My Sweetheart

Outside, only when Kathy left the main building and saw the sky had already grown dark, did she realize she’d not yet had anything to eat. But she didn’t want to stay here.

Suddenly, with a squeal of brakes, a light blue car came to a stop before her. Bertie got out, opened the passenger door, and said, “It’s hard to hail a car here. I’ll take you to the airport. I’d worry if you want on your own.”

Kathy furrowed her brow, but got in. But this time, Bertie did not take her to the airport. Instead he drove toward the city center, farther and farther from the airport. Looking at him, she asked, “Where are you taking me?”

“My home.”

“I want to go back to City N,” she told him seriously.

“You’ve not begun school yet. If you go back now, you’ll be all alone. Better to stay with me, it will foster sentiment.”

“Nobody wants to foster sentiment with you,” she snapped. She wanted to get out, but Bertie had locked the doors.

“Now Joseph’s not with you, I want to take the opportunity to get nearer you,” he said without a scrap of shame.

“Bertie, let me out of the car!” she demanded, glaring at him. When he did not, she got out her phone and threatened, “Otherwise I’ll call the police.”

But he was unimpressed. Laughing lowly, he said, “I took your SIM card out back at the Booth home. Your phone’s got no signal.”

She turned it on to discover that he was right. “You bastard,” she raged.

But the angrier she grew, the happier he became. He found her fury adorable. Arriving at a neighborhood, he got out and opened her door for her, saying, “Please, miss.”

Kathy got out and prepared to run, but Bertie had anticipated as much. He caught her easily, wrapped her up in his arms. “Bertie Marshall!” she shouted.

“Don’t force my hand. I just want you with me. I won’t hurt you, and here, I won’t interfere with your freedom.”

“You’re interfering with me freedom now,” she glared.

you want with me,” he told her earnestly. But Kathy was hardly

so near him. “Let me go, I won’t

Immediately she scrambled away from him. Seeing the floor numbers go by, her complexion became

be afraid of me. I’ve never hurt

and tried to rape me.

was the first time in his life he’d ever been at a loss for words. That had been Grandfather’s plan, but he’d accepted, even if he’d regretted it later. But because it was Kathy, he’d not had the heart. He wanted her to be

that claim to act on my behalf end up hurting me. I’ve had enough.” She hated being bound, being controlled. She wanted to be

more in that moment. “I admit that that was wrong of me. But I thought

“Emphasis on you thought.”

arms, trapping her between him and the wall. “What will it take

away. “Get

earn

her chin, and laughed

you to hate me

He opened the door, and when Kathy lingered in the doorway, he motioned her inside. She

Kathy, said with a smile, “Bertie, how could you bring a girl home and not tell me

an impulse decision.” To a servant he

ma’am,” Kathy said to

in, don’t be nervous,” she bade. Sensing Kathy’s hesitation,

Kathy, Grandfather’s granddaughter,” Bertie

Bertie treated you

were always writ plain on her face. “Yes,” she said simply. “I’m

that her son’s gaze never left Kathy. “Why have you brought her?” she asked, puzzled.

to return to City N.

so that’s why she looks so

hates me. But at least that’s better than her having no feelings for me at all.”

of Zack’s inheritance. What were they?” his mother