Page 77 of Arrogant and Merciless

Not even on my first day at work did I see him. I don’t know if he’s avoiding me or if he just works a lot, but the fact is, we haven’t even bumped into each other in the hallway. And today is already the third time I’ve come to play for the children.

Our only contact after the dinner at his house was a text message the next day, where he gave me instructions on who to report to when I arrived at the hospital.

As promised, there was a driver waiting for me outside Jackie’s building, with a security car following behind. No one can accuse him of not taking his promises seriously. If just the possibility of pregnancy makes him this cautious, then if I really am pregnant, I’ll probably be protected with the same level of obsession as a member of the royal family.

“I don’t know if I have magic hands, but I love playing and I’m really enjoying the job.”

“Would you like to grab a coffee?”

“Sure.”

* * *

Thirty minutes later, she has already told me a good part of her life story.

And what a story.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” she says.

“Are you always this open with strangers?”

“No, but Athanasios told me you were in a coma. Now you know that I was too. More than anyone, I understand how hard it is to come back.”

“It’s not that hard. Maybe in my case, it would’ve been better if I had stayed that way forever.”

“Why?”

“I don’t remember anything.”

“What?”

“Do you have time?”

“I do.”

I tell her everything, even the part about people thinking I was William’s father’s mistress.

“But you don’t think you were?”

“I know I wasn’t, Brooklyn. Aside from the fact that I felt absolutely nothing for that man during the year we spent together, my best friend, Jackie, said I was in love with . . .” I trail off. “Swear to God you won’t tell Athanasios.”

“I won’t, Taylor. You have my word.”

“Jackie said I was in love with William. If that’s true, how could I have been with his father?”

“Yeah, that really doesn’t make any sense. So, you two aren’t doing well?”

I spin the empty espresso cup in my hands. “He hates me, despises me, or both.”

“Then what are you doing here? Sorry, but why would someone who hates you hire you?”

I shrug. “Who knows? Maybe to keep an eye on me. To make sure I don’t ruin another family.”

“Or because he can’t let you go.”

“He wants me, but as he himself said, it’s just physical. That’s why he kept seeing models and actresses.”

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