‘Don’t lose it. We don’t have many spares.’ He frowns, watching me for a second before clicking his fingers and motioning his hand at someone across the room to come to him. That same annoyed edge to his tone and I am certain that it’s not me at all. He watches him walk towards us and I study his profile for a second, seeing the tight muscles in his jawline that scream ‘Stressed to the max’.
I actually feel a tiny hint of sympathy for him for a moment and wonder how much he does juggle all the time as Commander and Chief to his family’s empire. He’s so young for that kind of weight, and I guess it explains why he is the way he is sometimes. It can’t be fun being him all the time. Doing the things he has to and the choices he has to make. I never thought what a burden that must be when your flesh and blood are the ones relying on you .
The shadowy hulk of a man in a black suit walks over and stands dutifully beside him. Looming like Lurch the butler and I smile sweetly as a way of saying hello and try to paste on my friendly face. Need to make friends with my new entourage for an easy life.
I give him the once-over as he genuinely smiles back kindly, and immediately see the family resemblance. A huge man, larger than most Carrero men I have to say, but definitely related. Dark hair, the palest green eyes, like Mico only duller, and that great bone structure and handsome quality their family have nailed. He has to come from the same gene pool as Alexi, except this one has a kind face and an instantly warm manner that is more in resemblance to Gino than his twin.
‘This is Jackson; he’s your driver and security. Wherever you go, he goes—Day or night.’ Alexi commands in boss mode and that hint of the old him is peeking through, even beyond his weird mood. No nonsense—this is how it’s going to be and I get no choice, but I wouldn’t be me if I just agreed. I’m not really trying to rile him; I’m just voicing a dislike in his manner towards me. Making it clear for the get-go this isn’t acceptable this time—inner peeking of irritation that he’s already throwing demands around and it’s been less than twenty-four hours back in his domain.
‘I don’t need a shadow, I’m not you. I also do not happen to want one either,’ I point out starchily.
‘No, but you’re now my partner so you will do as you’re told and like it.’ That edge to his voice I am no stranger to. He’s still in there, bossy, domineering and controlling arsehole. The man I would still love to throat punch with a pickaxe.
I guess it’s a goodbye to the docile act already; I presume it was only until he suckered me in and got me to hand over my soul once more. Problem being, I am not going to play this like last time.
‘Driver, fine … security, not a chance. He can wait in the car for me like a good little minion. No offence big guy.’ I nod a smile his way as I cross my arms across my chest stubbornly and that glimmer of annoyance in Alexi’s eye tells me he isn’t as agreeable as yesterday. His cranky mood is obviously overpowering the fact he needs to play nice where I am concerned.
‘Non-negotiable!’ Alexi flashes that fierce at me, clenched teeth, that low tone of ‘do not push me on this’ and I lift that stubborn little face of mine in instant response—fire meeting fire because this time around he isn’t pushing me about. I am not his plaything or his submissive little bitch anymore.
‘I have a wax appointment; should he hold up my legs when I get my bikini line done then? Hold my arse cheeks apart?’ I smile sweetly, malice and venom in those softly uttered words of faux innocence.
Alexi clenches his jaw tighter, that frown furrowing and his eyes darken about fifty shades of grey in a blink.
He didn’t really think of that, did he?
‘Why are you being difficult?’ It’s an accusation born of frustration, veiled anger and a lot of hostility brewing. I guess he thought I would be so thankful to be back I would be a submissive ‘yes sir’ and all would be forgotten. Just because I was in a pitiful situation doesn’t mean I have forgotten a single thing about how I got there.
He’s got another thing coming if he thinks I am going to be an easy ride when it comes to his control freak traits.
‘Why are you being a bossy arsehole and already trying to lay down the law?’ I snap back impulsively, standing taller in the face of a fight. Jackson looks at the floor and starts shifting on his feet uncomfortably, making it obvious he’s nervous or just wishing he was anywhere but here, but I don’t care.
The silent stand-off and glares we throw one another, atmosphere sizzling once more as our silent war reigns supreme. Fire and static igniting in the furious expressions, growing harsher by the second, are interrupted by the driver clearing his throat and Alexi seems to remember where he is.
He drops that venomous cold look that was forming fast and seems to instantly return to a statue-like nothing, turning to Jackson instead.
‘Take no shit from her! Don’t let her lose you and wait in the salon, but not in the waxing room. If she gives you any attitude, throw her in the trunk with my blessing. Gag her if needs be!’ He smirks as he says it, that sadistic tone of his that used to put the fear of God in me, but it only amuses me now. Alexi is pissed at me already and I can see this is going to be a great day.
Smiling wickedly at him as I am enveloped in smugness and not caring if I am poking the beast. He can’t do a damn thing and he knows it. I have the ability to walk away this time and I can push to my heart’s content in that case. Maybe playing nice shouldn’t be the goal. I can fuck him off as much as I like and he will just have to learn to live with it.
‘Yes, boss.’ Jackson gives me a wary look and I can already tell he is going to be a pussycat to manoeuvre. He doesn’t exude that Alexi ferociousness, despite his size, and is giving me the vibe, he is a tad slow in the smarts department. Men like him are easy to handle and completely my forte. He won’t be hard to sway to what I want with a little tender affection, soft smiles and baby talk when I have bidding to be done. He’s one for wrapping around my little finger and more the type of man I can manipulate with my eyes closed.
See, she’s not dead after all. Camilla is still in here waiting to find her crown once more.
Alexi has boundaries, and as much as he hates it, I know he is weirdly anal about sticking to certain ones. I have all the power this time because he needs me here more than I need to be here. We both know that.
It finally dawned on me in the shower earlier, while washing my hair that I am the one who gets to call the shots in this new arrangement; that’s why he was being so amicable and agreeing to my terms … which simmered all that I loathe about him. He knows this place is dying a death and rather than let a million dribble down the drain, he just has to suck it up and let me run it. I am the best thing for it and like it or not, he agrees.