~Reynold’s POV~
The driver stepped out immediately and opened the door, while Frederick got out and reached down to help me to my feet.
He called this a small house? I thought, staring up at the towering, elegant facade. Nothing about this looks small.
But I kept my mouth shut.
Frederick led me to the grand double doors and entered a digital passcode before pushing them open. We stepped inside, and I stood frozen in the foyer, blinking in confusion as I took in the towering ceilings and marble floors.
Was this really the house he had been talking about?
As we walked into the expansive living room, Frederick turned to me.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, I do," I answered honestly, looking around in awe. "But where is the house we’re actually going to?"
Frederick raised an eyebrow, a faint, amused smile touching his lips.
"We’re already here. This is where you’ll be staying from now on."
I stared at him, my jaw dropping. "Is this what you call a small house?"
"Yes," he replied deadpan. "If you like it, you can stay here. If you don’t, I can arrange—"
I didn’t let him finish. I cut him off, my eyes widening. "Wait. You mean I’ll be staying here from now on? Permanently?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God," I breathed.
Before I could stop myself, I hurried across the polished floor, eager to explore the open-plan rooms. "This is huge, Mr. Corvin!"
Frederick chuckled, following at a much more relaxed pace. "I told you, you’ve got yourself a wealthy sugar daddy."
I just smiled, too happy to care about his teasing. I grabbed his hand and pulled him excitedly down the hallway, peeking into every room along the way. Everything was brighter, bigger, and far more beautiful than the cramped, uncomfortable apartment I had shared with Thomas and my father.
The sheer relief I felt was overwhelming. Before I could even think about it, I turned around, rushed back to Frederick, and wrapped my arms around him.
"Thank you."
Frederick wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me close. "You don’t have to thank me."
I pulled back with a bright smile, but then my mind shifted to the familiar, transactional arrangement between us.
"Should I go take a shower first before we do anything?"
Frederick went still, the amusement disappearing from his face.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... paying the price with my body," I said with a small shrug. "I really don’t mind this time because I finally have a place to stay without having to worry about where I’ll sleep."
I reached up and started to unbutton my shirt, but Frederick immediately caught my hands.
"Do you really think I sleep with you because of everything I’m doing for you?" he asked, his voice suddenly serious.
"Yes," I answered simply, looking into his eyes. "But it’s fine. I’m—"
"Don’t ever think that," Frederick cut in firmly. "If I sleep with you, it’s because you attract me. Not because of a transaction or because of what I’m providing for you."
"Mr. Corvin, I understand how this works," I said with a small sigh.
"No, you don’t."
"What’s the point of pretending?" I argued, my defenses rising. "You want sex at the end of the day, and I need a roof over my head."
"Yes, I want you," he admitted, his jaw tightening slightly. "But not because I’m holding my help over your head."
"Okay," I muttered, deciding to drop the argument. "Either way, since we’re still sleeping in the same bed, there’s no need to rush. I’m going to take that shower now."
Frederick stared at me for a long, unreadable moment.
"Alright, then."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room.
I watched him leave, completely baffled. Something in his expression had changed. His face had suddenly become cold and unreadable, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly upset.
I pushed the thought aside and walked into the bathroom to shower. It was already midnight, yet my chest felt impossibly light. One minute, I had been sitting in a cold police holding cell, and the next, I had a massive, secure home of my own.
I smiled, letting out a quiet, disbelieving breath. Maybe getting arrested was actually worth it after all.
I sang softly to myself as I showered, still celebrating my newfound sanctuary. When I was done, I dried off and slipped into the smooth, silky robe hanging behind the door.
I stepped out of the bathroom, expecting to find Frederick waiting for me.
Instead, the room was empty.
No one was there.
I figured he must still be downstairs, so I sat on the edge of the bed and waited. Thirty minutes passed, but he didn’t return. Growing restless, I stood up and walked down the grand staircase into the living room.
It was dark and deserted.
A sudden wave of panic hit me. I hurried to the front entrance and pulled the door open.
