He searches my face, and after finding nothing there to let him know what I’m really feeling, he nods and turns away from me. I lie there rigid instead of curling into a ball, and I’m really proud of myself for finding the strength to do it. Thank God for my friend Nev teaching us all about meditation, because my mind is clear while I stare at the ceiling as he comes back into the room.
“It’s ready. Do you need help getting to the tub?”
Yes. “No, thank you.”
I keep my face impassive, even though I have to struggle to stand. I’m in damn good shape, so I shouldn’t be feeling this bad. It’s not like I haven’t been battered here and there in training. Once I’m in the bathroom, with the door closed and locked, I allow myself to look at why I’m feeling so bad. I know it’s because I’m so emotionally broken, too. Betrayal is something I used to expect, and I knew better than to let my guard down. Yet here I am. As I sink into the bubbles Calum must have bought for me, I vow to not let anyone that close again.
An hour later, I’m ready to go. My muscles still ache, but not as badly as before my bath. I’m battle ready with my hair in a severe bun, and a grey, below the knee dress with purple flowers, and a modest cutout in back. My face is flawless, and the whole of me looks sophisticated and rich. I grab a designer purse from the many I have here with me, and walk down the stairs. Calum is waiting for me, his knee jiggling like he’s about to have a seizure.
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I tell him, knowing he’s freaked out because he’s late to the office.
“I wanted to,” he says, getting up off the couch, and turning to me. “What the hell happened to your tits?”
“They’re wrapped.”
“Excuse me?”
“They’re too large for this dress. They ruin the lines of it.”
“You’re fucking kidding me, right? You can’t be comfortable.”
“My life isn’t about being comfortable, Calum. I have to do this a lot, so it’s no big deal. It’s either this, or a breast reduction.”
“You wouldn’t, would you? They aren’t that big. I mean, they are, but not uncomfortable, right?”
“I’m a nice, full C cup, so no, they aren’t uncomfortable for me. Just too big for some of my clothes.”
“Go change then.”
“No, Calum. This dress is perfect for dropping you off at your office, pretending to shop all day, and also for the lunch your assistant emailed me about.”
“Shit. I’ll tell her to cancel it.”
“She said it was with the wife of an important client of yours. You need me to go and play nice. I agreed to that, and I already told you I’m keeping my word. Really, I’m fine.”
He looks like he wants to argue, but he knows I’m right, so he doesn’t. “Did she tell you about the cocktail party tonight?”
“Yes, I’ll be ready.”
“Let your tits free tonight, okay?”
I nod. “Got it. I’m helping loosen some pockets.”
“Fuck no. You’re being comfortable. I don’t like you holding back any part of yourself.”
“I appreciate it, and yes, I’ll let the girls out tonight.”
“Good. We should get going.”
“Sorry again for making you late.”
“It’s really fine. Do you feel better?” he asks as we take the elevator down to the lobby.
“Yes.”
“I know you’re protecting yourself, but I want you to know you’re safe to be yourself around me. You don’t have to pretend everything’s okay if it’s not.”
He’s the last person I’m safe with. “We’re not friends, we’re business partners. Please don’t insult me by pretending it’s anything else.”
"I didn't lie about how I felt. I meant it when I said I want this to be real."
"If you wanted it to be real, you would've been honest with me. If not at the beginning, then at least when I told you about the party. You had to know I'd find out then."
"You would've still been mad," he whispers as we walk outside to the car waiting for us.
There are photographers outside, so we stop and smile for them. Calum's arm around me feels both right and wrong at the same time. When the photographers ask for a kiss, I brace myself. He cups my face, and feathers his mouth over mine lightly.
"I don't want to mess up her makeup at the beginning of the day," he says with a laugh when they complain. "Wait until tonight."
They laugh along, and I lean in, making it look like I'm nuzzling his neck. "Thank you."
Calum
That kiss one the sidewalk was both everything, and nothing. I was able to show Rhieve I'm going to take care of her, but at the same time, I had to hold back from what I really wanted to do. I wanted to kiss her long and deep, claiming her again, because right now I know she's no longer mine. Thank God she isn't anyone else's—yet. There's a good chance she's really given up on us. On me. Which means she could go back to dating idiots, or worse yet, find someone who really deserves her.
I have until the end of this fake engagement to convince her that while I may not be worth it, no one else will ever love her the way I do. So basically, I have until she and the Society take down Chet for me—because I know they're not going to let him go now. Or until I do it myself through the courts, or my investors showing enough confidence in me to keep him out. In a perfect world, I would've been able to take the time right after to convince her to stay with me. Now, I don't have that luxury. I need to work on both my business and her concurrently. I've always welcomed a challenge, but this is a lot, even for me.
We pull up to my building after not speaking at all on the ride there. Photographers are here, too, so Rhieve gets out with me. There's more smiling and one more small kiss before I help her back in the car. I wave at the photographers and go inside.
I've barely crossed the threshold when my head of security approaches. "We have a problem."
Already? Can't I even get settled in for the day? "What is it?"
"Her," he says, pointing across the lobby to where a bored looking Jade Anderson sits, surrounded by several of his team.
