Cage owned many other buildings and houses, but he spent most his time here. Thankfully, he had his own separate wing on the floor. Autumn was kept within her own wing that included three rooms beside her bedroom. She had a workout room, a classroom, and an entertainment room. If she went anywhere else within the tower she had to have special permission and even then she was never allowed to wander. She was usually accompanied by Penna and various guards. She wasn’t allowed to go outside the tower without Cage.
She was required to participate in various activities daily that kept her mind and body in shape. Every day she had some sort of task to complete and had to exercise a minimum of one hour. Autumn wasn’t exactly fat or plump, but she had curves. She'd never really cared about her weight because she mostly ate when she was hungry and didn’t when she wasn’t. Of course, she indulged in the occasional treat here or there and didn’t always eat the best things for her, but everyone did at some point.
In the tower her foods were mostly handpicked. Special menus were devised for her particular needs. She was given what was best for her even though she didn’t always like it. She also had to do specific exercises designed to heighten her health and well being. She was still allowed to have sweets and treats, but with the understanding that she would have to work for them.
Sometimes it wasn’t worth it. The first time she found out how long it took to work off a single slice of pie she didn’t think she ever want another one. But there were days when she just needed something sweet to make her feel good. Holidays were the best time to splurge if she really wanted something. She was allowed to eat whatever she wanted and didn’t have to work it off. Of course, holidays never lasted long around here.
When she wasn’t exercising, she had classes. Cage had her studying all sorts of things. She was allowed to choose some of the things she wanted to learn but for the most part Autumn didn’t want anything to do with it. She refused to play his game. She was a hostage, a captive here, and just because he gave her activities to do didn’t make it any better. So he usually chose for her.
At first she didn’t participate and would just stare off into space, but after a while she eventually gave in out of boredom and lack of willpower. It was exhausting fighting all the time against every little thing in her life. Sometimes she just had to give in, and she learned to pick her battles.
She found some classes were interesting while others were quite frustrating. Sometimes she wouldn’t like a class and would ask Cage to let her drop it. But he seemed to have a set amount of classes he thought she should attend before allowing her to quit.
Autumn wondered if she was going to have breakfast first thing or go to a class. Maybe she’d even exercise. There were a few mornings she had done yoga as soon as she woke up. Before Autumn could ask what she was doing, Penna informed her she would be having breakfast with Cage.
Autumn sighed deeply, dragging her feet through her room. Usually she only had to have dinner with Cage or the occasional lunch. He usually wasn’t up by now or was busy with something. It was bad enough that she had to see him at all, but seeing him first thing in the morning often ruined her whole day.
Autumn considered climbing back in bed, but Penna went and started the shower. While the shower got hot Autumn begrudgingly went to her walk-in closet. She picked out some clothes from the selection Cage had deemed appropriate. All of the clothes were sheer and most of them were short. Autumn pick out the long sheer peach dress, putting it in the bed. She knew this one covered the most and only showed the outline of her curves.
Most of the other dresses made her feel like she was practically walking around naked. The first few times she wore them she was sure people would stare at her. She despised being exposed. But to her surprise no one stared, or even looked at her for that matter. When Autumn had shared her surprise, Penna had told her that the men were used to seeing women with no clothes on. Especially around Cage. He was known for his appetite. She'd also told Autumn that none of the men would be stupid enough to get caught staring at Cage’s woman.
When Autumn had learned that, she had almost wanted to be rebel. She wanted to go around naked and show Cage she didn’t belong to him. That she could do whatever she wanted. But Autumn figured the men would just be removed and Cage would just do what he wanted.
Autumn sighed as she undressed from her sheer white night gown. Pulling at the straps she let it fall to the floor before stepping out of it. She didn’t remember putting it on and for a moment she wondered who had dressed her. She stepped into the bathroom as steam filled the air.
