"Are you nuts? I'm not going with you. I have a life here," I exclaimed. I still couldn't believe what I was hearing. Am I stuck inside a cheesy soap opera?
"Do you have any idea what kind of situation you're in?" Ethan countered. "You're now the prime target of one of the biggest mafia families. I'm only trying to protect you."
"By imprisoning me in your home?" I accused.
"Call it what you like, but you're coming with me," he said sternly.
Shit. Ethan didn't look like he was planning on listening to anything I say. I could make a run for it, but where would I go? He was right about one thing. I was in a bad situation.
"Goddammit. I should've kept my nerdy look from high school. Why did I have to go and become sexier," I said and sighed.
Ethan chuckled. "Someone's a little full of himself. But hey, I would come after you no matter what you look like," he declared. His eyes twinkled under the moonlight.
"Ethan...um...where exactly are you taking me?" I asked hesitantly.
"You'll see," he said mysteriously. Should I be scared? I thought.
The helicopter ride was long and noisy. I felt sick to my stomach. A feeling of dread slowly rising inside my belly. Where was he taking me? Was he planning on keeping me imprisoned like Jacob? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it's with Ethan. I mean...
STUPID! Of course it'd be just as bad. I didn't grow up and worked hard to become someone's sex slave.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally arrived. Wherever that might be.
I gasped as I looked at the giant mansion standing before me. I knew Ethan was inherently rich, but I had no idea he was this rich.
"This belonged to my grandfather. He left it for me when he died," he smirked as he saw the bewildered look on my face.
"This is insane," I whistled.
A young man who looked about 18 or 20 approached us. "Welcome back, Mr. Miller, everything is ready for you," he said.
"Thank you, Marc. This is Corey Price. He'll be staying with us indefinitely," Ethan introduced us.
"It's good to have you here, Mr. Price," Marc smiled brightly. He seemed friendly enough.
"Let's go inside. I called Charles and asked him to prepare some clothes for you."
"Who is Charles?" I asked.
"He takes care of this house. I guess he is sort of like my butler. You can ask him to get anything you need, and he'll do it," Ethan said,
"Can he get me freedom and help me escape from you?" I said sarcastically.
Ethan chuckled. "I'm afraid he is still my loyal employee, so the answer is no."
Dammit.
"Charles! Are you in there?" Ethan called. His voice echoed through the house. The inside of the house was just as lavish as the outside. As soon as I entered through the front door, I was greeted inside a giant hall room with spiral stairs that looped upstairs. There were gorgeous paintings decorated the walls.
I heard footsteps coming from behind me. "Welcome home, Mr. Miller," a deep voice spoke. It must be Charles. I turned around, and my pulse quickened.
When I heard the name Charles, I expected someone older with gray hair and a beard. Someone who walked with a slight limp because he was too weak and fragile with age. Not this guy who looked like the descendant of Apollo or something.
He was as tall as Ethan with tousled brown hair and grey eyes. His skin was tanned as if he spent most of his time outside. He was well built. Not as muscular as Ethan, but fit nonetheless. The shape of his eyes almost resembled the eyes of a fox.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Price," Charles said.
"Pleasure is all mine," I tried not to drool as I gazed into his silvery grey eyes. Ethan must be out of his mind for trusting me near this beautiful creature.
Ethan must've sensed my attraction toward him because I saw him glaring at me in my peripheral vision. I grinned. Maybe I can drive him crazy by making him jealous.
"Enough pleasantries. Have you prepared some clothes for Corey?" Ethan asked.
"I laid them down in his room, sir," Charles said.
"Are you going to help me put them on, Charles?" I said flirtatiously.
"Sir?" Charles looked at me with surprise.
"He is kidding. Pay no attention to him and just be on your way," Ethan barked.
"I'll go prepare dinner," Charles said quickly and left the room.
"You come with me," Ethan said and grabbed my arm. He pulled me towards the stairs, and before I could protest, he dragged me upstairs. There were several bedrooms lined up upstairs. Ethan dragged me to the end of the hall and stopped in front of a room. He took me inside and slammed the door shut.
"Jeez, no need to be so forceful," I complained.
Ethan pushed me against the wall and put his arms on my sides, caging me in. His blue eyes were glowing. "Why were you gawking at Charles."
"I wasn't gawking."
"Bullshit, I thought I'd have to pick up your jaw off the floor," Ethan barked.
I laughed. He was definitely jealous. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you never noticed how gorgeous he is?" I paused to see his reaction to my comment.
Ethan grew quiet. For a moment, I thought he'd glare at me or yell at me, but his face relaxed. "I've never been attracted to a man other than you," he said and stared at me intensely.
"That's insane. You're lying," I said.
"I'm not lying," he leaned over and lightly kissed my lower lip.
I couldn't help but blush. I hated how deeply he affected me. "Well...I have, and Charles is a sexy motherfucker. You better let me go home because being near him might make me horny. By the way, is he gay?" I feigned interest in Charles to piss Ethan off. Judging from his reaction, it was working like a charm.
"Why, do you want to fuck him?" Asked Ethan with a tight jaw, and I could already smell the trouble I was in.
"What if I do? Are you going to let me? Or are you going to fire Charles?" I asked carefully. I didn't want to take away the man's job by messing around.
"No. Charles is a good employee, and he'd never betray me. But you..." he narrowed. "You're gonna be trouble. I can already tell."
"By the way, what state are we in?" I asked. I figured he took me out of state to keep me away from Jacob's family.
"We are not in the United States anymore," Ethan said.
"What do you mean?" I looked at him with surprise. "Where are we?"
"Welcome to Aruba," Ethan smirked.