Girl Wife Prisoner Page 17

  26

  “Get out!” I hissed as I threw on a kimono over my naked body. He was already slipping out of bed and grabbing his clothes and shoes from the floor.

  There was a jangle of keys as the footsteps approached the other side of my bedroom door. I ran towards it, tying my kimono around me as Keir struggled to yank all his clothes on.

  A key slid into the lock, every slide of the serrated edge seemed to echo throughout the room. I grabbed the chair tucked under the desk near the door and jammed the top of the chair back under the lock so it wedged the door shut. Just as the lock clicked and the handle turned. The door rattled against the chair.

  “Riko, what the hell is going on?” The deep voice that boomed through the door was Drake’s.

  Not Loretta. But Drake.

  Keir had one leg out of the window sill. But at the sound of Drake’s voice he hesitated, his eyes on the banging door.

  “Get out of here,” I whispered as I ran to him.

  “I can’t leave you here alone with him.”

  “He won’t hurt me,” I said, but the confidence in my voice was fake. “But he will hurt both of us if he finds you here. Now go!”

  He slid his hand around my jaw. “If he touches you−”

  “He won’t. Now go!”

  Keir nodded, a helpless look on his face. He gave me a searing kiss that was all too brief before he ducked out of my window and disappeared over the side of the building.

  Drake banged against the door, each shudder in its frame making me jump. “Riko, open this door right now.”

  I watched Keir climb down the side of the house until he had reached the bottom before I faced the trembling door. The longer I put Drake off, the angrier he’d be. I walked up to the chair and curled my hands around the arms.

  Just do it, Noriko. Get it over with.

  I yanked the chair away from the door and it flew open, smacking against the side of the wall. Drake stood in the doorway, his eyes darting around the room as if he was looking for someone. I stood facing him, hoping that Keir didn’t leave anything behind that would give his presence away.

  His eyes came to rest upon me. “Why did you bar the door?”

  “I…I wanted to be left alone.” The tears that sprung to my eyes were real.

  His face fell and his voice turned soft. “Oh, Riko.” He took a step towards me and I instinctively shuffled back. He held out his palms to me as he moved slowly towards me. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’d never want to hurt you.”

  “So you lock me up like an animal instead?” He caught me before I could dart aside. “Let go of me,” I yelled.

  He held me firmly to him, his arms around my struggling body as he made shushing noises as if I was an upset child. “I never wanted to do that,” he said. “But you went behind my back and you needed to learn your lesson.” He gripped my chin with his fingers and forced me to look at him. His dark eyes glittered even as his voice took on this sing-song quality. “It was for your own good. You understand that, don’t you?”

  I chilled to my bones. I never knew with Drake who I would get. The angry, violent Drake? The possessive Drake? Or this Drake, the soft and tender Drake who scared me the most.

  “I think you should be allowed to leave your room now,” he said. “Because you’ve learned your lesson, haven’t you? You understand never to go behind my back or to disobey me again. Don’t you?”

  I wanted to be able to leave my room to hide away with Keir in our gardens. His visiting my bedroom was too risky. So I nodded stiffly.

  “Say you understand.”

  “I understand.”

  “Good girl.” He wrapped me in his arms again. My blood turned cold when his fingers slipped under my kimono, seeking the place between my legs that he thought he owned. I could do nothing but let him take it.

  You won’t break me, Drake Blackwell. You might have my body, but you will never have my heart and you can never take my soul. Those things, the important things, belonged to Keir.

  27

  The next few weeks flew past in a blur. Grief over my father still rushed up over me in the silence between the days, drowning me. But when I was with Keir, I was buoyant with happiness. I spent my days dodging Loretta and the other staff, and running like a shadow through the cover of the gardens with Keir and making love with him in the shade or in the lake on the edge of the property or in the bird sanctuary.

  I was a paper butterfly torn in two.

  I was Noriko, a girl who was desperately in love with this boy and he was all I could think about. He was the first thing in my mind when I woke, my body rushing alive with anticipation to see him. And when he folded me into his arms and pulled me into our secret places, I was free.

