Page 31 of Betrayed in the Dark
I slightly choke on the champagne, quickly slapping a hand against my chest as a few drops travel down the wrong pipe.
“Oh my God. Are you okay?” Cressida frantically pats my back.
I raise a hand to signal her to stop. “I’m fine.” I grab my napkin and gently blot it over the stain on the front of my ivory dress. Clearing my throat, I say, “What did you ask?”
Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink as she pushes a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I was just wondering if Eli is single.”
“Oh, single? Eli?” I let out a slight scoff. “As far as I know, he is. But I’m sure his definition of single might differ from yours and mine. Why?”
“Well, I mean, look at him.” Her eyes dart over to the corner of the room where Eli hovers by the door, his gaze directed at me. “He’s gorgeous.” She sighs wistfully. “I wonder if he’d ever consider… someone like me.”
Does she mean someone blonde, tiny, and with perky boobs? Last I checked, Cressida looked like a man’s wet fantasy. Add to the fact that her family is loaded, and what man could resist her?
Looking away from Eli, I grind my teeth and cross my arms over my chest. “Beats me. I’ve never seen him with a girl, so it’s hard to say what his type is.”
Well, no girl except me.
“So, you would be okay if I went over and talked to him?”
My chest tightens. It feels like a claw is wrapping forcefully around my lungs, constricting my airways. But I shake off the feeling as I say, “Why wouldn’t I be okay with that? I’m engaged to your brother. Not to Eli.”
That’s for damn fucking sure.
Her lips part, and her hands intertwine in her lap as she adjusts nervously. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything. I know you and my brother are very happy together. But with Eli being your bodyguard, I just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t make things uncomfortable for you.” Her shoulders curl in, and an apologetic smile appears on her face.
With a heavy sigh, I turn on my Madeleine Alarie charm and place my hand on her shoulder. “It wouldn’t make things uncomfortable for me,” I lie.
“Really?” She beams. “Oh, wonderful!” She stands, pushing back her chair and smoothing out her dress. Reaching into her clutch, she pulls out a tube of soft pink lipstick and applies a generous amount to her lips. “Well, wish me luck.”
I give a tight smile as she saunters off, her hips swaying eagerly as she approaches Eli. His attention turns to her, and one of his stupid, handsome smiles graces his face as she no doubt bats her long lashes.
He laughs at whatever she says, and suddenly, a sharp pain hits me right in the center of my chest. I rub at it, but as the two of them continue to talk, my throat tightens, and the tip of my nose begins to sting.
For just a second, Eli glances my way.
His beautiful brown eyes lock with mine.
Everyone around me disappears.
And then, just as quickly, he looks back at her.
Blinking back tears that I refuse to let fall, I pause to look at the monstrosity on my ring finger. How many times have I thought about hurling this ring into the lake beside my home? How many nights have I spent tossing and turning, scared of what’s to come? Yet, I don’t regret anything I’ve done to reach this point.
Taking one last look at Eli, I see the same smile he used to have when we were together.
And it takes everything in me not to stand and scream at the top of my lungs,I did all of this for you!
“What’s wrong, dear?” My mother sits beside me, reaching for my hand on the table. Her blue eyes, identical to mine, are filled with concern, creating tight knots in my stomach. “You look like a bride who just saw a ghost.”
I smile softly. “It’s nothing. I think I just got some dust in my eye.”
She frowns. “I’m your mother.” Her hand cups my cheek. “I like to think I know my only daughter pretty well. Not to mention, I would never allow a speck of dust in one of our family’s establishments.”
I look down at the table, wishing I could crawl into a hole and hide.
“If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
