by Smoke, Lucy
"Wow," I breathed.
Knix parked, leaving the key in the ignition as a valet in a dark coat came forward and opened my door. I let him take my hand and help me out. I shivered as a breeze drifted over my back, lifting some of the strands of my hair. I forgot how cold the night was getting as we moved further and further into autumn.
Knix's hand touched the small of my back, the heat of his palm soaking through the fabric of my dress making me shiver for a completely different reason. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asked.
I nodded numbly as he led me forward, up the steps, and through the open front door.
Glasses clinked and low, polite voices conversed in the background. I felt like I was walking into a strange scene from a movie—like I was just a ghost visiting the lives of others. Many of the women were dressed in floor length dresses, their make-up done to perfection. I felt out of place, like a weed in a field of flowers. My dress was nice, a dark shade of mossy green, the style Grecian. And yet, still, standing next to Knix, I came to realize that I didn’t truly understand this world, which was a part of his world—and Grayson’s and Marv’s. Or rather, Theodora’s world. My thoughts darkened at the unwanted reminder of her, and I shoved those feelings away as I returned my attention to my surroundings.
“Would you like to dance?”
I blinked up as Knix extended a hand to me then looked over—peering between the rooms where a small space had been cleared and made into a makeshift dance floor. “I’m not so sure…”
“It’ll be fun,” Knix urged, taking my hand anyway.
“Uh…” But I let him lead me towards the three other couples swaying back and forth to slow classical music.
We came together on the dance floor and as his hand found my waist, our feet found a rhythm. After a few minutes of staring at his chest, I began to chuckle. A snort escaped, drawing his notice and Knix looked down.
“What’s wrong? Am I doing it wrong?”
I laughed and shook my head. “If anyone should be worried about their dancing skills, it’s me, not you,” I assured him.
“Then what is it?” He tilted his head to the side, bright blue eyes clouded with confusion.
“You’re so tall that I feel like I’m dancing with a wall,” I said.
“Hmmmm.” He looked down at me. “Well, perhaps you are too short for this. Even in those heels.”
“Heels only go so far with you, ya big lug,” I replied teasingly.
A light blush stole over his cheeks and my heart stopped in my chest. Too cute. I bit my lip hard to keep from giggling. I was sure he would not appreciate the laughter. I was sure he would mistake it for laughing at him rather than at the situation. And I would never want to embarrass him.
“Let’s fix this dilemma, then, shall we?” Knix said rather suddenly.
“What—” I wasn’t even through with my confused question, when his hand slid across my back, banding my front to him as he slightly lifted me up until my feet left the ground. “Wait—what are you—”
My heels touched down once more, this time settled firmly on the tops of his shoes. I looked down between us and then back up with a lifted brow. “Are you serious?”
He smiled—quite smugly, in fact. “It’s a perfect solution.”
My head at least grazed his shoulders and instead of staring at his chest, I was staring at his throat. It really wasn’t that much of a difference, but I laughed anyway and shook my head.
“I feel like a kid at a daddy-daughter dance or something.” Not that I would have known what that felt like, but I knew about them from Erika’s time in Girl Scouts.
“What I feel for you, Little Bit, has not one inch of fatherly affection in it,” Knix said seriously.
Heat rose to my cheeks and I ducked my head, smashing my face against his front. “Just dance,” I whisper-hissed.
He chuckled, the sound reverberating through my own chest. I closed my eyes and let him lead me around the room—our limbs moving as one, the soft air of the atmosphere sliding over my skin, making me shiver. My breath churned in my lungs as Knix swirled me about. I felt both light and heavy in a single breath, and I loved every second of it—the feeling of being precious and held and wanted.
We danced for a few more songs before my back began to ache, and I was sure his feet had to be hurting under the heel of my shoes. Knix led me off the dance floor and urged me further through the mansion with his hand on my back, gesturing towards a room to the side. We entered what looked to be a lounge with men and women standing in groups, talking and laughing. Someone was smoking a cigar of some kind. I could smell the thick, exotic scent on the air, a forbidden spice.
