“Leah,” I say gently as I try to wake her. She’s fast asleep once again, and she attempts to open her eyes as if she’s feeling weak. I didn’t let her go, but wanted more and more, as I wanted her to confess. To tell me I was hurting her or maybe give in to me and decide I was giving her more than she could ever get from her employer. And then the more time we spent together, I realize that she’s not checking in with anyone. There’s no trips to the bathroom or even complaints about trying to get me out of the room. If anything, she doesn’t have her phone. If she were working for someone, then she would want her phone by her side. So my assumption about her being here is even worse because it means she’s here on her own accord.

“You need to eat. Take the robe and then come downstairs.”

“Okay,” she whispers. As she struggles to put the robe on, she’s acting like a child that needs guiding to put her arms into the sleeves. It’s as if she doesn’t know what to do next.

I hold her in my arms and the lead her down the stairs. I stare at her as she delicately wraps her arms around me. I pushed her too far thinking she’ll confess and tell me the real reason she’s in my house. On this island. I know it’s not because of my charm. It should annoy me and make me take full advantage of her, but I’m not a fucking monster. Even her stubbornness makes me feel as if I’m turning into one.

As I enter the dining room, Marta’s just about to tell me that dinner’s served when she looks at me with a frown. “Is she okay?”

I smile. “Sure, she’s just tired and very hungry.”

She doesn’t change the expression on her face. Her eyebrows are burrowed as if she’s not entirely convinced about the reason why Leah’s in my arms as if I’ve drugged her. Something I’ve never done and I wouldn’t even think about doing it on my island.

“Dinner ready?” I ask before Marta’s mouth opens to ask another question.

“Yes, sir.”

Leah sighs. “Good because I need to eat. I’m exhausted.” She yawns this time louder and it’s not exaggerated but seems completely genuine.

Marta raises an eyebrow as she walks away. Maybe wondering if I did drugged Leah and if she’s now waking up or if something’s wrong with this whole situation.

There is something wrong, but it’s about to get worse, and I want her to leave. “Marta after you finish clearing up tonight. Then you can leave.”

She’s about to say something, but I stop her by lifting up and saying, “We’ll be leaving soon. So, there’s no need for you to be here. Besides. I’ll prefer if you’re back home.”

She nods. “Yes, sir.”

I’m not usually so cold toward her, but this isn’t a normal situation. I’m not in control, and I need to get back to my comfort zone before I leave her. I can’t let Leah leave without knowing her true purpose of the reason she’s here.

When I’ve had a girl on the island, Marta knows about the fun and games; she even helps make the girls feel at ease. This time she came after, we didn’t have our normal banter where she tries and convinces me to fall in love again, and I tell her my heart was broken once. Besides, once you’ve had the best, why settle for anything less. There’s just one problem; my dead wife wasn’t the best. If she were, then she wouldn’t have been planning to leave me, and I wouldn’t be a widower.

Marta swiftly moves out of the kitchen.

I look down, and Leah’s greedily eating the chicken pieces as if her life depends on it. She isn’t hungry, but starving. I ignore the animal way she’s eating as she uses her hands and then licks her hand to clean them after they get so greasy. I’m just thankful she’s not making any noises or I’d stop her from eating just out of disgust.

I watch her as if she’s eating her last supper. As if she hadn’t eaten for weeks and this could possibly be her last meal.

She pauses for a second and sighs, “Sorry, I’m so hungry. I haven’t eaten all day.”

I correct her, “You ate this morning.”

She laughs, “That was a long time ago. Besides, I’m not used to eating so late.” She puts down a second piece and asks, “Did I say something wrong?”

I nod. “It’s more a case of what you haven’t said that’s the issue.”

She looks at me with confusion.

I brush it away thinking maybe a good meal will make her see sense. Because, the moment she realizes I know her game, she’ll close up. I’ll take my time learning the truth this weekend. But I don’t have long. I have a business to run. One which is slowly, but surely falling apart if I don’t stop thinking with my cock and start thinking with my head.

“Do you feel better, Leah?” I ask as I get up to make a cup of coffee. She seems sleepy after eating too much, too quickly.

“Yes, I could go back to sleep. What are you doing?”

“Making coffee. I thought it would wake you up a bit.”

She laughs as she puts her arm around me.

I would have welcomed it before, but the idea of her being a liar and wanting to be on my good side makes me unfold her fingers around my waist and pull her gently away from me.

“What did I do wrong, Marco? You were fine all day yesterday. Even better all night and now, you’re as cold as ice. I want to know what happened between the early hours of this morning and now,” she demands as she puts her hands on her waist. She’s purposely trying to antagonize me because her breasts are on display.

I don’t fall into her trap. I remain calm even if my cock’s wanting to take her as it’s done so many times before. “I want to know why you came.”

Her eyes widen as if she’s shocked by my question, she’s either a good actress or I’ve just been very naïve. “What?”

I repeat, “Why did you come here?”

She chokes, “Because you invited me. You said that you wanted repayment for the clothes you bought me.”

I move closer toward her as she tries to get away from me. I grab her arm. “That’s not why you’ve been paying me special attention in the diner is it?”

She tries to take her arm away from me. “You’re hurting me.”

“Really?” I grip her a little tighter and then the darkness takes over, as I wrap my arm around her waist. “Sit down and drink your coffee. We’re going to talk and then afterward, we’ll decide what to do next. Do you understand?”

She slowly nods her head; I want her to know that the game’s up. I’m not fucking her anymore. Not until I get some answers.