Page 20 of Monster

7

Mateo

I gazedout at the ocean as I sipped my espresso. It was the only peace I ever got in my life, staring out at that massive expanse of water. The wind against my face cooled my mind as well as my body, which was necessary with Miss Pettigrew all tied up and helpless in my damn basement.

For the past few days she had been doing nothing but faking her niceties. Gracing me with forced smiled that never reached her eyes and trying to earn my trust with a false facade. I wasn’t born yesterday, though. I’d never be manipulated by the likes of that Pettigrew Clan.

And if she thought I was that easy to fool anyway, she had another thing coming.

She’s strong.

The thought made me grin as I polished off the last of my necessary caffeine intake. Miss Pettigrew was definitely a spitfire of a woman. Resilient. Spoke her mind. Kept herself poised when necessary. Hell, in another life, I might have even attempted to keep her at my side. To make her mine and keep her pregnant until our legacy was all this island had to offer the world.

In this life, however, she was nothing but a nuisance.

After enjoying my fill of the lazy ocean morning, I made my way back inside. A hot shower in a glass case of a bathroom overlooked the ocean, giving the world a view of my body no one else would ever see. All of my scars, and my imperfections, bared to the watery expanse rolled out before me as if I were a king. Hell, to some on this island, I was already King.

This place felt more like home than any other place I’d ever owned.

But, I had an issue downstairs that needed to be dealt with. So, I dried myself off, slipped into one of my more casual suits, and ventured down the stairs.

What I found when I got there, however, was strange to say the least.

When I let myself into the room, Miss Pettigrew didn’t move. I saw the outline of her shadow sitting in the dark, her eyes facing the wall her bed sat next to. I furrowed my brow and clicked on the light. I saw Lyle come out of the bathroom and I quirked an eyebrow at him, waiting for an explanation. But, all he did was shrug.

“Hasn’t moved all day,” he said.

“No point,” Miss Pettigrew said flatly.

I slid my hands into my pockets. “And why’s that?”

She shrugged. “You’re going to kill me, eventually. No point in fighting.”

I grinned. “And what makes you think I’m going to kill you?”

She snickered. “You bought me for ten million and you haven’t raped me yet. That’s how I know.”

“So, I’m the kind of man that either rapes or destroys my possessions?”

“You know what I mean.”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure I do. I mean, I’ve never gotten the urge to fuck my television, if that’s what you mean.”

Lyle chuckled, but Miss Pettigrew didn’t move. She didn’t even wince. I made my way closer to her, venturing around the bed until my eyes saw her face. I leaned against the wall she was staring at and saw the defeated look behind her eyes. I saw the slump of her shoulders.

So, I decided to drive the lesson home.

“Would you like to take your breakfast upstairs?” I asked.

My bodyguard spoke from the corner. “Don’t think that’s a good idea, boss.”

I shot him a look. “Was I speaking with you?”

Lyle fell silent, though Miss Pettigrew still hadn’t looked up. “I don’t care.”

I nodded. “Fair enough.”

She had been broken. Finally, the woman had learned her place. And now that I knew she wasn’t going to go anywhere, I snapped my fingers in the air.

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