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CHAPTERFOURTEEN
VANESSA
It was a silver gown, a long satin onewith straps. I gently touched the smooth fabric, wondering if it would stick to my body.
"From Mr. Levine," the little lady said. “He has invited you to a party tonight.He wants you to be ready at seven o'clock."
I nodded, curious as to what Ethan had in mind. "I'll be ready. Thank you."
I sighed with relief as she exited the room, and the door closed behind her, leaving me alone.
It was moments like this that helped me stay grounded. Ethan wasn't just any other man I was having strange feelings for. He was a gangster who had kidnapped and controlled me. I couldn't say no to his request to go out, and I couldn't even leave the room without a million and one guards.
I buried my face in my pillow. I considered screaming into it, but decided against it. If the scream got out, the guards would be in my room in a heartbeat, which would be ratherunpleasant.
I lay on my back, counting down the minutes until it was five o'clock, giving me two hours to prepare for him. The first step was a long bath. I walked out of the bathroom feeling revitalized and wishing I could access some of my makeup. It would be easierto look good with it.
I put on the dress next and was amazed at how well it fit my figure. I wondered if he'd chosen it himself. It was nice to think he knew exactly what size dress I needed, even if I doubted he chose it himself.
Before I knew it, it was seven o'clock, and there was a knock at the door. Just as I was about to rush out of it, I put on a gorgeousnecklace.
When I opened it, Ethan was dressed in a black tux and looked like a dream. I avoided his gaze because I didn't want to show how nervous I was.
"Where are we going?" I mumbled to him.
"Look at me."
"Huh?"
"You haven't looked at me once. Look at me," he stated obstinately.
Slowly, I raised my gaze to him, and every emotion I had feared experiencing swamped into my chest like a flood. He was breathtakingly beautiful, and the sight of him almost made my heart hurt. I was curious about the women he had seen and spoken with that day. It wasn't jealousy, I told myself, justsimplecuriosity. I wasn't jealous—no.I didn't care what he did with his body or his time when he wasn't with me. I was simply curious.
"You look stunning," he complimented me.
"Thank you," I mumbled. With his eyes boring into mine, it was hard to say anything. But he didn't avert his gaze. "I need to pick the purse," I explained as I walked to the table in search of the matching silver purse.
We were in the car before we knew it. He opened the door for me and led me to the back seat before turning around to the other side. There was already a driver waiting for us in the car. He closed the partition, and the ride began.
"Did I tell you that you look positively radiant? Vanessa, your beauty bewitchesme," he said without looking at me.
I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. How did one respond to that?
"Where are we going?"
"A fundraising event," he simply stated.
"A fundraising event?" I asked, looking at him. "This sounds important."
"It is," he said, nodding. "I'd like for you to meet people from my world. You'll have no trouble fitting in. Vanessa, I might want to keep you by my side for a long time. I want you to be able to adjust quickly."
"Well, itdoesn't work that way," I muttered under my breath.
"What?"
"Nothing," I said as I looked out the window. It was hard to express how I felt, primarily because I lacked a name for the negative emotions that surrounded me.
"Oh, no," he gripped my jaw and turned my face to him. "I know what that expression means. You womenhave one thing in common, and if I let you be, you'll become angrier and angrierover something I have no idea about."
