Page 39 of Claimed Gem

“Go away.” Stephanie said through clenched teeth. She retreated into the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it loudly.

Ries stood there for a long moment, his hands on his hips as he tried to calm himself down. Part of him wanted to go to her and soothe her anger.

But fear for her safety told him that would be a mistake. He might break down and give her what she wanted. And he wouldn’t risk her safety to make either of them feel better.

“Stephanie, come back out here. We’re not done talking,” he pounded his fist on the door.

“I’m done talking with you. Go away.”

“We need to talk about this.” He tried to sound commanding, not desperate. He waited for her response but instead heard the bath water being turned on.

He sighed and then shook his head as he left the bedroom and headed for his office. He sat down at the desk and opened up his computer, frowning when he saw that he’d missed a call from his brother Damon. Ries’ heart turned cold. Had Damon spoken to Stephanie while he was away?

He scrolled over the screen, his frown increasing when he saw that Damon had called not once, but twice. The second call had been answered and had lasted well over five minutes.

Stephanie was the only one who’d been in the apartment today, meaning she’d answered his brother’s call and spoken to him. What had Damon said?

Ries felt doubts and old feelings of despair take over his emotions. It seemed that anytime one of his girlfriends spoke to Damon, it was the beginning of the end of their time with Ries. Damon was the golden boy, the one with all of the financial ties, and the one who ultimately called all of the shots.

I don’t know why I hoped that Stephanie was different fromthe rest. That we had a future together. Damon snaps his fingers and she does whatever he says. Did he offer to pay her?

It had to be Damon. Stephanie had been angry for days but she had never packed a bag before.

She’s just like all of the rest and she’s figured out who holds the purse strings.

I wonder if he’s going to provide protection for her if she leaves me? She’s certainly not worried about her safety, and Damon would never ask a female to put themselves in danger.

Ries closed the computer screen and then headed for the bedroom once more. The bathroom door was still closed but the bath water had stopped.

“Stephanie, did my brother call?”

“What do you care?”

“Just answer the question. Did you speak to Damon?”

“Yes. We had a lovely conversation.”

Ries clenched his fists together. “What about?”

“Can’t remember,” she hollered back.

Ries’ vision clouded, and he headed for the elevator. The housekeeper was in the front room and he stopped and talked to her.

“Please see that Stephanie’s bags are unpacked and her clothing returned to the closet and dresser. Remove her suitcases and other bags and see that they are taken down to the storagecloset for safe keeping.”

“Miss Stephanie wishes to leave us?” the housekeeper inquired quietly.

“No, there was a misunderstanding. It’s not safe for her to leave the apartment. She’s taking a bath, please see that my orders are carried out before she is finished.”

“Very well. I will go do that right now.”

“Fine. I’m going out and won’t be in for dinner. See that Stephanie eats.”

The housekeeper nodded and Ries shoved his feet back into his shoes before getting onto the elevator, ignoring Chris’s puzzled look as the doors closed and headed to the ground floor.

“Want to talk about it?” Chris asked quietly.

“No. Make sure the other guards lock the elevator out once we leave. I don’t put anything past her right now.”