Page 19 of Entrapped
But perfection felt like a distant dream tonight. Vaughn and Serena had just arrived, and even from across the room, I could see the misery etched into Vaughn’s face. He barely masked it with a polite smile as Serena clung to his arm, her eyes darting around the room like a bird trapped in a cage. She looked dumpy next to him and had done nothing to improve her appearance. Her hair was still stringy and lifeless and her nails were now painted blood red.
The engagement was imminent, but anyone who cared to look could see how wrong they were for each other. Not that it mattered. Their union was more about business than love, just like my marriage to Colson.
As I greeted guests, my thoughts kept drifting back to the small key hidden in my nightstand. My efforts to find where it fit had been fruitless. I’d searched the house from top to bottom after returning from the coat drive earlier, but I came up empty.
It felt like the key was mocking me, its secrets just out of reach. And Colson, oblivious or pretending to be, was out of the house, having drinks with his cronies after a round of golf. I didn’t expect him back until late, if at all.
I was in the middle of exchanging pleasantries with Samuel Woodson and his wife when I felt a hand on my elbow. I turned to find Vaughn beside me, his expression tight, his smile strained.
“Josephine, could I borrow you for a moment?” he asked, his tone light but his eyes dark with something that made my pulse quicken.
“Of course, Vaughn,” I replied, excusing myself from the conversation. Vaughn led me through the room, his grip on my elbow firm but not painful. I glanced around, making sure no one noticed as he guided me into the butler’s pantry, a small, brightly lit space next to the kitchen.
The door clicked shut behind us, and before I could say anything, Vaughn’s body was pressed against mine, trapping me between him and the counter. His warmth radiated through the thin fabric of my dress, and the scent of whiskey on his breath was sharp and unsettling.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, trying to push him away, but his hands tightened on my waist, holding me in place.
“You’re a fool, Josephine,” he hissed, his voice low and laced with anger. “You’re falling under Colson’s spell, just like everyone else. Can’t you see what he’s doing to you?”
I stiffened, my heart pounding in my chest. “What are you talking about, Vaughn? This isn’t the time or place…” I hissed.
“It’s the perfect time,” he cut me off, his eyes burning into mine. “You think I don’t see how you’re changing? You’re becoming just like him. Cold, calculating… ruthless. It’s exactly what he wants.”
Was that really what was happening to me?
I shook my head, my mind racing. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Colson and I… it’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Vaughn scoffed, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “He’s manipulating you, Josephine. You think you’re in control, but you’re not. You never will be with him.”
His words struck a nerve, the truth in them stinging like a slap to the face. I had known, deep down, that Colson was slowly chipping away at my defenses, bending me to his will. But hearing it from Vaughn, seeing the desperation in his eyes, made it impossible to ignore.
“What do you want me to do, Vaughn?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Leave him? Run away? You know that’s not an option.”
Vaughn’s grip on me softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—pity, maybe, or regret. “I’m not saying you have to run, but you need to be careful. Colson is dangerous. More dangerous than you realize.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. “I’m not blind, Vaughn. I know what he’s capable of.”
“Do you?” he challenged, his face inches from mine. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t be here, playing the dutiful wife, planning his parties and pretending everything is fine. When was the last time you saw your family?”
“I’ve seen them. I’m not pretending,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m surviving.”
I lied. I hadn’t seen my parents or Logan since my wedding. The weekly lunches I had with my brother ceased. I even ignored his texts and calls from my mother.
Vaughn’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, the tension between us shifted into something else. Something raw and unspoken. “You deserve better than this,” he said softly, his hand moving up to cup my cheek. “Better than him.”
I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes against the tears that threatened to spill over. “It’s not that simple, Vaughn.”
“I know,” he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. “But just… promise me you won’t let him destroy you.”
I opened my eyes and met his gaze, the sincerity in his words cutting through the fog of doubt and fear that had clouded my mind for so long. “I promise,” I said, my voice steady, even as my heart raced.
Vaughn leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a fleeting, tender kiss that left me breathless. I was too shocked to push him away but I didn’t kiss him back.
When he pulled back, his eyes were filled with a sadness that mirrored my own. “Be careful, Josephine,” he murmured, thenturned and left the pantry, leaving me alone in the dim light, my thoughts swirling with uncertainty and the faint taste of his kiss lingering on my lips.
As I composed myself and prepared to rejoin the party, I heard a crash.
I rushed into the kitchen, my heart pounding, just in time to see Simone swaying on her feet, her face flushed with alcohol. The tray of appetizers on of the servers had been carrying lay scattered across the floor, the staff frantically trying to clean up the mess.