  He was the last thing I thought of as my mind rushed towards sleep, dragging my body along with it, so that I could dream about him and be with him the way I was meant to − without fear, without guilt, without secrets. I was a girl who was tumbling and spinning like autumn leaves caught in a breeze deeper and deeper in love.

  Then I was Mrs. Riko Blackwell, a wife, married to a man who didn’t know how to love her. A wife who pitied her husband; the man who seemed to have everything but who was really the poorest man in the world. A man who didn’t know how to touch her, nor did his presence make her light up. A man who she was tied to only by the dried black ink on a marriage license. A man who thought he could buy her love with all his money. And take her body when he wanted it.

  I sleepwalked my way through the evenings and nights, through my dinners with Drake and after, when he used my body. Those times were the hardest − when Drake was inside me and ramming his hips up against me. My stomach filled with guilt thick as poison because it felt like I was cheating on Keir and I fought to hide my tears.

  Noriko and Mrs. Blackwell were two separate people living in one body. It was the only way that we could live with ourselves.

  But this careful separation was fragile, the division was thin and tenuous. Mrs. Blackwell was growing to despise Noriko, to hate her freedom, to hate that she was the one that got to be loved.

  Noriko was beginning to hate Mrs. Blackwell for forcing her and her lover apart because of a promise she made to save a father who died anyway. Now those promises seemed so worthless, and yet Mrs. Blackwell couldn’t find a way out for them both. Or perhaps she hadn’t found the courage yet.

  The girl and the wife were two different people, but they were both prisoners.

  As the days went by the call for freedom grew louder and more desperate.

  28

  One morning, like every morning, I rushed down to breakfast, desperate to throw something quickly down my throat so I could meet Keir. My skin buzzed with energy as I raced down the staircase. Today he had planned to work on tidying up parts of the rose maze, and I promised I’d meet him there after breakfast.

  I walked into the dining room and jolted when I saw Drake seated at the head of the table. Usually he was already gone by the time I came down to breakfast. Why was he here? What was different about today?

  My nerves jangled even louder when I saw that seated next to him on his right-hand side, in my chair, was Sasha. She caught my eye and gave me a nasty smile. Drake didn’t look up from his newspaper. I composed myself and walked solemnly to the chair on his left-hand side where a third place was set.

  “Good morning, Riko,” Sasha said, her smile turning to a sneer.

  That was a challenge if I ever heard one. “Morning, Miss van Slur,” I said back.

  Whose side would Drake take? I wondered. Mine, his wife of only a few months? Or hers, his personal assistant who had been by his side for six years now?

  Both of us glanced at him to see if he noticed both of us throwing down the gauntlet, but he was completely occupied with his paper. I didn’t actually care about what he thought, I just didn’t want her to win.

  I poured myself a cup of black coffee from the silver pot. I would need an extra kick to survive this morning,
I predicted.

  “Oh, Riko,” Drake said as he glanced over to me. Over his shoulder, Sasha sneered at his use of the nickname Riko. “You’re here. How did you sleep?”

  “Fine, thank you. And you, my darling?” I laid it on thick as I placed a hand softly on his arm and gazed at him adoringly. I could almost hear Sasha making barfing noises in her throat.

  “Wonderfully, thank you. In fact, the best I’ve slept in a long time.”

  I laughed softly. “I hope I didn’t wear you out.” I leaned in and said in a low voice but just loud enough for Sasha to hear, “I really enjoyed last night.”

  He looked mildly surprised before he returned my smile. “Me too.”

  I almost felt bad that I was using his affection for me as a way of getting back at her.

  Almost.

  I leaned in and planted a slow suggestive kiss on his mouth, making a low moaning noise in my throat. When I pulled back he was staring at me, his features soft and warm.

  I straightened up and glanced at Sasha. She had gone as red as her suit.

  “Oh, and Sasha,” I said. I wasn’t letting her get away with anything. “I’m not sure I thanked you yet.”