Before she got into the shower Penna gave her some rubber gloves to wear over her hands and wrists. She sealed them so water wouldn’t get to her bandages. Penna was good at planning. She almost always seemed to be prepared. She had a knack for the small things, and Autumn would often find her remembering things she'd forgotten. Autumn believed that, if Penna didn't have to work for the Zisgani, she would make a good personal assistant or a manager. Once Autumn had what she needed, Penna left the room. The water was just right when Autumn got in. The shower had a temperature gauge set to what Autumn liked.
For a moment she basked in the luxurious heat as water covered her from three different directions. It soothed her aching muscles and made her hum with relaxation. Eventually she washed her hair and then her body using the various soaps and shampoos available to her. When she was all cleaned and rinsed, she stepped out of the shower.
Penna returned and handed Autumn a large, fluffy towel before she turned off the shower. Autumn used to be modest around her but after a while she got used to the fact that Penna would see her naked sometimes. Now she didn’t really notice it. Autumn dried herself off slowly before Penna helped her take the rubber gloves off. Autumn put the towel in the laundry chute within the room before she went to powder herself. She put it over every inch of her body, enjoying the smell of it and how soft it made her skin feel.
When she was finished she changed into the long sleeved peach dress Penna had brought into the bathroom for her. Dressed, Autumn moved into the bedroom. She sat down at her vanity and picked up her brush. As she brushed her hair Penna informed her of the days schedule. “After breakfast you’ll play table tennis, followed by pottery lessons until lunch. After lunch there will be reading time followed by clarinet lessons. Before dinner you’ll meet with your personal trainer who wants to assess your injures and see what you can do for the next few days. After dinner you can have a choice of music time or movie time until bed.”
Autumn sighed as she went over the plans in her head. She didn’t mind most of the things but she wasn’t a fan of learning the clarinet. So far the only instruments she enjoyed playing were the piano, harp, and flute. She was not enjoying the clarinet and would rather learn the drums, maybe the violin, or even the guitar, but she knew Cage wouldn’t let her quit until she learned a song. So far she was on her 6th lesson and barely knew a few bars of music.
Penna’s phone buzzed and she checked it as Autumn tied her hair back with a blue ribbon. Penna looked stressed as she put her phone down. “You’d better hurry and get your slippers on. We're running late. He’s going to be there any minute.”
“Let him wait.” said Autumn coldly.
“Autumn, now is not the time to rebel. You just got back. Give yourself a rest.”
Autumn groaned, knowing Penna was right. There was no use in avoiding it anyway. Knowing Cage, he’d wait all day. If he wanted to have breakfast with her, then he would have breakfast with her. Autumn put her hair brush down before she stood up and put her slippers on.
Together, Penna and her walked through several hallways and rooms until they reached the dining room. Penna nodded to Autumn that she would wait outside before Autumn went in. Cage still wasn’t there. Only the chef and guard were standing in the room. A table had been set up with an exotic spread and expensive dishes. Autumn walked up to the table and the chef quickly pulled out her chair for her. Autumn sat down and thanked him b
efore he began to tell her what she could have for breakfast.
Her options were, fruit, fruit, or fruit. They had a fruit salad, a fruit parfait, or blueberry buttermilk pancakes with raspberries bananas and wild berries with a side of maple syrup. Autumn thought about what she wanted for a bit. She hadn't thought she was hungry but when the chef talked about those pancakes her stomach rumbled. Suddenly she couldn’t remember the last time she’d ate. Her captors had given her food a few times a day but it had mostly been a box of crackers or a bag of chips and the night before they turned her over they'd stopped feeding her.
After Cage had saved Autumn she’d just come home and slept. She realized it had been morning when they saved her so that meant she’d slept through the day and all of the night. Her stomach rumbled once more. Autumn quickly ordered the pancakes and asked if she could also have a large glass of milk. He told her he didn’t think she could have a large glass but he’d bring her a small glass and perhaps some fresh squeezed orange juice. Autumn nodded and the chef stepped away from her as they waited for Cage to arrive.
