Julia POV

6 months later.

It’s been six months since Jerome saved me that night. And I never step foot outside. I’m still terrified I could run into Vincent and he would drag me back into that hellhole. Everything I need is being provided for me, I don’t know why he let me stay, he seems like a prudent person who loves his personal space and likes to keep his circle small. Maybe he feels sorry for me, Reneé or perhaps the doctor must have told him about the baby.

Maybe he didn’t want to send a grieving mother out in the street. I told Jerome my story, everything that happened with me and Vincent. Of course, I left out some information. Things I am too embarrassed to tell anyone.

But whatever his reasons are. I’m glad he lets me stay.. I’m starting to feel more like myself again, my wounds are almost gone and I feel so alive.

Call me delusional but Jerome and I have gotten quite close. I catch him staring at me in ways I think are not normal. And the truth? I’m drawn to him too. It’s not love but it’s definitely something and I want to know what it is. “Dinner is served, Miss Julia” Reneé pulling me out of my delusion. “Thank you, I’ll be down in a minute”.

I’m already in my silk red nightgown all dressed up for dinner. I walk down the stairs, my foot barely leaving a sound. Jerome is sitting at the far end of the dining table. I pulled out my chair and sat two chairs away from him.

“How are you feeling” he says grabbing a spoon to eat, not looking at my face.

“Like a million bucks,”. I can swear I saw a faint smile at the corner of his lips. “Does that mean good? A million bucks isn’t a lot of money”

“It is for me,” I say stuffing my face with food. If I wanted him to see all this sexiness in my night gown maybe I shouldn’t eat like a damn cow.

“Do you like your new phone?” he says

“Yes, I do. Thanks again. I keep myself company with it. The internet has been my constant source of entertainment”

“Hmm I don’t do that very much”

“Yeah well, you are too busy being uptight and serious with work. I’m not surprised” I say sipping my juice. I don’t even know what he does for work and I don’t think we are close enough for me to ask.

“Well if you get bored with the internet you can always go out of the house. Might as well take Reneé and Miguel with you”

What a way to spoil the mood

“Can I ask why u are helping me?” The confused look on his face was clear as day. “I beg your pardon”? He says swallowing his meal as if he were shocked at what he just heard. “Everything comes with a prize.

There’s no such thing as kindness in this cruel world, No one gives without wanting anything back especially a man, but you took me in, dressed my wound, fed me, clothed me, so please tell me what it is that you want”

“Nothing,” he says reaching for his glass of wine. As if the food was stuck on his throat and he needed something to help get it down “Are you satisfied”

“No. If anything I’m more terrified. What can I ever give to a man like you, Compared to you Vincent is a lesser man and he took everything from me. I’m so grateful for everything you have done for me.

But I've been scared out of my mind. Bracing myself for what's to happen next”. I look up at him and see him staring at me like I’m a broken toy that didn’t need fixing but accepted its fate. I feel embarrassed but I had to get it off my chest. The look on his face, like he understands me. Thank God.

“he can’t hurt you, It’s a big city, chances are you will never see that man again” I sit there clenching hard to my night gown I can feel the tears gathering in my eyes. But I tried so hard to hold it back.

“Master Jerome” a voice interrupted “ it was Miguel. You have a visitor”

“Name”? He says adjusting himself back on the chair.

“said his name is Vincent Hale, sir”

My heart sank. What the actual hell. What is that bastard doing here? What if he takes me? I can’t go back there. I look at Jerome the tears iv been holding are starting to rush out.

He looks at me with guilt in his eyes. I don't understand. How can someone feel guilty for something that isn’t their fault? “Stay seated,” he says gesturing at me with his hands. Honestly, if I wanted to move. I don’t think I could.

“Bring him in”

“Sir here, at the table”? Miguel says turning his gaze to me. Jerome gives him a nod as he turns back heading to the door.

After a few minutes, I hear the door open. I can hear his footsteps as he gets closer. He looks different. He usually walks into a place like he owns it but now, he looks like he’s playing his cards just right. Carefully, not to overstep. Almost like fear, and that settles me down a bit.

“Hello, Mr Moretti,” he says with a wide smile. Since when is he ever polite?

“I don’t mean to come into your home unannounced. But I hear that my wife is here and I would like to retrieve her. I am very grateful for your hospitality, but it’s time she comes back home.

Wife? What the fuck is he talking about? Jerome looks at me almost as if he’s giving me the you didn’t tell me you were married look. But he turns his gaze back at Vincent.

“And what is this thing you are here to retrieve?”

The bastard narrows his eyes at me. He looks surprised to see how good I look. I probably look different seeing that there are no bruises or cuts on my skin. I mean that’s the look he is used to or maybe even into. What a pig.

“There's nothing here that belongs to you. You should leave” Jerome says walking closer to him. Miguel and two other men walk behind him.

“I’m not trying to start anything, I come in peace Moretti,” Vincent says lifting both hands.

“All the more reason you should leave now that you are still in one piece. Now you don’t come into my house talking about people like they are property”

I turn my gaze at Jerome I can see the veins on his head pop. Am I mistaken or does he genuinely care?

This is more than not sending me out in the street he looks concerned like he’s protecting me.

“Look, Mr Moretti, we are on the same side here. We High-class citizens should show the lower class that we are above them and make sure they remember their place. You don’t need to protect her, She's just a cheap whore I picked from the street and cleaned up. She's a thief, a con. A drug addict and worse, an orphan.

She has no family or even a background She's nothing”. There it is. All the things I kept away from Jerome, Vincent said it like it was a nursery rhyme, so easily. I bury my head down

“I need you to get the fuck out of my house or I will bury you so deep that your daddy money can’t find you” I look back up at Jerome. Hearing him say those words feels like I matter. I can see him clenching his fists like it was taking everything in him not to throw a punch. “Miguel escort this fool out of my house ”

Miguel gestured his hands towards the door “Fine I’ll leave but this isn’t over Moretti. Remember I tried to play nice”.

I sit there ashamed begging for the ground to open so I could dive right in. But mostly because everything he said is true. Jerome empties his glass of wine and heads upstairs.

I don't know why but I followed him. Still ashamed, but I have to make sure he doesn't think differently of me now, especially because I stayed with a man who sees me as worthless for two years.

That doesn’t scream self-worth. The more I think of it the more I blame myself. If I didn't see my worth how did I expect someone else to?

I’m finally at the door, I've been standing there for over 20 minutes debating whether I should go in or not. I don’t know what I’ll meet at the other end of it but what could be worse than what just happened? I twist the doorknob open, tension running through me I forget to knock.

Big mistake. I see him standing there completely naked. Revealing too much for comfort. His abs, weren’t a lot, just perfect. His gorgeous black hair, those beautiful broad shoulders. And something so far and long that I can't stop staring at it. That is definitely the body of a god.