Chapter 7
486 Words
The front door opened at 7 PM.
Reilly heard it from the kitchen. Martha had just set down tea. One cup. For her.
Liam walked in without looking at anything. Suit rumpled with Owen behind him holding his briefcase. He was mid-sentence about a deal when he saw her.
He stopped talking.
Vanessa was right behind him, heels clicking, smile sharp. "There you are. I was just telling Reilly about family dinners-"
Liam held up one hand. Vanessa shut up.
He looked at Reilly. Really looked. At the dress she'd worn two days straight. At the tea in front of her instead of dinner. At how she didn't stand up when he came in.
"What are you doing down here," he said. Not a question. Flat.
"Waiting," Reilly answered. Her voice was steady. Barely. "Martha said you like to eat alone, so I waited in the kitchen."
Liam's jaw tightened. "I said we don't pretend at home. That means you don't wait for me." He dropped his keys on the counter. Loud. "It means you stay in your room. You eat when I'm not here. You don't talk to my sister unless I'm present."
Vanessa smirked behind him.
Reilly stood up slowly. The chair scraped. "I was trying to be polite."
"Don't," Liam cut her off. "Polite isn't part of the contract, Reilly. The contract says six months. Show up when the madame calls. Sign papers. Don't embarrass me. That's it." He walked past her to the stairs. "Owen, take her plate away. She eats in her room from now on."
"Don't," Reilly said, louder this time.
He paused on the first step. Didn't turn. "Don't what?"
"Don't treat me like I'm nothing. My father sold me for 30 million. You bought me. That should count for something."
Liam turned then. Slow. His eyes were dead again. Colder than yesterday. Colder than the chapel.
"You think buying you means I owe you respect?" He took one step down. Close enough that she could smell his cologne. "Your father sold you because you're desperate. I bought you because my mother is dying and she wants to see me married before she goes. That's all you are. A signature and a body in a wedding photo."
Vanessa's smile got wider.
Liam leaned in. "So go to your room, Reilly. Eat your tea. And stay out of my way. That's how you survive six months here."
He went upstairs. Didn't look back.
Owen took her cup. Martha's eyes were wet.
Reilly stood there alone in the kitchen. The house was too big. The silence was too loud.
Six months.
It felt like a life sentence.
- Writer