She sees me and gives me a little wave as she smirks. I nod, knowing if she flew all night, this isn't going to be good. At least Reina's not here with her.
"So you do know her? She said you did, but she wasn't on your appointment list."
"Yeah, she's a friend of my fiancé’s. Do you know who Nate Anderson is?"
"The fighter? Hell yeah."
"She's his wife."
"Damn, I knew she looked familiar, but the last name is common, so I didn't put it together. Do you think he's here, too?"
"Probably not." Jade can definitely take care of herself.
"Oh. Well, do you want me to get her a badge?"
"Yes, please."
I walk over and put a smile on my face, even though I don't feel like smiling. "Hi Jade, this is a nice surprise. I didn't know you were coming for a visit."
"You should have," she replies, standing to face me.
I have several inches on her, but I'm still quaking inside, even with a full security team here. You don’t mess with the Society. I knew that, but I did it anyway, and now I’ve got to deal with the fallout.
"My head of security is getting you a badge, and then we can go up to my office and talk. We've recently implemented some extra security measures, so I'm sorry if you were made to feel uncomfortable at all."
"No worries."
"Rhieve won't be here today," I add, hoping she'll say she's here to see her, even though I know she's not.
"I'm not here to see her. I have some things I need to discuss with you."
My guy walks up with her badge then, ending our awkward exchange. "Here you go, Mrs. Anderson. Please tell your husband I think he was one of the best fighters ever. The sport misses him."
"Thank you. He doesn't miss the sport, but he'll appreciate knowing you're a fan."
I lead her to the elevator, aware of the atte
ntion of every man in the lobby on us as we cross it. Jade is dressed in a calf length leather skirt, and a silk patterned top. Logically, she should look like she fits in, but she can't hide her curves, or the predatory look in her eyes right now. I mean, she could if she wanted to, but she's not really trying. She wants them to stay away, and she wants me to know I'm in trouble.
"I have someone waiting for me upstairs. I'll try to fit you in between some of my later meetings, but I can't cancel them."
"I'm well aware of the crisis you're in the midst of. I don't really care at the moment, but I'm going to let you do what you need to do. Is there somewhere I can work?"
"Yes. You can use the conference room next to my office, where Rhieve worked when she was here."
"Thank you. I'll see you when you have time for me. Make no mistake, though, Calum. Neither one of us is leaving this building today until we've talked."
"Understood."
I show her to the conference room after introducing her to my assistant. After letting her know to tell Kaela if there's anything she needs, I put on my game face and greet the investor who's waiting for me. I work straight through lunch, and into the afternoon, cramming my calls closer together than I originally planned to, because I really don't have time for Jade today. I know she wasn't kidding about us not leaving, and I have to be at the dinner party with Rhieve tonight, so staying late isn't an option, either.
"You can send Mrs. Anderson in now, Kaela," I tell her over the phone once my last call is done.
Two minutes later—I know because I'm watching the clock—Jade walks into my office. Gone is the semblance of civility she showed in public. Right now, she's downright hostile.
"You lied to us. Not only that, you caused us to use resources that could've been directed elsewhere to find out information you could've provided."
"I will compensate the Society for any lost resources."
"This is not about money, although we'll gladly take some of yours."
"I'm sorry. I did what I felt I had to do."
"No, you did what you wanted, and didn't care who it hurt. Reina and Jenysis consider you a friend, and the rest of us liked you too, but Rhieve...it's more for her, and you know it. You willfully hurt her, and that is the biggest problem I have with this situation."
"I know I hurt her. Again, I thought it was the right choice for me. If I had to do it over, I don't know that I'd do it differently."
"Do you even hear yourself?"
"I didn't take any of this lightly. I still don't. I didn't expect Chet to kidnap Rhys. Hell, Rhieve and I had barely spoken in years."
"But when it came down to it, you used that kidnapping to your advantage."
"I already said I'd do it again. Are we going to keep going round and round in circles, or are you going to tell me what the Society's going to be doing to help me?"
"You think we're going to help you?" she asks with a laugh.
"No. I know you will. He went after one of your own. Reina won't let that go unpunished."
"She wouldn't," Jade agrees, "but whatever we do is going to be for Rhieve and not for you. If it helps you, so be it, but that's not why we're doing it. Any information we find will not necessarily be passed on to you, either."
"You can't keep things from me?"
"Yeah, Calum, we can."
"I didn't think that was the way the Society operated. You're supposed to help people."
"We help people who have been victimized, or are in need. You don't fit into either of those categories."
"You also take paid jobs. I want to hire you."
"No."
"Isn't that Reina's decision?"
"Yes, it is. She anticipated you asking, and made her decision before I got on the plane. Although, you really weren't asking were you? Always used to getting your way, but not this time."
"If that's all you came to tell me, then I think we're done here."
"We are. Except well, I guess I should tell you your assistant is sleeping with Chet, and passing him information."
"What?"
"I was bored, and technology's not my strongest thing, so I decided to play around a little. I cloned her phone when she brought me lunch. After that, it was easy to find the dummy emails. Don't you have an IT guy?"