He came in not even a minute later with Fredric in the lead and Lane at his side. Fredric was Cage’s main bodyguard. It was very rare to see one without the other. Fredric was often the first person to enter a room and exit it. Tall and muscular, he looked like he could easily take care of anyone. Autumn didn’t like him much. The first time they'd met in the hall he'd glared at her, and he'd been the one to struggle with Curtis.
The first few weeks after she'd been taken Fredric had also held her down or back when she had attempted to kill Cage. For the most part he hardly ever spoke. He often acted like a wall, putting his hands in front of him. He would stare off into space for hours at a time. As time went on Autumn often found herself forgetting he was even there.
Lane was Cage’s personal assistant. She could have been a model with her good looks and taste in clothing. She was always dressed in nice suits and skirts. Her hair was never out of place. Autumn didn’t know much about her even though she was often around. Over the last year they’d only ever talked once or twice, and even then it was mostly polite, if not civil, conversation. Lane was always busy either talking on a cell phone or texting. She carried at least a dozen phones on her at all times. Autumn often wondered how she kept track of them all and knew just which one was ringing.
Cage looked slick in his black trench coat. It fit him perfectly and drifted behind him several inches off the floor as he walked. His hair was pulled back. His face was cleanly shaven. As he took off his trench coat and folded it over the back of his chair, Autumn could smell his cologne. It was strong, but not too strong.
He was wearing a nice black suit that was perfectly tailored to fit his well toned body. While Autumn only had to work out for an hour a day, Cage relished working out two hours every day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Sometimes he’d even work out while he was on the phone or in a briefing. He seemed to love physical activity and the benefits showed. Not that Autumn admired him or anything. Not since the first day she'd met him. Too much had happened between them for her to ever think he was handsome again.
Cage sat down and ordered what he wanted from the chef. The chef then left to make their food. Autumn looked at Cage briefly as he poured himself some coffee, adding some creamer and sugar. He seemed busy as Lane continued the conversation they’d been having. “We got a response. They are secure. Stenz wants to know what you want to do about the Beckwith.”
“Nothing.” said Cage, before taking a sip of his coffee. He looked tired as he set it down. He pulled out a cigarette and Fredric was there in a matter of seconds with a lighter. Cage leaned forward as Fredric lit his cigarette. He took several puffs before he said, “Stenz is always ready to jump when there is smoke. Tell him to sit on some ice and cool down.”
“Yes sir.” said Lane, quickly texting into her phone. When she was finished she asked, “Would you like me to call Berry and Michel and have them poke around to see who was behind this and how they got so many locations?”
“No, I’ll find that out later.” said Cage, releasing puffs of smoke into the air in the shapes of o’s. “I called Barger for a sit down. It's only a matter of time now.”
Lane slowly pulled away from her phone. She let it drop in her lap as she asked, “So you know who did it?”
Cage groaned and coughed, clearing his throat before he said, “They couldn’t have left a bigger calling card.”
“Hmm.” said Lane, picking up her phone once more. She began texting again as she asked, “What do you think they want?”
“I don’t know.” said Cage as he put his cigarette out in the ashtray on the table. “But I know what I want: for you to finish this up so I can have my fucking breakfast in peace.”
“Right.” said Lane. She quickly looked through her phone to see if there was anything else they needed to discuss. “Ah yes, now about the party...”
Cage turned to face Lane and glared at her. She quickly apologized. “Of course, I’m sorry. We’ll discuss it another time.”
Cage groaned again, crossing his arms. Lane looked through her phone again and said, “Ah, you have an eleven o’clock with Francis. He wants to discuss countermeasures. At two o’clock Cardin needs to see you about buying the club. He told me he just needs you to sign some papers and wanted to show you some pictures for the insurance. And that should be it.”
Cage nodded and said, “Alright, call Cardin. Get him to come in before Francis. I want to free up my afternoon. Also call the Granule and make a lunch reservation. I feel like going out.”
