The Heir (The King Dynasty #1)

7. Greens the Color of Envy

Chapter seven

Green's the Color of Envy

" C hris, come on!" I whine, placing my hands on my hips as I tap my toe on the carpet of our bedroom.

Christopher is in the middle of brushing his short waves, taking extra care with his grooming tonight. I've thrown every fucking tie he owns on the bed and don't see a single one that'll match my dress. I'm in the middle of scowling, trying to pick through one or two choices that might look complimentary to me when I feel my mood soured even more by his next words.

"It's Christopher , Isobel. You know I like you to call me by my full name."

I purse my lips and roll my eyes in response, choosing to not let it hurt me that he doesn't let me have any nicknames for him, or even just shorten his first name.

"I told you that you needed to pick a dark green tie up for this event. What happened?" I continue to complain. Looking through the pile again, I suck my teeth in annoyance, not seeing any color that works with my dress.

"I'm going to wear the red tie."

I gasp. "Red? Christopher, we'll look like a Christmas tree if you show up with a red tie on!" I sit on the bed and put my head in my hands, heaving a disappointed sigh.

If my mother is correct, and this is the night that he's going to propose, then that's the engagement pictures I'm going to get. Us looking like a damn Christmas tree.

Well, maybe he won't propose tonight, I think to myself, the prospect making me feel a bit better. Yes, he can propose another night.

Inwardly I debate the way I don't feel terribly disappointed, and as I muse upon that, King's face suddenly appears in the forefront of my mind. How he was holding me this morning, the way his fingers brushed over my hand as we talked and he asked me what my answer to Christopher would be.

I told him the truth, I really do not know. What bothers me is that it should be a resounding yes, but it's not.

And why can't I stop thinking about King?

Christopher doesn't seem to mind that I've been alone in my thoughts. He pulls on his suit jacket and leans forward, snagging the red tie out of the stack and beginning to thread it.

"Here," I say softly. "Let me." I place my hand on his chest and smile at the little grin he gives me. He leans forward and kisses my cheek softly .

"It's okay. See, already done." Christopher steps back, smooths his tie down his chest and turns picking up his phone that's vibrating. I see him check the message before he puts it back on the night stand face down. "Are you ready to go?" he asks in a matter of fact, almost bored tone, eyeing me up and down as I'm sliding on my high heels.

"Yeah I'm ready," I say, thinking he's going to compliment me on my dress. However, he turns, silently headed out the bedroom door. "Hey," I call back playfully, determined to keep us happy and connected. "You didn't even say what you think." I hold my arms out slightly and do a little spin, causing my cape to spin out behind me. It's such a chic dress, and I've been waiting so long to wear it that it would have been nice to hear him compliment me.

Say I'm pretty.

Something.

His eyes roam down my body. "You look good," he says flatly. My eyes are on his back as he exits the room without another word.

"Oh, okay…." I trail off, blinking in confusion. As I reach over to get my clutch I see my phone light up with a text.

Did you say yes? -King

Rolling my eyes I bite back a smile. King is apparently so nosy, and what an interesting character defect for a man such as him. I wonder if this is his Achilles heel, or if his nosiness is only applicable to me and my life.

At the thought of him possibly enquiring into another woman's life I feel a twinge of jealousy.

A feeling I have no right to have.

What's it to ya? -Isobel

Let's just call it curiosity. -King

Do you know that curiosity killed the cat? -Isobel

No one's taking me down baby. Answer the question please. -King

Just so you know, I'm totally rolling my eyes. No, he hasn't asked yet. We're still at home, we're about to leave now, nosy. -Isobel

Why so early? -King

Again, not that it's any of your business, but when an event starts at eight, you should be there at eight. We're leaving on time so we won't be late. -Isobel

Oh that's a shame. If you were with me, the second you put that dress on I'd have slipped it right back off so I could fuck you right before the event so my scent would be all over your skin as a warning for any potential men who'd dare to try and talk to you. I'd make sure my cum would be saturating your panties too. We'd for sure be late,…if we even managed to make it at all.- King

I gasp, feeling a hot blush flush across my face just as I hear Christopher call for me from the foyer.

"Coming!" I yell, hurriedly deleting the text King sent me.

Shaking my head, I go ahead and delete the entire text thread between the two of us. I slip my phone into my purse and then head out of the apartment with Christopher .

