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As the food arrived, they began reminiscing, and I did my best to tune them out. This day was going from bad to fucking worse, and the worst was yet to come.
22
ELENA
The chauffeur-driven black car pulled up outside the building where tonight’s function was taking place. It was a huge country manor house, Cotswold stone with a sweeping gravel driveway, surrounded by manicured lawns. Guests milled around, expensively dressed and poised in a way that I could never hope to emulate.
I’d never felt so out of place.
I climbed out of the car, the silky sapphire-blue material of my dress sliding down over my thighs as I did so. The dress I’d been given to wear was simple in style—long, form-fitting, with a low back and a sweeping neckline that had required some strategically placed tape to hold it in place. A slit ran up the side of the dress, almost to the top of my thigh, and my look was completed by strappy black heels and a borrowed choker necklace that I was fairly certain was made of real diamonds.
I was almost tempted to sell them. If they were real, the money would go a long way towards our future needs. But I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t steal. My conscience may be eroded after everything that had happened, but there were lines I’d never cross. As it was, I was beginning to have my own misgivings about my mum’s plan…or, more truthfully, I’d been having misgivings for a while now. It had seemed like a good idea when my mum had come up with the idea, but the more I got to know the Ashcrofts, the more I realised they were actually decent people, and the less I wanted to hurt them. With the exception of Knox, of course. I was even beginning to lose my dislike of Anthony Ashcroft. Despite his arrogant persona, he seemed like he might be a decent man underneath.
I just had to hope that my mum didn’t find anything on the Ashcrofts. If there was nothing to be found, maybe we could finally move on. Put the past behind us and start a new life, preferably somewhere far away from Knox Ashcroft.
“You came, then.”
A figure stepped out of the shadows, exhaling a cloud of smoke that curled through the night air, obscuring his features.
“It didn’t really feel like I had a choice,” I said honestly, taking a step closer to him.
“There’s always a choice, Elena.”
The way he said my name, his voice so smooth but dripping with venom, had me burning up inside. Even though I shouldn’t want it, I craved the attention he was giving me after days of being iced out.
My next step took me into his space. I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His sexy, muscled body, which was encased in a midnight-blue suit that was tailored for him so perfectly it made my breath catch in my throat. “If that’s true, why didn’t you say no?”
His hand came up, skimming across the jewels at my throat. He ignored my question, his eyes darkening as he stared at the line of diamonds. “A diamond collar for the little bitch. I’m surprised my mother trusted you with this.”
“Maybe I am a bitch. You’re a bastard.”
He laughed without humour as his hand slid around the back of my neck, underneath my hair. I shivered as his fingers brushed over my skin, and then they hooked into the back of the choker.
The cool diamonds bit into the skin of my throat as he pulled them tight. I gasped for air as he lowered his head, his whiskey-scented breath hitting my lips. “You’re right. I am a bastard.” His mouth moved to my ear as his grip tightened even further, sending spots dancing across my vision. “I’m the bastard who’s going to ruin you, ElenaBlackwood.”
Then, abruptly, he released me and was gone. The only sign that he’d been there at all was the glowing embers of his cigarette that he’d tossed on the floor behind him.
My whole body was shaking, and I slumped against the stone wall of the manor house, sucking in deep, gasping lungfuls of air.He knew. How? How had he found out?
Fuck.My mum. I couldn’t even tell her because I hadn’t brought my phone with me. I didn’t even have a bag because the stylist had convinced me that I wouldn’t want to carry one around with me. Stupid, stupid Elena.
When I could breathe again and I no longer felt like I was in danger of fainting, I analysed his words and actions. He couldn’t know everything. If he did, there was no way I’d still be here, and neither would my mother.
I had to find out how much he knew. Tonight.
* * *
During the entirety of what felt like hundreds of courses of food—some completely unidentifiable—Knox ignored my presence. We’d been seated at a table with people that, as far as I could tell, were all of university age, doing clever-sounding degrees, and I was completely out of my depth. Every time I went to speak to Knox, he’d flirt with the woman next to him, who was lapping up the attention. Unsurprisingly, since Knox could lay on the charm when he wanted to. I’d made an attempt to do the same with Richard, the man sitting on my other side, but when he started throwing out words and phrases such as “japes” and “a jolly good lark” while talking about his university misadventures, I zoned out.
When the meal was finally over, Richard leaned closer to me. “Time for my favourite part of the evening. The dancing. Would you do me the honour of being my first dance partner?”
“She’s with me.” Knox’s voice was a low growl at my side, his hand wrapping around my waist as he tugged me closer to him.
“I— My apologies. You hadn’t spoken to each other during the meal, and I thought—”
“You thought wrong. Elena here isn’t a good conversationalist, are you, baby? She puts her mouth to use in other ways.” He made an obscene gesture to which Richard gave a scandalised gasp, clapping a hand over his mouth. My cheeks heated, not in embarrassment but in anger. This fucking bastard thought he could humiliate me?
“Knox, I thought we spoke about your delusions. Your penis isn’t big enough to satisfy me, remember? And don’t be so rude to poor Richard.” I turned back to Richard, who was looking like he’d rather be anywhere than here. I took pity on him because I knew that if I accepted his offer to dance now, he’d be torn between me and the son of one of the most influential families here. “Thank you for the offer, but I think I’m going to get some air.”
