by Violet Paige
“Not too much longer,” he warned.
I nodded. “It won’t be.”
I turned back to the letter I was writing. The one thing I had been absolute about doing was the hardest thing. All I wanted was to write the truth.
I scribbled my name at the bottom and folded the letter inside the envelope. I had written Aubrey’s name and address across the front.
This may be the only time I ever had to write to the people who meant the most to me. I slipped her letter under the stack for my family. I didn’t want the words to be all my mother had, but there was a chance they would be. I wanted her to know most of all that I was happy and loved.
It would be hard for her to believe that a man who loved me so fiercely would take me away from my family. That he would rope me into a life on the run. That he would keep me from them indefinitely. To her, it would sound like a prison. Like a trap.
I realized no matter what words I chose to justify it, I’d never be able to convince her all those things weren’t true. The same rules that applied to Garrett didn’t apply to me. Garrett couldn’t help it. He was a victim. Me? I was throwing my life away because of a warped romance.
I wrote to her anyway. It was my only chance to give her my narrative. I carried the letters with me out of the bedroom.
I joined Vaughn in the foyer. I turned, allowing him to drape the wrap over my shoulders. It was the accessory Aubrey insisted I needed for the glittery gold dress. While my back was to him, I took in every inch of the flat one last time.
Vaughn’s hands were on my shoulders. “We have to go,” he whispered.
“I know.”
I was fighting with myself. I didn’t want to let all this slip away, and it was the last reaction I ever expected.
I turned abruptly. I didn’t need to torture myself. I still had a mission to complete tonight. When this was over and we were safe on the other side, I could think about the nights on the couch watching old French movies. I could remember all the bottles of wine we drank and the endless hours I spent wading through Julia Child recipes. The night Vaughn tossed me the ring. The mornings drinking coffee and reading to each other. The way I walked around the apartment stumbling through audio French lessons. There would be a time to reflect on this chapter of our lives.
He pulled the door open for me. “You look stunning as hell in that dress, babe.”
“Thank you. You are pretty hot in that tux.” I eyed him, wishing tonight was the kind of night that was about romance. It wasn’t.
The elevator deposited us in the foyer. Paul and Aubrey were waiting for us at the exit. I saw the long black car parked out front.
“Kate,” Aubrey walked toward me. “You look amazing.”
We embraced, kissing each other on opposite cheeks. “I love that color on you. That was definitely the right choice.” She wore a floor-length deep purple gown that hugged her curves. Her hair was swept to one side. I admired the pearl choker.
“Is that new?” I didn’t recognize it from the afternoon we paired accessories with our dresses.
“It is.” She grinned. “Paul bought it for me.”
“He has excellent taste.”
Vaughn and Paul shook hands.
“Shall we?” Paul extended his arm to lead us to the car.
“Oh wait. I just need to drop something in the post.” My heels clicked on the marble as I scurried to the brass box. I pulled the envelope from my beaded clutch and slipped it inside. I plastered a smile on my face and returned to meet our hosts for the evening.
Vaughn offered his arm. “Feel better?” he whispered in my ear. Paul and Aubrey were already at the bottom of the stairs. Paul was explaining something to the driver.
I nodded. “It’s not much, but I hope it’s something that helps her when this blows up.”
We walked around to the street side of the car, where the chauffer waited for us to duck inside.
I lifted the hem of my dress and scooted across the seat. Aubrey and Paul held hands across from us. I watched as he kissed her knuckles affectionately.
I looked up at the third story of the building as the car maneuvered into traffic. I had left the lamps on by the vanity. The glow faded behind us and it was the last look I had of our bedroom. I squeezed Vaughn’s hand for reassurance.
Our entire lives would change tonight. I had to believe they would change for the better, because if I gave in to the alternative, I’d never get out of this car.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Ok. I want you to meet these people.” Aubrey pulled me close to her. “You’ll give me your honest opinion.” We wandered through the crowd in the ballroom.
I had to stop gawking at the dresses and jewelry. Everyone here dripped with wealth. I needed to fit in, not stick out. Not tonight.
“What kind of opinion?” I asked, fidgeting with my clutch.
“I’ve had this idea lately,” she mused.
My eyebrows rose. We stopped in front of a waiter, holding a silver tray of champagne glasses. We each took one. He moved on to the next patron.
“What kind of idea?” I tried to keep one eye on Aubrey and the other on Vaughn. He and Paul had wandered to the other side of the room. Our distance made me uncomfortable.
“I’ve been feeling a little lost since we moved. You know that. I’ve told you how useless I’ve felt in Paris.” She shrugged.
I nodded in agreement. It was something we shared—losing our purpose. We commiserated over bottles of wine about being supportive wives, looking for more.
“I started painting again,” she blurted.
“You have?”
She nodded. “Why not? This is Paris, right? City of light and art. I’m not ready to share the first couple with anyone other than Paul, but I had this idea to maybe start with a showing for the children’s home. I could combine my passion with Paul’s. Join forces.”
I sipped the champagne. I had vowed not to drink more than a few swallows. “I think that’s a great idea. I love it.”
