Page 88 of His to Possess
This is always how it was going to end,I remind myself, wiping my face.You knew that going in, and you let yourself get carried away anyhow.
“Lilah, sweetheart.”
I spin around to see Mrs. Higgins standing in the open doorway to my room, her expression concerned. “Are you okay?”
I have no idea what she’s doing here so late at night. A small—and very stupid—piece of my heart wonders if maybe Philip asked her to check on me. Apparently, what happened tonight still wasn’t enough to teach me my lesson.
“I need to go,” I tell her, shoving the last worn t-shirt into the bag. I consider taking off right now. At least that way I wouldn’t have to answer any of her questions. But my toothbrush and deodorant are in the bathroom, and I can’t afford to let perfectly good necessities go to waste. All the fancy serums and lotions and makeup he bought can stay right where they are, though.
I push into the bathroom, wincing when she follows me.
“How about I make us both a nice cup of tea,” she says gently. “We can sit down and talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I mumble, wiping at my eyes. Why can’t I stop crying?
“Lilah, I’m worried.”
“Philip will be back soon,” I snap. “I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it.”
“Sweetheart, you can’t go running off in the middle of the night. Whatever problem you might be having, it can wait until the morning. A good night’s sleep might make everything look different.”
But I don’t want everything to look different. I want to remember this exact feeling—the hurt and betrayal. I need to remember so that I’m never so stupid as to believe a man like Philip ever again.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, dragging my garbage bag down the hall to the front door. “I don’t mean to worry you. But I can’t stay here.”
“Where will you go?” she asks, looking almost near tears herself. “Mr. Matthews will never forgive me if I let you go running off into the night alone when you’re so upset.”
I force back a snort. For all his overprotective bullshit, Philip doesn’t actually give a shit. He just wanted to win.
“I’m going to a friend’s place,” I tell her, even though that’s bullshit too. I can’t just go back to Michelle’s apartment—that’s the first place he’ll look if he comes after me.
“Sweetheart, please.” She wraps a surprisingly strong hand around my wrist. “Just wait for Philip.”
But I know what will happen if I do that. He’ll use his charm and those big blue eyes and that damn delicious accent to talk me into whatever he wants. I don’t trust myself with him. Just look at what happened—less than a week in his penthouse and I already forgot everything I ever learned about powerful men and relationships.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her again, shaking off her hand and turning back to the door. As I do, my eyes land on one of the photographs on the glass entry way table. A face so familiar it makes my heart hurt smiles up at me. Veronica.
Just like that, I know exactly where I’m going to go.
Philip
“Matthews.”
Jane is tugging on my arm but I’m barely aware of her. All I can focus on is Lilah’s retreating back. The hurt I’d seen in her face. The steady forcefulness of her final words.
I don’t consent.
Jesus, what the fuck happened tonight?
“Philip,” Jane says more firmly, snapping a finger in front of my face. I finally tear my gaze away from the empty doorway Lilah just passed through.
“What?” I snap.
“You need to hear this,” she says, pointing back to the table where her sub is standing, head down, the picture of obedience. The opposite of Lilah just now. I might be annoyed with my girl’s behavior—disobeying me in a room full of people—if I wasn’t so shocked. And so terrified about what it might mean.
“I need to go after her,” I say. Jesus, what the hell am I doing standing here gaping at the empty door like a fool? Lilah is out there, alone.
“Fine.” Jane snaps her fingers and Kim scurries to her side. “She can explain as we go.”
