Caught Between Multiple Mates

Chapter 9: Annalise POV

As I stare out the car window all I can do is picture Haddon Marx. My whole body heats up and feels like electricity is running through it. I had a very similar reaction to Maggie earlier which really confused me. I had never felt that way about anyone let alone my best friend. Yes, I had finally woken up to the reality that Maggie was truly my friend and not just some girl who hung around. Despite how scary the event in the bathroom was for some reason I’m at peace now. Something changed inside me, something I cannot describe beyond the feeling of freedom.

“Anna? Anna?!”

Henry’s impatient angry voice boomed in the car. I covered my ears. Angry loud voices had always been my kryptonite. I struggled to keep my composure when someone was angry or aggressive.

“We have arrived. Grab your stuff.”

I looked up and saw that we were outside a nice multi-story high rise building in the city. Henry grabbed my door and opened it before I could process his request. He looked at me with expectant eyes, my father’s eyes.

“Come on, Anna, let me show you the best thing you’ve ever seen. You’ll love it.”

He led me to an elevator that took us to the 8th floor. He handed me a key card that had 802 on it in big bold black numbers. It had a pink lanyard and a heart keychain on it. I looked from the card to him confused. Why would he have a pink one?

“That’s for you, I have one for myself. He pulled out a green lanyard and card and showed me how the card reader worked. The light blinked green and he opened the door.

“Let me give you the tour. I’ve been working on this for months.”

He put his hand on my back and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I never liked being touched by Uncle Henry. I tried to ignore the uncomfortable suffocating anxiety coursing through my body.

“This is my kitchen, updated with the best of the best. The living room has a state of the art sound system. Let me show you the bedrooms.”

Bedrooms? Why would a bachelor with no children need multiple bedrooms? Seemed like a waste of money in my opinion.

First he showed me his office. Sometimes I forgot he was a practicing attorney. His laptop was open and his paperwork was on display. It looked like a real office like inside an office building. Nothing unusual about that.

Then he showed me his bedroom. It was large with a king sized bed. There was minimal furniture and decor, minimalist. Henry was very low maintenance in that way. Despite that initial assessment I realized everything was new and expensive. This was unusually luxurious for Henry. Unnecessarily luxurious.

“Last but not least..”

He turned the last door knob and led me into a medium-sized bedroom painted lavender. The twin sized bed had purple bedding. Everything was very colorful. It was cute and reminded me of the bedrooms I used to have sleepovers in at my friend’s houses back when I was 12. I used to be so envious of those girls whose parents cared enough. I have lived and slept in the same bedroom my whole life and it has dirty flaky off white walls with no posters or decorations to liven it up. This purple pastel haven on the other hand had posters, canvas art, fairy lights, and floral decor that was popular some years ago. Where did he find all this? How would he know there was a time where I would have begged on my knees to have this room? Was he adopting a 12-year old girl? God I hope not. For her sake.

“I’ve been wanting to give you the bedroom of your dreams since you were in elementary school. I tried to buy you things and your parents would get upset and throw tantrums. They usually broke it or sold it.”

I looked over at him. He looked upset. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him get emotional before beyond his outbursts of rage. Unfortunately for me anger issues run in my family. Uncle Henry was no exception.

“I started buying stuff and kept it all in storage until I had a place of my own. I know it’s probably a little childish for a 19 year old girl but I really wanted you to see what I’d been working towards all these years. While my brother turned to drugs and shitty parenting I put myself through law school so I could take care of you once you were old enough to come to me on your own.”

I felt my heart restrict and my lungs became heavy. I couldn’t breathe. Was he suggesting I live in this room in this place with him? I opened my mouth and tried to speak for the first time in years. Nothing came out but a wheeze as my lungs fought for air.

“Anna, baby, are you okay? Are you that excited?”

He pulled me into his arms. I panicked. And fought, sort of. I pushed at his face and pulled away. In my panic I got twisted up in his arms.

“There, there, it’s okay,” he cooed, almost mockingly. He was bigger and stronger and acting so calm as I panicked my way into a fainting spell.

The last thing I remember is the soft plush bed under me and his hand brushing my hair. And his voice. “Rest, baby, rest. You’ll love your new room in time. You’ll come to love me in time.”