Pervade London

by Fewings, Vanessa

  “Something important?” I asked.

  “My boss wants me to call him.” She pushed to her feet and stared at me for the longest time. “I have to go.”

  “Oh, that’s fine. Are you going back to Selfridges?”

  She launched the strap of her Louis Vuitton over her shoulder. “You’re a good person, Emily.”

  Kitty strolled out without looking back.

  My phone pinged. It was a text from Xander: Dinner 8? I’m cooking.

  I squeezed my phone to my chest as a thrill made me shudder deliciously. God, I loved this man. We’d made a home with each other in his one-time bachelor pad and not a day went by I didn’t thank God for this life. For him.

  Half distracted, I watched Kitty climb into a black SUV.

  The car sped off into traffic.

  The Savoy

  I looked around the restaurant’s opulent interior, bracing myself in case I saw Xander with another woman.

  The quiet place was nearly empty.

  Ten or so striking men sat around a corner table, all wearing elegant suits and each nursing a glass of bourbon as they chatted. The empty bottle of liquor sat in the middle of the table.

  And there he was…my Xander in his tailored-to-perfection Savile Row ensemble that included a pair of highly polished Oxfords. He lifted an ice-filled glass to his lips and finished off his drink in one gulp.

  I saw him set his tumbler down, as though sensing me behind him.

  Feeling embarrassed over gate-crashing such a formal elitist gathering, I spun around to bolt and nearly ran into the maître d’.

  “I’m so sorry, sir,” she said, capturing everyone’s attention.

  I cringed inwardly, facing them with a wave. “Hey.”

  Surprised disappointment flashed across Xander’s face as his crystal blue eyes narrowed, and I saw dread reflected in those dazzling eyes. A chill slithered up my spine, my forearms prickling.

  Xander threw a look of concern over to one of the men.

  I followed his line of sight, blinking at the striking vision of the thirty-something man staring back. Complex emotions bubbled up inside me, a sense of my rising insignificance in contrast to the man’s profoundness. I snapped my attention away from the glare of his raw beauty.

  Then, daring to look back, I let his chestnut gaze capture mine and lost myself in what seemed like a multitude of worlds, all touched by privilege.

  His hypnotic stare held me transfixed as the room and everyone around us disappeared. I studied his perfect features, his regal nose and full sensuous mouth. Raven-black hair framed his devastatingly chiseled features.

  His intense scrutiny took my breath away.

  He pushed to his feet with a deadly grace. He was tall, a couple of inches more than Xander’s six-foot-two. Versace-clad broad shoulders made him stand out and when he tilted his head with intrigue, he held the silence hostage, commanding the room.

  The way the other men deferred to him with reverence confirmed he had the authority. He was the only one not wearing a tie and his shirt collar fell open casually. For some reason that made him look all the more powerful…

  He stood there, exuding power while looking my way, his voice deep and penetrating. “This must be Emily,” he said seductively.

  “She’s no one.” Xander shot me a look of concern.

  My throat constricted and I tasted gin on a wave of nausea. Xander had virtually denied he knew me.

  My fiancé rose to his feet. “Excuse me, James…gentlemen.”

  The female maître d’ stepped up to Xander. “Sorry for the interruption.”

  “Go away,” he snapped, grabbing my arm.

  It was hard to know what upset me more—being dismissed by him in front of his friends or being man-handled.

  “You’re hurting me,” I muttered.

  “Not here.” Xander pulled me out of the room and hurried me down the green carpeted hallway. He stopped abruptly. “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s Kitty’s birthday, remember?” I pointed at him. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut. “Your best friend is trouble.”

  “What? No, she didn’t expect to see you either.”

  He looked furious. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be here?”

  “Told you last night.”

  “You were going to Dandelyan.”

  “Well, we decided to come here, too.” Obviously.

  “You’ve been drinking?”

  “To celebrate her birthday.”

  “You never left your drink alone, right?”

  “What? No.”

  “I need you to go,” he said. “Right now.”

  “Kitty’s at the bar with the others—”

  “I don’t care.”

  The maître d’ hovered uncomfortably. “Mr. Rothschild, can I help at all?”

  He glared at her. “I told you to go away. So, go away.”

  She opened her mouth to reply, but then scurried off.

  “Don’t speak to her like that,” I said irritably.

  His left eye twitched and then he delivered a lie. “Emily, I will explain later.”

  “Why are you here?”

  He sighed heavily.

  “I left Kitty to find the loo and saw you. Who are those men? Why didn’t you introduce me? Are you embarrassed?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Xander glanced down the hallway and cringed.

  I saw why…

  James was making a beeline toward us.

  It was impossible not to be mesmerized by his sophistication. I wondered if he was a wealthy businessman needing Xander’s help with something tech related. I’d stepped into an interview, maybe? Or a business meeting?

  At least Xander’s not cheating, so there’s that.

  When he reached us, James’ light cologne stirred something taboo within me and I exhaled slowly to hide the heady effect it was having on my senses.

  “I’m coming back,” Xander said, before his friend could speak. “One minute, that’s all I need.”

  “Are you going to introduce us?” asked James.