“And I thought this might be the right audience, but I want you to help me scope them out. These are the biggest donors in the city. What if this was the base for my first exhibit? I could use someone to help me compile a list of the couples who are art aficionados.”
“I think it sounds perfect, Aubrey. You should do it. No matter what I think of the crowd. I’m not really good at reading people and art.”
She grabbed my arm. I’d never seen her this excited. “Honestly, I was hoping you’d help me with more than that. I want you to help me organize the entire thing. I want the event to launch an actual studio. And I think there’s a real advantage to you being younger. Not that much younger.” She laughed. “But maybe a little more social media savvy than I am. You could run my marketing campaign and get some interest going for me while I focus on the art and securing a location.”
I stared at her. I was speechless.
“You hate it.” Her eyes darted back and forth. “You think it’s terrible.”
“No. No. I don’t hate it all. It’s a wonderful idea.”
“Ok. So you want to do this with me? Open a gallery?”
Shit. Why was tonight the night she decided to confide in me about her goals? It was going to make the dagger wedge in that much deeper.
“Sure. Of course I would.”
She sighed. “I was worried you would think it was crazy. Or that I was being less supportive of Paul.”
“God no. Why would I think that? He has a career. You deserve to have one too. You’ve been putting things on hold so you could get settled in Paris, but now it’s your turn. You should do this, Aubrey.”
“Thank you. I think this calls for more champagne. We need to celebrate our partnership.” She waved the waiter back and handed me a full glass. “To art and friendship.” She raised the glass in the air.
“To art and friendship,” I echoed. The hollowness of the toast rattled under my heart. After tonight, she’d never consider me a friend.
It took a few more minutes before I could make my way to Vaughn. I bowed out from a trip to the ladies’ room with Aubrey. She left without me and I headed straight for my Paris husband. He and Paul were locked in a circle of men, discussing fine cigars. I waited on the perimeter for him to break away.
“What is it?” He led me to a corner of the room, nodding toward the men he would be back.
I carried the train of my gown over my arm so it was easier to walk. “Aubrey wants me to help her open an art gallery.”
“Ok?”
I sighed. “I just want to go. Do we really have to wait?” He wasn’t sympathetic.
“Why don’t you bid on something?” he suggested. “Walk around and look at how insanely expensive everything is.” He winked.
My fingers twitched. My throat was dry, despite the champagne. It was hard to believe that we were leaving Paris tonight. Fleeing from the gala.
“You’re so calm,” I whispered.
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I looked into the piercing center of his eyes. They should have steadied me. Held me, but I was terrified. Petrified beyond a place where reassurances from Vaughn could put me back together.
“You’ve got this, babe. We’ve got this.” He tilted my chin. “Just a few more hours.”
I nodded. “I just keep thinking our timing might be off.”
He looked over his shoulder. “We aren’t going to discuss it here. You have to trust all the work we’ve done. Trust me. Trust yourself.”
“I feel like I’m floating outside of my body. I don’t know if I can keep it together.”
“You can,” he pressed.
Aubrey was headed toward us. She had returned from the powder room. There was a big smile on her face. She had reapplied the plum lipstick that matched her dress.
“Kate, there’s someone I want you to meet. Let me introduce you to our realtor. I just spotted her in the parlor.”
It was then that she stepped to the side and I saw Eloise.
Vaughn’s hand slipped around my waist and it was the only reason I didn’t collapse in a heap.
Eloise reached her hand forward. “Kate. Leo. So good to see you here.” She grinned.
“How are you, Eloise?” Vaughn was the first to respond. He took her hand while I was still paralyzed with shock and fear.
“You all know each other?” Aubrey looked between us.
“Eloise was also our realtor,” Vaughn explained. “Small world I guess.”
“I guess so.” Aubrey pulled another champagne glass from a moving tray.
“Kate, how is the flat?” Eloise asked.
I wanted to yell and scream. I wanted to throw my clutch and lose my mind in a wild tantrum. I wanted to shout that she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t steal my happiness. She couldn’t take our freedom. She had no right to enslave us this way.
“It’s great, Eloise. I should have you over sometime soon to see it. I’m done except I still need an area rug in the sunroom off our bedroom.”
“I’d be happy to give you some suggestions.”
Aubrey almost dropped her glass, but Vaughn caught her arm. “Oops.” She giggled. “When does dinner start? I might need some food and less champagne.”
“It could be now. I think I see people taking seats,” Vaughn answered. “Let’s find Paul and our seats.” He turned to Eloise. “Good seeing you again.”
“You too.” She smirked at me. “Enjoy your evening, Kate.”
Vaughn maneuvered Aubrey and me through the wealthy crowd. Paul was locked in conversation with another scientist about a program he didn’t want to use. It felt as if I was underwater. Everything was muffled and distant, even though I was only inches away.
It was over. The escape was destroyed. Eloise had been a step ahead of us the entire time. She was like a circling vulture. She always had been. Had I been naïve? Too trusting in Vaughn’s ability to plan? Overconfident? How the hell had this happened?
I stared at the soup that was placed in front of me.
Vaughn squeezed my leg under the table. “Try it,” he urged.
“I-I can’t eat.”
“Yes, you can,” he whispered. “You have to.”
