Page 53 of Tainted Love
He scowls, then glances around to make sure no one can overhear our conversation. “I see you haven’t come to your senses yet, Beatrice. I was hoping you’d be over your little infatuation with the rockstar by now.”
Narrowing my eyes, I snap at him. “I don’t have a ‘little infatuation’ with anyone. I just don’t want to be with you.”
“You think our grandfathers will let you take your place in the firm when they find out you’ve been messing around with your stepbrother and his bandmates?” I keep my features neutral. He doesn’t know anything about me and Elias and is trying to get a rise out of me. “You might be a little more careful next time.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Hunter. Leave me alone.”
“Oh, Beatrice. You think I’m stupid enough to confront you without proof?” He shakes his head with a sinister chuckle.
My stomach clenches as he pulls out his phone and taps the screen before he turns it around to show me a photo—and it has my breath catching in my throat. It’s slightly blurry frombeing zoomed in, but there’s no hiding it’s me pushing past Killian as I leave the bathroom at the Forum on Friday night. My hair is dishevelled, and my lips are swollen. Elias can be seen in the background smirking into the mirror.
“Where did you get this?” I hate that my voice shakes, but Hunter now has the power to tear my family’s world apart.
Knowing he has my life in his hands, he just grins. “It was sent to me, but that shouldn’t be the question you ask.”
I straighten my spine. “What do you want?”
“You.”
Laughter bubbles out of me before I can stop it. “You’re blackmailing me into being with you? That’s pathetic. Why would you want me knowing I don’t want you?”
Hunter’s cheeks flush as his fists clench by his sides. “I don’t want a dirty slut like you,” he grits out, fighting to maintain his cool. “I want what was promised to me. The combination of our families, and one hundred per cent control of the firm.”
My eyes widen as I stare at him incredulously. “I’m not a fucking pawn in some game, Hunter. I’m not something you can own.”
“You’re mine, Beatrice. You always have been.”
Those words have a completely different effect coming out of Hunter’s mouth than when Elias said the same thing.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” I hiss, stepping up to the deluded psychopath. “I willneverbe yours.”
“Then I’ll show the photo to Jonathon,” he threatens. “I can’t imagine he’d be happy to know what’s going on behind his back. Plus, I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to ruin the career of lover boy’s little band. I’d hate to see what Darren will think of his little princess when he finds out what she’s been doing while he’s gone.”
“Go ahead,” I throw back at him despite the feeling of unease growing in the pit of my stomach. “Do you thinkJonathon Kirkland would really let you blackmail his only granddaughter? He’ll bury you, Hunter. There’s no way in hell he would let you take your place in the firm. You’ll be throwing away everything you’ve ever wanted.”
His jaw ticks, and I know he’s contemplating my words. I’m bluffing, but he doesn’t know that. I’m praying his narcissistic need to protect his dream of one day taking over the law firm from his grandfather will be enough to stop him from taking the chance on trying to ruin me.
When he doesn’t say anything, I grow a little bolder. “Don’t forget that I’m not the only one with a secret to hide. I haven’t forgotten what really happened to Rowan that night at the lake. I’m sure his father would love to know how his son really ended up in a coma. Don’t threaten me, Hunter. You won’t like the consequences.”
“No one forced Rowan to jump off the pier in the middle of the night,” Hunter says through clenched teeth, but the fear in his eyes lets me know I’m safe for now. It takes everything in me to hold my head up high and walk away from him when I really want to run. I know I’m teetering on the edge of a precipice that could destroy not only me, but my family as well. I can’t be selfish.
Walking into my next class in a daze, I sit down at the first empty table I find. My heart is racing, and I stare blankly ahead as our professor goes over the course syllabus. I’ve kept the threat of Hunter Cromwell neutralised for now, but it’s only a matter of time before my secrets unravel. I have to figure out a way to minimise the fallout before then.
Chapter 30
Bea
“WHATCHA DOING?”
I startle at the sound of Elias’s amused voice later that night and lift my hand to swipe at the tears streaming down my face.
“Nothing,” I sniff, ducking my head so my hair cascades over my face, shielding me from view.
He laughs as strolls into the living room, the sound doing unspeakable things to my body. “Duchess, are you crying? Over a television show?”
“No,” I whimper, fumbling around for the remote control right as Blair walks out of the hospital after telling Chuck the iconic line,‘Just because we can’t be together, doesn’t mean I won’t love you’.After what Elias and I have been doing, those words hit harder than usual as I rewatch my favourite show for the thousandth time.
He stops in front of me, tilting my chin up with his thumb and forefinger, so I’m forced to look at him with my red-rimmed eyes and snotty nose.So attractive.But I can’t look away from his steel gaze as they wash over my blotched face. Unable to breathe from his proximity, it’s like I’m stuckin a trance as he cups my face with his other hand, wiping his thumb over my tear-stained cheek before bringing it to his lips.