"Mr. Goode!" I looked up as a tall man in a crisp white suit that contrasted with his deeply tanned skin moved over to greet us. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Decourcy," Knix said, reaching out and taking the man's outstretched hand, shaking it firmly before releasing. "Good to see you."
"I take it this is the wife?" Decourcy said, turning to me. He took my hand, raising it to kiss his lips.
"My girlfriend," Knix corrected. "Harlow, this is Mr. Jacob Decourcy." I blushed as Decourcy's lips brushed my knuckles in a gentlemanly fashion.
"Lovely to meet you," Decourcy said.
"L-likewise," I stuttered.
"I'm going to run and grab us something to drink," Knix said suddenly. "Decourcy, would you mind keeping Harlow company."
Decourcy smiled at me. "Not at all."
I smiled back a little awkwardly as Knix leaned down and brushed a chaste kiss on my cheek before he disappeared back into the crowd.
"So, Harlow, was it?" Decourcy looked at me.
"Uh, yes." I shifted a little nervously.
"How long have you known Knix?" he asked.
"A few months," I admitted. "We haven't been together for very long."
"Well, you must mean something important to him if he's brought you here. Knix rarely brings a date to these things. In fact, I'll chance it and say I haven't ever seen him with a woman here. Will you be joining him for the annual charity masquerade gala?"
A blush rose to my cheeks. I didn't know how to reply to that. Panic settled over my mind. I didn’t want to come off as snobby or ditzy to one of Knix’s associates. I swallowed around a throat full of anxiety and said the first thing that came to mind. "I’m not sure,” I said, sounding far calmer than I felt. “This is my first time coming with Knix to any of his business functions. I’m pretty impressed so far, though.” Hopefully, that was appropriate.
Decourcy nodded. "Oh yes, Miss Vandersen-Caruso does a marvelous job with these gatherings."
I froze as the name crossed his lips. Almost as if she had been conjured by some magic spell attached to her name, Theodora—Teddi—rounded the corner in a gold studded dress. Chandelier earrings dangled from the lobes of each ear, glittering in the light as she glided through the lounge. Her tinkling laughter rose above the murmur. I could almost see how she drew a crowd. Men looked at her and they wanted her. Women looked at her and they wanted to be her. But oh no, not me. I just wanted the hell out of that room. I wanted to get away from her—as far from her as possible.
"I'm sorry, I've got to find Knix." I didn't even make up a better excuse as I practically ran from the room, finding a separate doorway that led back into the hall. The low sound of masculine laughter sounded from somewhere further down the dark corridor. I followed it, hoping for Knix. I wasn't disappointed.
Knix stood in an immaculate kitchen with two other gentlemen and a woman with short, curly, red hair pinned back against her scalp. The woman stood close to Knix, her hand locked on his elbow as he held up two glasses. I narrowed my gaze on the woman but shook my head. Now wasn't the time. I moved forward.
"Knix?"
He half turned and started out of surprise, his eyes widening when he saw me. "Harlow, I thought you were still with Mr. Decourcy?"
"I was, but I decided to join you. I have to tell you something." There
was no way I could hold off any longer about what had gone down at the Cancer Care Center. Even if I wanted to wait for Grayson and Marv to get back from wherever they were, Teddi was here. She was here now. Had she known we’d be here? It was only days ago that I’d seen her and now this? No. Instinct told me that this was not a coincidence.
"Who is this?" The red-haired woman latched onto Knix's arm and pulled him to a stop as he moved to step towards me. I frowned, closing the distance between us. I took one of the glasses from Knix's hand and then, without even considering the rudeness of my actions, I tugged the other woman's hand off of his arm.
"I'm his girlfriend," I said plainly. Knix's eyebrows shot up. Not because of what I had said—he had said the same to Mr. Decourcy just moments before—but probably because of how quickly and sternly I removed the other woman's hand from him. She blinked at me as I set the glass down on the counter, politely excused myself and Knix from the rest of the room, and promptly dragged him out. It didn't escape my notice that Knix, too, left his drink behind.
As soon as we hit the empty hallway, Knix pulled me to a stop. "What's this about?" he asked, confusion marring his handsome features.