“Yes sir.” said Lane, quickly texting into her phone before she stood up. One of her many cell phones rang and she quickly moved to answer it as she left the room. The food was brought in a few moments later. For a while there was silence as Cage and Autumn dished up and began to eat.
Autumn hoped the silence would last through breakfast, but it didn’t. Eventually Cage looked at her and gently smiled. She did her best to ignore him as she ate her food but after a few minutes he leaned forward, touching her hand. His cold touch made her shudder as he talked sweetly to her. “And how are we this morning?”
“Fuck you.” said Autumn, pulling her hand away.
Cage sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I’m not in the mood today, Autumn. Can’t you ever say anything nice? Like, oh, I don’t know. How about 'thank you for saving me.'”
Autumn let out a laugh. “Saving me? How can you save someone from a vacation?”
“Vacation? You call that a vacation?” said Cage, surprised by her choice of words.
“Yes.” said Autumn, smiling at him. “Compared to you, it was. Anything compared to you is better.”
Cage tapped his fingers on the table as he thought for a moment before saying, “Really? That’s not what your doctors told me. You were dehydrated and had several injuries that needed medical attention. They had to give you fluid for hours and sedate you.”
Autumn looked at Cage, not remembering any of this. The last thing she remembered was Cage carrying her to bed. Him looming over her before she passed out. She wished she could talk to Penna and ask her how long she had slept. Had it really only been a day? Or had it been several?
“You should eat.” said Cage, bringing Autumn from her thoughts.
Autumn looked at Cage and then to her food. She pushed her plate forward and away from her, even thought she was still hungry. She said, “I don’t want it. You ruined my appetite like you’ve ruined everything.”
Cage rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You're always so dramatic, Autumn. How miserable must you be, getting to eat just about whatever you want, cooked by the finest of chefs. And how dull your days must be, having the best teachers and trainers.”
“I didn’t ask for any of it. I DON’T WANT ANY OF IT! I’d gladly give it all up if I could get away from YOU!”
Cage sighed deeply. Autumn could tell he was upset. She knew Penna was also going to be upset with her
. She didn’t like Autumn picking fights with him because she was afraid of him and the things he could do. Autumn knew he was dangerous and she should watch what she said, but there were times when she just couldn’t take it. When she just couldn’t take him and didn’t care what happened if she yelled at him.
Autumn wanted to keep fighting with him. She wanted to yell and throw things at him, but she thought of Penna and reminded herself she still needed to ask Cage if she could have some time off to go to Byron’s graduation. Autumn picked up her napkin from the table. She wrung it up in her hands on her lap. She pushed out all of her frustration and rage into it, causing her hands to turn red.
Her wrists ached and began to chafe against her bandages but she didn’t care. The pain helped her not to release the fury within her. She closed her eyes and did her best to settle down. Cage sipped his coffee slowly staring off into space. He barely touched his food before standing up. He slowly took his coat off the back of his chair. He put it on before straightening it.
He pushed his chair in before leaning forward. He pounded his fists on the table, causing Autumn to open her eyes as the table shook and dishes rattled. She looked at him and he said, “I’m ever so sorry I ruined your VACATION. Maybe next time you get taken and held at gunpoint, I’ll let them keep you an extra few days. Or perhaps now that I know you enjoy that sort of thing, I can make arrangements in your schedule to allow you a week or two in a dark storeroom to be tortured and malnourished! I’m sure we have one lying around here somewhere.”
Autumn glared at Cage. She knew he was being sarcastic. She snapped at him bitterly. “I HATE YOU!”
Cage let out a small mocking laugh before he said, “What a pleasure it is to have you back.”
He pulled back from the table then with a smug smile on his face, as if to gloat in the fact that she was pathetic and her words were all she had. Cage’s cell phone rang before Autumn could say anything in response. Without another word, he turned from her. As he left the room, he answered his phone. Fredric quickly followed after him, leaving Autumn alone.
Kept (Bound Book 1) Page 4