did to me as a child, I don’t think he could have braced himself for seeing it close up. His silence was hard to determine. It was either because he was in complete shock or he didn’t know what to say.

“You okay, Princess?” Parks placed my belongings into the boot, then wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

I nodded, stepping into him. “I’m surprised you’re not already speeding off in your Jaguar away from me and my life.”

He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes. “No running. Got it?”

“Got it.”



***



My head was on Parks’s chest as I sprawled across him. We’d shared a shower together after he’d spanked me for my attitude. I was yet to receive the pleasurable spank, the one where I got to lie across his lap, but I was sure it would come.

He’d also shown me my walk-in wardrobe full of designer clothes, handbags, shoes, and jewellery. It was to die for. He obviously soaked up my love for clothes, and although I never realised he did it, he listened and took mental notes about any kind of clothing I commented positively on. He knew I liked Victoria Beckham dresses, so he had all her available dresses custom tailored for me. He also bought me every colour and every style of Doc Martens just because he saw me wearing them once. The wardrobe was crammed and kitted out with every possible designer dress, trousers, tops, and jumpers. And don’t get me started on the amount of handbags. He’d even taken note of my perfume and filled a whole draw full of Black Opium perfume bottles. Which was highly unnecessary. They would last me a lifetime.


I did get a little overwhelmed and had to sit inside the room by myself, just taking it all in. The wardrobe was the size of a small boutique. All organised and colour coordinated. A man like Parks wanted to treat me like a princess. He wanted to help me. Wanted to take care of me and make me happy. How could I adjust to that so quickly?