Annabella's Oblivion (Hard World Tour #1) (9 page)

Annabella

You know that feeling when you go to school or pre-school for the first time, feeling like all those people won’t like you, and you end up all alone even though you all start on the same level? I was afraid to leave the room, but knew I had to do it. I couldn’t stay in any longer, and I really wanted to see the ranch. I discovered I was on the second floor, with several rooms close to mine, and I think there was a bathroom at the end, too. The walls were painted beige, and the fine oak doors and stairs were a deep burnished brown. I slowly went down the hall. My sneakers didn’t make any sound on the soft, carpeted floor as I took the steps to go downstairs. On the wall near the staircase, there were several pictures of a beautiful woman, with green eyes and blonde hair. She was laughing and the photographs captured her well. In fact, all the pictures were of her at different times in her life, some with a small boy, who might have been a toddler, making it hard to tell whether it was Nathaniel or not.

Downstairs had a vast living room with couches, chairs, and a big TV. Then there was a dining room with a big table and for some reason there was a vase of peonies, my favorite flowers.

Probably a coincidence, but still I leaned down and smelled them, closing my eyes with pleasure. The house was warm, and based on the climate, I gathered there was snow outside.

Cold weather wasn’t my favorite season. I grew up in Texas, and winters there weren’t kind if you were a starving kid whose parents didn’t give a shit about her. I pushed those memories aside and went in the direction of an amazing smell, which made my stomach growl.

For weeks, just the idea of food had made me nauseous. But oddly enough, right now I was starving.

Okay, maybe not that hungry, but I could use some food.

I entered the kitchen and there was Marie again. She was humming something to herself as she waved a spoon here and there. She was listening to Beyoncé while cooking something on the stove. She didn’t notice me and even danced a little to the beat. It was so adorable I couldn’t help but smile.

I cleared my throat and she spun around, clutching her hand to her chest.

“
You scared me, girl!”

“
Sorry,” I mumbled, but she just waved her hand dismissively.

“
No need to apologize. Are you hungry?”

“
Well, kind of.” She nodded her head and gestured for me to sit down at a big round table, which could seat up to twelve people. I chose the nearest chair to her, sat down, and looked around.

The kitchen was almost as big as the living room, but it was in a slightly rounded shape. A big window looked out onto the ranch, but it was hard to see anything because of the snow. The curtains were white with yellow tulips, and there was a lot of kitchen stuff that I had no idea how to use. I wasn’t much into the whole domestic thing; Nicky was. Strangely enough, this place had a homey feel about it, and Marie was very efficient inside it.

She put a plate and cup in front of me and I blinked, my attention snapping back to her.

“
Thank you.” My body was dying for some coffee. I inhaled the aroma and frowned. “I’m sorry, but I don’t drink tea. Could you show me where you have coffee so I could make some?” She was really nice, and I didn’t want to give her more work than was needed.

“
No, the doctor said no coffee for you, so I made green tea.”

Oh, my God, no coffee? How was I supposed to live without it? Among us, only Ariel was into the whole green tea and vegetarian thing, which I never understood, but whatever.

I had no idea I would be forced to become one.

I decided to check what was on my plate and thank God, there was a small bowl of soup. It smelled wonderful and I couldn’t wait to try it.

“
You need to eat something that will go easy on your stomach.” I nodded and took the spoon and tried out the soup; it was delicious. At least my taste and smell was still there.

“
If you don’t mind, where is everyone?” One of the reasons I wanted to come downstairs was to see what this place was all about.

So far, I hadn’t seen anyone but her and that stupid nurse, who I wanted to punch in the face.

“
They’re working, though they will be back soon. Dinner is in about an hour.”

“
So, will I have to work as well?” I asked.

Marie was frowning when she turned around with one hand on her hip and focused her eyes on me.

“
You have experience in ranching?”

“
Well, no, but I just assumed since other patients like me—”

“
There is no one like you here; only you.”

“
But how is that possible?” What the hell? Was he even licensed to do shit like this? I thought they put me in some professional care; apparently not. “Nurses and doctors and all the equipment?”

“
They are here on Nate’s request. He had an agreement with Jeremy.”

Shit, so it was probably some private kind of rehabilitation. I didn’t feel that great about it. Not to be rude or anything, but the idea of being the only freak out there didn’t exactly make me happy.

Just what the hell does he have planned for me?

Ryan

“
Look, man, I may be pissed at her for doing what she did, but I don’t want her to suffer.” The harsh tone of Jeremy’s voice annoyed my ear.

“
She won’t suffer more than she has to.”

“
Yeah, right. I know you have some unresolved issues with her, but it’s been almost a month. Don’t you think we can visit and talk?”

It was the same argument all over again, and I was getting tired of it. I understood where they were coming from, but I also knew they were the last thing she needed right now. She had to be with new people and in a completely different environment. I glanced out the window; it was snowing and the view was beautiful and mesmerizing.

Winter was my favorite time of year. It was the only time as a child when I didn’t feel like shit for being a freak who stayed home when everyone else was playing outside with friends.

“
No.”

“
Fine. But I’m coming in a month to check on her whether you like it or not.” With those words, he hung up.

He wasn’t calling the shots here---I was. They hadn’t been good enough for my girl. I didn’t trust them to make her feel better now.

