Desert

1.

Edward was a lone-wolf gangster involved in legal drugs and nightlife entertainment, and his elder brother Geoffrey, a prominent lawyer, was the one who taught him how to exploit the loopholes that kept his business just beyond the reach of the law.

Edward was in his early forties, tall and bespectacled, with a composed air that made him seem more like a businessman than a gangster.

2.

Mia was reading a thick novel in her room. She had noticed her older sister Sophia come home a little earlier and give her a light kiss on the cheek, but she had been so absorbed in the story that she barely paid attention. A little later, Sophia knocked on the door again and called out, “Mia.”

Mia closed her book and turned around. Sophia stood in the doorway, now neatly dressed. “Hey, Sis. Where are you going with Geoffrey?” Mia asked with a smile.

Sophia glanced behind her and spoke calmly. “Mia, I need to talk to you.”

“Sure. What is it?” Mia replied innocently.

At Sophia’s signal, someone entered the room. It was Edward, impeccably dressed as always.

“Hello, Mia,” he said.

A sudden unease rose in her, and Mia turned to Sophia.

“Edward likes you and wants to spend time with you,” Sophia said.

Mia felt a sense of dread, but she tried to nod politely. “Sure.”

She rose from her chair and walked over to him. “Hi.”

Edward bent down slightly to meet her eyes. Mia kissed him on the cheek.

“You’re beautiful as always,” Edward said.

He shifted his gaze to Sophia. “May I take Mia with me?”

Sophia looked at her younger sister, who had just turned eighteen last week. “She’s still a child,” she said.

A shadow passed over Edward’s face. “We made an agreement,” he replied. “I trust you haven’t forgotten it.”

A flicker of anxiety crossed Mia’s flawless face. After all, she had spent so much time dining and going out with Edward, just as Sophia had instructed.

Edward looked at Mia’s lovely face. Her pale blue eyes, long smooth blonde hair, and slender figure gave her a delicate beauty. She had been raised by her older sister Sophia, who was thirteen years her senior. Edward reached for her hand.

“Mia, I assume your sister hasn’t told you anything, but I instructed Sophia to bring you to me once you were old enough.”

He saw Mia’s face go pale with shock.

He seemed reluctant to claim the delicate girl for himself, yet when he spoke, his voice was calm and assured.

“I will not have her until she turns nineteen. That is my promise to both of you.”

Mia looked to Sophia for help.

For a moment, Sophia’s beautiful face tightened with conflict.

“Edward, I’m going to marry Geoffrey this coming fall. That would make you and Mia family. It wouldn’t be right for you to be in a relationship with your own relative.”

“That is none of your concern, Sophia. In any case, you should keep your promise to me.”

He turned to Mia.

“Mia, I will give you time to prepare to leave. Anything you cannot pack right now will be sent later.”

Sophia gripped Mia’s hands tightly.

“She is my only sister, Edward. You already have more than enough women around you. There is no need for you to pursue a girl like her.”

At her words, Edward shook his head.

“I have no real interest in anyone else. You gave me your word, and I gave you money.”

“I can pay the money back immediately,” Sophia spat. “If you wish, I will even transfer ownership of my club to you.”

“I want neither,” Edward said.

Mia listened to their conversation in silence and tried to think of the right words for Sophia’s sake. At last, squeezing Sophia’s hand, she spoke.

“Edward, I have a favor to ask.”

He looked at Mia curiously.

“I would like to go with Johnathan to your home.”

“Johnathan?” He raised an eyebrow. “Who is Johnathan?”

Mia blushed and said shyly, “He’s my seven-year-old cat.”

Edward said nothing. He only looked at her innocent face.

“Jonathan,” Mia called softly.

A fluffy, round cat soon waddled out from beneath the bed. Mia bent down and gently lifted the plump cat into her arms.

Edward watched the girl and her cat in silence. After a moment, he nodded. “You may bring him with you.”

Innocent joy spread across Mia’s face.

“Thank you,” she said.

Drawn in by her smile, he found himself smiling back.

“Mia.”

Sophia’s stern expression softened into sadness.

“I’ll be all right.”

Mia gave her a quick hug and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ll get along with him.”

Two hours later, Mia walked with Edward to his car, holding a pet carrier in her arms.

“I’ll carry it,” Edward said, offering his hand.

“Thank you,” Mia replied, hesitantly handing him the carrier with her cat resting inside.

Behind his spectacles, his dark blue eyes glanced at the lovely girl.

His black luxury SUV was parked at the curb.

The chauffeur, whose face was familiar to Mia, was waiting for the two of them beside the car.

Mia looked back before getting into the car. Sophia stood beside her.

“Goodbye, Sophia,” Mia said sadly.

It was the first time she had ever had to part from her sister.

Sophia pulled her younger sister into a tight embrace before turning to Edward.

“Please take good care of my sister.”

Edward gave a silent nod.

3.

Mia sat quietly in the comfortable back seat, her pet carrier resting in her lap.

On the way to his house, Edward watched her gentle, sensitive face in silence.

“My house is connected to my office, so I usually stay there. JT will help you with your daily needs,” he told her.

“I understand,” Mia said softly.

She looked at him in silence.

“I will introduce my men to you tomorrow. You will be the lady of the house.”

Mia blushed at his words, but nodded obediently.

She felt uneasy and sad at the thought of suddenly living with a man twenty-three years older than she was. Although Edward had visited her regularly, Mia had never imagined that she would one day be living under the same roof as him.

“Am I going to be your girlfriend?”

Mia asked, her cheeks turning pink.

Edward looked at her calmly and gave a slight nod.

Mia lowered her eyes to the pet carrier resting in her lap.

Since Sophia had always kept her from interacting with people her own age, Mia had never had friends in her own generation. 

Still, Sophia had allowed her to begin online college that summer, and Mia had been looking forward to it very much.

“I heard from Sophia that you are taking online college courses,” Edward said. “You can continue them here. I have already made sure you will have internet access.”

“Oh, Edward, thank you.”

Filled with innocent joy, Mia impulsively leaned against his broad chest and kissed him lightly on both cheeks.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

For the first time, genuine surprise showed in his eyes.

Mia soon seemed to realize herself and hurriedly pulled away.

“I have one request, Mia,” he said, his gaze resting on her.

“Each night, you are to sleep beside me. I want you near me.”

A brief look of fear passed over her face, yet she understood that she had no real choice.

She gave a small nod, her heart heavy with sadness.

As though he had sensed her unease, Edward said, “I will not touch you until you are nineteen.”

He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder.

“There is one more thing,” Edward said. “At times, I will require you to bathe in my presence. I will not touch you. I only need to see your condition, and in time, you will come to understand mine.”

The color drained from her face.

Mia tried to nod obediently, but her fear overcame her, and she began to cry.

“I hate bathing with someone. Please forgive me,” she cried, trembling with fear.

The shadows of her past slowly crept over her, and she tried desperately to drive them from her mind.

Before she realized it, she was sobbing in his arms.

Edward stroked her back gently, trying to calm her.

When she had finally quieted, he softly wiped the tears from her face with his long fingers.