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  I take the suitcase out of her hand and place it on the floor beside us.

  ‘Rupert’s outside,’ she says. I already knew that. I heard him pull up before she came downstairs. She’s trying to play it down, but I can clearly see that she feels apprehensive about leaving here.

  ‘Do you trust me?’ I ask, cupping her beautiful face.

  Her brow furrows. ‘Yes, why?’

  ‘Good. I need you to wait here for me. I’m going outside to talk to Rupert for a minute. Okay?’

  ‘Sure. Okay.’ There’s uncertainty and confusion on her face as she tries to make sense of what I’m saying.

  ‘Just give me a few minutes with him, and then I’ll explain everything.’ Her brow furrows again, but she doesn’t reply. It hits me right in the chest. I have no idea what lies ahead for us, but I know that I’ll protect and care for this woman with everything I have. Pulling her into my arms, I hold her face protectively against my chest. ‘Everything is going to be okay, sweetheart,’ I say, trying to reassure her. ‘Promise me you’ll stay here.’

  ‘All right.’

  Fuck, I hope I’m doing the right thing.

  Rupert leaves the car when I walk down the front steps. ‘Mr Weston,’ he says as I stop in front of him.

  ‘Rupert,’ I reply, extending my hand to him.

  ‘Is there a problem with Jade?’ he asks, looking down at his watch. ‘I need to get her back to M’s.’

  ‘She’s not going back.’

  ‘Excuse me?’ he says, frowning.

  ‘She’s staying here with me. I refuse to send her back there.’ I wait for him to react, but he doesn’t. Instead I see his features relax and the corners of his mouth turn up slightly.

  ‘Is that what she wants?’ he asks.

  ‘She doesn’t know yet, but I’m almost certain she’ll be fine with it.’

  ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing? She’s not going to give Jade up without a fight. She has an unhealthy obsession with her.’

  ‘I’m not afraid of her,’ I scoff, because I’m not. ‘If she wants to fuck with me—or someone I care about—then she better bring her best show, because I’ll fight her with everything I have.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear that,’ he says, placing his hand on my shoulder. ‘Jade needs someone like you in her life. But, I must warn you, be prepared for anything and everything. This woman is the lowest of low. She’ll stop at nothing to get her way. I’ve never met anyone like her before—she’s one of a kind.’

  ‘You obviously haven’t met my father then.’ I chuckle, but there’s no humour in it.

  ‘No, I haven’t.’

  ‘If you have such a dislike for her, why do you continue working for her?’

  He looks away, running his fingers through his hair. ‘I have my reasons.’

  I get the impression there’s a story there, but I don’t have time for that right now.

  ‘Can you give this to M for me? There’s a note enclosed that explains everything.’ I pass him the grey backpack that contains one million dollars in cash. The note explains if she tears up Jade’s contract and gives me something in writing to that effect, I’ll give her a further two million dollars. That should more than pay for the remainder of time Jade has left with her. Money talks, and this woman is greedy. Whether she accepts my terms or not, Jade will not be returning. ‘I’m sorry to put you in this position, but I couldn’t see any other way.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me,’ Rupert replies. ‘I can handle myself. To be honest, I’m grateful for what you’re doing. Jade deserves to be free of the life she’s been leading. It’s no place for a sweet girl like her. If I wasn’t in the position I’m in, I would’ve taken her away from it a long time ago.’

  ‘You still have my card, right?’

  ‘I do,’ he answers.

  ‘If you need anything, just call. There’ll always be a job waiting for you here if you decide not to continue working for that bitch. I mean that.’

  ‘I need to stay where I am for now, but thank you. If the opportunity arises where I can leave, I’ll definitely take you up on that offer.’ He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card. ‘Here’s my number as well, just in case you ever need anything.’

  ‘Great. Thank you.’ I shake his hand once more.

  ‘Look after Jade for me. I’m going to miss her, she was the highlight of my job.’ There’s definitely a hint of sadness in his voice. I’m sure they’ve grown close over the years.

