Chapter Four
1199 Words
With the paparazzi gone, Daniel turned and headed into the house, all but dragging Nina behind him as he ignored her shouts. The door closed behind them with a soft click ans silence engulfed Nina’s senses. Daniel walked ahead, with barely controlled fury as he turned towards her. He walked towards Nina and she stumbled backwards, scared. Then she remembered Katie. Her sister was lying helplessly in a hospital bed because of this cruel man. She could not let him intimidate her.
Nina stepped forward hesitantly, shoulders squared, chin up. The room felt too pristine for the storm gathering between them. Daniel stopped three paces in front of her, his expression cool and unyielding.
“Would you like to explain,” he said, voice low and dangerously even, “why you seem determined to disrupt my life?”
Nina blinked against the heat building behind her eyes. “I’m not trying to disrupt your life. You’re the one who’s disrupted mine and my sister’s”, she shouted.
Daniel’s gaze hardened. “You followed me from Manhattan to Paris, confronted me in public, made accusations in front of my staff, and to crown it up, you brought the paparazzi into my home?” His voice had gone up several decibels now. “If that is not a deliberate attempt at ruining my life, or trying to get into my pockets, then I’m curious to hear your definition of the word.”
“You tried to kill my sister”, she screamed as tears welled up in her eyes.
Silence stretched in the air.
This woman was most certainly mad. Well, he didn’t have time for any of her games. He saw the tears in her eyes and almost caved.
No. She was just trying to manipulate him.
Daniel took another look at her, then noticed the dirty, brown leather bag that hung from her shoulders. He grabbed it and poured out its contents onto the floor.
“Hey! What do you think you are doing?”
Daniel ignored her and continued to rummage through the contents of her bag. He found her ID card. Nina Monroe. That was the name of this beautiful, maddening, nymph of a woman.
“Are you trying to find some kind of evidence to justify killing me, just to keep your misdeeds from coming out?” She glared at him.
Daniel stared at her. Was the woman serious? He looked into her eyes again, trying to determine whether she was joking, or simply out of her mind.
“Nina Monroe…,” he said slowly, “what exactly did you—”
A deep, hollow rumble tore from her stomach and Nina’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She had been so focused on getting Daniel to save her sister that she had totally forgotten she hadn’t eaten in two days.
She winced at the thought and pressed a hand against her abdomen. Before she could say anything, a wave of dizziness swept through her. The walls blurred and her knees buckled.
Daniel moved instantly.
He caught her just as she began to sway, one arm firm around her waist, the other steadying her shoulder as her body collapsed into him. For a moment, he held her against himself, feeling the delicious warmth of her body send tingles up his spine. Her skin, soft and so delicate, brushed his fingers.
And something in him stilled.
Their eyes met, hers glazed with exhaustion, his caught between concern and disgust. The woman had an unexplainable effect on him. He didn’t like it.
Then, as if suddenly aware they were still entangled in each other's arms, they jerked apart. Daniel cleared his throat lightly, attempting to ignore what had just happened.
“You’re exhausted,” he said. “And starving.”
She lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m alright.”
“You nearly collapsed onto my floor,” he replied. Now, you might not care if anything happens to you but this is my house. You can collapse however you want when you leave my premises but not even a minute before.
He took out his phone and made a call.
“Mrs. Corbin, please prepare a meal. Something light. Yes, immediately.”
As Nina opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand.
“You need food. My housekeeper will make you a meal but before that…
He took her hand again and pulled her towards the huge, spiral staircase to the first floor of the villa.
“Let me go.” Nina shouted, trying to pull his hands off her but she was no match for his strength. He ignored her and continued pulling her until he came to a stop in front of a door.
He opened the door and pushed her inside the room.
…stay in here and get some rest. Mrs Corbin will bring you dinner when it’s ready. You are not allowed to leave this room until you tell me what you hope to achieve by coming here and making baseless accusations.”
“I am not making baseless accusations. You slept with my sister, knocked her up, and now you’re refusing to take responsibility”, she screamed.
Daniel looked at her and shook his head.
“Since you’re bent on selling this ridiculous story, you will stay here and reflect”
Nina gasped. “I don’t know what Katie saw in you but you are an asshole. Do you even remember her? Katie. Katie Monroe is her name”, she said, tears burning in her eyes.
‘What did you say?’ he asked sharply, stopping in his tracks.
Nina was perplexed for a second. He looked genuinely confused. And then she saw a flicker of something cross his face. Recognition. Anger surged all over again; apparently Katie hadn’t made that much of an impression.
‘You are unbelievable. You can sleep with someone and not even recall their name unless probed?’
He closed the distance between them and took her shoulders roughly. She bit back a gasp. As if he just now realized how fragile she was, he dropped his hands abruptly and she stumbled back, but kept standing even though everything swayed for a second.
She could not be weak. Not here, not now. She had to be strong for Katie.
He enunciated his words very slowly. ‘Be clear. I have very little patience left. What is it you want?’
Nina tilted her chin up and she unknowingly confirmed his cynical prediction.
‘What I want, Mr Beaumont, is money. I need money for my sister’s care. If you don’t give it to us, then her unborn child is in serious danger of not coming to term.’ Her voice shook ominously.
‘Your baby. Or don’t you even care about that?’
Daniel frowned.
‘What on earth are you talking about, woman?’ She was talking in riddles. He guessed she truly was a little crazy? She also looked like a gust of wind would blow her off her feet any second now and he steeled himself not to give in to the delicate image she was trying to project.
‘Chère—what are you talking about?
- Writer
