CHAPTER FOUR
The cold shower was doing nothing to calm him. After the boutique, Cora had made him drive to ten more shops where she spend an hour each trying on clothes which she didn’t even purchase. Upon returning home, Vlad had to carry all the damn bags upstairs to her bedroom since none of the other staff were home to do it. He knew she did it only to piss him off. One wrong step and he’d be fired—Andrew made sure to point that out to him.
His frown deepened as he thought of the man. He hasn’t spoken a word to him since that night where he introduced Vlad to his daughter. Every instruction was given through Andrew’s secretary. He should be glad that he didn’t have to deal with the man himself.
Vlad sighed as he reached out to close the taps. Pushing the shower door open, he stepped out and grabbed the towel. After drying himself, he wrapped the towel around his hips and exit the bathroom. The bedroom was bigger than he wanted. It would’ve been better if he was given a small room with a single bed and wardrobe. Instead he got a room with a queen size bed, a walk-in closet, and an en-suite bathroom.
He stared at the unmade bed for a few seconds before turning and making his way towards the closet. Reaching down, he dropped the towel just as his bedroom door bust open. Vlad spun around, wishing that he still had his gun with him. That was until he realized exactly who had stormed into his room unannounced.
She came to a sudden stop when she realized that he stood naked in the middle of the room. Vlad took in the flush spreading slowly spreading up her neck and into her cheeks. Her mouth open and closed twice before snapping shut. He was enjoying her shocked silence. If her father found out. . .Vlad pushed the thought away and crossed his arms over his chest. His nakedness wasn’t bothering him at all, but it sure was bothering her.
“Can I help you princess?” he lazily drawled.
Cora’s eyes snapped up to his face but immediately dropped down his body again. It looked like she hadn’t seen a man naked before which Vlad found hard to believe. A girl like her could make any man drop to his knees. He was sure that Cora was far from innocent even though she looked it. Vlad bent down to pick up the towel and wrapped it around his waist again. Once he was covered, he expected her to find her voice, but Cora was still silent.
Her attention was now focused on his tattooed chest. She was studying his tattoos he realized with a jolt. Her sharp gaze was very unnerving. Shifting from foot to foot he turned away from her and entered the closet. Vlad dressed quickly before exiting the closet where he found Cora still standing by the door. Her eyes were squeezed closed. While she wasn’t looking, he took the time to study her.
Cora still looked as neat as she did this morning when she walked out of the house. Not even a strand of hair was out of place! His attention shifted to her pale skin. It looked so soft, making him yearn to touch it. What would her hair look like framing her face or spread out on the pillow? His eyes slowly dropped down her body. She was petite but she had curves in all the right places. Vlad knew what she looked like naked. He was only human after all.
“What do you need?” he asked huskily.
Her eyes snapped open. Cora frowned at him as he stared at her. He raised an eyebrow when her eyes narrowed and she took a step closer. Her fists were now clenched at her side. It was clear that the shocked silence she had displayed earlier were now gone. She was back to her obnoxious self.
“You ruined my clothes!”
“I don’t follow.”
Cora moved closer until she inches separated them. She tilted her head back and narrowed her eyes. She was speaking again but her words flew over his head. His attention was captured by her eyes. Such a rare colour—a colour he had never seen before. Violet. It had to be contacts. There was no way someone could be born with that eye colour.
A slap against his chest jerked him back to reality. He blinked at her. “What?”
“Would you listen when I’m talking to you? I said you ruined my clothes. The bag you dropped in the water. Ring any bells? The bag didn’t protect the clothes inside. You ruined it and I expect you to get it replaced immediately.”
“I don’t know what clothes were inside that bag so I can’t just simply replace them, princess.” He took a step back, feeling unease settling deep in his stomach. Why was she affecting him so badly?
Cora threw her hands up in the air with a loud groan. “My clothes for the party tonight!”
“What party?” Vlad questions feeling totally confused.
Nobody had mentioned anything to him about a damn party. His eyes narrowed when she continued to explain things to him. There was no party being held at the house, but one at a new club in town. The opening was tonight and Cora had been invited as a VIP because her father was friends with the new owners. Apparently her father was also invited but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.
“I’m going.”
“The hell you are,” Vlad exploded. “You’re not leaving this house tonight or any other night for that matter. For today we will be home by five o’clock ever afternoon. No visitors no communication with anyone. You—”
“You can’t do that!” Cora yelled. “You have no right—”
“I am your bodyguard! I have the right to do whatever I think is best to keep you safe.”
“F-you! You, you asshole!”
Vlad’s lips twitched as Cora stormed out of his bedroom. She slammed the door closed, leaving him one again surrounded by silence. He was starting to like the angry outburst she had whenever she didn’t get her way. If I ever have kids, they will definitely not be spoiled like her, he thought as he shook his head. It took him a few seconds to realize what he just thought about. Vlad has never thought about starting his own family. In fact he has been avoiding any serious relationships for as long as he could remember.
Running a hand through his hair, he muttered an oath under his breath. The feeling of impending doom intensified. He just needed to figure out what was causing it.
Cora entered her bedroom and slammed the door shut. She felt extremely hot and shaky. Maybe it had something to do with seeing a man naked for the first time in her life. Leaning back against the door, she blew out a breath as she squeezed her eyes closed. All she could see was the naked man she left in his room only seconds ago. He was perfect—like a Greek god. Any artist would be eager to paint or sculpture a man like him.
“Get over it!”
Her anger returned when his words echoed inside her head. A curfew! The man had set a freaking curfew for her. How dare he? He had no damn right to order her about like he was her father. The man was very far from it.
Cora straightened and slowly made her way into the closet. She was going to that party whether he liked it or not. Her social life has been put on hold because of that man and her father. Enough was enough! It was time to take matters back into her own hands. Vlad De Luca and his stupid rules could go to hell.
She needed to be at the club at seven-thirty and it was barely six. Cora had enough time to soak in the bath for a few minutes and then get ready before sneaking out. It was the first time she’d have to sneak out of her own home, but Cora would manage. She’d figure things out as she went along.
Entering her closet, she stared at the rows upon rows of clothes. Cora didn’t have a need for any new clothes or shoes. She just went out shopping to spite Vlad, and she certainly enjoyed watching him seethe silently. Although Cora was a little disappointed when he didn’t explode. He kept a straight face no matter what she made him do.
She was going to show him exactly what she thought of him and his stupid curfews he had place. He wasn’t the boss of her and he would never be.