Page 72 of Significant
I’m finishing clipping my diamond earring, which matches my ballerina pink dress perfectly. I simper when Aaron’s arms embrace me from behind. He disposes a soft kiss on my nape before telling me how beautiful I look tonight, his hardness pressing on my back.
“I wish I could keep you for myself.”
He groans at my comment. I clutch my hands around his arms, biting my lower lip to admire him in his marine-blue suit.
We both hate the elite socialite kind of events, and attending this charity gala isn’t something we are looking forward to. But everyone whose names are known attends. Everyone, including my mother, to whom I haven’t spoken since I sent her my resignation.
I’ve finally taken a leap to share my artworks to the world. I created a website and a social media account. So far, I’ve finished two contemporary pieces of birds in oil painting—and, the painting of Wolf. But this one is personal. I’m awaiting the right moment to show it to him. Financially, I’ve been running low on money and I was on the verge to become a starving artist if it wasn’t for Aaron who insisted on helping me. I obviously refused, and he obviously argued it was not negotiable, buying me all the art supplies I needed. He has a blind faith in me, feeling proud of my little accomplishments. Supporting my art, even if it isn’t a passion of him. That’s why Ilovehim. He never wants to change me.
“Don’t tempt me, or I might want to fuck you in some private room.”
I raise my eyebrow, considering his idea. He definitely has corrupted my soul.
“But I prefer to enjoy what’s mine alone. The idea of someone else seeing your naked body is driving me insane.” He winks, placing his hand behind my lower back.
I don’t mind Aaron’s possessiveness. On the contrary, it arouses me most of the time. Stephan’s possessiveness was to tame me, putting a leash around my neck. Aaron’s possessiveness is freeing, making me feel significant.
I’m not even dazzled by the luxury of the gala we’re at. Here or in France, it’s always the same thing. Money. Power. Extravagance. Everywhere Wolf goes, the crowd is always following him, scanning him. He inspires either great admiration or profound hatred. Aaron shakes the hands of a few older men, discussing the next season with them as I talk to their wives about my… boyfriend. Because in this type of society, a woman doesn’t exist without her man. It’s incredibly sexist, and I’m glad Aaron doesn’t treat me like one of these green plants. Some younger models throw themselves at his feet, flirting with him, even though I’m standing next to him. My heart immediately races with jealousy. Luckily for Wolf, he ignores them by claiming my mouth, his arms around me, showing me I’m the one on his mind and showing them he belongs fully to me.
We greet Thomas, who seems to be as jaded by this event as I am. Aaron scans him from head to toe before laughing at Thomas’ annoyed face. “You didn’t even bother to dress up. I don’t believe you even own a suit.”
“You’re right, I don’t. I just hate this world and those clowns.” I chuckle at Thomas’ comment, loving his personality even more. He has a lot of money and yet remains simple. I think that aside from me, he is the only person Aaron really wants to speak with tonight. “Glad to see you, Elle. You look stunning. Aaron is gonna have a hard time keeping the men away from you.” Thomas stares at Aaron playfully, like he knew something I didn’t. No doubt, Thomas knows Aaron well.
A bunch of old men ask him to join them. Aaron’s gaze meets mine, asking my permission. Of course, I oblige, even though standing here alone by myself isn’t very pleasant. He gives me a kiss and assures me he’ll be right back. I find my mother talking with her husband, playing the perfect wife, even though she’s wearing a black dress like she attended a funeral right before. She stares coldly at me before searching for my boyfriend.No, Mother, my heart hasn’t been broken yet.She doesn’t bother to greet me. I decide to not stand by the wall like a kid being punished and head toward the champagne area when a hand grabs me.
“Elle.” My stomach turns into a knot when I recognize the voice behind me. A voice that shouldn’t be here. A voice I forgot about.
