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“Consider it done.” He pockets the money. “What is your car? I’ll call the valet for you.”
“I didn’t park with the valet. They were occupied, and I didn’t want to be late.” I’d actually worried about making a bad impression on the Hoffmans. The elevator is quick considering the height of the building, and I'm deposited on the parking level in no time. My mind is focused on getting the car, which is why I don’t notice the four men that appear out of the shadows when I step outside the glassed-in elevator lobby.
They have me surrounded before I can even step onto the paved parking lot. One of them grabs for me. I swing at him, striking his cheek. I manage to get another punch in to another guy and a kick in the gut to a third, but two more men appear, and suddenly I’m on the ground. I punch and roll and head butt, but they manage to truss me up and carry me into a waiting van. The door slams shut and zooms forward. I break free from one of my captors and lunge for the driver when the blunt end of a gun strikes me on the side of the head. My vision blurs. I blink and try to shake it off.
“Careful, don’t kill him,” I hear a voice shout.
“He’s killing us!”
I elbow someone in the eye. They scream, and that’s the last I remember.
CHAPTER22
MORGAN
“Thank you,really I don’t need any more bread,” I tell the server, who has once again come to check on me. I have been here for over thirty minutes now.
She brought me warm water and bread. I’d tentatively sipped the water and ate the bread, but after a few minutes I ended up drinking and eating all of it. My stomach had finally settled. But now where is Eros? I thought he’d be back by now. Maybe I should head down and meet him out front. Oh God, what if he ran into my parents and they are having it out?
I scratch that off the list quickly because Eros might make a scene, but my parents would not. They would quickly leave before he could. I wouldn’t even be mad at him if he did make one. Not after my father had offered him money to stay away from me. I don’t know if I was more pissed that he made the offer or that the amount was so small. Two million? Really? That’s like pocket change to a man like my father.
It was clear my father did some research on Eros if he knew about his schooling, but he must not have checked what his artwork goes for. Besides, if I’ve learned anything about Eros, he couldn’t care less about money. He’s the kind of man that would call love priceless because it truly is.
Why do I do this to myself? Agree to these stupid dinners? I must be a masochist. I’m definitely insane because I keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome. I huff, leaning back in my chair.
No, I’m wrong. I knew how this would go. I never thought for a second my parents would give Eros a chance. I wasn't even shocked about the offer of money. I think it was a lowball number but still. Not shocked. All my worry has been over what Eros’ reaction would be to them. Would it send him running?
I don’t think so. He’d teased about me being knocked up, which I think is far-fetched, but he was smiling when he did it. He also didn’t bat an eye when my dad brought up the idea of Eros and me getting married. I don’t know where my father got that idea to begin with. Like he said himself, it’s only been a week.
Who am I kidding? I’m the girl that would run off and marry Eros after how tonight played out. He stuck by my side. I pull my phone out of the purse that Eros bought for me to check the time. What the heck could be taking him so long? I text him.
Me:Everything okay?
I watch the dots appear and then disappear. Then they reappear like he’s debating what he’s going to text me but deletes the message and types it out again.
Eros:I can’t do this.
That sick feeling from earlier comes rushing back to me. I stare at the text expecting him to say something else, but nothing comes.
“Morgan.” I jerk my head up from my phone to see my mother standing there. “You’re crying.” For once her voice isn’t as cold as it normally is.
“He left me.” I swipe at the tears that are streaking down my face. I hate crying. Hate it! The last time I did it was when I was dropped off at a stupid boarding school. I’d called Grams in tears. She immediately came to pick me up. From then on, I always stayed at the Hoffman estate and not with my parents in their city home.
“Then it’s for the best.”
I stand. “Thanks, Mom,” I mutter even though my heart is breaking.
“Morgan.” She grabs my arm, but I shake her off. “Listen, if he scares that easily, he’s not worth it. That’s the truth whether I care for the man or not.”
“But it’s not like him.”
“Men are never what you want them to be.” She gives me a half smile. I’m not sure what to make of it. She married into the Hoffman family, but she came from a prominent family too. Her family wasn’t as rich, but she wasn’t some random girl off the streets. She never stands up to my father even when I can tell she doesn’t agree with what he might have said. A lot of the time they are on the same page. Their relationship has always been odd to me, but it works for them.
“Yeah, well, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.” I walk out of the women's lounge on a mission. I always run. Not this time. I’m going to go over to Eros’ place and let him know exactly what I’m thinking before I collect my things. He doesn’t get to run away.
He hadn’t let me. If he wants to break my heart, he’s going to do it to my face. I have the valet grab me a cab and head straight for Eros’. I let myself use the keycode he’d given me. The more time I have to think about the text, the more it doesn’t make any sense to me.
I come up short when I see Eros’ mom standing in the kitchen replacing the Tupperware.
