CHAPTER 44
George
‘I’m not going, Gordon.’
The Lacoste party is tonight. The same party that kicked off the chain of events currently ruining my life.
‘It’s not a question, George. You are contracted to appear.’ Gordon is back to being his bored, dull self. Unfeeling.
I’m finding it harder and harder to take. Despite everything, my eyes were opened to the way he is. Potentially the way I was.
Who am I kidding? The way I am after Paris.
My walls are up again. Trust levels at an all-time low. I’ve only spoken to Gordon, grunted replies to my dad. I guess outwardly not much has changed.
Inwardly, I can’t deal with it. It’s like I opened up my heart, only for it to be picked apart. But now I can’t close it again. It’s different this time. I can’t squash down my emotions and ignore them. They’re too big.
Hope keeps reaching out, but I’m not ready to hear it. The pity or the positivity.
Jack is mad at me. Really mad. Why? I don’t fucking know. I didn’t do anything, but fuck knows what Leo’s told him. He obviously doesn’t know about her betrayal.
The tiny seed of doubt is still there that she could do what she did. We felt so real. I can’t fathom how that connection could be faked.
But Olivia – why would she lie?
Leo didn’t actually admit to it, but she didn’t deny anything either, she just left. I shake myself from my confused thoughts.
‘Car is booked for 6 p.m. Just be ready. And try not to piss anyone off this time.’ He smirks, walking away.
Fucking smug prick.
——
I duck into the event, held this year at some rooftop with a swimming pool.
The paparazzi have already pissed me off, almost breaking through the barriers in their craze.
One guy screamed, ‘Where’s that rocket you were banging in Paris?
’ and I had to stop myself from going over to punch him in the face.
Gordon ushered me through before I could react properly.
Luckily, it’s significantly calmer up here and I take the photos I need to, offer a tight smile to some fans and shake the hands of the guys signing my sponsorship cheques.
That’s when I see her.
She’s here. Looking more spectacular than ever. Or maybe I’ve just missed her; perhaps I dulled her in my mind to make it hurt less.
But she’s achingly beautiful, radiant, her presence lighting up the room. I can’t tear my eyes away.
My eyes zero in on her lips, delicately sipping her champagne. My cock obviously doesn’t know it’s over, as it twitches in response, remembering the feeling of those lips wrapped around me.
I look away before I embarrass myself, I can’t walk around with a fucking hard-on.
I also remind myself what she did. Why she did it.
Well, why I think she did it. The uneasy feeling returns to the pit of my stomach. I still can’t totally believe it, a small something telling me there’s more to it.
I look back and she’s gone. I twist around quickly, looking for her, then catch myself.
What am I doing?
I see her walking inside and make a split-second decision to follow, unable to stay away. It’s like I’m being pulled towards her by some kind of force, one I can’t resist.
I stride over, careful not to catch anyone’s eye, and slide through to the hallway fairly unnoticed. She’s walking away fast, the hallway empty and quiet except for the clicking of her heels, the music travelling from the rooftop behind us.
‘Leo!’ I call out and she spins, her hair flying around her neck, her green eyes narrowing as they meet mine. She turns back, practically running to the lift. Away from me and the situation, as always.
But I catch up in a few strides, gently grabbing her arm and pulling her around. She blushes instantly at the contact between us and I can’t help but smile at her flushed cheeks. I’ve missed her so much.
She’s not smiling back though. Shit. ‘What do you want?’
Sorry, what? She’s angry at me.
She wrenches her arm free from my grip and continues, ‘You can’t just waltz back here and act like nothing has happened, George. Like you didn’t take his side over mine.’
She’s so angry she’s shaking. It’s not what I expected.
‘Take his side? He showed me proof, Leo. Proof of your betrayal. What was I supposed to think?’ I fire back, trying to keep my voice low.
‘Proof? How the fuck did he have proof?’
There’s no denial there.
‘Are you kidding me?’ I scoff. ‘All of this and you can’t even muster a sorry after what you’ve done?’
‘What I’ve done?!’ She’s incredulous now. Her hands in the air in frustration. ‘You’re both the same.’ She looks me straight in the eye. ‘He wasn’t wrong about you, that’s for sure.’
She’s not even making sense. ‘I just wanted to see you, but I’m obviously making a huge mistake.’ I go to turn away, but I can’t leave it like this. Not with her. I need to know if it was real. ‘I just need to know why you did it. I thought we had something.’
‘We did, George.’ She looks down, her shoulders slumping.
The fact she still was going to sell her story, after everything, makes me even more angry.
‘But it wasn’t attractive enough for you?’ I go for the jugular. ‘Was it for money? Or was it all about revenge? I ignored you once, Leo, before I even knew you. Grow the fuck up.’ I sound like Gordon. The thought sobers me slightly.