  ‘I will. I’m pretty sure she’ll miss you too. You’re welcome to come visit any time you like. I appreciate everything you’ve done for her over the years, mate. I know she’s very fond of you.’

  I’m quite concerned for his wellbeing as he gets back into the car to leave. The shit is going to hit the fan when he gets back to M’s. I feel like a prick for putting him in this position, he seems like a decent guy. I hope he doesn’t suffer any fallout from the decisions I’ve made.

  I wait until he reaches the end of the driveway before I turn and walk up the front stairs. Now to face the music with Jade. I hope she doesn’t hate me for what I’ve just done.

  *

  JADE

  Butterflies churn in my stomach as I wait for Brock to re-enter the house. I have no idea why he needed to see Rupert alone, but it concerns me. Maybe he’s going to ask him to keep a closer eye on me. There’s no need for that. Rupert takes great care of me. I’d be lost without him in my life. I know he’s under M’s iron rule just as much as I am, but he helps me out whenever possible.

  Minutes pass and Brock still doesn’t return. Pulling my phone out of my bag, I check the time. What’s taking them so long? M is going to be pissed off if we don’t leave soon.

  My head snaps up the moment the front door opens. The solemn look on Brock’s face does nothing to ease my mind. My heart starts to beat out of my chest as he approaches me.

  ‘What’s going on?’ I ask.

  ‘You’re staying here.’

  ‘What?’ Has he requested me for another night?

  ‘Jade,’ he says, pulling me into his arms. I can hear his heart beating rapidly as my face rests against his chest. ‘I can’t send you back there in good conscience. Not now that I know the truth.’

  I put my hands on his abdomen and push away before taking a further step back. ‘What do you mean I’m not going back there? I have to go back,’ I blurt in a panic. Of course I don’t want too, but I know I don’t have a choice. God, what has he done? Brock’s delusional if he thinks he can refuse to take me back without consequences. My hands are trembling as I cover my face with them. Images of what she did to one of the girls who tried to leave the profession flash through my mind.

  This will not end well.

  ‘I’m not sending you back there, Jade. That’s final.’

  I can tell by the forceful tone of his voice that he means what he’s saying. Has he lost his fucking mind? No one makes demands like this to M. Nobody tells her what to do. She’ll rip him apart, and me for that matter.

  ‘Look at me, sweetheart,’ he says, pulling my hands away from my face and crouching down slightly so we’re at eye level. When my eyes meet his, he gives me an unsure smile. ‘I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. You’re safe with me.’

  ‘You don’t know her like I do, Brock—she’s ruthless.’

  ‘I’m not afraid of her,’ he states matter-of-factly.

  ‘You should be.’ M’s middle name might as well be crazy-arse-she-devil-bitch.

  ‘Well, I’m not. I’ll protect you. Please tell me you’re not angry at me for doing this. I can’t bear the thought of you going back there. I want you here with me.’

  Tears rise to my eyes. I’m so overwhelmed. Am I actually free of her—and my shitty life?

  ‘Are you happy to stay here with me? At least for the interim, anyway. Until we sort this mess out.’

  ‘Yes … no … I, um, I don’t know.’ Is this really happening? ‘I want to be wherever you a
re,’ I wanted to say. Even though it’s the truth, I had no intention of telling him. I don’t want him to think I’m clingy or needy, because I’m not. I’ve been alone all my life. I’m used to rejection. Nobody has every truly wanted me.

  Raising my head, I make eye contact with him again. ‘I don’t want to go back there, but she’s not going to just roll over and accept this.’

  ‘She doesn’t have a choice. My mind is made up.’

  His words surprise me, but annoy me as well. ‘Do I even get a say in this?’ I snap as I put my hands on my hips. I’m hurt by the statement he just made. Don’t get me wrong, I love that he feels so protective towards me, but I refuse to be dictated to. I’ve had to deal with shit all my life—I refuse to let him do it to me as well.

  ‘Of course you have a say, as long as it doesn’t involve you going back to work for her.’

  I narrow my eyes at him.

  ‘Don’t look at me like that, Jade. I’m not trying to control you, I’m trying to protect you.’

