Page 12 of Entrapped
“You look beautiful tonight, Josephine,” he said, his voice low and smooth. In private, I was Joey, but here in public he called me by my given name. It was all a show for the people of Windmere Haven, and I played along.
“Thank you,” I replied, my voice sounding too quiet in the bustling room.
The waiter appeared, handing us menus, but I barely glanced at mine. My appetite had disappeared the moment we’d walked through the doors.
“Are you all right?” Colson asked, his eyes searching mine.
I hesitated, not sure how to answer. I didn’t want to ruin the evening, but I also couldn’t pretend that I wasn’t on edge. “I’m just…nervous,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
He squeezed my hand, a reassuring gesture. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re with me.”
But that was exactly why I was nervous. Being with Colson meant being part of his world, a world that was far more dangerous and complicated than I had ever imagined. And now, I was expected to play my role perfectly, to be the wife he needed me to be.
“I know,” I said, forcing another smile. “I’ll be fine.”
The waiter returned to take our order, and Colson ordered for both of us, his choices familiar after the past two weeks. As he spoke, I couldn’t help but study him, trying to see past the charming facade he wore so well. Was this the real Colson? Or was it just another mask, one that he would discard the moment it no longer served him?
“Josephine,” he said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Don’t overthink tonight. We’re just here to enjoy ourselves.”
I nodded, trying to believe him. But deep down, I knew tonight was more than just dinner. It was one where every gesture, every word, would be scrutinized. And I had to play my part, no matter how uneasy it made me feel.
As the first course arrived, I picked up my fork, forcing myself to take a bite. The food was exquisite, but it tasted like dirt in my mouth. I glanced around the room, meeting the curious gazes of the other diners. They all wanted to see how the new Mrs. Ashworth was faring. If I would measure up to the standards set by the women who had come before me.
“Josephine,” Colson’s voice cut through the noise, pulling my attention back to him. “Relax, I’m here.”
His words were meant to comfort, but they only served to remind me of the invisible chains that bound me to him. For better or worse, I was his. And tonight, I had to prove that I belonged in his world.
I dabbed at the corners of my mouth with my napkin, feeling the weight of the evening pressing down on me. My stomach churned, not from the food, but from the tension that seemed to thicken with every glance in our direction. “I need to use the restroom,” I murmured, reaching for my clutch.
Colson stood as I did, ever the gentleman in public. “Would you like me to go with you?”
I forced a tight smile, though the idea of him lurking outside the ladies' room sent a shiver down my spine. “I doubt they’d let you in.”
He chuckled softly, but his eyes held a seriousness that made my skin prickle. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I’ll be fine,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
As I made my way through the maze of tables, I could feel their eyes on me—each pair filled with curiosity, envy, or perhaps a mix of both. The new Mrs. Ashworth, the woman who had somehow managed to secure the heart of Windmere Haven’s most eligible—and elusive—bachelor. Though, I mused darkly, if they knew what truly lay beneath Colson’s polished exterior, they might not be so envious.
The marble bathroom was like the rest of the club - elegant, all polished stone and gilded mirrors. I stepped inside, my heels clicking against the floor, only to find Melissa Hartley at the mirror, reapplying her lipstick with practiced precision. The moment our eyes met in the reflection, she turned to face me, her expression bright and eager.
“Mrs. Ashworth, how was your honeymoon?” she asked, her tone laced with a sweetness that felt too thick to be genuine.
I raised an eyebrow, remembering how she’d treated me back in high school. I had been invisible then, just a freshman beneath her notice. Now, though, she was all smiles, as if the past had never happened. I could either rise above it or put her in her place.
“Josephine, please,” I corrected her, keeping my tone pleasant. “It was lovely, thank you.”
Her eyes lit up as if we were old friends, as if she hadn’t made my life hell years ago. “That’s wonderful! I’d like us to become friends, Josephine. I’m having a tea this Sunday, and I’d love for you to attend.”
I returned her smile, though inside I was wary. What game was she playing? Just three months ago, she’d barely acknowledged me at Colson’s charity event. Now, she was extending invitations? “I’ll have to check my schedule and let you know.”
Melissa’s smile widened, a little too genuinely for my taste. “Can I have your phone… to put my number in it?” she asked, her laugh tinged with nervousness.
I hesitated for a split second before matching her laugh, handing over my phone. We exchanged numbers, and I couldn’t help but think that her tea might be the opportunity I needed to navigate my way through this society. I could almost see the women there, vying for my attention, hoping to recruit me into their causes now that I wore the Ashworth name. For the first time since all of this began, I felt a flicker of control, of power.
Melissa turned back to the mirror, and I slipped into one of the stalls. When I emerged, she was gone. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead.
Colson was waiting just outside the bathroom, holding two glasses of white wine. He handed one to me, his expression curious. “What took you so long?”
