by Melody Anne
“What about family? Are you from a big one, small one, in-between? Any sibling rivalries going on?” Tina pressed.
Elena realized Dalton hadn’t told Tina anything about her situation. This entire day had to be a test. He was seeing if Elena could be trusted to be in public without humiliating him.
Still, bringing up the family Elena would never have again, choked her up the slightest bit as she shook her head.
“No. I have no family,” she answered. Elena picked up her glass and took a sip as she gave herself time to calm her emotions. She must not be pulling it off well.
“Are you okay?” Tina asked as she reached across the table and patted Elena’s free hand.
The kind gesture nearly broke Elena.
“Yes, of course,” she answered. She needed to pull herself together.
Tina looked as if she were going to press the matter, but they were saved when the waiter appeared with their food. Luckily after he left, the conversation lightened up as Tina shared some funny workplace drama while munching on her Caesar salad.
The next few hours were a blur as Tina took Elena to a salon where they were waxed, plucked, and other painful things torturing her skin before soothing it all with lotions. Her hair was cut and styled, and she was shown how to apply makeup to make her eyes appear smoky and alluring.
At the end of the day Elena was shocked when she looked in the mirror. What surprised her more than anything else was how she looked so . . . normal. Yes, her eyes were highlighted, and her lips were shining, but the pale blue blouse and soft skirt that stopped above her knees gave her an almost innocent appearance.
That proved to Elena how looks could be so deceptive. She wasn’t innocent — not at all. Leo had insured her of that, even though the things Dalton did with her were far from modest.
But Tina had picked out the clothes, instructed the beauty technicians of her look, and been a part of every step of her new transformation. So this had to be what Dalton wanted.
By the time they got back home, she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than a hot bath and to climb into bed. But Dalton had other plans, of course. He’d sent her out for the day to be transformed. He would certainly want to unwrap the package he’d had specially delivered.
Chapter Seven
The sight of Dalton walking to her never ceased to take Elena’s breath away. And that simple fact never ceased to annoy her. The man had so much power over her. She was actually worried about what he would think of her new look.
Sitting on the couch, she waited as he assessed her, taking his time as he set down his briefcase and then stopped in front of her, his eyes caressing her from the pointy toes of her new shoes to the tips of her highlighted hair.
She could swear she saw a flare of awareness light his eyes, but before she could assess that, he looked away, moving to the kitchen.
“Follow me,” he commanded.
Everything inside her wanted to scream out at him, tell him she wasn’t his willing servant. But they both knew that wasn’t true. So she stood and without pause her heels clicked on his pristine hardwood floors as she trailed after him, obedient like a willing puppy dog.
“Sit down.”
Elena sat at the kitchen bar while he pulled out a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass of the ruby liquid. She immediately lifted it and enjoyed the tangy flavor swishing on her tongue.
Dalton moved to the fridge and pulled out the dish his cook had prepared, putting it in the microwave to warm before he moved back over to her and again caressed her body — or what he could see of it over the bar — with his cold eyes.
“Did you enjoy yourself today?” he asked.
She had to think for a minute before answering him. Elena didn’t often consider if she enjoyed herself or not. It wasn’t expected of her to have a good time. What was expected of her was to please Dalton.
“Yes. Tina was very kind, and I can’t remember shopping before,” she told him.
“Good. I have events coming up soon, and I will want you by my side. Are you going to be able to handle that?”
“I don’t understand the question,” she told him, taking another sip of her wine.
He pulled the dish from the microwave and served them both before sitting next to her at the bar. They ate there most days as it was easier.
“You haven’t been in public settings too often. Can I expect you to behave normally in a group of people?”
She knew he was insulting her, which made her back stiffen. How was she to behave normally when she wasn’t even sure what normal was?
“I think I did fine today,” she told him through gritted teeth.
His lips turned up the smallest bit, but she didn’t understand why.
“We’ll have a test,” he said as the two of them finished their meal. Elena had lost her appetite. “Grab your coat. We’re going out.”
Elena was tired, but she wasn’t going to try to refuse him on this. Getting out of the house twice in one day was certainly unusual.
It wasn’t long before they were in his sporty Jaguar, cruising down the streets. Traffic was less than it had been earlier as they jumped on the freeway and began speeding along, making her want to smile.
When they arrived at a nearly vacant parking lot and Elena figured out where they were, she was confused.
“We’re at to the zoo?” she asked, more of a question than a statement. He pulled up near the entrance where a man stood by the door. “Are they open this late?”
“No. It’s closed. But there are privileges when you’re as big a donor as I am,” he said, jumping from the car and moving around to her side to assist her.
The night air was chilly, but she was actually excited. A distant memory tried to break free of her foggy brain. Her little brother was giggling as he stood outside the monkey cages, trying to mimic the funny little animals.
“Good evening, Mr. Garrett. I hope you enjoy your time tonight,” the man said as he held open a side entrance door.
“Thank you, Bill. I’m sure we will.”
