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“You’re blaming me?”
“I’m not blaming anyone. What I’m saying is you had an obligation…”
“Youhave an obligation. Not me, Christian.
“Our family has an obligation. Everyone is playing their role. Yours is currently to marry Elias Omari.”
“Why the hell would I do that especially after his little performance today? Is that what I can expect my life to be? The two of you making demands about how I live.”
“Was Shilo being disrespectful to you…”
I tensed and rolled my shoulders back but didn’t say a word.
“Cress, I asked you a question. Was Shilo out of line?”
Yes.
“Nothing Shilo did justifies the barbaric display that Elias initiated.”
“You didn’t answer my question but I’ll lean on assumptions. I can’t say I would have chosen him for you had the circumstances been different but I’m not upset that he’s already proving that you are a priority, that you will be treated with respect, and that he will stand up for you whenever required.”
I didn’t like that he was pointing out the obvious. I also didn’t like that I too felt the same but how far would Elias go?
“I don’t want to lose who I am to become what he wants me to be, what you’re demanding I be.”
“You won’t,” Christian stated quietly.
“You can’t promise that.
“I’ve already talked to him. I made clear that your career is off limits and that he’s to respect your boundaries.”
“If today is any indication of him respecting my boundaries, then I have very little hope for what my future as his wife will be.”
“You’re overlooking one very important detail…”
I knew exactly what he was going to say.
“Shilo was out of line. Had I been there, I would have done the exact same thing. Elias was not wrong, Cress.”
“He assaulted the man. Dragged him off stage in front of half the company.”
Christian was right but I felt backed into a corner. I felt the control I had over my life and who I was slipping through my fingers.
“We’ll talk soon. Have a good performance this evening.”
“Are you coming?”
“No. You already have plans.”
He knew Elias would be here.
“Right.”
My life was no longer my own.
After I ended the call a soft knock alerted me I had a visitor. I crossed the room and rolled my shoulders back, gently pulling it open to find Li. His bare chest was now covered with a cream sweatshirt with Liberté Abstraite printed down the left sleeve.
His dark eyes flitted past me, circling my dressing room, and mine rolled before I asserted, “He’s not here.”
