Page 10 of An Eye For Illusion

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

The malice in his tone has the hairs on the back of my neck rising. I’ve never been afraid of Elliott before, but the way he’s talking and acting makes my fight or flight response roar to life.

“What have you done?” My tone is deadly quiet as my pulse races in my ears, the pounding so loud I can barely hear myself think.

He turns abruptly, and before I can register what’s happening, he’s in my face, his hot, sticky breath hitting my cheek and making my skin crawl in the most uncomfortable way.

Every protective instinct in my body lights a fire under me, urging me to get out of there. My lungs seize with fear. His eyes are unnaturally dilated, and his stare is ice cold.

“Maybe you should be more worried about what you haven’t done, Jade.”

My heart races as I scan his hard, detached eyes. It’s like looking into a black hole. I recognize no part of Elliott Moore staring back at me right now.

“What do you mean?” I ask carefully.

“What I mean is if you don’t start acting more like my fiancé and less like a cold-hearted bitch, your father is going to find out just how conniving you really are.”

My eyes narrow at his threat. My hands go up to push him away from me, and he stumbles back.

“Like my father would believe you over me, Elliott. We can end this here and now. Nobody fucking threatens me!” I yell.

He turns then, a sickeningly sweet smile curving his lips. “How far would you go to protect your father, Jade?”

I’m jolted out of the memory when my cell rings. I look down to see Elliott’s name, and the knot that’s become so familiar to me forms in my belly at seeing it. I push ignore on my phone.

After that night, everything changed for me. I became almost desperate to break off the engagement, but every time I went to my father to confess my concerns about Elliott, something would happen.

Either Elliott would be there with my father, or my father would gush about something Elliott had done, or how excited he was for the wedding. Every time something would stop the words, “I don’t want to marry Elliott Moore,” from leaving my mouth.

It was like karma was giving me the middle finger for ever having agreed to marry him in the first place. After that night, I felt stuck and confused because Elliott went back to being the sweet, doting man I’ve known for years. It was like that night was just a nightmare I conjured in my own mind.

I even started to believe it, too. I started to question if it ever really happened to begin with, but that sticky, slimy feeling I felt that night is ever present now when I’m around him. It’s the only reminder that I’m not going crazy and that night really happened.

My only way out at this point is to prove to my father that Elliott Moore isn’t the man he claims to be. He fooled us both for so many years. I never once doubted him or his intentions.

Not only do I need to prove it to my dad, I need to prove it to myself. Because of his actions since then, I’ve been gaslighted—by him, by me; I don’t even know—into believing it’s possible I made it up or blew it out of proportion. I need to see the truth for myself.

The proof I need to protect my father and me risks putting us in danger. Whatever is going on with Elliott is dangerous, and he’s desperate.

A desperate man will do whatever it takes to save his own ass, including taking down my father and me. Elliott Moore is a threat, one I’m unwilling to let win.

To top it all off, I risk hurting the reputation of the company my father and I have worked tirelessly to build. Elliott knows a lot of powerful and wealthy people. I wouldn’t put it past him to use that to his advantage against the company if I push him.

I’ve sacrificed everything to get to where I am today. I started in the mailroom until I could prove to my father that I could do this, that I could be the leader he needs when he retires.

Without this position, I can’t do all the good I want to, and that’s a sacrifice I’m unwilling to make.

But I’ll be damned if marry that man.

I need insurance that he can’t come after us.

I was hoping I could find a way out myself, but the closer we get to the wedding date, the more of a predicament I find myself in and the more I start to panic. That’s why I called Dunn Security for help. They’re supposedly the best. Even though Colin could use a personality transplant, he’s one of the best PI’s on the west coast.

I snort out loud at that thought. I’m really starting to question my judgement at this point. I’m jolted out of my spiraling thoughts as my cellphone rings on the coffee table again. I open one eye, peering at the screen to see who it is. It’s almost eleven p.m., so I know it isn’t work, and it sure as hell better not be Elliott again.

I’ve become very inept at avoiding him whenever possible.

If it’s anyone other than Bridgette, I won’t answer. Maybe Colin, but he’s proven to be very unreliable on providing daily updates. I doubt it’s him, unless he actually has an update.

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