"Grayson's mother is here," I said, my hands shaking. "And I haven't told you, but she—"
"Harlow, dear, is that you?" The very devil I had just been about to tell him about spoke from behind me, making my entire back stiffen. Slowly, with excruciating displeasure, I turned towards Teddi as she glided out of the lounge, entering the hallway surprisingly alone despite all the followers I had seen nipping at her heels a few minutes before. "It's been so long, hasn't it?"
"Harlow?" Knix looked down at me, his confusion increased tenfold.
I sucked in a breath, fighting back the urge to glare at Teddi Vandersen-Caruso. I had the distinct feeling any sort of disrespect to her in this type of setting wouldn't go as it had at the Care Center.
"Knix," I said quietly, forcing the words through my mouth as I spoke, "this is Teddi Vandersen-Caruso, Grayson's mother."
Knix's gaze rose to Teddi. He took in her immaculate looks, the way her hair fell perfectly, her makeup, her nails, everything. And I watched as shutters closed over his expression. With nothing but utter politeness, Knix took the hand that Teddi proffered and bent over it. "It's nice to meet you Miss Vandersen-Caruso, I’ve heard many things about you.”
“All good, I’m sure,” Teddi replied with a smile.
Knix grimaced and had the restraint not to reply. “I'm afraid Harlow and I were just leaving," he said.
"Oh no." Teddi pulled back her hand and pouted. "So soon? Can't I entice you to stay for a little longer? I'm sure I could introduce you to a few wonderful connections for your business—it was your late father's, wasn't it?"
I narrowed my gaze on her as Knix's back straightened. "It was," he replied tersely, his hand reaching out. His fingers closed around my elbow, steering me closer as if he could sense the piranha this woman was. How had she known about Knix’s dad? I mean, it wasn’t exactly a secret, but I had the sneaking suspicion I wasn’t the only one this woman had done her research on. First, she showed up at my mother’s Care Center and now this. Teddi Vandersen-Caruso was dangerous.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," she said. It wasn't lost on me that she didn't look particularly sorry at all—not if the small smile gracing her lips was anything to go by. I wondered if she could, I thought Grayson had mentioned once or twice that she had undergone plastic surgery a few times.
"Thank you," Knix said stiffly. "Now, I'm sure you have other guests to attend to—"
"Oh, yes, I do. In fact, I don't know if you knew, but your mother is here tonight. I should see if she's available. The last I saw her, she was—"
"That's alright," Knix said quickly. I jerked my eyes up to the firm line of his lips as he suddenly propelled me forward. "I wouldn't want to bother her."
"Oh, no, I insist. I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing her son," Teddi replied, her smile widening.
"We really do have to go," Knix said as he pushed me further up the corridor. I didn't fight him at all. In fact, I locked my fingers around his wrist and pulled him after me. His voice was panicked, and I didn’t quite understand why, but I trusted his instincts.
"She—" Teddi started as another woman stumbled down the stairs of the main hallway, her heels clicking awkwardly and loudly on the beautiful wood floors. All eyes turned upward.
"Knixon?" Knix stopped at the doorway at the sound of the woman's voice. "Iss thaat you?" Her slur became more pronounced the more she spoke and with each word, the more granite Knix's face became until I was worried the slightest twitch would shatter him.
Knix turned to look back over his shoulder as a woman almost a full foot shorter than him finally made it into the foyer. Her light blonde hair was pinned back, but wispy curls escaped her coiffed bun at the back of her head and dangled around her rounded face. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes unfocused as she stumbled across the floor, obviously intoxicated.
She didn't look anything like Knix except for her hair and her eyes. But when I looked into her murky depths as she weaved back and forth in place, staring at Knix, I couldn't really picture how this woman could have given birth to Knix. She was too different. Too unhinged as she stopped bobbing and weaving and practically threw herself into Knix's arms.
"Oh, I've missed you!" she half slurred, half shrieked. "Hoooooow come you neeeever call your mother?" She thudded one closed fist against his chest as he reached out to catch her, to keep her from falling over.
