Page 77 of King of Envy

It doesn’t matter.I wasn’t here to study Vuk’s household operations.

I followed Jeremiah inside. I’d cleaned up in a department store restroom before I came, but I couldn’t fix my tear-swollen eyes or wipe away the stain of Wentworth’s mouth on mine.

My steps faltered for a beat, and I hoped Jeremiah didn’t notice the slight shake of my hand as I adjusted my bag.

We passed through the foyer and into the main living areas. It was exactly as I remembered. Long marble halls wound around grand rooms dedicated to every activity under the sun. There was a billiards room, a screening room, a sitting room, a living room (I still didn’t know the difference between this and a sitting room), and a room that appeared to have no purpose other than to display different musical instruments.

After a good ten minutes, we finally stopped in front of the library. The doors were ajar. Jeremiah gestured for me to enter. Once I did, he shut them behind me with a quietsnick.

I waited until his footsteps faded into the distance before I breathed normally again. Vuk hadn’t given me a full tour the last time I was here with Jordan, and I’d never seen the library before.

It was beautiful—shelves and shelves of leather-bound books, an emerald carpet so thick I couldn’t hear myself walk, and giant windows overlooking the backyard.

Vuk sat at one of the rosewood tables. His laptop was open in front of him, and a deep furrow dug between his brows. However, it smoothed a fraction when he saw me.

He shut his laptop abruptly and stood, his gaze sweeping over my face and the tight-knuckled grip on my bag. His eyes sharpened.

What’s wrong?

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

I just dropped by to say hi. I have some things to go over for the wedding. I want to talk about last weekend.

I’d rehearsed a dozen different excuses during the train ride. I’d decided it would be better if I didn’t tell Vuk about Wentworth because, truth be told, I was a little scared of what he’d do. I didn’t want him to get into trouble.

But now that I was here, the excuses I’d concocted died in my throat. To my absolute horror, tears welled up instead.

For a brief moment, I thought I could control them. Then a sob tore loose, and that was it.

I broke down, my shoulders heaving, my stomach cramping from the force of my cries. My earlier tears were nothing compared to this. I’d unconsciously held back because I’d been in public, but now that I was in a safe place, it all came rushing out.

The anger, the disgust, the fear and frustration and anxiety—every emotion that’d plagued me over the past year and more flooded the room. It wasn’t just Wentworth; it waseverything. He was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Every gasp for more oxygen failed; every tremble begot more trembles. Chills blanketed my skin, and I was drowning so deep in my anguish that I didn’t notice Vuk’s approach.

Strong arms wrapped around me and held me close. I instinctively buried my face in his chest, taking solace in his warmth and faint, slightly smoky scent. His heart beat a steady rhythm beneath my cheek.

I thought his walls and gates were what made me feel safe, but they weren’t. It washim.

After minutes or hours or perhaps days, my tears slowed to a trickle. I pulled back, my eyes and throat raw. “I’m sorry.” I sniffled. “I didn’t mean to come in and cry all over you like that. I didn’t—I didn’t even say hi first.”

Don’t apologize.His movements were measured, but I detected something I’d never seen before in his eyes: panic.Tell me what happened.

I swallowed. Despite my earlier convictions, I didn’t want to lie to him. Not when he was so worried, and I was so desperate to confide in someone.

What was the worst he would do, assuming he did anything at all? Call in some favors to get Wentworth blacklisted or rough him up a bit? The other man deserved it.

“I was at a photoshoot, and the photographer…” I hiccupped. “After everyone left…he tried to…he…” It took several tries, but I finally got the words out. I told Vuk what happened, starting with Wentworth’s advances after the shoot and ending with my escape. The more I spoke, the stiller Vuk became. By the time I finished, he resembled a statue, his eyes so cold and flat, the hairs on my neck stood up.

“He touched you,” he said softly. There was no inflection or emotion. Just pure ice.

It was so unsettling, I didn’t dwell on the fact that this was his third time speaking to me. “He didn’t…other than the kiss, nothing happened.” I wasn’t trying to defend Wentworth, but Vuk’s eerie calm made me more nervous than if he’d raged and punched something. “I’m okay.”

That wasn’t true. I was physically fine, but my mind and emotions were all over the place. Nevertheless, I felt leagues better than when I’d first arrived.

I braced myself for a further interrogation into the day’s events. To my surprise, it never came.

Vuk typed something on his phone and guided me to the nearest table. I sat, confused, until two staff members showed up minutes later with silver trays. They placed them in front of me and removed the warming domes to reveal a steaming mug of tea, an assortment of fruits and pastries, and, oddly enough, two jars of peanut butter. One creamy, one crunchy.

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