Chapter Eleven

I stand in the empty doorway after he exits, staring at the closed door as I try to process what just happened. I should be more embarrassed, I know, but I can only muster a laugh. I'm not sure why I feel so familiar with this man I just met today, but the thought of his seeing me butt naked is actually funny. Actually, maybe the funny part was his reaction and how unphased he was for the most part.

I shake my head with a grin, recalling his expression when he barged in as I tun back to the bed to retrieve my phone. As soon as I unlock the screen, I see the calls and texts that Adrian sent. I sit on the bed in my towel as I scroll through his contact's communication.

*How's it going? Are you almost done unpacking? You didn't bring a lot. Text me when you're done.*
*Should I bring you a towel? I totally forgot that there aren't any in your bathroom yet.*

*Lydia? Are you okay?*

Missed call number one.

*You need to answer me. *

*Are you mad or something?*

*Even if you are, you can't ignore me. *

Missed call number two.

*That's it, I'm coming back over.*

It's kind of nice that he came rushing over and beat the door in when I didn't answer my phone for thirty minutes. Though his reaction was definitely a little extreme, it's good to know that he takes me so seriously. I make a mental note to respond to anything he sends me immediately though unless I want him to hunt me down in a panic.

I shake my head again and toss my phone onto the pillows. I should get dressed so we can go eat something more filling than our brunch was. Maybe I'll make him take me shopping too. I head to the closet to pick out some clothes and settle for a pair of ripped jeggings and a pink distressed sweater. I drop my towel on the floor as I pull the clothes on, unfazed by the open closet door. If Adrian decides to intrude unannounced again, it's like he said; He's already seen everything. I'm very confident in my apperance anyway, for the most part.

I pause once I've gotten the jeans on, catching my reflection in the full-length mirror that sits against the length of the back wall. Everything, including the scar that sits as a painful reminder against my upper ribcage. I swallow, finding it difficult to pull my eyes away. Hopefully, he was too distracted by the things sitting prettily right above it to notice the ugly blight.

Not so long ago, I was posing is skimpy swimsuits and lingere for well-known clothing brands, strutting around with the most confidence in the world. Now, I don't know if I could stomach the idea of anything more than a crop-top. It isn't as though my body has changed at all, but the unsightly imperfection is enough to make me consider shoving that part of my career aside forever.

A shiver suddenly runs through my body, snapping me out of my trance. I pull the sweater over my top half and pick the towel up from the floor, bending over to twist my wet locks up and plop them on my head. It's been a while since I've really stared at the scar like that, and it immediately reminds me of why I avoid mirrors while my top half is naked. Without bothering with shoes for now, I make my way back to the bathroom. I have to find my makeup bag so I can fix my face a little before I dry my hair.

I accidentally left the lights in the bathroom on, allowing the red luminescence to spill into the bedroom. I glance at the bedroom door, hoping that my exposed flesh was enough to distract Adrian from noticing the mood lighting. It's bad enough that I used his image to masturbate after I just met him, so I couldn't live with myself if he caught wind of my shower routine.

I clear my throat and wipe the remaining fog from the bathroom mirror and reach to change the lights back to normal. I begin to prep my skin for a bit of concealer to hide the bags that have appeared beneath my eyes, making sure to blend it out flawlessly. I decide that a bit of eyeshadow and mascara couldn't hurt either, but make sure not to take too long. I wouldn't want Adrian swinging my new door off its hinges again.

Next, I plug in my blowdryer and get to work on my hair. I retrieve my leave-in conditioner and heat protectant before firing up the dryer, relishing the heat against my skin. Twenty minutes later, I'm looking at the mirror image of the woman I know so well once again, and I straighten my shoulders as I look myself over. I look even better than I had this morning now, if only a bit more tired.

I decide to leave my hair swinging at my waist and tuck the hem of my sweater into my bra to crate a slightly cropped look. Giving myself a nod of approval at the finished product, I exit the bathroom, reminded to close the door this time. I go back to the closet to pick out a pair of chunky heeled boots from Prada and grab a black Gucci belt to match.

For a final touch, I switch out my purse to my favorite Versace La Medusa handbag to match the hue of my sweater. I finally grab my phone from the bed and tuck it into my bag before heading to the door. I swing it open only to find Adrian waiting for me, leaning onto the railing of the lofted hallway overlooking the living room below.

He straightens and turns to look at me over his shoulder. "Finally ready, *Mademoiselle*?"

I roll my eyes, adjusting my purse to the crook of my arm as I comb through my hair with my fingers. "*Oui, espèce de chien impatient*. I thought you said you were going to wait downstairs."

Adrian raises his brow in surprise. "*Je ne savais pas que tu parlais français.* I was going to, but you took so long that I needed to stretch my legs."

I mirror his expression, blinking back at him, dumbfounded by his flawless accent. "I didn't know you spoke French, either. Where did you learn it?"

Adrian takes the initiative and begins heading downstairs, trusting me to follow as he continues to speak. "I've traveled a lot, and France is one of my favorite countries to visit. I have some family that lives there, too. How do you know it?"

"My aunt and cousin live there. I visit them every summer and sometimes do some photoshoots there for work. I plan to move there permanently once I graduate," I say, eyeing his back as we approach the front door of my new home. I wonder how many other things I have yet to discover about Adrian. He seems like a guy with a lot of secrets.

He pauses by the door, reaching for a set of keys that are hanging up beside it. He turns and jungles them at me. "Shall we take your new car?"

I totally forgot that he mentioned there was a car waiting for me here. "Uh, sure," I saw, holding my hand out to receive them. Aside from the keyfob, there is a key attached to the same ring that I assume belongs to my new house.

"The garage is through this door," He says, double-checking the locks of the front door before leading me across the room. I hadn't even noticed the door in the kitchen, which I assumed was a pantry or something. He holds the door open for me, gesturing me in ahead of him.

He flicks the light on for me, illuminating a two-car garage with shelves for extra storage. Sitting on the polished concrete floor are four brand-new tires that are attached to a white SUV I know all too well. I turn over my shoulder to look at Adrian, eyes wide.

"Oh my God," I breathe, clutching the keys to my chest. "How did you know?"

The look on his face is priceless. His eyes are soft as he gazes at me, a proud smile on his face. "I wish I could take credit, but it's actually a present from your dad. He mentioned that your birthday is next month, right? Besides, he wanted you to have a reliable car for the terrain here."

"It's perfect. It's the upgraded version of the one I have at home. Let's get going, shall we?" I say, unable to mask my excitement to drive my new car. I press the button to unlock my new G-Wagon, dancing a little at the familiar sound that chimes throughout the garage.

Adrian watches me with a fond smile, shaking his head. "Sure, let's go."