Page 57 of Until She's Mine
I freeze, and all my good mood goes down the drain instantly.
He’s leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his expression a mix of disbelief and simmering anger. His tie is loosened, and there’s a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead as if he’s been pacing. When his eyes land on me, they narrow.
“Evelyn, we need to talk.”
My heartbeat quickens. The hallway suddenly feels too narrow, the air too thick. I glance over my shoulder at Lucian’s closed office door, then back at Tobias. “Now is not a good time.”
Tobias pushes off the wall, taking a step toward me. His jaw is clenched, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “You think you’re special? You think Lucian cares about you? You’re just another conquest to him. Another trophy to add to his collection.”
“You don’t know him at all if you think that.” I start walking towards the elevator. Tobias follows, his steps quick and purposeful.
“Oh, I know him better than you think. He’s obsessed with control and owning things. And now he thinks he owns you.”
I press the elevator button harder than necessary. The doors slide open, and I step inside, but Tobias is right behind me. He reaches out to stop the doors from closing, his eyes burning with anger.
“You’re making a mistake, Evelyn. He’ll destroy you. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
“And what about you, Tobias? What are you capable of? Because from where I’m standing, you’re the one who’s been using me since the beginning.”
His face flushes with anger. “I made mistakes. But I can fix this. We can fix this.”
“There’s nothing to fix. It’s over, Tobias. Let it go.”
He hesitates for a moment, his hand still on the door as if he’s considering forcing his way in. “Give me my ring back,” he says instead.
I look at my naked hand. The ring is currently at Lucian’s penthouse, on a guest room’s nightstand, where I left it the very first night at his place. “It’s back at my apartment.”
“Bring it to me after work at The Emerald Lounge.”
I consider refusing, but the thought of dragging this out any longer makes my stomach churn. “Fine. I’ll meet you there at six.”
The elevator doors slide shut, cutting off his response, and I exhale sharply, leaning back against the wall. My hands tremble as I press the button for the lobby, my mind racing with anger and anxiety.
Tobias knows what I did, and he can ruin me if he chooses to.
My only hope is that he wouldn’t risk his own reputation to expose me. But the way he looked at me—like he had nothing left to lose—makes my stomach twist.
Chapter 27
Evelyn
The Emerald Lounge is not the kind of place Tobias usually frequents. It’s too understated, too unassuming for his taste. It’s a quiet, dimly lit bar tucked away in the West Village, its walls lined with dark wood and soft ambient lighting.
I’ve been here with him once before, three years ago, one week afterthatnight, to discuss our engagement and Tobias’s expectations of me. The memory feels distant now, like a scene from another life. Back then, I had been naïve, eager to please, and willing to mold myself into the image of the perfect fiancée. Now, as I step through the heavy wooden doors, I feel a strange sense of detachment.
I spot Tobias immediately, seated at a corner table with a glass of whiskey in hand. His tie is loosened further now, his jacket slung over the back of his chair. When he sees me, his face does something complicated, hope and hatred twist together.
I tighten my grip on the small velvet pouch in my hand; the engagement ring inside is the weight I’m eager to get rid of.
“You actually came.” His laugh is bitter. “I figured Lucian would send one of his attack dogs instead. Where’s your keeper, Evelyn?”
I slide the velvet pouch across the table. “He’s not my keeper. And I came because I want this over with, Tobias. For good.”
“You know it won’t be that easy.” He doesn’t reach for the pouch. His fingers tighten around his whiskey glass. “You think handing back the ring is enough? You signed a contract with me. It doesn’t matter to me what you want or how you feel. Legally, you’re still bound to me. Or I’m going to the police with my file.”
I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.The file.Of course, he’d bring it up. My fingers curl into fists beneath the table, nails digging into my palms as I force myself to stay calm.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I say. “Exposing me would ruin you too.”