It was hard to listen to her cries and screams, which were begging for her release. She had no idea,  but I’d sat outside her door and suffered right along with her. I’d wanted to be near her, even if I couldn’t touch her. I needed for it to be over as much as she did. I had this stupid and fucked-up idea that I was close enough to her, I could give her some strength to fight.

Those were the hopes of a desperate man.

A knock on the door snapped me back to the present and made me frown.

I was never interrupted when I was in my office; people knew better than that. It was one of the many reasons I loved this place as much as I did.

“
Come in!” I shouted, and the door slowly opened. Rose entered the room and I groaned inwardly. Wearing tight jeans, a blouse, and full makeup with her hair loose, she smiled seductively. I bet a lot of men thought she was hot. She was nice to look at.

She did nothing for me.

I knew she was trouble the minute she’d arrived here, but she was a damned good nurse, who knew how to work with cases like ours. Most importantly, she knew how to keep her mouth shut. So far, I’d been able to overlook her smiles and invitations, but lately she’d become too persistent, and I’d started to wonder if she was as smart as she made out.

“
Hey, Nathaniel.” Her voice was husky as she came closer to me. I hated that name---my first name---but I couldn’t take the risk of telling everyone my given name.

“
What do you want, Rose?” I wasn’t one to act cruel toward women, but if she didn’t get the hint, I would have to make her.

“
You sit here all day. I think you need to relax.” She leaned down and was about to put her hand on my chest, but I stopped her hand with mine. I saw desire fill her eyes.

Fuck.

Clearly, the woman got off on certain things. My grabbing her hand in refusal gave her the wrong impression.

I liked to have rough sex sometimes, but wasn’t some Dom who got off on bringing women pain for pleasure. There was nothing wrong with that; it just wasn’t for me.

“
Look, Rose, I’m flattered, really, but not interested.” She frowned for a second, then she smiled and leaned closer, looking at my lips.

“
Are you sure? I can make you feel so good, you wouldn’t know what hit you.” The smell of her perfume washed over me, making me sick.

I wasn’t some kind of saint, who resisted the allure of beautiful women, but here there was nothing to resist. When Bella was in the same house, so close to me in whatever capacity she was there, I didn’t need anyone else. All Rose’s attempts were useless.

Before I could say anything else, the office door opened and Bella walked inside. Her eyes widened for a second and she tried to hide her reaction, but not before I saw a flash of disgust, and maybe even anger.

Fucking perfect.

Although she still looked like shit and not like her usual self, her face was porcelain clean and she looked healthier than before. For me, the sight of her did things that Rose, with all her seductive attempts, couldn’t do.

Fuck! It was hard to control it when she was here, and I needed to push the other woman the fuck away before she thought my reaction was for her.

I knew how it looked, as though Rose and I were about to kiss.

“
Bella,” I said, and she raised her eyebrows and folded her arms. Rose straightened, rage filling her eyes, which she tried to hide behind her sweet smile. She looked mighty pleased with herself.

“
I’ll see you later, Nate.” With a dismissive look at Bella, she left the room and closed the door softly after herself.

“
Well, Nate, that was certainly interesting,” she mused sarcastically, and sat down on the chair.

What was it with these women making themselves at home in my office?

“
Glad you were amused.”

“
Yeah, I think Rose will provide hours of entertainment for me.”

“
To what do I owe this visit?” I didn’t feel like explaining myself, and I would have done so, if the stupid topic continued.

“
I want to know what the hell is going on.” She glared at me, and now her face was all business, the amusement had completely vanished from her eyes.

“
Meaning?”

“
There is no one else but me here, and after wandering around a bit, it seems like this is a full-on ranch. Yet you have doctors and nurses here.” Her voice became colder when she referred to Rose. “So I’m asking again. What. The. Hell?”

“
It’s a special program just for you. We wouldn’t want you in any center. The media attention would have been too great, and with your upcoming tour, you don’t need that kind of attention. I’ve already told you that.”

“
So no one knows I’m in rehab?” Her tone tinged with disbelief.

“
Everyone knows you’re grieving, and you are somewhere licking your wounds. No one knows it was drugs.”

“
So everyone pities me?” She didn’t like the sound of that. Her spine stiffened and she looked lost. I knew she hated it and completely understood why.

Pity was all we got when we were kids, and at some point you start to hate it.

Along with all those people around who directed it at you.

“
Everyone tries to understand. It’s better than drugs.” She said nothing. “For what’s it worth, I’m sorry about what happened to Nick.” Her eyes looked guarded for a moment, and she shifted them to one of the statues I had around the room.

“
Thanks.” It was a low whisper, and I decided not to push it anymore. She cleared her throat. “So, what’s next?”

“
You’ll have sessions with a psychologist and time to yourself. The ranch is big. We have horses. You can wander around and do whatever you want here.” That information made her eyes light up a little; yeah, I knew my girl liked horses. Had dreamed of having one back in school, but obviously I couldn’t say it out loud. “Basically, you’re here to heal. You’ll need nutrition to get healthy, and no smoking, alcohol, or any dangerous stuff.”

“
Great. So I’ll have all those people babysitting me.”

“
No, just me.” That made her frown and shift uncomfortably. “I’m your sobriety coach.”

She blinked several times and looked adorable.

Adorable? What a fuck, man?