The tables sat twelve in a large circle. We were seated with Paul and Aubrey along with four other couples. Paul had begun introductions, dropping in details about how he had known someone from working on the board or from crossing paths along his own adoption journey. I didn’t bother trying to keep them straight. None of it mattered.
“Paul, guess what?” Aubrey questioned her husband.
“What, cher?”
She smiled. “I talked to Kate about the gallery and she wants to do it. We’re going to be partners.”
“Wonderful news.” He grinned at me. He also seemed a little drunk. His cheeks were rosy. “You two work well together.”
“Yes, they are going to kill it,” Vaughn added. “I can’t wait to see the gallery.”
I looked at him. How could he keep going like there weren’t a million reasons to fall apart right now? How did he stay cool? Engaged in stupid details?
I tried a spoonful of the soup. Everyone said it was a delicate blend of spices. I tasted nothing.
I pushed back in my chair. “If you’ll excuse me. I’m going to the powder room.”
The gentlemen at the table rose as I exited and walked at a brisk pace. It was too fast and sudden, but I needed air. I needed my own private escape.
I paced inside the lounge. Every time I pivoted I caught a swirl of the dark velvet wallpaper. The 3D effect on the walls was dizzying.
“Em, what the fuck are you doing?”
I froze when I heard Vaughn’s voice behind me. He was in the parlor.
“I’m going to hyperventilate or throw up or both.” I glared at him. “I can’t sit out there and eat soup.”
“Eating soup is normal.” His jaw moved sharply. He was tense. “You need to get back to the table and be normal.”
“How? She’s here,” I hissed. “She knows.”
He grabbed my shoulders. His fingers pressing into my flesh. “She knows nothing.” He eyed me. “She’s here because every millionaire and billionaire in France is at this gala.”
I felt my pulse race. It was anger, not adrenaline. “Did you know she was going to be here?”
“No.” His eyes narrowed. “But where there’s money, there’s Blackwing.” He released me. “It doesn’t change anything. She doesn’t know. If she knew, we wouldn’t be here. We’d be crammed in a dark hole somewhere in a French warehouse.”
“Holy shit,” I whispered.
“Forget I said that part. Just go out there and be normal. Stop focusing on Eloise.”
“How can I? She can stop everything. She could take you away from me.”
“Em.” His eyes had the ability to cut right through me.
“No, listen. Listen.” I was frantic. “All week we’ve planned and plotted. And I listened to you. I never had the chance to say how I was feeling. What scared me. What freaked me out.”
“You can do that later when we’re drinking fruity drinks with umbrellas and looking at the ocean. Not here. Not now.”
“No.” I stood my ground. “What happens if she knows? What happens if you go back into the darkness? What am I supposed to do?”
“I’m not going to let you talk about that possibility, because it isn’t going to happen. This will work.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know there is no one stronger in this world. There is no one else I trust to be my partner. Because you are the one who is leading me into the light tonight.”
Instead of fear, my chest filled with unyielding warmth. God, I loved him.
I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him harder than I ever had. If it was possible for a kiss to speak my words, this one said I was in. I was ready to take him into the sun.
He pressed his thumb to his mouth to wipe the lipgloss away. He raised his e
yebrows. “Are you ready to finish the job, babe?”
I nodded. “You’re right. I’ve got this.”
He eyed me again, his gaze skimming the neckline of my dress. “Too bad we can’t stay in here a few more minutes.”
I surprised myself when I giggled. “Too bad.” I placed my hand in his.
“There is a five-star meal waiting for us.”
Together we strolled through the hall and returned to the table. I caught Eloise’s eye when we walked past her table. I smiled and held Vaughn’s hand a little tighter. He was mine. And there wasn’t a chance I was giving him back to her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When dinner was over we walked with Paul and Aubrey to view the auction items on display in the gallery. We discussed bidding on a Swiss chalet together and taking a couples’ trip at the end of spring. Vaughn scribbled his name on a set of golf clubs. I bid on a spa package at a resort near Versailles.
When the last bids had been placed and the winners announced, we waited for Paul to say goodbye to his friends. Vaughn saw someone he knew from Mertech and ran over to talk about an account. He played his role to the bitter end. He was a perfectionist.
“Oh, Kate, I see a potential art client. She bid on three pieces. Do you mind if I say hello to her?”
“Go for it,” I coaxed. “You should do it.” I wanted to tell her to take a few breaths and act less tipsy, but it was too late. She had already sashayed to the bar. I was impressed by her confidence.
“Beautiful gala, wasn’t it, Kate?” Eloise was behind me.
“Why yes.” I made a small swivel on my designer heels. They were the most expensive shoes I’d ever had on my feet. I towered over Eloise at this height.
“Before I leave tonight I wanted to congratulate you.”
My knees began to shake. The physical demonstration of my nerves was hidden by the dress.
“Oh?” I forced my voice not to crack.
“Your execution was flawless.”
I couldn’t believe she had the balls to discuss this here, but as the patrons headed for the exit, I realized everyone had been drinking and no one had a clue that Eloise was complimenting me on high-level theft of intellectual property. I was certain no one would be thinking that as they left a charity event for children.