A strange quietness fills the car as we drive to the venue but I don't care. King's got my attention, and he's all I can think about. Contemplating at this thing that's grown so suddenly between us, I clench my fingers together as I realize I want him. Feeling a pang of guilt, I look over at Christopher watching his face as he drives so carefully through the traffic.

He's who I should want.

Not King.

Christopher's been so good to me. What do I look like breaking up with him to see if I maybe have a connection with someone else? What the hell do I look like, throwing away a two year relationship because King said a few steamy sentences to me and gave me some flowers?

Dumb, that's what.

No, I'm good right where I am, where I know what to expect, and I won't be let down. I know this man. And though things might not be the most exhilarating between us, it's not excitement that holds a heart at the end of the day.

I smile at him, reaching over to thread my fingers in his. He spares me a quick glance and a smile as he squeezes my hand and then releases it, putting it back on the wheel.

See what I mean? Safe.

I'm sticking with the safe choice.

I enter into the beautiful art museum that is also doubling as a reception area and gasp, seeing the beautifully decked out area is dim, the various art hung on the walls, illuminated by personal lamps. I walk in, smoothing my dress with one hand, and holding my clutch with the other.

I spot Brittany and Tiffany with their husbands easily, as they were close to the entrance waiting for me. We squeal when we see each other and I excitedly skip over to them, being pulled into a warm hug.

"Oh my gosh, girl, your dress is amazing!" Brittany gasps.

"Right?" Tiffany smiles excitedly, giving me a snap. "Look at that cape, it's so edgy! And fuck that color looks so pretty with your hair, you look like you're glowing!"

"Like a candle," Brittany laughs, making me do a little spin to fluff it out. I laugh and turn my face so her husband Alex and Tiffany's husband Jeremiah can lean forward and kiss my cheek.

"Thank you, it was a lucky find, for sure!" I smile, looking over my shoulder and seeing Christopher hanging back, looking like he's searching the crowd. "Come here!" I whisper, waving him over with my hand. He looks over at me then heads the few feet to us, giving a distracted hello to our friends.

"Well, come on, let's look around!" Tiffany says excitedly, pulling anxiously on the neckline of her white dress. It's a little low, and I know she's worried about it. She grew up Pentecostal so showing cleavage is hard for her.

"But wait." My eyes scan the dimly lit room. "Where's Anna? Have you guys seen her yet?"

"No." Everyone says in unison, but instead of sticking around to wait, the party begins to break apart, and pretty soon it's just me, Tiffany, and Brittany.

"Tiffany, that dress is amazing on you!" I croon to her, rubbing my hand down her arm to still her fidgeting. "Come on, let's grab a drink, and see what they've got for us this year!" We make our way to the little bar where the alcohol is free, and as we stand in line I see Anna making her way to us through the crowd, dressed to the nines in a beautiful red dress.

I frown, not liking that coincidence.

"Hey ladies!" she says, leaning forward and giving each of us a little half hug. Tiffany and Brittany visibly stiffen at her touch and as I'm pondering that my nose pricks and I blink, feeling something in my brain straining. "Can I order a drink real quick?" Anna says with an arched brow.

"Suit yourself. We're going to move on," Brittany says, linking her arms in Tiffany's and tugging her along, leaving the two of us alone.

"Yeah, I'll wait with you." I smile. "That dress is really pretty Anna, it's such a bold red." Like Christopher's tie, actually.

Speaking of, he pops out of nowhere and leans straight into Anna, putting both his hands around her. The move surprises me, and I let my eyes wander, seeing his hand settle rather low on her hip, pulling her into him intimately. I tighten my lips, wondering if I should say something when he begins to talk, cutting off my chance.

"Hello, Anna," he says in a deeper voice than normal. My brow arches, and the corner of my lip curls.

"Chris!' s he says with a bright smile on her face. "You look so good!"

"Oh, he doesn't like to be called-" I try, but he interrupts me.

"Thanks. You look ravishing." Christopher gushes, leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Ravishing?

I stand there silently, holding my clutch with both hands in front of me. Insecurity and hurt fills me because he couldn't be bothered to say two words without me begging for attention, and my brows furrow together in confusion, seeing how he so obviously compliments her.

Standing there uncomfortably, I stiffen even more, feeling a pair of eyes staring at me. Uneasy, I turn my head, searching for whoever it is, when suddenly my eyes drift to the right and I see King watching me. Making my heart skip a beat.

