Page 53 of House of Payne

Poor, sweet, innocent Noah.

He has no idea what kind of deal I made to save my dad.

I’m not sure he’ll ever understand.

As far as he’s concerned, there was always another way, and as the first patches of light crept across the horizon, I knew we were never going to go back.

Forcing myself to walk away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Seeing my dad sound asleep in his king-sized bed had steeled my resolve.

You can do this. You have to. Otherwise, they’ll go after him, and you can’t let them do that. Just keep your head down, and it’ll be over before you know it.

Mason’s driver was waiting outside as promised, and I’d spent the entire ride with my head in my hands and my shoulders silently heaving. When he drove up to a cluster of buildings on the outskirts of the Payne estate, the sinking feeling in my stomach only grew.

A short while later, I’d been shown to my room, the place I’d call home for the next year.

I hated it.

There was a single bed in one corner, a small wooden closet pressed against the wall, and a small tile-floored bathroom with bars on the window over the toilet. I spent the first hour pacing and stealing glances out the window that overlooked the lush, green estate. I’m relieved to have a safe haven, but I know it’s just one more way for Mason to control me.

I knew it when I signed the contract, but it wasn’t until I walked in that I realized how much of my freedom I’d signed away.

Slipping on the uniform and sliding on the bracelet felt like the final pieces of the puzzle.

I pull my hair into a high ponytail and ignore the twinge in my stomach.

It’s just housekeeping. You should be thankful it isn’t anything else.

The early-morning sun is hot on the back of my neck as I step outside and exhale a lungful of air. A few guards are already posted outside the mansion, and one of them throws out a hand to stop me. After casting a glance at the bracelet on my wrist and the ID dangling from my neck, he lets me through. My heart pounds as I cross the half-empty floor, ignoring the curious glances thrown my way.

Once I reach the desk in the back, my hands dart behind my back, and I pray they can’t see the tremors racing through me. The blonde woman standing behind the desk is wearing a tight white button-down shirt paired with a black pencil skirt and blood-red lips. She flips through a book and doesn’t pay me any attention.

I clear my throat a few times, and when she looks up, I almost wish I hadn’t.

She places one hand on her hip. “Can I help you?”

I lick my dry lips. “Mr. Payne hired me.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

I make a vague hand gesture and point to the bracelet. “He hired me for the housekeeping job, but I’m not sure who to report to.”

She stands up straighter and frowns. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. We don’t have any housekeeping vacancies. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you need to leave before I call security.”

My heart misses a beat. “There must be some mistake. Mr. Payne hired me. I’m supposed to pay off—”

A hand closes around my wrist, cutting off the rest of my sentence, the voice like hard steel. “I can take it from here, Tiffany. She’s working for me.”

Tiffany’s eyes dart between us. “Of course, Mr. Payne.”

I snap my mouth shut as Mason’s hand moves from my wrist to my waist, and he tugs me away. In silence, he presses the button for the elevator, a muscle ticking in his jaw. As soon as the doors ping open, he pushes me in, and I stumble. He gets in and waits until the doors snap shut before wheeling to face me.

“I know you’re not stupid.”

I draw myself up to my full height. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Mason advances on me, every inch of him oozing power and masculinity. “I know you’re new to this world, so I’m willing to overlookyour error in judgment, but if I ever see you outing the business again, I won’t be so generous.”