They stepped inside, and Dalton led her to a map showing her where all the animals were located. She scanned it thoroughly as he stood next to her.
“Where would you like to go first?” he asked.
She was shocked that he cared about her opinion, much less was asking it of her. The choices seemed so endless. Elena looked at the map again; her instinct was to go see the monkeys, but that thought was so painful, she decided she’d better not.
“Can we just take a path and look at them all?” she finally asked.
“That sounds like a good plan to me,” Dalton answered.
Elena was stunned when he took her hand and began walking. When they weren’t in the bedroom Dalton didn’t tend to touch her. For him to do something as intimate as hold her hand was throwing her off balance.
They went through the African Savanna, passing the gazelle’s, zebras, and the hippos before moving on and looking at the lions. Elena was fascinated with the interaction of the huge animals.
She laughed as one of them rolled in something that didn’t look pleasant before it leaped up and chased after another, tackling the lion before rushing off to now be the one chased.
To tell the truth, the lion’s had a lot in common with Dalton. They were gorgeous, intimidating and a predatory species, yet they moved with a grace that was unmatched in the animal kingdom. They knew they were at the top of the food chain, and their behavior showed their confidence even while locked behind bars for the world to view them.
That must be what it was like for Dalton, being as powerful as he was had to feel a bit like living in a cage with the world peeking in on him. The thought gave her the slightest bit of respect and sympathy for the man who was so aloof.
Elena was sad to move on; being at the zoo at night with so few people millin
g around was a treat she probably wasn’t going to experience again.
Dalton didn’t speak much to her as they moved from cage to cage, each animal just as fascinating as the last to her, but there was something in their faces that made her think they were unhappy.
Some would rush up to the bars of the cage and look right at her as if pleading for her to let them out. There was a promise in their eyes, telling her they would behave if she set them free, allowed them to live out in the open.
It was then that she decided she would change her fate. She never wanted to be a caged animal. Maybe now she was locked up, owned by Dalton. But someday, she would have her freedom. And when she did, she would never look back again. She would never be a victim again.
She would trust him to heal her, and then she would be set free.
Chapter Eight
The shinny new phone on the end table startled Elena when it began ringing, the volume on high. She’d only had the contraption for a couple days, and this was her first incoming call.
Looking at it for several moments, she was too late to answer. Before she could berate herself too much, the tone started back up again. She lifted it and saw Tina’s name flash across the large screen.
Fumbling for a moment with the touch screen, she managed to answer the call, almost breathless. She knew she was in bad shape when answering a telephone was equivalent to getting in a heavy workout.
“Elena?” Tina’s voice came through loud and clear, and Elena realized she hadn’t said hello.
“Hi, Tina,” she said before thinking she might need to explain how she knew who it was. “Your name was on the screen of my phone.”
“Yes, I programmed it for you before Dalton brought it home,” Tina told her.
“Oh, that makes sense,” Elena said, finding herself nervous, trying to figure out what to say next. Luckily, Tina didn’t leave her hanging for long.
“You and I are going out on the town,” Tina said with glee. “I’ll be over in a couple hours to get you ready, and then we’re off to paint the town red.”
Elena felt her throat tighten at the thought of doing what Tina said. There was nothing the other woman suggested that sounded like a good idea — nothing at all.
“Um, I don’t know about that . . .” Elena trailed off as Tina’s laughter came through the phone.
“It’s a command,” Tina said, letting out another giggle. “Dalton has put me in charge of ensuring you’re more comfortable in crowds. So I’ve planned the perfect evening.”
“But Dalton has been out of town the last few days,” Elena said, not sure that Dalton would approve.
“Exactly. And I work for the man, and he’s given me a job. I’m hanging up now. I’ll see you soon.”
Before Elena was able to utter another word, the line went dead, and she sat there wondering if she should attempt to call Tina back. When she knew that wouldn’t do her any good, she wondered if she should try to call Dalton and get his permission.
That thought instantly had her back stiffening though. The last time she hadn’t believed Tina he’d been irritated with her. So Elena decided it was so much easier to just go with the flow.
Tina showed up earlier than Elena had been expecting, but she had Elena dressed to the nines, wearing a mini-skirt, tight blouse, too much makeup, and hair that was piled on top of her head.
Tina gave her a stamp of approval and rushed Elena from the house before she could think about the consequences of going out in public looking like she was for sale to the highest bidder.
When they got in the car, Elena took time to study Tina, who was practically bouncing in her seat. They stopped at a red light and Tina turned and beamed at Elena.
“Some ladies from the office are meeting us so it will be a great group,” she told Elena before turning forward again and driving. “I got a nice stipend deposited into my account today that ensures we can have whatever we want.” She was practically squealing in delight.
They had idle chit-chat for the next half hour as they drove into the heart of Seattle. When they arrived at a club that had music pumping so loudly people on the sidewalk were able to dance, a group of women spotted them and rushed over.