"Son of a bitch. And yes. He said he couldn't find anything."
She hands me some papers, and stands up. "Well, I'd look into him then, too. Now, if you'll excuse me, my work here is done."
"I'm going to do everything I can to protect her from being hurt any further," I tell her as she walks towards the door.
"We'll be watching, so you damn well better."
Once she's out of the room, I call down to security. Within the hour, a crying Kaela is removed from the building by MI-5, and my IT guy isn't far behind as they easily get him to admit he was in on it, too. As my firm invests for many politicians as well as some of the wealthiest people in the U.K., they are taking this more seriously than you'd think, and Chet is going to be getting a visit from them as well.
15
Rhieve
I was photographed shopping all over Oxford Street, and now I'm more than ready for lunch. It would be nice if I was eating alone, but duty calls. As I walk through the doors of one of the trendy London eateries, I smile at the hostess. Taking my name, she leads me to a table in the back.
I'm expecting one woman, the wife of Calum's investor. What I get instead are three women. Two are strangers, but one is my worst nightmare come to life. Julia. The girl who tormented me mercilessly throughout my middle and high school years. I don't know what she's doing here, and there's no way I'll let her see that her presence affects me, but the insecure girl who still lives inside of me wants to run.
"Hello," I say, as I take the empty chair to her right.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Ice Queen."
"Be nice, Julia," one of the other women says, holding out her hand. "Hi, I'm Lynne, and this is Justine."
I smile at her, and nod at the other woman. Lynne is the wife, but I still have no clue why these other two are here. "I wasn't expecting everyone else."
"Oh, we wouldn't have missed this for anything," Justine tells me.
"Am I missing something?"
"My friends here have both been involved with Calum. No one ever thought he'd settle down with just one woman, so we're all intrigued by you."
"Not me. Intrigued isn't the word I'd use," Julia says.
"What word would you prefer, Julia. I'm all ears, so please tell me." If she thinks I'm still the scared girl who cowered before her, she's about to get a rude awakening.
"Fake, phony, frigid. Calum is a hot fuck, and there's no way you're satisfying him."
"Julia! You said you wouldn't be so catty if I let you come. Rhieve, I need to apologize."
"It's fine, Lynne. I got used to Julia's jealousy of me long before I got engaged to Calum."
"Jealous? Of you? Why would I be jealous of some trophy wife? Calum was with me first, and he'll still be with me even if he marries you."
"Oh my God, Julia. You need to chill," Justine tells her.
"What? At least now she'll know where he is when he claims to be working late. Balls deep inside of me."
"If he's working late, it will be because he's working late. I don't know what your end game is with me, Julia, but it's not going to work. It didn't work when we were in school together, and it sure as hell won't work now. You won't break me, and it's about time you stopped trying."
"You've always thought you were better than me, but you're not. Ask him. Ask Calum how he always comes back to me."
"I don't intend to ask him about anyone who was in his past. Because, that's what you and the other women are—his past. I'm here in the present, and I'm going to be in his future. You can deal with it, or not, but it won't change anything. Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I seem to have lost my appetite."
Lynne stands with me, and walks me to the front of the restaurant as Ju
stine chastises Julia once again. "I shouldn't have let her come today, Rhieve. I knew she had a history with Calum, but I didn't know she had one with you as well. You handled that with more grace than I would've. I hope we can have some time to talk at the dinner party tonight."
"I'd like that."
We do the two cheek kiss, and I walk outside, forgetting I'd told my driver to pick me up in two hours. I could call him to come back for me, but that would mean I'd have to stand out here, waiting. I don't need to give Julia any more ammunition to hit me with; the knowledge she was with Calum—frequently—is already making me want to throw up. I decide to just walk a bit, find some food since I'm still hungry, and then take the tube back to Calum's place. I call the driver to let him know, and then I'm on my way.
As I'm walking, an outfit in one of the shop windows catches my eye, and I go in to look closer. It's not what I'd normally wear to a dinner party, but the soft sweater attached to silk pants appeals to me for some reason. I love the champagne color, and after trying it on, I decide that even though I'm usually more Audrey than Katherine Hepburn, I kind of love it. I have a little more spring in my step when I walk out of the shop, feeling like I'm becoming more "me" every day.
Calum
I'm running late from the office after all that happened, so I don't have time to go home and pick up Rhieve like I should. Instead, my driver brings her to me at the office. I hop in the car, and note her outfit, which is not at all what I was expecting.
"No dress tonight?"
"Is that a problem?" she asks, her voice cold.
What did I do now? I haven't even seen her all day. I know she can't be over what happened with Chet and Rhys, but we were at least civil this morning.
"Of course not. You look as beautiful as always. I like your hair like this," I tell her, fingering the waves that are flowing down her back.
"I don't need your compliments, Calum. I know I look good."
Whoa! I was not expecting this, either. She's never been vain, preferring to downplay her looks and blend in. She won't blend in amidst the sea of black dresses we’re sure to encounter at the party, but as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing.
Society Girls: Rhieve Page 11