Page 21 of Taking Adalisa (Montgomery Syndicate #2)

ADALISA

I did not sleep well last night, and it is evident all over my face. Baggy, dark circles under my eyes, and my skin is pale.

Great.

This is not what I want, but I couldn’t help but toss and turn last night. I wore the bracelet again for Matthias, wanting to feel the pleasure, but it never came. I didn’t fall asleep for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

This is not what I needed.

I need to think of a plan to leave, but I don’t know what else to do.

I’ve never done this before. I feel like I am missing some important things.

I don’t have enough money to get a new identity or move across the States.

But I do have enough money to get a new apartment in a different part of town where the landlord won’t ask questions about me paying in cash every month.

It isn’t ideal since it is in a part of town that isn’t safe, but I won’t be leaving much.

Once I can secure it, I’ll be telling my boss I’m going on vacation and won’t be able to work for at least two weeks.

That will give me enough time to get some new clothes, change my hairstyle, and learn how to change the way I look.

Then he won’t be able to recognize me. I’ve been practicing in front of a mirror, trying new accents and changing the pitch of my voice, so if he does come into work, then I won’t sound like myself.

It’s not ideal for me to come back to work so soon, but it’s hard to find an online job—to find a job in general.

Two weeks is all I can manage without losing my job.

Now it’s giving my boss enough heads up that she can find a replacement for those two weeks and also securing my new apartment and moving my stuff over there.

I’m going to rent a storage unit for a month or two to keep my stuff that I can’t move into the apartment right away.

Someday I’ll be back to get those once I move them.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and slowly let it out.

“Everything is going to be okay,” I mutter to myself and walk out of the bathroom.

I don’t want to be at work today. I want to crawl back into my bed and sleep for the rest of the day and night. But nothing in life is ever easy or goes my way. I sit in my chair behind the counter and lean back, looking at the front door for any potential customers.

This is getting into our slump, where we don’t have to be open all day, but my boss wants us to.

Or well, it’s just me since Margery is still missing.

Is she all right? Matthias said she was, and that he could take me to her when he could, but I’m still worried.

“Have you eaten since I last saw you?” Matthias asks as he walks into the shop.

I sigh and look down at my hands. Why did he have to be here? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone?

“Adalisa, answer me.” He steps right in front of me.

I look up, my eyes slightly widening. How did he get to me so fast and quietly? He can’t teleport. Was I really that out of it not to hear him?

“Adalisa,” he gently says, placing a hand under my chin. “Did you eat last night when you got home, and did you eat breakfast this morning?” he questions, concerned.

“Yes, I did.”

I didn’t eat much last night since I didn’t have a lot in my fridge, but it was enough to tide me over to this morning.

One egg and a piece of toast. That is all I had for breakfast. Thankfully, I’m not much of a breakfast person, so it was just enough for me.

Sadly, I don’t have anything for lunch or dinner, and I know I will be suffering for that.

“And lunch?” He raises an eyebrow like he knows.

I stay silent as I look at him, knowing he already knows.

“Adalisa.” His voice drops an octave.

“I don’t, but it’s okay. I’ll grab groceries on my way home and make something tonight, and I’ll leftovers for work tomorrow,” I rant, unable to stop myself.

Matthias cups my face, and I melt into his touch. Oh, I love his hands around my face. It makes me feel so safe and secure, like nothing can happen to me. When was the last time I felt this way with someone?

Never.

I’ve never felt this way and feeling it with Matthias of all people is freaking me out a little. I shouldn’t feel this comfortable around him. I shouldn’t feel this safe around him, and yet I do.

“That won’t do,” he murmurs. “I won’t have you going without a meal.”

I pull my face from his hands. “I won’t eat anything you bring me.”

He sighs. “I know. Not even if it’s a cup of noodles I got from the store that hasn’t been opened? You can put the water on it after I give it to you sealed.”

I look at him, trying to figure out why he cares so much. I’ve never had anyone worry about how much I eat or when I eat before.

“Are you trying to poison me?” I blurt, my eyes going wide.

