Chapter Ten
Lizzie: I have no words. I love everything you do to me, and you make me want it every single day.
Elizabeth loved Thanksgiving with Daniel. College had closed for five days, and seeing as the professors didn’t want to go back with assignments to write or go through, she didn’t have anything to do other than enjoy a relaxing few days.
They spent it at his penthouse apartment, complete with a couple of bottles of wine, lots of food, sex, and watching lots of television. She loved cooking dinner with him. Not once could she remember laughing so hard as they made their very perfect dinner. They’d been concentrating so much on the turkey that they’d undercooked the potatoes and burned the green bean casserole.
It didn’t matter because she loved it.
When the time came for them to head back to college and work, she’d not wanted to. Still, she did it, and returned to her apartment as well.
The barrier between them, for Elizabeth, had been removed when he stopped paying for her. She no longer felt like an employee, not that she ever had. In the back of her mind it always bothered her, and now she got to show him she loved his company without everything else. There were still times she felt uncomfortable, and it took some time for her to get over how they met. Her insecurities were constantly shining through, and driving her crazy.
She couldn’t believe at times how different her life had become in the past few months. Daniel spent a great deal of time with her, and they divided their time between her place, his apartment, and his penthouse.
He always found a reason to visit her at the coffee shop, and with everyone watching, he’d kiss her as he accepted coffee. He’d make her cheeks burn with a little embarrassment at how possessive he was, but deep down, she loved it.
No one had ever wanted to be that way with her.
Daniel worshipped her with his attention at every turn, and she loved every second of it. The way he held her as he made love, or couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. Not once had the passion fizzled out, or gotten boring. He made her laugh, and what surprised her was how much they had in common.
She’d not seen it before, but Daniel had a goofy side.
They’d been teasing each other, and a song had come on the radio, and he’d stood on the bed, completely naked, singing and dancing to her. She’d been laughing so hard, but by the end of it, she’d been dancing along with him, not caring that her tits were bouncing along, with other parts wiggling as she moved.
He made her feel comfortable in her own skin. Her body hadn’t ever really bothered her before. She’d been happy, only when she was with Daniel did she realize how different she was with him.
Every now and again she heard the same bunch of girls at school talking about the website, only now it wasn’t so graphic. She tried to steer clear of any conversation to do with Sugar Daddy.
After Thanksgiving, it didn’t take long for Christmas to fall upon them, and with it, Daniel had a new request.
“You want me to meet your parents?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She sat back, glancing around the coffee shop. Everyone was going through the motions, and she saw people carrying several different bags. They were a busy coffee shop because they served the best kind of brews around.
“That’s … a huge step.”
“It is.”
“Are you sure about this? It’s your parents. That’s like … relationship territory, and I’m not part of that.” She wasn’t used to being in a relationship! Already she was screwing this up.
“You’re my girlfriend. My very young girlfriend, nineteen years younger than I am, I know, but they said they wanted to see me for Christmas. It was really important, and I don’t want to share Christmas with anyone but you, and I figured if I take my girl along with me, they won’t badger me anymore.”
“You do realize you’re a full-grown man.”
“I know, and this full-grown man still has obligations at times.”
“What happened to that bossy guy who likes to get his own way?” she asked.
“I am that bossy guy who likes to get my own way, and let’s just say my parents may have something to offer me.”
She folded her arms over her chest. Over the past couple of weeks, she’d felt a shift, a change within their relationship.
They’d gone from being just sex partners to sharing an actual life. She tried not to read too much into it.
“What do you think it could be? You know, the offer?”
“It’s something important to me. My grandfather left me a few things in his will, and they were set to mature at different times in my life.” He leaned forward. “It’s his pocket watch.”
“Like one of those little round disk things that you click open with a chain?”
He laughed. “How young you are. Yes, it’s like one of them. It’s crazy, but I remember my grandpa always had that pocket watch. Told me it would bring good luck; at least it had been good luck to him. It’s not worth a dollar, but whenever he was busy, he’d give it to me and I’d sit and watch the time go. He told me that a good man understands that time is important, and that they don’t waste a single second with regrets.”
She saw the love in his eyes, and she had that same yearning, wishing he felt that same way about her.
Don’t do it.
Elizabeth felt herself falling for him every single day. Her feelings for him were constantly growing, getting stronger, and she feared that it may be too late. She may have already fallen in love with him.
“Then we’ll go. Do you think your parents will like me?” she asked.
“It doesn’t matter what they think at all. I know that I like you a whole hell of a lot, and my opinion is the only one that counts.” He pulled her close for a kiss.
His words didn’t exactly comfort her, nor did the thought of meeting his parents.