  “Oh,” she said. “Thank me for what?”

  “That gift you bought me, the dress, the one that you said was from Drake?”

  She stiffened. “What about it?”

  “It didn’t fit, I’m afraid. It was almost as if it was meant for another woman.”

  She paled a little. “I see.”

  “What dress was this?” Drake asked.

  “Oh,” I said, my eyes still on her, “just a dress that Sasha was so kind enough to pick out for me. It was a gorgeous red color, almost the color of blood, but it didn’t fit. Perhaps I should show it to you sometime, darling, and see what you think?”

  “I-I didn’t mean it,” she said, “I didn’t mean to…choose the wrong size. It was a poor choice I made. Not meant to be taken seriously.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “I think you’re right. Very poor taste. And it just didn’t work. Not at all.”

  “Yes. I can see that.”

  “Perhaps you should just let me pick out my own clothes from now on and you can stay out of it.”

  “Whatever you say,” she said as she fussed with her purse. “Drake, we really should be going. We have that meeting with−”

  “Cancel it,” he said, his eyes still on me.

  “But it’s the−”

  “I said cancel it. I’m going to spend the morning with my wife.”

  “You what?” Sasha and I both said together.

  “Cancel everything on my schedule before lunch.”

  I was about to protest, but Sasha beat me to it. “But your meeting−”

  “In fact, cancel everything for today.”

  A whole day! But I was supposed to see Keir today. My heart sank into the pits of my stomach. Drake’s eyes were on me so I forced a smile to my face. “That sounds lovely. But I don’t want to keep you from your work.”

  “It’s nothing I can’t postpone until tomorrow. Right, Sasha?”

  She was staring at me with narrowed eyes when he said her name. She knew I didn’t want to spend the day with him.

  “Actually, Drake, I don’t think you can,” she said. “That meeting this morning with Mr. Vanderbilt−”

  “Send Roger in my place. You go with him.”

  “He has the day off today.”

  “Tell him it’s cancelled. He can have tomorrow off.”

  Her face twisted. “But Drake,” her voice took on a whiney tone, “Roger isn’t as competent as you.”

  “He’ll be fine,” Drake said. “He knows this deal inside out.”

  “Mr. Vanderbilt might find it offensive that you send your second in command.”

  He snorted. “Mr. Vanderbilt will just have to deal with it.”

  “Drake,” I said, trying to sound as casual as possible, “this meeting sounds important. Perhaps you should go. We can spend the day together another time.” I couldn’t believe I was actually on Sasha’s side for once. I didn’t dare look at her.

  He laughed and tapped the end of my nose. “You’re almost as bad as Sasha. You almost sound like you don’t want me to stay.”

  “It’s not that at all. I just…don’t want to be one of those wives who demands too much from her husband.”

  He smiled. “My beautiful wife, I knew I did the right thing by marrying you. You’re not demanding anything of me. I’ve been away from home so much lately and you’ve been so patient with me. I want to spend the day with you. Besides, I can’t remember the last time I actually had a day off.”

  “That sounds great.” I forced a smile even as all my hopes vanished. I couldn’t meet Keir today. I couldn’t even get a message to him letting him know I couldn’t meet him. Why did my husband have to start paying more attention to me now?

  “In fact,” he said, “it’s such a beautiful day, why don’t we go outside?”

  “What a lovely idea,” I lied.

  “We could have a champagne picnic brunch,” he said, his face brightening up, “how wonderfully novel. We can find a shady spot. Ah, I know just the place.”

  “Oh, yes?”

  “The pergola in the rose garden.”

  29

  Please don’t be there. Please please don’t be there, I begged with every step from the back terrace, down the stairs and into the garden. When Drake and I began to wind our way through the rose garden into the center, it became harder and harder to breathe. He was holding a picnic basket that Loretta had packed for us. I was holding back my breakfast, the knots in my stomach making me feel sick. On the outside I forced myself to keep a smile plastered on my face.

