Chapter Four

Chelsea

I’m not sure how long I’ve been in my bedroom. The last of my things were taken and Liam’s gone. Maybe an hour passed? Or two? Or only a few seconds.

I walk around my old bedroom, seeing everything gone; the bare walls and coldness, is getting to me. The words from Liam play in my head. How can my life go from amazing to this shit? Sure, I think Liam’s hot and sexy, but now I’m his? What the fuck am I?

“Sweetie?” I whip around to see my parents standing by the door.

“I don’t know what to say to either of you.”

“I’m so sorry, Chelsea. I’ve begged Liam so many times.” My dad cries and holds my mom. I can’t stand here and listen to this shit. “Chelsea, please.”

Shaking my head, I turn around with tears in my eyes. “I love you both so much, but right now, I don’t have to like you. This is my decision and mine alone. Since you’re my parents and you have done so much for me, I figure this will be something I can do for you.”

“You don’t have to go,” my mom whines and rushes toward me, throwing her arms around my neck. “Don’t go.”

“I have to,” I mutter, and slowly wrap my arms around her waist. She smells like vanilla and I’m brought back to my childhood, playing with my mom’s makeup and perfume, pretending to dress up like her because she was my hero and I wanted to be her. “I’m the pawn in this now.”

“We’re so sorry,” my dad chokes out, coming up to us and putting his arms around his girls. “So sorry.”

“I should go,” I finally say. “Liam’s expecting me.”

The anguish and sadness on their faces pushes me and I need to get away before I fall apart. As soon as I walk out of my bedroom, the cries from my mom fill the halls and hit me like a ton of bricks. I have to stop and place my hands on the stairway railings to hold myself up. My parents raised me to be strong, and strong I have to be. I rush outside and see Liam’s car and driver. Well, it’s too late to do anything.

“Hi,” I mutter, and Jack opens the door for me. I climb in, refusing to look back at the three story, beautiful brick mansion with large windows, and perfectly trimmed gardens. The green lawn slowly disappears and flashes of me as a child, running around with my pink kite and pink sneakers come to me. The innocence of a child flees and now the reality of my dad’s poor choices sink in.

Jack starts driving, and the silence in the car is deafening. I need to do something before I go crazy.

“So, I’m Chelsea. And you’re Jack.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Please, just Chelsea.”

“Okay, Chelsea.” I see him smiling in the mirror, and slowly I’m calming down. He’s a middle aged bald man with broad shoulders and a tall, muscular built. I feel safe in the car with him.

“Can I ask you something, Jack?”

“Sure.” His deep voice resounds in the car.

“Liam—er, I mean, Mr. Donovan. Is he crazy? Should I be worried?”

Jack starts laughing and it’s comforting. “Mr. Donovan is a good man.”

“Oh. Okay.” When I hear Jack telling me he’s a good man it makes me feel a little better. From the times I’ve been around Liam, he hasn’t been rude or mean.

When we get to Liam’s house, Jack opens the car door for me. When his hand extends out to mine, I sit there, not looking at him, not looking outside, but just looking at the smooth black leather headrest before me. As soon as I take Jack’s hand and my feet land on the pavement, I won’t just be Chelsea Monroe, aspiring fashion designer. I’ll be Chelsea Monroe, property of Liam Donovan.

“Chelsea,” Jack starts to say and his voice instantly calms me. He leans his head in and looks at me. “Everything will be okay. I’ve been working with Liam for many years and even worked for his dad before he passed away.”

“How old are you?” I’m not sure why it matters. That question comes to me and I really would like to know.

“I’m fifty-three.”

“Do you have a family?”

“My wife passed away ten years ago and since then I’ve been working for Liam.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” My eyes find his and I want to cry. “How did you manage to wake up and get on with your life?”

“With the love and support from my family. Liam got me on my feet. He’s a good kid and one I’m proud to be working for. Whatever you’re thinking in your head, I’d like you to stop and be open minded. Your life will still be yours.”

I force the lump in my throat back down and slowly nod my head, acknowledging what he’s saying. “Okay, Jack. I trust you.”

“Thatta girl.”

The sun is blazing down, blinding me a little. Before me is Liam’s mansion. Well, mine too, I guess. The white panels are crisp, and there’s a wraparound porch with a beautiful rose and lily garden surrounding it. Each step I take is a step closer to my new life. I’m so nervous that I’m sweating, but all of Jack’s words are playing in my head and I take in a few deep breaths and let it out.

As soon as I walk inside, I see it’s been newly redecorated. It’s been a few years since I’ve been over. Everything looks the same, but different. The decor is new. There are some different paintings lining the wall. Pictures of his family remain, and I stop in front of the one with him, his two brothers and their parents, standing on a beach. He looks to be about fourteen, maybe fifteen. I take a closer look at his brothers and remembering Liam and dad talking about them a few times in the past. I don’t know their names and haven’t met them. The only thing I know is they run a magazine in downtown and work closely with Liam and my dad.

Liam’s house is comforting and warm. I walk down the hall into the living room. The fireplace is going, and soft music plays in the background. Each room has paintings of different cities or abstract designs. It’s beautiful.

“Hi, Chelsea.”

I turn and see Liam standing near me. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a light-blue tee shirt that hugs his hard body. “Hi,” I weakly respond.

