Page 58 of The Mood Board

Chapter 21

Bailey

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I CLOSED THE DOOR ANDresisted the urge to sag against it—Russ was watching me, still with that horrific grin on his face.

It was easy to tell how much he had enjoyed the confrontation. Russ lived for moments like these, where he could lord his victories over others. And this one had to be all the sweeter because he had won me from William Bradford. The William Bradford. The William Bradford who was the youngest CEO to raise as much as he had for his first round of capital. The William Bradford who was a billionaire thanks to the life-saving and life-changing software his company developed—the William Bradford who everyone loved.

Who I loved with all my heart.

What a victory for a man whose only goal in life was to climb his way to the top where everyone could see his greatness, where he could grind everyone else under the heel of his biker boots. Including those he had seen as high and mighty but had fallen so far.

It was almost predictable when Russ crossed the distance between us and took me into his arms, kissing me hard and long, his arousal from the situation very evident.

I did my best to respond, but it was all I could do not to run after Liam—I wanted him, not Russ.

For the first time since his arrest, Liam had stood before me. No handcuffs, no bullet-proof glass between us. He had been standing there, right there, where I could easily have thrown my arms around him, kissing him for all he was worth—and he was worth a whole lot. I could have felt his arms around me for the first time in over a week, pressed my face into his chest, smelled his soap and his skin, felt the warmth and love I had been missing so desperately.

But I’d had to stand there, my feet frozen to the floor, and pretend I didn’t love him or want him there. That our relationship was over and done.

I had watched as his expression had changed from hopeful to bewildered to crushed, and all the while, my own heart had been shattering.

Why had he come here? I didn’t even know why I was asking myself the question—of course, he would come after me. Of course, he would try to understand what was going on. For all intents and purposes, I had up and left him for no good reason. Even though I knew the idea that the press was hounding me and costing me clients was stupid, it was the only thing I could come up with that sounded even remotely reasonable.

I should have known Liam would follow me, find me, ask to talk. It was an entirely logical request. But it was one I couldn’t give him because I knew my shallow ruse would crumble instantly. It was easier to keep it up when I knew he was behind bars, when I knew I couldn’t have him even if I wanted to. But my resolve began to disintegrate the moment I opened the door and Liam stood before me.

Only the thought of what Russ would do if I returned to Liam kept my feet firmly planted on the ground. But the simple fact that Liam was standing before me, free from all charges, told me that Russ had made good on his promise, the one he had made so long as I returned to him. And now I was afraid of what he would do if I reneged and ran back to Liam because he obviously had the power to make things difficult for Liam.

Now I just had to prove it.

But I still hated it. I hated staying away from him when he was all my heart wanted. I hated that I had been the reason for the devastation on his face. I hated that he thought I was betraying him, leaving him, that my heart was so fickle I had gone back to the person who had hurt me so deeply it had taken me years to heal. I hated how my heart felt, like it had shattered into a million pieces.

I hated that I had to stand here, facing a man I despised, and pretend to be falling for him when all I could see was the ugliness behind the mask. When I felt revulsion when he simply touched me.

But this was for Liam. He was out of prison and safe for the moment, and I would ensure that nothing else could happen to him. I would take Russ down so he could never hurt anyone again, especially Liam.

If I could make that happen, it would all be worth it in the end.

“Hey.” Russ pulled away and tried to get me to look up at him, but I couldn’t make myself. “I know this must be hard for you.”

It sounded like the right words, and the expression looked correct, but I still didn’t believe Russ. He didn’t have an empathetic bone in his body.

But I forced a smile, forced myself to lean into him for the comforting hug he offered.

“I know it must be tough. You had to have liked him if you agreed to marry him,” Russ continued.

I made a noise of agreement in my throat, still unable to talk, fearing I would give myself away.

“I have an idea that might make you feel better. I have some pictures of my new office—why don’t we look at them? You can give me some ideas about how to decorate. You were always better at office spaces than I was.”

“Okay,” I finally managed, hoping my smile wasn’t too watery. But I had to do this—I had to put on a brave face and pretend the hell out of this. Liam was out, just like my ex had promised, and now I had to hold up my end of the bargain, both to Russ and myself, because I would do whatever I had to do to take him down.

Russ strolled back to the couch and flopped down onto it, unmuting the TV show he had been watching. Gathering my resolve, I took a deep breath and followed him. When I sank onto the couch beside him, I had my most adoring smile. Russ noticed the change, his gaze raking me from my head down and back up again, lingering on places that inwardly made me shiver.

“I missed you, you know that?” he said, his voice rumbling in his throat. This close, I could see the way his pupils dilated, even as he leaned toward me, probably without even realizing it.

“You did?” I didn’t have to feign my surprise. I highly doubted Russ had missed me at all, except for frustration that he had failed to keep me under his thumb. I wondered how badly it had rankled that I had finally seen through his disguise to the rot underneath. Not many did—he was that good—and I know he had expected the same from me.