  We stepped out from the rose maze and into the center, and the bottom of my belly dropped out. Keir was there, waiting for me.

  His face lit up as he saw me. Then he saw Drake by my side. He only just managed to hide his shock.

  “M-Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell,” he said, looking between both of us. His eyes paused for a moment on my arm wound through the crook of Drake’s arm, his insistence, not mine, but Keir would have no way of knowing that. I spotted the flash of pain in his eyes. But there wasn’t a thing I could say to lessen it. “What brings you both to the garden?” he asked.

  “Just a picnic,” Drake said. “No need to mind us. Carry on, as you were.”

  Keir dipped his head. “Sir.”

  Drake and I settled on one of the benches in the pergola, Drake sitting himself closer to me than I wanted. I was so tense I couldn’t get comfortable. Keir picked up his shears from the ground, moving stiffly, and I knew his body was strung as tightly as mine.

  Please leave, I silently begged him. Please don’t stay and torture yourself. And me.

  But he didn’t. He walked over to one of the rose bushes and positioned himself so that I was in his line of sight. He began to shear away at the leaves and tiny branches, each snap filled with menace, his gaze searing into me.

  “Boy,” Drake called out to him.

  I winced. Keir’s shoulder’s tensed and his trimming stopped.

  “Yes, you,” Drake said.

  Keir set his eyes upon Drake. “You’re talking to me, sir?”

  “Is it really necessary to make all that noise while my wife and I are trying to enjoy the garden?”

  “You told me to… No. I guess not. Sir.” Keir turned to walk away.

  “Actually, boy,” Drake called out again.

  “He has a name, you know,” I snapped. I couldn’t help myself.

  Keir and Drake both stared at me.

  “Really,” said Drake, his voice tightening. “What is it then?”

  I swallowed. If I admitted that I knew Keir’s name… “I don’t know,” I said. “But where I come from it’s rude to call someone boy.”

  “And what makes you so interested in how I treat my staff?”

  “Drake, darling, it doesn’t cost you anything to be kind to t
hose beneath your station. It makes a statement about your character,” I said as lightly as I could.

  I forced myself to keep my face passive as Drake stared at me. I forced myself to hold his gaze even as I felt the wrath vibrating out from Keir. It doesn’t cost you anything to be kind to those beneath your station.

  I wanted to scream at Keir, you are not under me! You’re my equal. I’m only saying this to Drake because this is the only way he could ever understand.

  Drake seemed to relax as he patted my hand. “You’re right.” He turned to Keir. “What’s your name, boy?”

  I cringed.

  “The name’s Keir.”

  “Well, Keir, make yourself useful and open this bottle of champagne, will you?”

  What? I glanced over at Keir. He slowly licked his lips before answering, “Sure.”

  Keir walked stiffly towards Drake and took the bottle of champagne from him. Keir uncurled the foil, unwound the wire cap. Drake wouldn’t be able to notice it but because I knew Keir, I saw the way his shoulders were coiled and there was a tension pressing slightly at his brows. Keir wasn’t happy. And when he wasn’t happy, he could be unpredictable. Drake was unpredictable at any time. God help us all.

  Bang.

  The cork flew out of the end of the bottle, froth tumbling out from the open bottle. Keir handed the bottle out to Drake, but he wasn’t looking at Keir, he was staring at me. Did Drake suspect something?

  He waved his fingers dismissively at Keir. “Now, pour us two glasses. There are two in the basket over by Noriko. That’s a good fellow.”

  “Drake, what are you doing?” I hissed.

  “Now what?” he said. “I called him by his name.”

  “Why are you getting him to serve us? He’s a gardener, not a waiter.”

  Drake snorted. “If he can lift tree branches with those arms, he can lift champagne glasses.”

  “We’re keeping him from his real work.”

  “His real work is serving me. He’s one of my staff. He’ll do what I tell him to.”

  Keir walked over to the basket near me, my skin and cheeks growing hot as he neared. He pulled out two champagne flutes and began to pour.