I blink, but he's still there, standing there in the mill of people, staring at me.

The others drift past him in between us, and the noise and chatter of the venue suddenly falls away as we lock eyes. He doesn't grin, smile, or move. Just stares into my soul.

I go to move my head slowly to break our eye contact, when suddenly that fucking scent hits me.

The one that I slept on all night. The one in my shower.

The overbearingly disgusting scent fills my nose uncomfortably, and I look over sharply seeing Anna holding a matching spray and dabbing it on her wrists. Unfortunately, it's also when I notice that Christopher has his fingers on her elbow. Tears prick my eyes and I roll my lips, hearing her throaty laugh as Christopher says something to her too quiet for me to hear.

I look back up to see King still standing there in the same spot, staring at me with an almost hungry expression on his face. Or maybe it's pity at seeing the man I've been rejecting him for be so enamored with this woman. Who's not me.

The tears in my eyes make everything blurry, but all I can hear is Anna laughing.

Am I going crazy? Did the run earlier scramble my brain?

I shake my head because this has to be a horrible coincidence. Christopher wouldn't do this to me. My breasts heave as I just stare, seeing King begin to move, headed to me, but I can't move. I'm locked in place because my mind is telling me that Anna might be having an affair with my boyfriend, who I thought was going to propose to me tonight.

My heart won't let me believe it though .

It doesn't make sense. Why would they do this to me? Why would she do this to me? Why would he do this to me?

I feel my chin tremble as I clench my lips tightly. My face leaves King and turns to back to Christopher and Anna. I feel like I might be hallucinating, making up that I see his eyes soften as he looks at her, hanging on her every move. My eyes drift over them slowly, my head tilts, taking in her dress that his tie matches perfectly.

I startle as King makes his way to me and picks up my hand just as the first tear slips down my cheek, he presses his lips to the back of my hand and letting them linger. I wipe my tear away quickly.

"Ma'am, you are exquisite," he says quietly, right in front of Christopher and Anna.

I swallow thickly because I can't trust myself to talk. My eyes swing back to Christopher, who's looking at me with a perplexed expression, and so is Anna, who turns her eyes to King and holds her hand out to his. The look that King throws to Anna makes my skin shrivel tight, and I gasp at how chilly the temperature plummets between us all.

"I told you already, you are not her . You don't get what she gets. Period. What can't you understand about that?" He all but snarls at Anna, making her step back in shock.

"Hey, don't talk to her like that. Who are you?" Christopher snaps, tilting his head and putting half his body in front of Anna's. To make matters worse, two of King's men walk up behind us and flank either side of me and King.

My heart begins to race because I don't think I can tolerate an altercation between the two men right now. I need a minute to think rationally about this because there has to be some mistake. I'm misconstruing something. He wouldn't be doing this so blatantly in front of me. They both wouldn't .

Would they?

I clear my throat, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Christopher, this is my business partner, Hendrix King." My words are rapid as they come out. I don't want a fight. I need a minute away from this shit that I can't believe is happening. Maybe Christopher's lack of attention really is bothering me more than I think, for me to be thinking he's having an affair. I weakly snatch at King's arm, needing space. "K-King, let's go look at the art, I think I see something that might go good with Fabian's restaurant. Excuse us." I bite out to Christopher and Anna who are both standing there looking confusedly at King.

Turning, we make our way through security and I let out a little whimper as I attempt to take a deep breath. But each one just gets caught in my throat.

"Isobel, are you okay?" King's voice softens, full of concern, almost topples me over into a full blown crying fit.

"Hm-hm. Hm-hm." My throat tickles, burning as it clogs up with unshed tears. I wrap around his arm tightly like he's a lifeline, keeping me from sinking.

Pressing through the crowd atop trembling legs, I don't stop until I'm in front of the painting I lied about. A wide slash of abstract purple, it would look absolutely ridiculous in Fabian's restaurant. I stare straight ahead as the painting blurs then refocuses before blurring again. King's other hand comes up to rest over my hand where it lays on his forearm, but we both stay silent while I desperately try to process everything.

I'm ashamed to say my heart races for far more than the fact Christopher may be cheating.

"Hey! There you are! We thought we'd lost you!" I hear Brittany's bright, cheery voice enter my consciousness and I plaster a fake smile on my face and turn, seeing it's not just her, but her husband and Tiffany and her spouse as well .