  Xander gestured towards me. “She’s leaving.”

  James arched a brow.

  No, he wasn’t going to get away with pretending I was nothing to him and my glare told him that. Not when I was wearing his diamond engagement ring and certainly not when I was living with him.

  “James, give us a second,” Xander said.

  “Only wish I could.”

  “Don’t do this.” Xander was seething.

  “Disobedience is answered harshly,” he replied with a drop-dead gorgeous smile.

  My breath hitched and the axis beneath my feet tilted as I reached out to the wall to steady myself. It was the booze, along with the effect this mysterious stranger was having on my fiancé that had me feeling off kilter.

  Xander caught my arm. “You okay?”

  I nodded, but my lingering stare warned him that I didn’t like his friend one bit—even if my body disagreed. In my alcohol-fueled haze, I wondered how this man’s kiss would feel and if his lips would leave a bruise.

  He looked like he’d take a woman roughly, in contradiction to his suaveness. My imagination went one further and played out the scenario of him peeling off that expensive suit so his ripped body could get skin to skin with the woman he’d seduced into his bed.

  Oh, God.

  And I was worried that Xander was cheating!

  “I’m James Ballad.” He held out a well-manicured hand in greeting.

  Reaching out, I accepted his handshake. He held my hand for a beat too long; his touch sending tingles up my forearm.My soft flush rose at the way he fixed his masterful stare on me. The way his fingers swept over my palm as he let go caused my breath to catch in my throat.

  “And you are Emily, right?” he finally said.

  “Yes.”

  “The one you gave it all up for,” James added, sending a glance Xander’s way. His focus ret
urned to my face. “Have you set a wedding date yet?”

  “No,” I replied.

  Xander had gone pale. “She’s leaving.”

  James looked at him. “So soon?”

  “My friends are at the bar,” I explained.

  James smiled. “It’s Kitty’s birthday, right?”

  Had I told him that?

  “Okay, that’s it,” snapped Xander. “We’re both leaving.”

  “We’re not done.” James’ pleasant expression belied the tone of his voice.

  My stare hopped from one man to the other and I couldn’t work out who was more intense…Xander with his antsy attitude or James with his laser-sharp stare, which had landed back on me.

  “I’m thrilled to finally meet you, Em,” he said. “You’ve been kept hidden away.”

  Xander’s hand shot up to me in a warning not to say anymore.

  James’ gaze swept over me appraisingly. “Would you like to join us for drinks?”

  I flashed a wary glance in the opposite direction. “Kitty’s waiting.”

  “Tomorrow,” said Xander. “I’ll come back and meet you here tomorrow, James.”

  “I want to believe you,” he replied darkly.

  I could feel the tension between them, which left me confused.

  James caught it. “Xander’s quite protective of you.”

  A sudden fear made my stomach feel queasy. Protective?

  “That’s what you do for friends,” snapped Xander. “You do everything you can to make them happy.”

  “She’s melted that steely heart of yours.” James straightened to his full height. “I approve.”

  Xander leaned back casually against the wall. “Remember, I have what you want.” His eyes spoke the rest.

  “And you need to remember your oath, Xander.”

  “I am seriously considering coming back.”

  “This would please me. If I believed it.”

  Xander’s nod carried the weight of his sincerity. “Assure me that there won’t be any consequences.”

  His dangerous friend gave a nod of approval. “Good, then it’s agreed. I’ll deal with the details.”

  “You didn’t answer me,” said Xander quietly.

  Something vicious passed between them, a connection so deep they could share a thought.

  James zeroed in on me. “Again, it was a pleasure to meet you, Emily.”

  “Likewise,” I fibbed.

  James strolled back the way he’d come.

  “Promise me!” Xander called after him.

  “I’ll consider it,” James said without looking back.

  Seeing Xander emotionally tortured made my chest tighten.

  “Who is he?” I whispered.

  His attention stayed on James until he was out of sight, then he pressed me back against the wall. “Emily, I need you to go to The Biltmore. Book a room for us. Wait for me—”

  “What about Kitty?”

  “Don’t say goodbye. Don’t let her see you leave. Don’t tell her where you’re going.”

  So fucking weird.

  “All my things are at home,” I said.

  He rested a hand on my forearm. “Look, I need time to talk with James…sort things out.”

  “Sort what out?” I’m not going to a hotel.

  I had my first audition on Friday with the London Symphony Orchestra. No way was I missing it. I’d spent years working toward this goal. I had to be focused and I couldn’t allow any distractions to ruin my chance.

  Hugging myself, I said, “Xander, please tell me what’s going on.”

  “Take a taxi. Don’t use Uber. Understand?”

  “Do you owe him money?”

  “No.”

  “Who are those men?”

  “They don’t exist. And if you don’t leave right now, neither will you.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  “Keep your voice down.” He rubbed his brow. “Trust me…this is nothing I can’t handle.”

  “What did you do?” I asked, my voice trembling.

  “We’ll talk later. I have to go.”

  “What did you mean about going back to work for them?”

  He shrugged, looking frustrated.

  I felt a stab of doubt. “When I first met you—”

  “Not now—”

  “You were running from someone. Tell me it wasn’t him?”