Guilt ate at me, but in the same instance, I knew that it wasn't my fault. It was hers. I turned and tipped my chin up and finally let myself glare at the woman across the hallway. Teddi smirked at me as she watched the scene unfold. Knix's mother began to cry, huge hacking, drunken sobs as she slapped his chest and screamed at him. People began to wander out from the lounge, curious onlookers. I saw Mr. Decourcy and the redhead from earlier watching.
"Mother," Knix said sharply, resigned to getting this her out and away from prying eyes, "let's go."
"Why don't you ever talk to me?" she sobbed. “Do you really hate me that much?” I shook my head and touched Knix on the arm. He looked down at me, his crystalline blue eyes a mixture of anger and sadness.
"Just pick her up, we'll take her with us," I said.
He didn't wait to be told twice. Knix swung his mother's much smaller, frail looking body into his arms and stormed outside. I sucked in a calming breath and turned back to Teddi. Sensing that the drama was leaving, the rest of the crowd quickly went back to their previous places. The smirk still hadn't left her beautiful lips.
"You knew we were coming tonight, didn't you?" I accused.
She shrugged, a quick and sharp lift and fall of her delicate pale shoulders.
"You made sure his mother would be here."
Her smirk turned into a cold, calculating smile. "Knix has a lot of business contacts here," she said quietly, succinctly. "It would be a shame if more things like this kept happening. If his drunken mother were to keep showing up."
"So, you're blackmailing me now?" I asked.
"Money didn't work on you," she said, but then a sly grin spread over her face. “Or did it? I noticed I didn’t receive a phone call from the Care Center. You took the check, didn’t you? Naughty, naughty little girl.”
I stiffened, anger flushing across my cheeks in a wave of heat. “Stay. Away. From. Knix,” I ground out.
Teddi rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. One way or another, Miss Hampton, I will get my way." She narrowed her gaze on me. “It would behoove you to make sure I get it sooner rather than later.”
I don't know what it was that made me reply back the way I did. There was no hesitation in my steps, however, as I found myself walking forward until I stood right in front of her. "We'll see about that," I spat. "I'm sure everyone here would like to know how much of a manipulative bitch you are."
Even I shocked myself as the insult came flying ou
t. It was like a well of rage had overflowed and erupted inside me, spilling forth venom. I didn't care. Whatever it took to protect what was mine.
Teddi threw back her head and laughed. "Oh, darling," she chuckled as her laughter quieted, "if you think these people aren't just as manipulative as me, you're more simple than you look."
I gaped at her. Was she right? I had no clue. I didn't know these people. But...Grayson and Marv would. Maybe even Knix. But would he have even come if he knew that?
"Fine then," I managed to grit out. "We'll see if you can make me crack. Grayson is his own person and I doubt very much anything you do to me could convince him to come crawling back to you." I just wouldn't tell him. If he didn't know, he wouldn't feel guilty. If he didn’t know, he wouldn’t have any reason to go back. No matter what she did, seeing her lose would be worth it. This woman needed to be knocked off her throne. I didn’t mind being the girl to do it.
Once again that smirk appeared on her lips. "Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea what I can do, do you?" She reached up, but when she attempted to pat my cheek, I slapped her hand away.
No way would I let her touch me. I could feel my anger boiling forth. My fingers itched to scratch out her eyes. I held the desire at bay, but just barely. She didn't seem to mind. In fact, the smirk remained in place as she dropped her hand.
"I know all your weaknesses," she said matter of factly. Then she moved in close, her mouth a mere hair’s breadth away from me as she spoke. "Every. Single. Weakness. I'm sure you can think of at least four aside from my son. As I've demonstrated tonight, I can and will do what I want to get what I want."
With that, she turned and sashayed away while I gaped after her in sheer disbelief. Had she just...threatened the guys? There was no denying it, she had. I clenched my shaking hands into fists.
When a voice behind me called out, I turned towards it. "Excuse me, ma'am," one of the valets said as he approached. "Your ride is ready and Mr. Goode has requested that you join him."
I nodded, and then with one last look back at the way Teddi had gone, I left the beautiful plantation home feeling anger but also feeling sick to my stomach. The feeling didn't go away as I got into the front passenger seat of the SUV. Thankfully, though, Knix's mother had fallen fast asleep in the backseat.