Page 189 of Let Me Keep You

After I’m in my car, I wipe the taste of him from my lips and pop a piece of gum in my mouth. I can still smell the faint hint of his cologne on my shirt from where he got too close and rubbed against me. Just the thought of him touching me makes me want to soak in bleach. At the beginning of our relationship, I wondered why he was single because he’s good looking, has a ton of money, and seemed to want to make me happy. Now, I realize he’s crazy as hell and probably pushed every single woman away. What a disaster.

The first place I go is to the courthouse to file the paperwork. There’s no way I’m going to allow anything to get in my way. Considering it’s Monday morning, the line is long, but I don’t mind waiting. Hell, I’d wait the rest of the week right here as long as it meant this was finalized and recorded in the deed book. When I get to the window, I’m relieved to see a woman I don’t know because I really don’t want anyone in my business right now. I happily pay the filing fee to get everything transferred over to my name. For the first time in a couple of weeks, I feel as if I can breathe again.

Afterward, I go to the bank and pay for a lockbox so I can keep all of my important documents in one place. I don’t trust Robert, and I have no place safe to keep things. I sign the paperwork, and eventually see Katie who’s with a customer. She waves and gives me a curious look. The papers in my hand are worth their weight in gold, and I need them to stay safe. The ladies here won’t break the rules for Robert, especially with Katie watching everything like a hawk.

Before leaving, I go over to her area and say hello.

“Whatcha up to?” She smiles.

“Not much. Just had to take care of some business.”

“Awesome. You doing okay?” she asks, just as her phone rings.

“Doing good. And it’s fine, answer it. I gotta go anyway,” I tell her, waving goodbye and leaving. The weight on my shoulders isn’t as heavy as it was before, but the fact that I’ll have to appease Robert and make sure I keep my word makes me feel ill. I head to work and try to hold back the sliver of happiness I have. It’s been a while since I’ve smiled, but as I replay what’s happened over the past few weeks and all the threats Robert spewed, I know I made the right choice. There isn’t a single doubt in my body.

As soon as I walk in, Dad comes and greets me. “Hey sweetie, take care of everything?”

He grabs a cup of coffee and pours a mountain of sugar in it. Just so Dad doesn’t worry, I put on the act.

“Yep, got it all sorted out. Thanks for letting me come in late,” I say just as Tyler walks in.

He glances at me, then turns away.

“Don’t forget about dinner Thursday night before you leave,” Dad reminds me.

“I haven’t. I’ll be there come hell or high water,” I promise. This seems to make Dad happy, but Tyler leaves halfway through the conversation.

Somehow, I keep the smile on my face, and Dad gives me a sad expression. “I wish you wouldn’t have done this, Gemma. It’s destroying me.”

“I know, Daddy.” I offer him a smile. “But it’s gonna work out in the end, I promise. I got the deed to the property today. The house and cottage are safe now.” I give him a tight squeeze, wishing he’d understand that I did it all for him.

CHAPTER FORTY

GEMMA

Each day I wake up to an empty house, I’m relieved. The last person I want to see first thing in the morning is Robert, but lately, I haven’t been so lucky. While Robert lives in a beautiful house, the stark white walls make it feel like a prison. I can’t believe I never noticed how much of a robot he is. There’s nothing personal inside this four-thousand-square-foot home. It’s a cookie-cutter version of all the others he’s built down to the interior design. While it’s a nice place, it looks like it came from a magazine, and I hate it more than anything.

I want color on the walls, and my mother’s paintings splashed around my house. There needs to be character and for it to look lived in. Right now, I feel out of place as if I might break something, and that’s no way to live. It’s obvious I’m just another item in Robert’s collection placed inside his pristine house.

After I get dressed, I walk into the kitchen where I find Robert drinking coffee at the table. The morning after the wedding he was up early to have breakfast with a client and was gone most of the day. Not surprising—he doesn’t know how to stop working.

When I glance in his direction, he’s wearing a grin as though he’s happy to see me, and I want to tell him to go straight to hell. But I’m trying to control my anger. The last thing I need is an argument before my coffee.

“Good morning, dear,” he sing-songs, indicating he wants to chat about something. This is typical of him, and I swear at this point, I can predict his next moves.

I grunt, grab a mug from the cabinet, and pour some cream before filling it to the top with liquid caffeine. I sit with my eyes barely open because I’ve slept like shit since I’ve been here.

“I wanted to explain my plans for the rest of the week so we’re on the same schedule.”

I take a big sip, thankful the creamer cooled it down enough to drink immediately. Impatiently, Robert waits for my reply, and I just glare. I never agreed to pretend to want to be with him, just that I would, so this is as good as it’s going to get.

“I have a new client that I’m meeting in Cedar Pines today. Considering it’s five hours away and we have a lot of properties to view, I’ll be there for a couple of days. I’ll be leaving this afternoon and won’t return until Thursday evening. I’ll have no time to prepare for the honeymoon since our flight is early Friday, so you need to pack both of our bags.”

He’s not asking, but rather he’s demanding it.

“Make sure to clean the house and do the laundry too. Just because your mother died when you were young and you weren’t taught the proper way to keep a household, that’s no excuse. I need to know you’re at least trying here, Gemma.”

“I’m sorry?” I finally ask, not ready to write down all the tasks he has for me. It’s absolutely bullshit that he keeps bringing up my mother, and it infuriates me to the point of no return each time he does. If my mother were here, I’m sure she would’ve warned me away from him. Instead of answering, Robert goes back to his newspaper.