  “I said we’d talk later.”

  “You’re scaring me.”

  He cupped my face with his palms. “Emily, I’ve done nothing wrong. I need you to believe me.”

  Even if he was innocent, he’d brought these sinister men into our lives.

  He pulled me into a hug. “Don’t use your phone. Don’t use your credit cards. Don’t order room service. Book us under the name Wells. I’ll find you.”

  “How can I check into a hotel without money?”

  He let me go and reached into his wallet, whipping out a gold American Express card. “Use this.”

  Accepting it, I blinked at the name H. Wells on the plastic. Then I remembered.

  “As in H.G. Wells?”

  “Yes. It’s a secret account.”

  My flesh chilled. “Are you involved in something illegal?”

  “I told you, no.” He glanced toward the restaurant. “The Biltmore. Go.” Xander pinched my chin. “Am. I. Understood?”

  “Yes.” It came out sounding like a question, and I had so many more as I watched him walk back to join James and the others.

  I needed to know who that man really was and why he was intent on wielding his authority over my boyfriend.

  A fun evening had gone downhill fast.

  Turning, I headed down the hallway in the opposite direction, resisting the urge to look back. The grand foyer buzzed with hundreds of well-dressed guests as I double-checked that none of my friends could see me making an exit. Kitty was going to be furious that I’d walked out on her. Not to mention worried as hell.

  I hated doing this. Walking out on my friends would be as rude as it got.

  I paused in the foyer.

  Do the right thing.

  Heading back to the bar, I was intercepted by the same maître d’ whose advice I’d rejected. I wished I’d never walked through that damn restaurant door.

  She greeted me more brightly than I deserved. “Excuse me, Ma’am.”

  “I’m sorry for my boyfriend’s behavior,” I said. “He’s overtired.”

  She handed over a business card. James Ballad was stamped in gold lettering above a phone number.

  My eyes rose to meet hers.

  “You’re to call him,” she said flatly.

  A chill rushed up my spine. “When did he give you this?”

  “An hour ago.”

  I offered it back like it was something toxic, but the maître d’ spun around and quickly crossed the foyer.

  I flipped over the business card and read the handwritten note.

  Good luck with your audition on Friday, Emily.

  —James

  Clutching the card to my chest, I hurried toward the hotel’s door, a fearful rush of adrenaline making me unsteady in my high heels.

  The stark chill of the evening met me when I stepped outside onto the pavement, the grittiness of the city wafting like invisible smog.

  A taxi pulled up and I headed fast toward it.

  There was something terrifyingly provocative about James. The way he’d interacted with us had revealed his charisma. Xander had looked at him with a mixture of awe and trepidation and there’d been something else in his expression, too. Something I couldn’t define. I’d never seen him like this before, full of anguish and uncertainty.

  All I wanted to do was go home, climb into bed, and forget this day had ever happened.

  While standing inside the front door to our spacious four-bedroom flat, I listened for a noise, wanting to make sure I was alone.

  There was nothing like a threatening interaction with a stranger to sober you the
hell up. Leaving Xander behind at The Savoy had been a mistake. One I’d regretted the moment I’d climbed into that taxi.

  I’d also walked out on Kitty, which was the kind of thing only crap friends did. It wasn’t like me to let people down. Now, I had an evening of texting apologies and trying to explain away my strange behavior—if I was willing to break the rules and use my frickin’ phone. Later, when Xander got to The Biltmore and discovered I wasn’t there, I’d have to face his wrath. That thought had my stomach twisted in knots.

  Entering the deafening silence of the dark living room, I waited for my eyes to adjust. I knew well enough not to turn on the lights yet. Scanning the place for any evidence someone had been here, I couldn’t believe how unsettled I felt in my own home.

  Tonight, I’d let Xander down monumentally by allowing him to return to that room with that threatening man and his sinister innuendoes. If my fiancé wasn’t back soon, I was going to back to The Savoy to find him.

  A shiver of uncertainty made my skin crawl. This was meant to be our safe place, our sanctuary. Xander’s one-time bachelor pad had morphed into a cozy home for two after he’d asked me to move in with him six months ago. I’d left that rented room on Gloucester Street, grateful to be swapping it out to live with my dream man in Marylebone. Xander made life close to perfect. Though, like anything that resembled perfection, it had apparently all been an illusion.Until now I’d seen no end to our contentment.

  I wanted to climb into bed and not get out until I knew all this was behind us.

  The ten carefully spaced chessboards remained in place. But the pieces could have been moved and I wouldn’t have a clue. The furniture was untouched, as were the black and white prints Xander had taken from his travels that hung artfully on the brick walls, including photos from Paris, Milan, and New York. A constant reminder of his worldliness and the fact he’d traveled extensively, unlike me.

  But now I realized there were so many things I still didn’t know about him. Perhaps I didn’t know him at all.

  Walking from room to room, using only the dusky moonlight flooding in through the windows to guide my way, I checked each room with an unhealthy dose of paranoia.

  I peered under our bed and poked around in the cupboards, then quickly moved on to the spare room to check in there, too.