Chapter 10: Luxury

Over the next couple of days I was finally starting to get adjusted to living in a mansion. It was a huge change from what I had known for so long. I knew I could get used to this new life far too easily.

While living in the mansion, I hadn’t needed to clean or cook or even make my bed. There was a maid and other servants that Dax had. I liked having a break from having to do everything for myself.

Even my laundry was done every two days. I couldn’t believe how well I was being treated as just a guest. I think it was beyond my expectations. This was some of the best hospitality I had ever experienced. No hotel compared to how I was living here.

I understood why rich people had the kind of life that I had dreamed of in the past. It was nice that I had several months to experience this kind of lifestyle. The only problem was when it ended, and I’d go back to that crappy apartment.

On the bright side, I hadn’t been seeing Dax very much. He may have lived there but was always busy doing something for the company and on call 24/7. Not that I had tried to talk to him after our failed attempt at dinner.

He hadn’t tried that hard to converse or interact with me much either. I figured he wanted to keep his distance, which was fine with me. I just wanted to get through the pregnancy and hope to never see him again.

I finally had to go back to work one morning, and woke up earlier than I had been. I quickly got out of my bed and got a shower.

After showering, I got dressed into my uniform and dried my hair with an elegant hairdryer. It was a beautiful
silver color and had extra features compared to the one abandoned at my apartment. The workers had taken a lot of my personal items but not everything.

I hurried up and got breakfast, which turned out to be gourmet French toast. I ate at least two pieces before heading for the front door.

But something was weird. A man dressed in a black suit stood there blocking the door.

I asked, “Could you please move? I’ve got to get to work.”

The man shook his head, “I’ve been ordered to not let you leave the mansion.”

“That’s ridiculous. I need to go to my job. Dax knows I have work. He can’t keep me here.”

The man looked kind of uncomfortable and said, “Go talk with Mr. Ryan. He’ll explain what’s going on.”

He better explain or I’d be even more pissed. I was already tempted to clock Dax in the face. This wasn’t part of our agreement and not what I signed up for. Dax couldn’t prevent me from leaving if I wanted to.

I stormed off in search of Dax and found him heading towards the back-door exit. Immediately, I walked in his direction before speaking up loudly.

“I need to talk to you right now.”

Dax turned his head in my direction and stopped. “What is it that you need Ms. Winters? I’m about to leave.”

“I don’t have time for this.” I glared at him and said, “You have no right to keep me here. I need to go to work.”

He didn’t say anything immediately and got a thoughtful expression stuck on his face.

I couldn’t believe he was stalling for time. At this rate, I’d definitely be late to work and get fired by my manager.

Dax remained calm and finally told me, “Actually I do. You no longer have a job to go to. My company is your sole employer from now on.”

No way. I couldn’t believe what he told me. This was too much to take in. I hoped he hadn’t really done what he said.

“That’s bullshit. I never turned in a letter of resignation for my job.”

Dax kept his serious expression and said, “I may have turned in a letter on your behalf. I’m sorry for not telling before this.”

“How dare you? You had no say in the matter. It was my job. You should’ve stayed out of my business.”

Dax shook his head at me and moved a step closer. “I only did this because I don’t want you leaving the mansion.”

Was he for real? I wasn’t staying in the mansion forever. This was unacceptable and made me even more enraged. He was just making everything worse.

“I can’t believe you. You’re trapping me here like a prisoner.”

He tried to say something else to me, but I wasn’t having it. I was so done with him and all of his bossiness. Dax wasn’t in charge of me. No one was.

Who did he think he was? He sure had some nerve to do all this crap to me. I was almost tempted to hit him but held back from doing that. Despite being mad, I couldn’t do anything too drastic or risk getting kicked out.

I purposely bumped into his side as I walked past. Then I continued to stomp away and headed for my room.
When I got to the room door, I slammed it so hard that the lamp shook on the nightstand.

Dax POV
I heard the sound of the door slamming extremely hard. Part of me was tempted to go up to her room but knew it was too soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wanted to physically injure me if I tried to go find her immediately. She was a pretty gutsy woman from what I had observed of her.

After a moment longer, I decided to leave for work. I couldn’t afford to be late, since a very important meeting was happening. I’d have to deal with her later, even though I didn’t want it hovering in my conscience all day.

I grabbed my briefcase and car keys before heading out of the mansion. Images of Danica came flooding back to me when I got into my car.

I saw the immense rage on her face when she was yelling at me. Another reason for me to just go to work; I knew better than to go after an enraged woman. Maybe she just needed some time to reflect on what I had told her. I hoped she wouldn’t hold a grudge against me for this.

She sure was being overly dramatic. I thought she was acting childish for her age and decided to let her cool off. Maybe some time to herself would make her realize she was overreacting. I didn’t think I told her what I needed to in a harsh way.

When I got to work, my mind was still filled with Danica. She wasn’t going away, no matter what I did to distract myself from the morning. I had been trying to bury myself in work and even was zoning out from my meeting.

I had never done that before. What was I still thinking about what happened with Danica?

At one point, I heard someone say, “Mr. Ryan. What’s your opinion for which marketing strategy we should go with?”

“I believe the first option would be best for promoting our newest product.”

Then my marketing team leader went back to talking, but I stopped giving him my attention.

Why was she being so difficult? I was keeping her from leaving the mansion for good reasons; she just needed to trust me. It made me frustrated that she stormed away from me. I was the only adult back there.

I wasn’t trying to make her my prisoner as she wrongly accused me of. That was hurtful to hear her say that. But I hadn’t been too great earlier. Maybe putting a guard by the door was a bit much.

I had to make things right when I returned.

I would give the proper explanation for my actions, whether she wanted to hear them or not. It couldn’t wait too long, or she’d resent me. I had to attempt to make her see that what I did was right.

Thankfully, work rushed by. I got into my car and sped off for my estate, so that I could finally tell Danica the truth.