“You must be Elena. I’m Jill,” a woman with bright red hair and an infectious smile said. “It’s so nice to meet you. Tina has gushed on and on about you.”
Elena thanked the woman as she felt her cheeks heating. She wasn’t used to honest delight from anyone at the prospect of meeting her.
The introductions went quickly and the ladies stepped to the front of the line where they were ushered in thanks to Tina’s friend, the bouncer. She gave him a sassy smile and a pat on the ass before they went through the doors.
Tina led them through a throng of bodies to an empty table right off the dance floor. She claimed it at once and turned to the ladies.
“We’re lucky we got here when we did. I have to relax before my weekend at home starts. I’m going to Portland tomorrow to help my grandma organize. I’ll be stuck inside the entire time sifting through dust,” Tina said with good humor. “But I love spending time with her. The stories she tells keep my sides aching from laughing so hard.”
Elena felt a pang at Tina’s words. She would love to be able to spend time with a grandmother, with any family member actually, even if it were nothing more than sitting on a couch and watching cheesy movies. Just to have a family . . .
She let go of that train of thought. It did her no good, only brought her down. And this was a rare opportunity for her to learn from Tina, to figure out how to be like this woman Elena so admired. Letting go of the last of her nerves, she smiled at Tina and waited for what was next.
The waitress appeared and Tina ordered tequila shots — a lot of tequila shots. The four women lined up the drinks and giggled as they did one round . . . two rounds . . . and then a third.
By the time Elena bit into her third lime, she could feel the hot burn all the way down her throat and into her stomach. She also let a giggle escape as she watched Tina, Jill, and Sherry flag down the waitress.
They ordered some food to counter the alcohol, but Tina told Elena the night was about letting go, and since Elena had already determined that she was going to do anything and everything that Tina did, she followed the woman’s lead.
After an hour of nonstop drinking, Elena found her head spinning as she pulled herself from the dance floor and sat down on one of the chairs, quickly joined by Jill whose cheeks were flushed.
“I love this place,” Jill said with a wide smile.
“I like the music,” Elena told her, trying desperately not to be shy. The amount of liquor she’d consumed was making that task a lot easier.
“And how about the man candy. What do you think about that?” Jill asked as the woman looked around the room, licking her lips.
“Man candy?” Elena asked.
Jill’s head whipped around as she looked at Elena quizzically. “You made that sound like a question,” the woman said.
“What is man candy?” Elena pushed, not understanding what was so shocking.
“Oh my gosh, that was a question,” Jill said with another round of giggles before she threw back the rest of her drink and held up her hand for the waitress who quickly came over and took their empty glasses, promising to be right back.
Had Elena committed a social faux pas? Probably. Dang it. At the rate she was going, Dalton was never going to let her go out anywhere with him. The waitress appeared quickly, and Elena grabbed a drink, taking a long swallow.
“Sorry. I’m just talking about all the hot guys in here. I thought everyone had heard that expression before,” Jill said as she zeroed in on how uncomfortable Elena had gotten. Elena liked this woman. She was nice and quickly changing subjects so Elena didn’t feel so foolish. “So, have you picked one out?”
Elena felt her ch
eeks redden for all the wrong reasons at that statement. Dalton would have her head in a vice if he heard about her looking at other guys. But she couldn’t tell Jill that. Obviously not everyone in the office was in the know of who Elena was.
“I . . . um . . . well, I’m in a relationship,” Elena finally stuttered. She wasn’t sure relationship was the right word.
“Ooh, do tell,” Jill demanded as she lifted a cold French fry and popped it into her mouth.
“It’s new,” Elena said. Tina had coached her a week ago on how to answer personal questions. That answer she remembered, even in her drunken haze.
“Ah, so it’s not necessarily permanent,” Jill said with a laugh as she scanned the bar again.
“Yes, it’s . . . permanent,” Elena said.
Maybe she shouldn’t have consumed so much liquor. Her brain was foggy, and she was having a difficult time remembering what she could say and what she wasn’t supposed to discuss.
Where was Tina? The woman hadn’t returned from the dance floor. If she had been there she could field these questions and there wouldn’t be a chance of Elena doing something that would guarantee Dalton’s wrath.
“Hello, ladies. You looked a little empty so I brought you a couple drinks.”
Jill and Elena both looked up to find a stunning dark-haired man joining their table, his eyes focused on Elena. Heat suffused her cheeks at the obvious interest in his eyes. Tina hadn’t prepared Elena for something like this.
“What a gentleman,” Jill practically purred as she gave the man a sultry look while licking her lip. “Where have you been hiding all night?”
The man laughed as he briefly flicked his look over to Jill before his eyes zoomed back in on Elena, and he scooted a bit closer.
“I’ve been admiring the view,” he said, making his intentions more than clear.
“I think Elena would love to have a dance,” Jill said with a sly smile.
Elena wanted to call the woman a traitor. She’d just been telling Jill she was involved, and the woman was trying to push her toward this stranger. He looked delighted.