Brittany holds out her hand to King and smiles broadly. "How are you? I'm Brittany, and this is my husband. Nice tie! What a happy coincidence!" Brittany gushes, giving me such a kind smile that it almost breaks my resolve.

King smiles in that charming way of his, instantly covering up the concern as he takes in my friend group. I get the sense he doesn't like for others to see him appear weak. "Hendrix King," he introduces himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I settle. King's smooth voice does much to make me feel better as he leans forward and takes all their hands in turn, and it's only when his jacket falls open that I see the lining of his suit is also the same color of my dress. It stuns me out of my sadness. Shocked, I keep my eyes locked on it, even tilting my head to keep staring as he steps back into place beside me.

"Sooo, where's Christopher?" Brittany asks, her gaze flickers between the two of us curiously.

"He's with Anna," King states simply, saving me from having to talk.

Brittany blinks and then her eyes fall to mine, where I see it. The glimmer of recognition of something that they all knew.

"Yeah…" King says slowly, seeing I'm still not speaking. "We're just walking around, trying to find ideas for Fabian's new restaurant. Has Isobel told you about her landing him as a client? She is so incredibly talented, keeps me on my toes." At their confused look he grins widely. "We're partners, I'm the architect on the build." King looks down at me proudly, and I blush, trying to bite back a smile.

I hate to admit it but his praise of me pushes Christopher and Anna further into the back of my mind.

"Yes she's so insanely talented," Tiffany says. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. King. We're going to keep going, they're about to open up a dance floor!" Tiffany does a little hop, and her husband grabs her hand, hauling her away.

As the group breaks off, I can't help but look around and see Anna in her red dress, staring at a painting. Christopher is next to her but they are a decent length away, and he's pointing at something while she nods. I heave out a sigh, thinking I've completely almost blew the night accusing him of cheating when it probably isn't even true.

I turn to look up at King and smile, feeling better.

"So, green, huh? You like that color?" I tease. Maybe the night's just full of coincidences.

King chuckles. "I do like it, on you especially." His eyes are intense as they stare down at me, and my breath quickens as my heart begins to race. My smile quivers as I rock my torso a little, sashaying my dress playfully.

"Well, thank you. That's very kind."

Just then the music begins and it's not dance music, rather beautiful instrumental versions of today's popular songs. I step forward to make my way over to another painting when King grabs my hand to halt me, making me pause and look down between us. Our fingers intertwine and he squeezes, rubbing his thumb slowly over my knuckles.

"Dance with me," he says quietly, pulling me further into him. The three words cause my pussy to clench hard, and I stumble, placing a hand against his chest to steady myself.

Surprised, my eyes flicker between his. "I can't… I shouldn't! Christopher is-"

"Indisposed at the moment," King takes another step into me. His minty breath flutters across my cheeks and I wet my lips as his fingers grip mine harder. "I'll make a scene if you don't say yes," he teases, leaning into my ear. "I'll scream the place down, Isobel."

I burst out giggling. "Ohhh, you had better not, King. Behave! "

Pulling back from my ear he maintains our close distance, staring deep into my eyes. Heat crawls up my neck. "I'll behave only if you dance with me."

I roll my eyes, letting him lead me to the makeshift wooden dance floor. "Only one." I laugh, letting him tug me to him.

But something happens that I wasn't expecting; King's eyes darken the closer I get to him. His chest expands, and his face flushes just slightly darker. Do I imagine one of his hand trembling against mine as his other settles gently on my lower back? Almost too low to be proper?

My breath hitches again as he suddenly presses harder, pulling me more flush against him, and then we begin to sway.

And I feel every hard inch of him pressing into me.

I swallow nervously, keeping my eyes on his chin and keeping my gaze averted from his. I've never felt intimacy like this before. As King twirls me, he bends down, running his nose alongside the vulnerable skin of my neck, causing me to break out into goosebumps.

"You're stunning, Isobel." His lips graze my ear. "The most beautiful woman here, you know that?" Before I can reply he catches a groan in his chest, the sound so sexual that I stumble, inhaling raggedly as he tightens his hold on me, pressing me even somehow more flush against him. It's indecent.

As we turn, I see Tiffany looking over her husband's shoulder, blatantly staring at us. Her mouth is open, and her eyebrows are scrunched together in a 'what the fuck' look. My head tilts back, and as I feel his thumb beginning to rub circles against my lower back I part my lips. "King. I am with someone."