I turn around to meet Stephan with his perfect beige suit, the perfect haircut, and the perfect smile. All those doses of perfection to cover such an imperfect man. Before, I would have been afraid to confront him, but now only my anger remains. I’ve always wondered why he treated me that way, and tonight I won’t let him go away until I have my answers.
“Where is your lapdog?” He gives me his polite—manipulative—lawyer smile.
“My boyfriend, Aaron, isn’t far away, and if he sees you, I believe he’ll not act kindly toward you.” Especially now that I’ve told Aaron what happened between him and me, knowing his temper, he’ll probably beat him to death.
“I understand. I wanted to talk to you, privately, about what happened between us.” His expression is unreadable, and for a moment I believe he’s gonna repent. “Please, Elle. Just for five minutes.” He is extraordinarily calm, almost pleading, which doesn’t look like the Stephan I remember.
I nod, accepting to follow him. My gut is screaming to get out, but I need to be brave. I need to face him, to find my closure and move on. And it’s not a discussion we could have had among the curious ears of the old money people. On our way to the hallway, I find Louis. He stares at me weirdly, probably wondering why I’m going with another man instead of my boyfriend into a library. I swallow, hoping he won’t tell him. I don’t want any damage tonight. Stephan closes the door behind him. No lock. I remind myself that I’m stronger now, and that he wouldn’t dare do anything to me with his parents right behind the door. Stephan likes to keep up appearances, he would never hurt me—in public.
“What do you want, Stephan?” My eyes narrow as he walks in a circle around me, inspecting me from head to toe, his vicious gaze disgusting me. “Are you here to apologize?”
“You’re the one who left me, Elle. Why should I apologize?”
I snort. Of course, it’s again one of his manipulative games. “Because you’re everything I despise. You treated me horribly. You were a huge asshole.” He starts to smirk, proud of himself to still get under my nerves. I breathe heavily, keeping my cool. I’ll find my closure whatever way he wants to give it to me, or not. “But now I’ve found someone who treats me with love and the respect I deserve. I pity you, Stephan. You can’t get to me anymore.”
“You were lucky to be with me. Other women would have—”
“No, you were lucky. You’re an egocentric and manipulative—”
He pushes me violently against the shelf of books, hovering over me with both of his hands caging me. My jaw tightens, my eyes sending blades at him. I hate him. I hate what he has done to me. I’m repulsed by his entire being. I know Stephan is too weak and afraid to punch me or to hurt me. He’d never do that. He is smart. A bruise on my body will mean proof. And as a lawyer, he never left any proof behind.
“Let me go, Stephan, or I swear I’m gonna tell the truth to everyone here tonight. Your mother. Your company. Everyone.”
He laughs wickedly. And he’s right—Aaron is the only one to know; I’m too ashamed to admit what he did to me. Nobody will ever believe me. Not even my own mother did. As an avid manipulator, he knows my flaws. But maybe I could play him at his own game.
“You won’t, we both know that.” He clutches my arm, tightening his grip to search for my pain. I wish he could hurt me. Leave a mark on my skin. That way, I would have proof. A proof to cause his downfall. “Nice dress. But I know what’s underneath.”
“Only my boyfriend knows, and you’re not a quarter of what he is.” My eyes narrow, I’ll provoke him until he commits one mistake that will free me of him. I don’t care if he’ll hurt me, I want revenge. I want the proof it wasn’t in my head. “I give him everything I was reluctant to do with you.” I lick my lips.Bastard.
His jaw tenses as he pushes me again against the shelf and a few books fall on the floor, hitting us on their descent. “So, you can suck LeBeau’s cock and not mine?” I remain silent and proud, waiting for his reaction. But when he doesn’t notice the mask of fear on my face, he smiles. “Oh, my sweet. So predictable.” He reduces his grip enough to not leave a bruise and starts to spread his mental manipulation on me. “I’m still haunting your nights. You will never forget. When you fuck him, you think of my cock.” He speaks his devastating words to shame me, thinking he has control over me, but I don’t even hear him anymore.
