Bella:
Knowing that Ryder wasn't coming to get me made me feel a pang of anger that I tried not to let get to me. He was far away on an island in Frost Pack, but I felt he could have spared the day just to be with me. Finn could have easily allowed me to take a bus or sent his father's men, but he drove to and fro to get me. Ryder couldn't even do that.
I'm just overreacting, I told myself as I made my way out of the house, with Finn following behind.
"Are you sure you'll be okay alone on the trip?" Finn asked, causing me to pause in my tracks. I couldn't tell yet, and I was about to find out. "I could come with you if you wanted," Finn said as we continued towards the car with the men suited up carrying my luggage.
I let out a sigh of distress. "I'll be fine, I guess," I said, tucking my hands in the pocket of my jeans. "See you in a week," I added, and he sighed, kissing me briefly before pulling away.
He let go of me, and I made my way towards the car, only to be pulled back to him with force. He cupped my face, pressing his lips on mine, tugging and biting on my lower lip. I opened up, allowing him to deepen the kiss, which lasted for a while before he pulled away.
"It'll be a long week for me, but I'll manage," he said in a low tone, and I kissed his lips one more time.
"Goodbye, Finn. Take care of yourself."
With that, I got into the car, which had one of its doors held open by the chauffeur. He shut it at once, and the car sped off while I looked back until Finn's figure became a memory, causing me to sink back into my seat.
The car reached the airport in no time, and one man called Ryder, letting him know our destination before they escorted me to the waiting private jet. It was cozy and relaxing, but I wished Ryder was here to ride with me.
***
The next time I opened my eyes, one of Ryder's men was giving me a gentle tap, causing me to spring to my feet. "We're here, ma'am," he said, causing me to glance around the plane like a hawk searching for its prey.
It was nighttime, and I was tired, so I followed him out of the plane to find two cars on standby at the airport. I got into one, and the driver zoomed off. Shortly, we were in front of a large gate with the inscription "AC" on it. The gate was opened by a man in uniform, and we drove in. My mouth fell open when I realized it was an estate on the beach of the Frost Pack.
The roads were neatly tarred with no bumps, and there were large structures all around with statues of snowmen and gnomes in front of most buildings. Some had gigantic Christmas lights that were blinding. We drove for a while until we reached the end of the street, where a mansion stood at the end of the T-junction, spreading out far across both streets on the right and left.
My troubled heart seemed to calm a bit as I imagined getting into Ryder's arms. But I conditioned my heart to harbor a little anger that could enable me to yell at him for a bit and deprive him of touching me. As soon as the car came to a halt, I got out, slamming the door shut, and made my way to the front door.
I grabbed the handle and attempted to pull it open, but it wouldn't budge. One man dressed in black approached me, keyed in a code on the device attached to the door, and it beeped. Then he opened it for me.
"Mr. Ashcroft isn't around at the moment. He asked that we help you settle in," the man said, and I forced a smile.
I tried not to judge Ryder quickly and conditioned my mind to make up an excuse for his absence. He could have been here for me, but he probably had his reasons, I told myself as the man carried my stuff into the gigantic beach house. Soon, we reached a room, which I assumed was Ryder's, since his scent was strongest around it.
The man opened it, and I walked in after him to a room twice the size of Finn's. Exhausted from the trip, I had nothing to say to the man, so I just threw myself on the bed and shut my eyes, making an imaginary snow angel, oblivious to the fact that the man had gone.
"Good day, ma'am," someone spoke, startling me. I opened my eyes to see a lady dressed in a black gown with a smile on her face. "Mr. Ashcroft asked that I run you a bath," she said, and I forced a smile.
He wants everything done for me, but he can't do a single thing or even be here, I thought.
I took a bath shortly, then got dressed for the night, trying to make my way back to bed when I stepped on something at the foot of the bed, almost under it. Out of curiosity, I crouched down to see what it was, and my heart popped out of my chest as I grabbed it. The butterflies I felt in my stomach turned to bedbugs at once, and I felt myself slipping into a dark zone.
"How could he?"