"As you've told me many times," he shoots back, arching a brow. "But now I'm beginning to wonder if it's me you're trying to convince, or yourself? Because are you really with him, Isobel? "

"You asshole," I snap.

Offended, I scrunch my nose and pull from him with a huff to walk away. I let out a sharp gasp as his hand bands around my elbow and he hauls me back around and firmly into his chest. His eyes flash, a hand tightens down on mine, and his fingers flex against my back in a warning. My eyes widen in shock as I peek out the corner of my eye to see if anyone saw.

"As delectable as the sight of your ass is, Izzy, I'm getting weary of how many times you present it to me in anger when I'd rather it be presented for other things."

A hot blush heats up my face as King sways us just like nothing happened. "Let me go," I whisper.

"Our dance is not done." King's voice is hard, as is his eyes when he looks down at me. "I told you earlier you won't be turning your back on me again. Now, answer my question. Are you really with him?"

"Y-Yes!" I stammer, blushing. "Christopher and I are together in every way that matters!"

"Are you? " King pins me with a stare before placing his lips so close to my ear that I feel them brush the shell gently. "Because that's not what I see. That man of yours couldn't be me. I see a beautiful woman who's being neglected by her man, while another has her cradled intimately in his arms." He flexes his hand against my lower back, making me gasp. "So close, that if he wanted to bend down and touch her lips with his, he could. So close, that if their clothes disappeared, they'd be fucking." He presses his mouth closer to my ear and lowers his voice to almost a whisper. "Don't you want to know what us together would feel like, Izzy?"

I gasp. "King, that is so inappropriate-"

But he interrupts me, his broad hand slipping behind my cape and lowering even more until he's almost fully cupping my ass. "I know I do. I've thought about the absolute glory that's between these sweet thighs more than I'd care to admit."

I'm scandalized.

"I'm not having an affair with you, King," I grit out.

Oh God I can't breathe.

His eyes narrow, making my pulse flutter. "Oh honey, I'm not interested in having an affair with you. I see you with me, in my arms, in my bed , in my life."

"Well too fucking bad. You can't have everything just because you see it." I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting back red-hot desire for this man.

"Look at me," he says. Sadly I obey. Because a stern King is a King I can't refuse. The look in his eyes is hard, dark, no-nonsense. I would even say a touch desperate. "Envy is a nasty feeling, Isobel. And God help you for keeping me like this. Feeling like this for you when that man does not deserve you."

My head snaps up. "Oh and you do?"

"Yes, and you deserve me too. Leave him , Isobel."

I shake my head no, my eyes going wide. "You're crazy! I need to go find my boyfriend, this is not appropriate. I am loyal! " I exhale shakily, trying to extract myself from his hold. He relents, letting me go.

"Is he?" King's eyes narrow as he opens his arms, letting me step away from him. His head tilts and his voice goes a bit louder, drawing the attention of the dancers close by. "Because the last I saw, he was entertaining a trashy piece of ass in a red dress."

Reaching out, I slap him across the face.

I gasp, holding my hand to my throat, as his head turns back slowly to me, and I just stare at him. After a second our spell is broken and I turn on my heel, desperate to prove him and me wrong. As I expect, he follows me .

"Isobel, do not go after him!" King's deep voice snarls after me as I stumble away, running off the dance floor. I need to find Christopher. "Isobel, stop it!"

Feeling my blood pressure rise I ignore him, rushing through the crowd looking everywhere for Christopher, but I don't see him.

I loop around a second time, but I still don't see either of them.

Just about giving up I slip down a hallway near the ladies room and lean against a doorway, breathing hard as my nerves and paranoia get the better of me. King rounds the corner and I look up at him, shaking my head no, getting ready to berate him for his behavior when I hear a small sound coming from the door behind me.

My eyes go wide before I push curiously, seeing as the door is slightly cracked.

At the sound of another noise I push the door open, entering an expansive room that looks like a lecture room, and beyond that another door that's half open with the lights on.

As I step fully into the first room I freeze, hearing a raunchy moan. My chest tightens, but as if my body isn't mine anymore, I'm swiftly gliding across the room to the door ahead, my steps slowing as they come into view. As I approach the crack in the door my heart drops.

I freeze, seeing Christopher and Anna fucking against the wall opposite the doorway.

