When she turned to him there was a smile on her lips.
“Was that my sister?” she asked.
“Yes, she’s worried about you.”
He helped her off the bed then started to dress her. She stepped into the panties then stood as he placed the bra back on. Neither said a word as he put the clothes back on.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be sorry.”
Once she was dressed James quickly put some clothes on, and then together they walked down to the kitchen.
“I haven’t got much to offer you but cereal,” he said.
“Cereal is fine.” She took the seat at the counter. The tension thickened in the room. She hadn’t achieved great satisfaction with the sex they’d shared.
“I don’t know why I feel the way I do,” she said, making him pause as he reached for the milk. “I wasn’t like this when I was trapped in that room. I would look in the mirror and talk to myself so that I’d remember who I was and what I was doing there.” She chuckled. The sound felt forced to him. “They hated me because I refused to break. Look at me now,” she said.
“You’re not broken.” He poured some chocolate cereal into a bowl followed by some milk then passed the bowl with a spoon to her. “You’re strong, and don’t ever forget it.”
She took the food from him and began eating. He watched her for the longest time wishing there was something he could do to ease her suffering. Watching her in pain never felt right to him.
He ate his cereal before putting a call through to Arthur.
His driver called to let him know that he was waiting outside.
“I’m really sorry,” she said as they made their way to the door.
“I don’t want to hear you talking about being sorry. I want you to get back to who you were,” he said.
James helped her into the back of the car. He remembered the card and quickly ran up to the house to grab it. When he came down he saw she was talking with Arthur.
The conversation ceased the moment he got back into the car. “I want you to take this and make an appointment to see this woman.”
She took the card from him. “I don’t want to see someone.”
“Please, take it anyway. I want you to know that I’m supporting you in everything.”
Prudence took the card from him. The drive to her house felt too short to him. Being away from her was a nightmare, but he’d do everything for her.
Her sister waited for them at the door with her arms folded. Prudence turned to him. She opened her mouth then closed it again.
“Thank you for being so understanding,” she said.
He nodded then waved to Veronica.
“Are you all right, Sir?” Arthur asked.
Wiping the tears from his eyes James nodded. “Yes, Arthur, I’m fine.”
When the door closed he gave his driver instructions to go to Ravage.
If he didn’t go to his club soon then he wouldn’t be able to walk through the doors. Police tape was across the doors. He ducked under the tape then used the key to open the main door. Turning on the light, he stared at the room that had caused him so much hell.
“Prue will be well looked after, James. I suggest you hurry. I’ll give you a month. If I don’t get my file in the next month, Prue goes up for auction, and she’ll be lost.”
Daren’s words came back to haunt him.
She’s not gone.
He moved past the main dance floor through to his office. Staring at the sofa where he left, James stroked the padded leather. Her scent lingered, or it could have been his imagination trying to pull every possible sign of her.
Sitting behind his desk, he ran his hands across the wood.
“I’m surprised you’ve come here,” Stephen said.
James looked up to see his oldest friend stood in the doorway.
“How did you know where I was?” he asked.
“I went by your house and thought you’d come here. I waited to see you pull up then spoke to your driver before following you inside. You didn’t lock the door.”
“That seems to be the story of my f**king life at the moment,” James said, running his fingers through his hair.
“You ran out fast last night. Do you want to talk about it?” Stephen asked, taking a seat across from him. The other man wore a long black coat and leather gloves.
“No, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough. You were never one to talk anyway.” Stephen sat back glancing around the office. “I’ve always thought this office was depressing.”
“What do you think now?”
“That it’s even worse. Josiah and Hubert came to see us. They talked about having a membership, and I gave each of them one. I doubt our clubs will be up to scratch anymore. Between the press and this shit with Henry and Daren, I think Ravage and Possession have run their course,” Stephen said. “They took Dane.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what’s happening, but I think they’re planning on sending him back to England.”
“They never mentioned it to me,” James said, feeling sorry for the younger man.
“You didn’t like him. Why would you care?”
“He helped me when it mattered the most to me.”
They were silent for several seconds. James didn’t know what to say. He’d never been given a reason to talk about his feelings. The only person he’d opened up to was Prudence, and she was gone.
“Prudence came to me this morning,” he said, blurting the words out into space hoping there would be a magical answer.
“What did she want?” Stephen asked.
The guy opposite looked cautious as he asked the question.
“I don’t know what she wanted. She was sobbing in my arms, and then she was removing my clothes. We had sex, and I know she didn’t get all that much pleasure from it.” James chuckled even though he desired to cry above everything else. “I sound like a pu**y.”
“No, and stop saying that. You’re not a pu**y. Maybe you should get her to talk with Violet.”
The suggestion was lost on him. “That girl is quieter than a mouse. How would she help?”
“She spent the first part of her life being hidden from sight. They have a lot more in common than you might think. I’m sure Cadeon won’t have a problem.”
Stephen stood to leave. James remained seated.
“Did you lose your manners as well?” Stephen asked.