NIRELLE - Chapter 40: Chapter 40

I have to make Lucien know that I was serious about sitting out meals with him, so when I know he is down at the table for breakfast, I walk over with a tray I had literally wrestled for with the staff and pack up some things and put them on it. His eyes watch me silently, but I don't mind, as this is my way of making him know I won't sit back and do nothing while he tries to box me again.
'This is supposed to be my salvation, my escape, and not another prison. I was not going to allow that at all.' Once I am satisfied with everything I have put on my tray, I walk out and stop by the door. Turning to him, I say, "Good morning, Mr. Vexley," as if this is the first time I am seeing him.
I watch his eyes widen in shock and his jaws tighten, but I flash a forced smile at him and walk off. I stopped one of the staff and ensured that I spoke loudly so he could hear me.
"I am seeing a friend today, so please get the car ready for me," I say, hoping that Lucien next door had heard me.
"Yes, ma'am," he says without thinking too much about it.
I enter the living room and make myself comfortable on the couch before turning on the television and putting on the first movie I stumble on. I sit there pushing scones and scrambled eggs into my mouth. A few moments later, when I am also done with my meal, I feel Lucien's presence in the room, but I ignore him. He sits in one of the single sofas and stares intensely at me. I focus on my meal, and once I am done with it, I switch off the television and turn to him.
"Mr. Vexley, I would be meeting a friend today, so I would be away all day," I say and give a small bow, the same kind that the staff give before I walk away. I feel his eyes staring at my back, following me as I walk out.
I went to the room and checked my phone. I had messaged my friends in high school asking if we could meet up because I was not sure if I could handle staying in the same house with him all day. None of them have responded yet. I decided that if they don't respond, I can drive around and maybe visit one or two quiet places in the city and come back home by nighttime.
I browse through the wardrobe and pull out a scandalous dress; it is the kind that would annoy him since he liked ruffles so much. It was a powder blue dress that covered the entire top part of my body fully and then stopped right after my ass. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I did not like what I saw, but this would have to do.
I wanted to provoke a real apology from him, and this was what I decided? Looking at myself in the mirror, I was questioning my tactics, but I won't know if it will work unless I try it. I had watched one too many videos last night on the internet to be able to successfully cover up the bruising on my face. It was healing nicely again, and this was the first time I had stayed a few days without getting new bruises on my face. Maybe once these ones heal, my face will be free from them all.
I slid into some comfortable shoes and then took a bag to match. I stared long and hard at myself in the mirror before I left. I walked down the stairs, and Lucien was in the hallway, almost as if he had been waiting for me.
"I will be on my way, Mr. Vexley," I say and try to walk past him, but his hand holds me on the elbow, pulling me back so I can stand in front of him. I clear my throat so I don't crack into a smile at his reaction; he had fallen right where I wanted him to.
"Where are you going?" he asked, and I frowned.
"I told you that I am on my way to see my friends," I say. The lie flowed smoothly on my tongue. Why was I hell-bent on standing up against him? I had not had it in me to do the same to Enoch. Was I so sure that Lucien was not going to suddenly morph into a monster with my reactions? I feel sweat trickle down my back as the thought floods my mind.
"Which friends?"
"You don't know them."
"I did not give the permission to go."
"I do not need your permission, I respond, and he looks shocked that I was going to go against him like this. "On my first day here, I was told I could go anywhere I wanted to; all I needed was to have security with me, and I think they are waiting for me outside now," I say.
He knows I am right, and there is nothing for him to hold onto. "Is this friend Cassian Wolfe?" he asked, and that was when I even remembered the man.
"Must I tell you who I am going to meet? Don't you have secrets you don't want to tell me? Why must I be the one to tell you?" I shoot all the questions at him at once, and instead of defending himself, he steps to the side.
"Have fun."
"And you too, Mr. Vexley," I say as I walk out of the house. I do not want to go, and I wish he would stop me and just apologise for his actions. I still hope for him to stop me until we drive out of the gate.
"Where to, ma'am?"
"The nearest museum," I respond, and the driver looks at me weirdly. I am almost sure that they are going to be giving Lucien updates about what I am doing, and maybe I can provoke a reaction from him. I take my phone and search for Cassian's number.
"Cassian?"
"I thought you'd never call," he said as soon as he heard my voice.
"Well, I did, and I was thinking we could have lunch today?"
"We can meet up now," he says, and I shake my head.
"You know I am just getting in; I want to do a little sightseeing first, and then we can meet up for lunch."
"See you at lunch then."