My hand slaps over my mouth trapping my surprised gasp. Tears sting my eyes, and I feel King's hand on my shoulder, letting me know he's with me, and that I'm not alone. In this moment, he's the only thing keeping me calm, grounded. And with his touch I am able to let myself silently process what I am witnessing, what my entire psyche refused to acknowledge and believe was true.

They were seeing each other behind my back .

My eyes roam, watching them. A sick hot betrayal washes over me as the two move in sync, so perfect it's apparent to me they've been doing this for a while. She's got her legs wrapped around him, and he's holding her knees apart so he can thrust hard. The wet slapping of their bodies as he's fucking her with everything he's got seeps into my brain and begins a torturing echo.

A single tear falls down my cheek and at the sight, King's hand moves from my shoulder to wrap around my waist and pull me against him. I shiver, praying I don't black out.

"Izzy," King whispers in my ear. "You don't need to see this. Let's go, honey." His hand pulls at me but I plant my feet, staying firm.

"No, I need to see this," I whisper back, even going so far as to take one more step closer. My lips tremble. "Is he just fucking her, or does she… have something …that I don't? What's so special about her?" I ask quietly.

In my peripheral I see King's face move as he turns to look at me. "There's nothing special about her, Isobel. She doesn't have anything that you don't possess."

Anna lets out a high pitched moan and then flinches, turning her face to look at him with a look of complete submission. "Chris," she whines.

Christopher bends, cutting her off with a harsh kiss, not letting her wiggle away from him. "You're going to fucking take it. Take it, Anna." He growls into her ear, not letting up on his pace, instead becoming even more demanding with her body. He rips her dress down to bare her breasts in a harsh move that makes my jaw drop.

King turns his face away, but I keep watching.

He snatches her face back to his, and they stare hard into each other's eyes when finally she orgasms with a shaky moan, and he follows another couple pumps after .

In shock, my hands come up to cover my mouth and nose as she comes off her high as a sweet look comes over both their faces. They press their foreheads together, laughing quietly as they kiss.

I lower my hands, holding back a sob and sniffing as they continue to nuzzle each other.

It's everything I wanted from him that he wouldn't give me… because he was too busy giving it to her.

Pain fills me and I turn with a whimper, pushing past King and out the door and into the main hallway where King's two guards are there blocking me from the other attendees, affording me a bit of privacy. I place a shaky hand to my stomach and gasp for air. My heart pounds so hard I don't know how it's not visible through my chest. The blood rushes loudly in my ears, momentarily fading the noise of the venue surrounding me.

I feel more than see King come up behind me.

I turn, struggling to see him through the tears in my eyes. "He never f-fucked me like that. Ever." My voice is thick with betrayal.

King steps in front of me, tucking my hair behind my ear. His blue eyes are shrouded with concern, and as he pulls back, his wrist grazes my cheek, and his scent quickly overtakes me. "Izzy, I am so s-"

"There you are! We thought you'd run away!" Brittany's voice pierces my conscious but I can't even look up to acknowledge her. I'm too dejected, and the pain is morphing into something scary. Because this man just wasted two years of my life I won't ever be able to get back.

King's fingers fall away and I just blink, hurt, like my lifeline is gone.

"Isobel, oh my goodness what's the matter, hun?" Brittany asks . I hear her like she's talking through a tunnel because I can feel my common sense leaving me and it's terrifying. Her eyes narrow in concern as she steps into me, putting her hand on my face and pressing lightly, forcing me to tear my eyes from King's as she turns me to face her.

As luck would have it Christopher and Anna come around the corner at just that exact moment sharing a secret look, and so immersed in each other they almost run into King who's got a murderous expression on his face as he turns to stand beside me, facing them. He folds his arms and spreads his legs, squaring off with Christopher who's suddenly aware that we're all grouped up right outside the room where I caught them.

A look of shock passes his face before it's quickly hidden.

"Isobel, we were just looking for you!" Christopher states, taking his arm away from Anna who is looking at me with a guilty expression she's also trying to cover up. Bile rises in my throat, and I shake my head willing the tears away.

To my absolute horror, Tiffany and her husband, and Brittany's husband walk up to join us, and I see their eyes widen as they take in the sight of Christopher and Anna together.

Brittany and Tiffany trade a look before looking at me.

