A Thousand Glittering Lights

Chapter 25

Victoria brushedher hair a hundred strokes before carefully styling it in the way Warren liked best. Another text message from Ellie flashed across her screen, so she turned her phone face down.

She had to look her best for her interview that morning. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t feeling her best. Or that she didn’t really want a new job. Or that leaving Dangerous Business felt like some kind of bereavement. Trying to login from home and realizing that all the passwords were changed was like a punch in the face. And then, yesterday, she’d picked up Ellie’s voicemail confirming that she had declined Silver Wolff’s offer. God.

Warren had told her a hundred times that Ellie would never listen to her about selling. That Vic would never be appreciated for her hard work. That her colleagues—and Ellie—never trusted her. And he’d been right.

It was time to make a clean break. To look for a role where she would be better appreciated. Where she could make the money they needed to survive but also have more autonomy.

Warren had warned her that Ellie would move on to stalking her when she didn’t immediately get her way. And he’d been right about that too.

Hadn’t he?

Had she always thought their texts were stalking? Hadn’t there been a time when Ellie’s interest and support had felt like friendship? She swallowed. Maybe. But things changed.

She leaned closer to the mirror. Her hand was shaking ever so slightly, and she had to concentrate to apply a final flick of perfect eyeliner, then finish with mascara and a dash of lip gloss before packing her makeup bag and tidying the bathroom. Warren liked it gleaming.

She made her way through the house, pausing to appreciate the stunning front room. The gorgeous sash windows let in ample natural light, highlighting the marble fireplace, intricate ceiling rose and the gleaming polished wood floor. God, she loved it. She’d thought it was beautiful when she was a little girl so often left with her beloved granny. And she cherished it even more now her granny was gone.

She’d dreamed of upgrading the cheap rugs to a sumptuous Persian she’d had her eye on. But that wasn’t going to happen if she didn’t get a job. It wasn’t going to happen at all if she lost the house.

She pushed down the nausea that came with that thought. It was going to be okay; she just had to keep telling herself that. She rolled back her shoulders, patted her hair, and knocked quietly on Warren’s office door.

He liked her to let him know if she went out, and after the chaos of her childhood—no one knowing where she was, or bothering with what she was doing—having someone to ask after her, someone who cared about her enough to ask, meant the world.

Long ago, Ellie had been that person. Once, when Vic was backpacking, her wallet was stolen in a busy market. Within a few hours of calling Ellie, she had a hotel room to go to and a new credit card waiting at reception. Ellie had cared. Somehow, she’d forgotten that until now.

Warren opened the door and leaned against the frame. He was clean shaven, his dark hair perfectly tousled, his well-defined muscles highlighted by crisp white sleeves rolled up on his forearms. But he was frowning. “Why do you have the look on your face?” he demanded.

Vic made herself smile, improving her expression. It helped to smile, even when things were bad. It might have helped more to have a hug, but she didn’t reach for him. He wouldn’t like his shirt wrinkled. “I was just thinking of Ellie.”

Warren’s frown softened. “Sorry, baby. I wish she hadn’t betrayed you like that.”

Vic stepped closer, wanting his warmth. “I just feel so confused about why she would be like this. She wasn’t always.” In fact, now that she was thinking about it, Ellie had been working two jobs—as a programmer for a big game publisher as well as developing her own game on the side—when Vic had called her. From a beach.

Warren tilted her chin up with his forefinger. “Ellie’s jealous of you, Vic. You have everything she wants.”

That was true. Ellie wanted someone to love her, she always had. That was why she was so obsessed with her characters: she saw herself in them. And when she couldn’t have what Vic and Warren had, she’d tried to break them up.

Thank God Warren had warned her. He’d known that Ellie would try anything to keep her control over Vic. So, when Ellie started telling tales of cheating and suggested they split up, Vic was ready. She’d told Ellie she’d broken up with Warren on the day he’d moved into her house.

She’d kept her relationship and her job safe… and slowly started removing herself from Ellie’s life. No drama. No hysteria. Just grace under pressure—the exact opposite of her childhood. It hurt, but it was best for everyone.

Vic straightened her shoulders and gave a more genuine smile and Warren rewarded her with a soft kiss on her forehead. “There she is.” He stroked her cheek gently. “You look lovely today, Vic. Your hair is perfect.”

“Thank you.” A soft warmth spread through her chest. “I have that interview today.”

Warren nodded slowly. “Good. You did the right thing getting out of Dangerous Business Games. It was toxic for you there.” He smiled. “You’re better off away from those people with their constant intrusions in your life.”

Was it toxic? Maybe it was? She’d liked her job before everything started to go wrong. But they did keep inviting her out when she needed to be home. And they were incessantly asking her about her private life when it was meant to be just that. Private.

The new job she was going for paid better and she could avoid getting entangled in everyone’s lives. It was a good thing.

“How about you?” she asked. “Do you have plans for today?”

Warren’s hand fell away, and a little ice crept between them. “I’m working on fixing this mess.” He paused meaningfully and Vic’s heart began to sink. She hadn’t made the mess, had she? She wasn’t at fault, surely?

“Ellie tried to take us from each other, now she’s trying to take your house,” Warren explained with a sad sigh. “That woman will do anything to control you. But don’t worry, I’ll fix it. Just hang on to your shares for me, baby. We might need them soon.”

Vic’s relief was immediate and so overwhelming that she didn’t even think about why they needed the shares if there wasn’t going to be a sale. The mess they were in wasn’t her fault; it was Ellie’s. And now Ellie had offered to pay for a loan to secure the house. That would have put it in her name, wouldn’t it? At the very least she’d owe Ellie a lot of money. And then Ellie would have a whole new way to control her. Thank God Warren was protecting her.

It hurt so much. It was a constant, lonely ache in her heart. Missing her friend and knowing that the one person she’d trusted for so long, the person she’d relied on for so many years, had turned against her.

“Now that frown is back,” Warren chided. “Careful, Vic, you don’t want wrinkles, do you?”

No. Of course not. She smoothed away the frown, and Warren smiled. She moved forward, tilting her face up, expecting a kiss, but he stepped back and patted her shoulder instead. “Let’s not risk that pretty face, shall we?”