****
Daniel didn’t want to go to his parents’ place for Christmas, and he certainly didn’t want them to meet Elizabeth. Driving toward their house, he was all too aware of the tension within his woman. If the large gates with the security detail weren’t a warning, by the time he parked up, the lavish display of cars on the drive was an indication to go back.
Christmas wouldn’t be the family affair that they’d led him to believe. He’d hoped to get the damn pocket watch and leave, but it looked like they had other ideas.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said.
“You lived in a mansion?”
“More like a museum. Believe me, it’s not exactly welcoming. Come on.” He climbed out of the car, rounding the vehicle to take her hand. She hugged his arm, and they both made their way toward the door.
“What about our bags?”
“Someone will come and get them.”
“Oh, wow.”
Entering his old home once again, he didn’t feel relaxed. He’d never been at home in this mansion, and neither had his grandfather. Before his grandfather passed away, he’d told Daniel that no matter the family name or the business, he could do whatever he wanted. In no way was he obliged to live a life that he didn’t want, and so it had begun his long-running passion for law.
His parents wanted him to be different, and to follow in their footsteps. He’d not been interested.
“It’s about time you showed up,” his mother said, coming out of the sitting room. “Oh, you brought a maid with you. We’ve got plenty of people to keep your bedroom clean.” His mother always had a way of making people feel small.
“Mom, this is my girlfriend. Elizabeth, this is my mother, Susan.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Elizabeth held her hand out, and he gritted his teeth when Susan just glared at the hand to offer. “I wish you’d told me you were going to be bringing someone else. We invited Melanie. You know how much we like her.”
Before he could say anything, she spun on her heel and left them alone.
Elizabeth stared at the ground, and he pulled her close. Cupping her face, he made her tilt her head back to look at him. “I’m only here to get that pocket watch.”
“You’ve not tried to use any other loopholes to get it?”
“I can’t get it any other way. Ignore whatever they say. I’m here with you.”
“They really don’t like me.”
“It’s their loss.” He kissed her lips. “Because I like you a lot.”
She smiled but he saw it didn’t reach her eyes, and he hated that.
Entering the sitting room, he saw Melanie waiting for him. She raised her brow when he held onto Elizabeth’s hand. After the introductions, he noticed several of his parents’ friends were enjoying a whiskey. The Christmas tree stood in the corner, looking perfect. This was what he remembered, which was why he never came here for the holidays. The pocket watch was the last item his grandfather had given him in the will, and had been promised on the Christmas of his fortieth birthday, this year.
He’d expected his parents not to like Elizabeth, but what he hadn’t anticipated was the way they treated her, as if she held no meaning. They talked about him and Melanie, their past relationship, about their engagement, which he’d called off when he’d been much younger, before he’d turned twenty-one.
Everything he hoped wouldn’t happen, did.
****
All of Elizabeth’s life she’d not fit in, and sitting at the dining room table after a day of torture, she really saw how she didn’t fit into any scheme of things. These people were Daniel’s parents, his friends, and now his ex-fiancée who he sat next to. She’d been placed at the opposite end of the table, and she felt miserable.
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?” she asked, needing to be excused.
“Just down the hall.”
She excused herself, and found the bathroom without much trouble. Splashing water onto her face, she took a deep breath.
“What will it take for you to dump my son?”
Elizabeth hadn’t realized anyone had followed her. Standing up, she saw Susan Clark’s reflection in the mirror. “Excuse me?”
“Look, I’m used to little tramps and sluts. You’re younger than most of the whores he’s been with, but I’m sure you can see you don’t belong here. I couldn’t believe it when I was shown your picture.” Susan looked her up and down, and she tutted. “The shame my son will bring to my family. I won’t have it. He will be marrying Melanie, and they will be having children. None of this stupidity of being his own man. I’ve lived with it long enough. It’s time for him to stop being so frustrating, and to do as he’s been told. Your sort need money all the time. What will it be? A couple of thousand?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t want your money.”
Susan chuckled. “I’m not the kind of enemy you want.” She took a step toward her. “You’re young, and when Daniel looks elsewhere, you’re going to be needing a job. Imagine how bad it will be to find work if I just happen to … whisper some rumors into the ear of a prospective employer. Don’t mess with me, little girl. I will crush you.”
“Give me the pocket watch,” Daniel said, startling both of them.
She’d not even heard Daniel come toward them.
“Darling, we were just talking about—”
“I know what you were talking about. You thought I didn’t hear you. Threatening my girlfriend. You know the only reason I’m here. I want the pocket watch, and then I’m out of here.”