"What's going on, Izzy?" Tiffany says in a concerned tone, seeing how quiet we all are.

I flinch when she reaches out to touch my shoulder. I can see when they all realize that they're matching. But then they swing their eyes to me, then King, clocking that we're matching, too. I ignore Tiffany, continuing to stare into Christopher's eyes.

"How long have you been fucking my best friend?" I ask Christopher, feeling my face go red. I'm proud of myself because the words come out much calmer than I believed I was capable of.

Everything goes silent, and Christopher turns away slightly. " What?" he scoffs, his brow twitches and he takes a step towards me. To my shock, King takes a step forward, putting himself slightly between me and Christopher.

This is all so ass backwards.

"Man get the fuck out of my way." Christopher barks in his deep voice, and the look on his face when he turns to face me makes me sick. " Isobel-"

"You took her to my bed!" I say, pushing around King, feeling nasty betrayal bubble inside of me at him shaking his head, trying to lie. "Y-Yes you did you fucking liar! In between my fucking sheets , and my pillow smells like her, Christopher!" I yell, causing everyone around me to go silent. I feel King stiffening next to me with my next words. I step into Christopher's space. "You nasty motherfucker, you really had the nerve to stick your cock in me after you had it in her?"

I feel Brittany trying to pull back on my arm, and my anger deepens and morphs inside me at the sensation. It's just too much. I reach over to one of King's body guards who was holding our drinks, and throw my whole entire cup on Anna, who steps back with a shout as the sticky liquid rains down on her, ruining her dress.

While she's using her hand to wipe herself off, I reach out and slap Christopher across the face so hard he stumbles back a foot.

"That's for wasting my fucking time," I yell.

Bending down to take my shoe off I throw it at him before reaching for the other one. I'm single handedly losing my mind, and if I have to go down, I'm taking someone with me.

"Isobel, calm down babe, he's not worth it. Neither is she," Brittany whispers, trying to tug on my arm again but I'm busy taking my other shoe off and aiming it at his head. My eyes flash as I feel my blood pressure spike.

King steps to my side, taking my hand. "Isobel-" he starts, but Christopher speaks over him, drawing his attention from me .

"Do you see what I mean? She's fucking psycho!" Christopher sneers down at Anna who's still busy trying to wipe her dress off, gesturing to me like I'm some sort of circus freak.

"Oh!" I huff. "You haven't seen psycho! You're about to though!" I snap as I work to tear the cape off of my dress, but it's sewn on too well. Christopher gives me a nasty look I've never seen before, and it stops me in my tracks.

"Look at you, this is why I didn't want to fuck you. Overweight, fucked up temper, always have something to say . Look at you , can't even face your own rejection like a woman!" Christopher snarls at me.

I have a split second awareness when I hear Brittany, Tiffany and their husbands angrily step in and defend me, but the next thing I know I'm being tugged backwards, and King flies forward, slamming into Christopher so hard that the impact literally reverberates through my body like it happens to me.

My mouth opens in horror as Tiffany and Brittany's husbands pull them quickly out of the way, and what's odd is that there's no staff coming to escort us out, or sort out the fight. No one's coming to break up the fight.

"Xavier, take her to King's car." I hear King's other guard say before I'm picked up and turned swiftly. I raise my head from where I'm slung over the guard's shoulder and see King wailing on Christopher, literally pummeling him. And I just know, he's going to jail tonight.

You can't beat up someone the way he's doing and have nothing happen to you.

"King!' I yell. "KINNGGGGG!" My hands pummel Xavier's thighs, but it's no use, he's too strong. I feel every lurch as he carries me down the stairs and puts me into the back of a limo .

"Dennis, circle around the block until I tell you otherwise." Xavier addresses the driver before pinning me with a hard look and then slams the door shut.

With a shriek I lunge for it, trying to push it back open but I'm locked in.

I'm thrown to my ass as the limo pulls off and then begins to drive. I gasp, seeing I have no clutch, or shoes. I resign myself to sitting in the middle of the limo floor rather unladylike with my legs spread while I tilt my head back to the seat and just wait.

Forever.

I wait so long that my ass goes numb and my blood pressure starts to drop. Leaving me with just the feeling of being sick. Betrayed.

I can't believe he was fucking her in my bed where I sleep every night. What I thought was my safe haven. My face contorts as I let out a sob, feeling my chest tighten.

My safe spot is gone. Oh my God.