His car was gone from the driveway.
I slowly walked back into the vast living room and curled up on the couch, pulling my knees to my chest.
I knew it, a bitter voice whispered in the back of my mind. He got tired of me and left without a word.
Nobody really gives a damn about you, Reynold.
I sat there in the darkness for more than two hours, the silence pressing heavily around me.
Finally, at 2:52 a.m., the low rumble of an engine broke through the silence outside.
I sprang up from the couch and rushed to the window. Frederick’s car was pulling into the driveway.
My heart lifted with relief, but I quickly stepped away from the window and hurried back to the couch. I sat down and tried to look as though I hadn’t been waiting for him at all.
Moments later, two of his guards walked inside carrying large shopping bags and set them neatly in the foyer. It looked like Frederick had gone out to buy supplies for the house.
I stood up, intending to take a look at the bags, but stopped when Frederick walked through the front door. He dismissed his men with a simple wave of his hand, and they immediately left.
I hurried over to him. "Where did you go?"
He looked down at me, his expression still tense. "I went out to get some things you’ll need. Most stores were closed, but I found a place that was still open."
"I thought you left me here without a word," I admitted, my voice dropping.
Frederick’s jaw tightened. "I wanted to leave because what you said earlier made me angry."
I looked down at the floor, suddenly feeling small. "I’m sorry, Mr. Corvin."
Frederick stepped closer and gently cupped my jaw, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to look at him. "Listen to me," he said, his voice low, firm, and uncompromising. "I am going to fuck you. I’m going to fuck you until you’re completely satisfied. We don’t need to be in love, but I’m letting you know right now, I’m not doing it as a transaction for what I provide for you. I’m doing it because I want you in my bed."
I stared at him, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "It’s fine... I understand now," I said slowly. "Anytime you do something for me, you sleep with me, not because of what you bought me, but so I can show my appreciation, right?"
Frederick let out a harsh, disbelieving breath and muttered under his breath, "Dumb as fuck. No wonder."
I blinked and pulled back slightly. "What did you say?"
"Never mind," he sighed, dropping his hand from my face. "Do you know how to cook? I got you some groceries, but if you don’t, that’s fine. I’ll hire a private chef for you."
"I can cook," I told him.
He shook his head dismissively. "It doesn’t matter. I’m getting a chef anyway. I’ll be spending most of my time here with you, and I don’t want you exhausted all the time. I’ll need you rested and ready for me in bed."
"I understand," I murmured.
"Come on. I got you something light to eat," he said, turning toward the kitchen.
I followed him, watching the quiet, effortless way he took care of me. A terrifying realization settled in my chest.
If I stay in this arrangement and let him treat me like this, I’m going to fall for him.
Frederick had already made it clear that love wasn’t part of the deal. But I wasn’t sure I could go through with the contract without eventually falling in love with him. He was simply too good to me, and I didn’t know how long I could stay this close to him without developing real feelings.
The thought sent a chill through me. Maybe accepting this house and tying myself to him was a terrible mistake after all.
We sat together and ate a little. Afterward, returned to the master bedroom. I assumed he would let me rest for the remainder of the night, but Frederick made sure he took me anyway, driving me through two hard, demanding rounds before we finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, the sharp, persistent buzzing of my phone sliced through the quiet. I didn’t turn around to see if Frederick was awake. I simply reached blindly toward the nightstand and grabbed my phone.
My heart plummeted as I unlocked the screen.
Five missed calls from my father, accompanied by a single text message:
Reynold, I heard you managed to get out, son. I hope you understand why I couldn’t come to help you. Don’t forget to come home this weekend—Mr. Mike will be around. Don’t be stubborn. Come home and think about your mom.
I stared at the glowing screen, the cold, suffocating reality of my family crashing down on me all over again.
A heavy shift sounded behind me, followed by the slide of sheets as Frederick stirred. Strong arms wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me closer against his chest.
"Who’s that?" he muttered...