“You’re still after that stupid pocket watch. Even after all of this time. What about your name? Your legacy?”
“I never wanted it. I told you both that years ago. This is done. I want nothing from any of you.” He stepped toward his mother. “If you think to threaten what’s mine again, let’s see if I’ve become the master at raining down all kinds of hell on the both of you. Elizabeth, go and wait in the car.”
She nodded, and brushed past Susan, more than happy to get the hell out of that house. The mansion may look beautiful on the outside, but within it was evil. His parents were cruel people, and she hoped she never had to see them again.
Daniel didn’t take long, coming back to the car minutes later.
Within seconds they were driving out of the mansion, and onto the main road. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him pull out the pocket watch, handing it to her.
The gold was well worn, but over the years it had been cared for.
“Open it, read it,” he said.
She opened the watch, and turning on the light in the car, she read the inscription. “Daniel, never forget who you are, and make your own way with my blessing.” It was signed by his grandfather. “That’s all you wanted?”
“It means something to me.”
“Can your parents do that? Can they ruin me?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t let that happen.”
“But they can. You’re not going to be around forever, and even you said you’re not interested in relationships. They can do what they want, and it won’t bother you.”
“I’ve told you I wouldn’t let anything happen.”
“You can’t control everything, Daniel.” She felt tears fill her eyes, and she closed them. Everything his mother said scared her.
She’d fallen in love with Daniel, and she’d known it all along, but she’d been fighting it. She didn’t fit into that world, or any of his world. They’d met each other because he wanted sex without complications. She provided that.
“Don’t do this, Elizabeth. Damn it, don’t let her get to you.”
“I’m falling in love with you, Daniel. You don’t want that, or this, and I can’t … I can’t keep pretending that I don’t have feelings anymore. I’m sorry.”
She saw him grip the steering wheel even tighter.
“Elizabeth.”
“I want you to take me home, and then I don’t want you to talk to me or contact me in any other way. I don’t think I can handle the pain.” Speaking the truth didn’t help her, not one bit. In fact, she was even more brokenhearted because the truth was finally out.
He didn’t love her.
He’d never love her, and she’d fallen for him.
She’d broken his rules, and it would only be fair that she gave him a clean break.
“No,” he said. “This isn’t over. We were fine until we got there.”
She shook her head. “We weren’t fine. Not really. You want something and I thought I could give it to you, but I failed, Daniel. I failed you. I’m so sorry.” She looked at him through teary eyes. “I tried, but I love you.”
Wiping the tears away, she tried to ignore the pain as he didn’t say a word. They’d never had this much silence before, not that she could recall, and knowing he didn’t feel the same way, broke her heart.
What did you expect?
He didn’t promise anything.
He paid for everything.
Whatever happened, Elizabeth knew she would never be the same again.
****
Daniel gripped the steering wheel even tighter. His rage knew no bounds as he recalled what his fucking mother said to Elizabeth. She’d not given in, though. There hadn’t been a sum she’d been willing to settle for, but now he felt like the fucking loser.
He’d gained his grandfather’s pocket watch, and it had cost him Elizabeth.
Her words of love didn’t fill him with rage, and he couldn’t bring himself to respond to her. Time passed, and it didn’t feel long enough when he pulled up outside of Elizabeth’s apartment.
Everything in him screamed for him to stop her, but he didn’t. The rules he’d been clear on. Don’t fall in love with him. It was only sex.
It’s not just sex anymore.
She climbed out of the car and he followed her, grabbing her suitcase from the trunk. He held onto it a few seconds longer, and tugged her close. Normally, she fell against him, accepting the kiss.
This time, she didn’t. Her eyes were red from crying, and he felt like the biggest asshole in the world. He’d done this. He’d made her cry.
Stepping away, he watched her leave without saying a word.
Rules were rules.
Rules are made to be broken.
Climbing back into his car, he didn’t look back.
It was a lot easier not to look back, or to think as he went home to his very empty apartment. The Christmas he had planned was totally screwed because his parents couldn’t keep their mouths shut.
Pouring himself a large shot of the strongest whiskey he owned, he paused when he caught sight of a selfie picture he’d taken at Thanksgiving. Elizabeth was curled up against him, his arm wrapped around her, and he was kissing her head. They looked happy, and he realized that he’d fallen for her long ago, even before he stopped paying for her.
Throwing the glass across the room, he watched it shatter, spilling liquid down the wall.
He didn’t lose, not ever, and he wouldn’t lose his shit over this. Elizabeth had made her choice. Even as he thought this, he couldn’t help but recall he never got the chance to call her Lizzie. Such a stupid, trivial thing, and yet it struck a nerve inside him.