  ‘By doing whatever it is you’ve just done, you’ve put me in danger. You’ve put both of us in danger. You didn’t even discuss it with me first.’

  ‘She won’t get anywhere near you.’ He places his hands on my shoulders as he stares into my eyes. ‘I couldn’t risk having you talk me out of this. That’s the only reason I didn’t discuss it with you first. I care about you, Jade. I’ve never cared for a woman like I do you.’

  I fight hard to suppress my smile when he says that. I care about him too. Nobody has ever made me feel like this before, but all that is irrelevant at the moment. We have a bigger problem to face—M.

  ‘You can’t protect me twenty-four-seven, Brock. And what if she does something to you? How am I supposed to live with that?’ Once again, I’m feeling completely overwhelmed. My legs are threatening to give way. ‘I think I need to sit down,’ I say.

  ‘Come,’ he replies, sliding his arm around my waist and leading me into the main room. The moment he’s seated, he pulls me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me. ‘I’m sorry to just spring this on you, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I haven’t thought much beyond right now, I’ll get a more structured plan in place today. I’m confident M will accept my offer.’

  ‘What offer?’ I ask.

  ‘I’m not naive enough to think she’d let you out of your contract without payment.’

  ‘You paid her?’ Jesus. What is it with rich people? They think because they have money, they can use it to buy whatever they like. I’m sorry, but I’m a human being. I’m not for sale. I work for M because she made me feel like I owed her. I don’t owe Brock shit. I go to stand, but he tightens his grip on my waist.

  ‘Don’t run from me, Jade. I did the only thing I could. Money talks, especially to someone like her.’

  ‘So you bought me?’

  ‘No. I bought your freedom, sweetheart.’

  I sigh at his words. Although they melt my heart a little, I don’t like this situation. I don’t like it one bit. M thought she owned me. Is that how Brock’s going to see things now?

  ‘I’m sorry, it’s just, I don’t want to feel indebted to you. That’s what got me into this whole mess in the first place.’

  ‘You’re not indebted to me. That’s not why I did this. I’m doing it for you, I don’t want you to live like that anymore.’

  ‘How much did you give her? I want to pay you back.’ I wasn’t in a position to pay M back when she first told me I’d be working for her. I was eighteen and penniless—I’m not anymore.

  ‘It’s irrelevant.’

  ‘Please, Brock. This is important to me. I have money in the bank. I’ve been saving everything I’ve earned since I started working for her. It was money for my future. It was what I was going to use to buy my restaurant when my contract had expired. I’d happily give that dream away if it meant I had my freedom.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not taking your money, Jade, and that’s final.’

  ‘Yes, you are,’ I snap. ‘I’m not comfortable with this. I don’t want to feel like I owe you.’

  ‘Listen,’ he says sternly. ‘You don’t owe me jackshit, Jade. You’re free to come and go as you please. Well, after I know you’re safe, that is.’ He rubs his hands over his face before continuing. When his eyes meet mine again, I can see the uncertainty etched in his features as his voice softens. ‘I’d really like you to stay.’

  Everything in me wants to believe him. I want to believe that what Brock and I share is special, and that I really do mean something to him. But when you’ve been let down and screwed over your whole life, it’s hard to trust.

  ‘I want to be with you,’ he says.

  My heartbeat quickens. ‘Why?’ I’m used goods; he couldn’t possibly want me for more than that.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘It won’t work. We’re from two different worlds.’

  ‘Yes it will,’ he says with confidence.

  ‘But what if we fall?’ I don’t know if I could take a blow like that. Not where he’s concerned.

  ‘But what if we fly?’

  I love his optimism.

  But it’s too much, too soon. I’m not sure I can wrap my head around any of this. All I know is I have that sick feeling in my stomach again. It’s the same one I used to get when I was a little girl. There’s definitely trouble looming, I’ll put money on it.

  For the next few minutes, Brock soothingly rubs my back as we sit in silence. I’m happy, but also scared. I’m unsure of what lies ahead, but I’m grateful he’s trying to help me escape M. Even though I’m pretty sure it’s impossible.

  Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. It’s something I’ve always wished for since I was a child: someone to care enough to not only want what’s best for me, but to care enough to remove me from my living hell.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he asks, using his fingers to turn my face to his.

  I shrug. ‘I don’t know.’ That’s the most honest answer I can give him right now.

  He places a soft kiss on my lips as my arms snake around his neck. I need to seek comfort in him. He’s the only one who has the power to do that.

  ‘Everything is going to work out. I promise.’

  I’m glad he’s so confident.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  JADE

  Forty minutes is all it takes for all hell to break loose. Forty minutes from the time Rupert left, to the time M is banging on Brock’s front door like a psychotic crazy woman on a mission to take me back to my living hell. I knew it.

  ‘Go upstairs and lock yourself in my bedroom,’ Brock demands.

  Even though I’m trembling again, there’s no way I’m leaving him to face this on his own. ‘I’m staying right here.’

  ‘Listen to me, Jade,’ he says, forcefully gripping my arm. ‘Go upstairs and lock yourself in my fucking room now.’

  ‘No.’ I’m trying my best to act calm and not let my true feelings show, but truth is, I’m petrified of this woman. Still, I refuse to leave him.

  ‘I know you’re in there, open this door immediately!’ we hear M scream, in that don’t-fuck-with-me voice I’ve come to know well over the years.

  ‘Jesus fucking Christ,’ Brock snaps. ‘I can’t protect you if you don’t listen to me.’

  ‘I’m staying, so you may as well open the damn door.’

  Brock exhales a large breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. ‘Fuck,’ he mumbles. ‘So help me … if she lays one finger on you, I’ll kill her.’ He gathers me protectively behind him as he approaches the door. ‘Do not leave my side.’

  ‘I’ve come to collect Jade,’ M says calmly the minute Brock opens the door. I’m surprised by how this woman has so quickly regained her cool.

  ‘As I told you in my letter, she won’t be returning to work for you.’

  ‘Listen here, you arrogant fuck,’ M spits. I’m still strategically placed behind Brock, so she hasn’t noticed I’m here yet. �
�I’m not having some cocky little prick dictate to me. She is under contract to me and I suggest you return her immediately.’

  ‘Or what?’ Brock says. ‘You don’t scare me. You know as well as I do that contact will not stand up in court.’

  ‘I’ll ask you one more time, Mr Weston. Return Jade to me this instant or I won’t be held responsible for what happens.’

  ‘Do you have my million dollars?’ he asks, and for a split second my heart drops. He’s not actually planning to give me back to her is he?

  ‘What million dollars? I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Bullshit,’ he snaps.

  When M laughs, I know she’s lying. I don’t even need to look at her face to know she received that money. She’s a snake. She’d rip off her own mother if given the chance. I can’t believe he gave her a million dollars for my freedom.

  ‘Jade,’ she screams. ‘Get your traitorous arse out here now.’

  ‘Hey. Show some respect. Who the fuck do you think you are? I refuse to stand by and let you talk to her like that.’ Brock takes a step in her direction. I follow suit because I’m still shielded behind him. I feel like a coward, hiding from her like this. If I wasn’t so afraid of the repercussions, I’d step forwards and face her. I’ve waited five long years to tell her what I really think. ‘I won’t tolerate it,’ he growls. I feel inclined to wrap my arms around his waist and thank him for sticking up for me like he is.

  ‘Respect. Ha,’ she scoffs. ‘She’s a common whore, Mr Weston, or have you forgotten that?’

  I cringe at her words, but she’s right, I am.

  ‘No thanks to you. You’re the scum of the earth for what you’ve put her through. You should be ashamed of yourself for taking advantage of someone as sweet as Jade.’

  ‘I have no problems sleeping at night.’ Smug bitch. She wouldn’t because she has a black heart. I don’t know why her words hurt me, but they do. ‘I see I trained her well. One taste and she’s turned you into putty. Pathetic. I’m sure your father would be very proud,’ she says with disgust in her voice.

  God, I hate her. I refuse to stand by for one more second while she continues to insult him.