Standing here with Liam feels oddly comfortable. I know it’s crazy and I should still be upset. I’m not sure why he wants me. Liam Donovan can have anyone he wants. I’ve seen his social media pages and the glamorous life he lives with his lavish vacations and beautiful women at his side. We’re two different people, from two different worlds, with two different perspectives. I’m barely an adult with little to no real life experience, and he’s this Adonis with extensive experience and high expectations.

“Come and sit with me.” Liam extends his hand and I take it, following him to the black leather couch. We sit down and he faces me, his arm extended along the back of the couch. His scorching brown eyes burn into me, making me fidget with discomfort. Everything I’ve ever known is gone. I have no idea who I am anymore. The usually confident and sassy girl has disappeared out the window.

“Chelsea.” The way he says my name sends tingles down my body. “Look at me.”

I do as he says, and his expression is warm.

“If you truly don’t want to be here, then I’ll have Jack take you home. If you don’t want to go home, then you can stay at one of my houses and I won’t be a bother. I’ll do whatever it is you want. You’re the one calling the shots and holding the cards.”

“No,” I immediately say. “A deal’s a deal right? My dad did this, so now I’m going to fulfill the deal. But if I can ask, what’s going to happen?”

“As long as you’re sure this is what you want.”

“It is what I want.”

“Okay then. You’ll be living with me as long as you’d like. Your parents think you won’t have a say in the matter, but that’s not the case. If you want to stay here then my home is yours. My staff will wait on you and I’ll ensure your happiness and comfort here. I’ll be responsible for you, for your well-being, safety, financially, and ensure you will be taken care of.”

“And in return, I’ll be...what...your sex slave?”

“No.” His response shocks me and I quickly look to see the honesty in his eyes. “Not a sex slave, Chelsea.”

I wait for him to continue. A push and pull expression plays on his face. He looks torn and unsure. I’ve never seen Liam like this.

“When and if you want to cross that, then I’m here.” He reaches over, brushes his fingers down my cheek, and tucks strands of my hair behind my ear. “I want to show you the world,” he whispers. “Before any of that happens I’d like to apologize for the night you texted me. You have to understand you’re my best friend’s daughter so that means you’ll always be untouchable. Yet, seeing you last night and right now, all the rules I used to follow when it comes to you seem inconsequential.”

“Why?” I utter, trying not to sound breathless. “I mean, why me? When I came back to town, you avoided me. You made me feel stupid, and for two years I avoided you too.”

“The thing is Chelsea,” he continues, “at that moment in my life, I was in a bad place. I was trying to finalize my divorce from Sadie. Do you remember her?”

“Wait. I thought you guys were divorced before that night I texted you. I overheard you and dad talking about it.” I bury head face in my hands and feel the heat in my cheeks. This day just keeps getting better. “So you and her were still married when I texted you?”

“Yes. I was married. We were separated and she lived in an apartment downtown. She was contesting the divorce, saying it wasn’t what I wanted, and trying everything she could to get me to change my mind. That night my lawyers were fighting to get my divorce final and now it is. I’m not married anymore and Sadie’s off doing her own thing. She has a boyfriend and lives on the West coast.”

“So she’s not going to come here and try to kill me?”

“No.” Liam sweeps strands of my hair from my eyes and tucks them behind my ear. I won’t lie, his touch is gentle and sweet. “I just want to take care of you.” His words hit me, and even though my parents gave me everything, there’s something different that Liam’s giving me, and it’s so much more. Moving closer to him, I place my hand on his and look deeply in his eyes.

“All I want is for you to be happy,” he adds. “And I want to be the reason why you’re happy.”

“Can I go to bed? It’s been a long day.”

He nods. “Of course. I’ll show you where to go.”

Liam helps me up. I follow him upstairs and we walk together down the hall. When he opens the door, I’m surprised to see everything nicely decorated. I touch each piece of furniture and open my closet to see my clothes are nicely hung up, but there’s still so much more space.

“My personal shopper will meet with you tomorrow. I’ll have Jack take you and you can pick out whatever you’d like. Maggie knows what you’ll need so I’d like for you to enjoy yourself tomorrow.”

“This is a lot to take in,” I admit and turn around to face Liam, and lean against the closet door. “I’m not trying to be ungrateful, so please don’t take how I’m reacting that way. It’s just a lot to take in.”

“I understand. Take this at whatever pace you’d like. Remember, all I want to do is take care of you. This is your life now, Chelsea.”

“So, since this is my life, then I get to make decisions that are right for me?”

Liam crosses his arms and nods his head. He studies me and I look away. It’s too intense to have a stare off with him right now. “Yes. Within reason.”

“I’m not going back to school in August, and I want you to hear me out when it comes to my business plan. I have all these ideas, and I’d like for you to help me.”

He nods and pushes off the wall. “Okay.”

“That’s it? Just okay?”

When he shrugs, I notice he’s even more muscular than I first realized. His shirt clings to his broad shoulders and defined chest. It sends a ripple of warmth, desire, and fear through my body and settles in my gut.

“I told you I want you to be happy, and if that makes you happy, then we’ll set up a meeting and we’ll treat it like any other business deal I broker.”

As grateful as I am that he’s treating me with respect and not toying with my emotions, I can’t mistake this for anything. He keeps saying he wants me to be happy and he’ll do anything for me. Do I take this for what it is?

Confusion hits me and I have to ask him if he expects sex. “What do you want from me? What are your expectations?”