I push my chair back, flinging myself away from Matthias. If anyone knew how to get poison into food without it being detected, it would be Matthias. He said his job isn’t the best, and now he wants to make sure I eat.

No.

I won’t have this happen again. Gone are all the safe and comfortable feelings, and now I am petrified.

“Woah.” Matthias holds his hands up. “I’m not trying to poison you. I promise. I wouldn’t do that to you. Not ever. I want you to be healthy, and skipping meals isn’t good for you. You need the nutrition.”

“And a cup of noodles is going to give me that?” I raise an eyebrow.

“It’s better than nothing.” He shrugs. “I don’t want you to go without food. I want your stomach to be full, so you can properly do your job and not feel exhausted. I want you to be the best version of yourself.”

My mouth hangs open as I stare at him. That was not what I was expecting him to say.

“I’ll be fine. One meal isn’t going to weaken me,” I point out.

I just need to leave. Maybe I can call about the apartment and get it today. I need to get away from Matthias as soon as possible. If he is checking up on me now, he is going to be doing the same later.

“One meal isn’t, but how many times have you done this?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No. We are not doing this. Thank you for stopping by, but you need to leave. I have work to do.”

Matthias looks around the empty store, and I curse it being our slow time. Why couldn’t someone have walked in behind him? “I think you have time right now to talk to me.” He smiles. “I don’t see anyone needing help.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t have work to do.

There are other things to do here that aren’t helping customers.

I need to make sure things are stocked, things are in neat, we don’t have any online orders, deliveries, unloading them away right away.

There are a lot of things to do around here, and I can’t just talk to you all the time,” I say in one breath.

I breathe hard as I look at him, waiting for him to reply.

“No.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “No?”

“No. You aren’t getting rid of me. If you need help, you will let me know and I will help you around the store. I know you normally have Margery here, but with her gone for who knows how long, you will need help,” Matthias states.

I blink several times, taking in everything he said. I can’t help but smile and then laugh. Matthias looks at me as I laugh, almost falling off my seat if it wasn’t for him catching me.

“Are you done?” he asks.

I hold up a finger as I continue to laugh. Matthias wants to help me around the store? I never thought I would hear that from him. Matthias doesn’t seem the type of person who would help around a shop.

“O-okay,” I finally manage to say, still chuckling. “I’m here now. Sorry. I just…” I crack a smile.

“Got a kick out of me saying I would help you?” he finishes my sentence.

I nod, trying my hardest not to laugh again.

Matthias bends down so he’s at eye-level with me. “I don’t appreciate being laughed at. This is your one warning.”

My eyes go wide as I stare at him and nod. Will I laugh at him again? Probably. I can’t help it when he says things like that.

“I wasn’t really laughing at you,” I mutter. “More at the images playing in my mind. You just don’t seem like the type to work in a store.”

“I’m not, and do not expect me to offer to help again,” he growls.

I raise both of my hands. Right. I shouldn’t have done that. Now I know, and I won’t make that mistake again.

“Well then, you can go. I don’t need you here.” I shoo him with my hands. “I have things I need to get done.”

But Matthias doesn’t move. He stands in his spot, and I start fidgeting in my seat. Nope. Not good. Just from the way he is staring at me makes me want to start confessing things I shouldn’t be. Things I am trying to keep to myself.

He continues to stare at me, making me fidget even more.

I suck in a breath. He can’t possibly have found out my plans to get away, could he?

I didn’t even think about that until now.

Matthias opens his mouth to say something, but his phone rings, stopping him.

Did I just get saved by his phone? I need to figure out who is calling him and thank them for helping me later.

He pins me with his eyes, holding his phone. “We will talk about this later. You are not getting away with not eating lunch.”

I smile. “Right. Sure. Whatever you think and say. Now go.”

Matthias looks at me once again before turning and walking out of my store. I let out a breath and lean back in my chair. I don’t know how I’m going to do this every single time he talks to me, the push and pull.

I look at my desk and see a note. Is it from Matthias? When did he have time to write that for me?

Matthias

Be a good girl for me. Don’t get into any trouble and shut the store for an hour or two to eat. -