Chapter 4: Elowyn

I yawn, the warm smell of fresh coffee drifting through my nostrils as I arch my back on the bed and stretch my body awake.

Damn. I slept like shit.

I reach over on the nightstand for my phone to see what time it is, but my hand doesn’t land on anything, just falls through the empty space.

What? 

But as long as I can remember, I left my phone on the nightstand.

 Shit. I throw back the covers and climb out of bed, heading for the chest of drawers where my phone is charging. I grab it, turn it on.

I don't even know why my phone got there and why the hell is it charging. 

I dialed Myra's phone number and she answered most immediately.

"Hey I've been trying to call you yesterday." I said before she could do anything.

"Bitch!! You're literally living on one roof!" She squealed over the phone. I manage to put the cellphone away from my ear before she destroys my eardrums. 

"What the heck girl. I just woke up!" 

Chills spread up my arms, so I flip open the top of my suitcase and pull out my black sweatshirt, juggling the phone as I try to slip it over my head.

"Who cares? The important thing is that you'll be able to see Rhett fucking hot male Winston everyday!"  

"I hate him." That rude prick shall see what's coming if he will continue to mess with me.

"What's wrong? Five months ago you literally hooked up with him." 

"I didn't know okay!?"

"What do you mean you didn't know?"

"I didn't even know his name back then Myra!"

"Who doesn't know Rhett besides you seriously?" 

"I don't care. The case is that I'm stuck with that psycho." I sighed momentarily seeking guidance from God.

"You're more psychotic than him biatch stop the drama." 

"I'm your friend, you should be siding with me. That man literally grabbed me by my jaw and threatened me!" 

"Really?" 

"Does it sound like I'm faking it?" My sarcasm poured but she only laughed it off.

Unbelievable. 

"Alright my fiance is here I'll call you later. Better tell me good news!" She warned before ending the call.

Myra is now engaged with a decent rich man who owns chains of hotels. Rich into rich huh? 

I opened the doors almost immediately after the call. I can feel my hungry stomach growling. 

Mom is out of town with her husband so I guess I'm really stuck with my rude step brother.

I was beginning to think my attraction to him was my punishment. This was karma. While he had touched me, I’d wished for someone else, and that someone came in the form of him being my step brother.

I heard my step brother in the foyer talking with some associate. 

I understood my attraction to the man. His hands were rough, his voice deep, his presence commanding . . . he checked all the boxes I needed but didn’t want.

"I remembered that I didn't tell you my name, miss." The butler muttered in front of me while spraying a tiny bit of water on the house plant that's already seems to be dying.

"I'm Benito." 

"I'm Elowyn but you can call me Winnie." 

Rhett stared at my way and glared at me for a nonsense reason. I shrugged him off while patting his associate's shoulder. 

"As in Winnie the Pooh?" 

"My father gave me the nickname. He said Winnie and I love honey so he basically gave me the nickname." 

Benito just smiled and walked past me. He's not so bad at all. At first I thought he was going to be rude like his young master. 

I walked into the refrigerator to heat up milk for my breakfast. 

I can feel Rhett is walking towards me. 

"And here I thought you differ from your mother." His deep voice touched my ears, and I shivered from the sound filling the kitchen.

"You should learn to mind your own business." 

He looked at me like I was a ridiculous girl most of the time. But that was for the best. We should forget the night before this disaster.

"Are you seducing Lucas?" 

And who the hell is Lucas?

"I don't know what you mean."

"You're fucking wearing too short shorts that I can almost see your bare ass." 

I blushed when he glared at my short shorts again. Hello, it's sleepwear friendly.

I inhaled a deep breath not wanting to piss him again. 

"I didn't know you had a visitor."

His gaze sparked with dark amusement, though a small amount of bitterness leaked through.

"I should lock you up when someone visits. Fucking wear a decent clothes. You look like a slut." 

Honestly that didn't hurt me. 

"I've been wanting that kind of compliment." 

I turned against him to hide my sneaky smile. 

He grabbed me by my wrist. His grip was so tight that it hurt. My wrist suddenly felt like it's made out of the fragile bark of a tree.

"You think this is a joke?" 

"I'm stating facts!" 

This attraction burned, and before it scarred me forever, I needed to treat him differently. I need to treat him like he's merely part of the air.

"Wouldn't that be easy if you'll just kill me and you live happily ever fucking after without the mere sight of me." 

"Assuming can kill you." 

"Pissing me off will kill me, that's what." 

"Change into sweatpants." 

"I'll just eat in the dirty kitchen."

The dirty kitchen is outside. And I would eat there peacefully rather than lose my breath while debating with this man.

"I have visitors, you stay here." 

“Rhett, go find someone else to boss around—”

I froze, my heartbeats slowing like they’d been dropped in molasses. He held me by my hair and kept me from taking another step, like it was a leash. My breath stopped when his front pressed against my back. He felt so warm, so good, I could have groaned if I had the air to do so. 

“Tell me what to fucking do again.” He muttered against my nape.

My neck would be the most sensitive part of me if the obvious didn’t count. Goosebumps rose on my skin. His gravelly tone ran the length of my nape before trailing down my spine and between my legs. My back arched on the reflex.

"I need to get you off mysystem, Winnie. And you will fucking help me with that by starting to wear decent clothes." 

My heart hitched. 

Then he left me all alone.