‘You think that’s what this is about?’ Her voice is quiet. ‘You honestly think I would do that to you?’
‘I don’t know what to think.’
The reality of the last few weeks hits me.
It’s fucking torture being so close. I’m reminded of the speed with which she became so normal in my life, so integral to my happiness.
So right. The way I feel about her, despite everything.
Love taken away as swiftly as it formed.
Perhaps that was the problem. I fell for it. For her.
I don’t know what to think.
Flashes of her laugh run through my mind. Her face, animated, glowing. She was there for me, encouraging me always. She handled my stupid fucking moods. Stuck up for me against my mother. I think of her talking me through my panic, of telling Gordon to leave. Whispering that she was falling for me.
Fuck.
I know she isn’t capable of what Gordon and Olivia are accusing her of. So why the fuck haven’t I given her a chance to explain?
She cuts through my thoughts, her words barely registering.
‘I would never do that to you. How could you even think I’d sleep with him?’ She’s so quiet. ‘Why would I want to? Gordon disgusts me.’
Wait, what?
What the fuck? I can’t get my head around what she’s saying fast enough to think of a reply.
‘But you were so quick to question me. To believe I could betray you like that. And that’s why I don’t think we’re right anyway.
’ She shakes her head. ‘He said you’d dump me as soon as you were out, and you did.
You clearly believed him before I could even explain, George!
I couldn’t even bring myself to tell you what he did to me! ’
I’m frozen to the spot in shock. What is she talking about?
‘And now, still nothing to say. I’m done.’ She presses the lift button. ‘You’re not the man I fell in love with. I can’t do it, George.’
She presses the button again and the lift doors ping open next to her instantly. A couple walk out, their laughter cut short when they realize it’s me. Leo pushes past them into the lift as they try to say hello, blocking my way, but I couldn’t give a fuck as I try to follow her.
The doors close before I can get there, the last flash I see are tears streaming down her face.
What did she mean? How could you even think I’d sleep with him?
What the fuck actually happened? What did Gordon do?
I hear the couple scoff in my periphery. ‘So rude. The rumours about him are true then!’
‘They are. Fuck off,’ I shout after them and they scurry away, scandalized, as I bash the buttons, desperate to get off this stupid rooftop and to Leo.
‘George, where are you going?’ I look up to see Gordon sauntering down the hall. ‘You have to come back, we’ve barely been here an hour. Really . . . Try to remember your responsibilities.’
‘Gordon.’ My voice is low, menacing, as I try to maintain composure. ‘Why did Leo leave Paris?’
He pauses for a second, surprised, before continuing.
‘You know why. She was found out.’ He straightens the cuffs on his suit, his face that perfect bored expression that seems permanent.
I feel sick. I’ve always ignored it. For years, the hungry gleam in his eyes when he’s around women.
The way he speaks about them. How he used to look at Olivia.
I’ve always thought that he would never actually do anything, that he was just a product of the chauvinistic boarding school attitude we grew up with.
I was wrong.
‘What did you do to her?’ I practically growl.
‘Don’t be stupid, little brother.’ He looks up at me. ‘I wouldn’t waste my time on that lying little slut.’
I have him up against the wall before I realize what I’m doing. He might be my older brother, but I’m stronger and much angrier. His eyes widen in shock before narrowing as he tries to shove me off. But he can’t, I’ve got him.
‘What did you do, Gordon?’ I yell. I don’t give a fuck where we are.
He pushes me away then, his hand moving to his throat. I hadn’t even realized I’d been choking him. My chest is heaving, blood pounding in my ears.
‘As if I’d touch her, George,’ he practically spits. ‘She’s a piece of trash, selling stories about you. You saw the proof! But you can’t think with anything other than your dick. Classic.’
‘She didn’t.’ We both jump at the voice behind us. A voice I know all too well. ‘It wasn’t her.’
‘Olivia?’ This night is going from bad to worse. ‘What are you doing here?’ What does she mean?
‘Yes, Olivia.’ Gordon looks perturbed for the first time this evening. ‘What the fuck are you doing here?’
‘George, I’ve been trying to call you. I made a huge mistake.’ She’s looking at me pleadingly.
‘Olivia,’ Gordon warns.
‘Your father told me you were here this evening and I had to see you. To explain.’
‘Olivia!’ Gordon commands.
‘Fuck off, Gordon!’ she shouts. I raise my eyebrows. I never once heard her swear in our entire relationship.
‘George, Leo didn’t speak to the Daily Mail.’
‘Stop right now, Olivia, before you say something you’ll regret!’ Gordon’s desperate, I’ve never seen him like this. She looks at him in disgust.
‘Gordon did.’
My heart stops and I stumble back like I’ve been hit. What the fuck is happening?