Chapter 17
Alice
My hand felt clammy in my husband's as we stepped off the elevator together. Guilt rattled me, and I could barely move my feet as dread sank like concrete in my stomach.
I'd tried to get out of going tonight. I'd planned on coming home from work and feigning a headache.
But at our morning meeting, my team was a big bundle of excited energy.
They'd never been invited to a client's home for a party before.
That in itself would've been cause for celebration, but the fact that it was at the penthouse suites at the exclusive Empire Gates?
That was enough to rile everyone up into a tizzy.
So despite my trepidation and shame over what had occurred between me and Acheron, I had to suck it up for my team.
As for David, the last thing I wanted to do was force him to interact, unknowingly, with the man I'd betrayed my vows with. But when I'd come home, he'd already been showered and dressed; ready to “drink free booze and check out the silverware,” as he'd put it.
The whole drive over felt like a plank walk to my own sentence.
It didn't help that a dark cloud was literally looming over the towering heights of Empire Gates.
It felt like a bad omen, a very explicit warning, urging me to turn back.
I'd clutched my neck as something hot and uneasy slithered over me.
More than guilt, more than a waiting penance—something dark and unnatural was loitering under my skin, and I couldn't shake the foreboding sign that something more was amiss.
"Wow, babe." David whistled as his gaze bounced around the room. "Who are your clients—Morticia and Gomez?"
Rolling my eyes, I tugged on his hand in warning. "It was Mr. Angelou's vision. I just followed his instructions."
"Still. All this black and red…" He gestured around him. "It's a bit morbid, don't you think?" His boot scuffed against the dark-gray floorboards, and I winced before placing my hand on his arm to gentle his movements. The whole flooring cost more than our house.
I lifted my chin, feeling a tad protective over the hard work we'd completed. "I like it."
It was a crying shame that Acheron Angelou's tastes ran parallel to mine. Every color he chose, every intricate ornament and elaborate furnishing matched my personal preferences almost down to a tee.
And, okay, yes, some of it may be considered a little too spooky, a little too out there and creepy; but to me, it was beautiful. It had personality. It was bold and unafraid. It didn't conform to the pretty, white, straight lines that every client preferred.
I was going to miss coming into this apartment and walking into such striking perfection. Yes, that was definitely the only thing I would miss from this project.
"Yeah, I figured you would." David bumped my shoulder with his. "Remember that lamp you tried to put in our room? The skull?" He shivered. "Talk about a nightmare."
"Sshh," I admonished, smiling as a beautiful woman brushed by us.
David's eyes bugged out as he unashamedly followed her retreating form, mouth agape. It didn't bother me that he was staring after a beautiful woman with a stupefied look on his face; I'd been that way for the first few weeks working here.
"I have to say, babe, I haven't seen this many attractive people in one room since…well, ever. And that includes the men."
I smiled politely at a wandering waiter before taking a glass of champagne from his tray.
"Miss Harper."
Speaking of attractive men…
I turned at the sound of that monotone voice. "Von." I plastered on a friendly smile in greeting. "Please call me Alice," I again stressed, although there was no point in asking him now. After tonight, I'd never see these people again. Never have to be near Acheron Angelou again.
"This is my husband, David. David, this is Mr. Angelou's assistant, Von."
David stretched out his hand in greeting, smiling widely. Von's cool eyes flicked down and considered his handshake with barely concealed indifference. The silence stretched between them, and David's gaze wavered in confusion. Finally, Von reached out to shake it, dropping it just as quickly.
"Please excuse me." He bowed his head at me before disappearing into the small crowd.
"Rude," David huffed out.
I shrugged. I was used to Von's odd behavior, although I'd never known him to be overtly rude to anyone.
"Must be a rich-people thing," David murmured. "I feel like everyone's staring at us. Is it obvious we're the odd ones out?"
I had noticed it too. I could sense something was weird before we even set foot off the elevator.
Even now, I could hear whispers curling around us, their hushed tones intruding my mind.
Yet, I couldn't see anyone blatantly staring at us.
Everyone seemed to be in small groups or weaving in and out with goblets in their hands; their attention focused on each other. And, yet…
"Look at them all," I murmured out of the side of my mouth. "Don't you think they look…strange?"
I'd figured it was a style choice, like David had commented, a rich-people thing.
Some of the men dressed in clothes I'd never seen before, almost as if they were from another era.
They were also tall and distractingly handsome, but in a way that looked…
otherworldly. There was no other way to describe it.
It was as if I'd stepped into another world—another time.
The women wore gorgeous dresses in shades of black, emerald, and ruby.
I wasn't aware there was a dress code, but I still felt out of place in my simple black dress.
Some of the gowns were downright risqué, and others were long, flowing garments of rich velvet.
And the women were beautiful. Every single one of them.
As we moved through the familiar rooms, I gazed around in pride, while David grimaced every time we came across something unique to the aesthetic. I quickly found myself annoyed by his attitude. Just because it wasn't to his taste didn't mean he had to recoil at each minute detail.
As we reached the kitchen, I clutched his arm. "Wait till you see the lights," I gushed. "It's a fifteenth-century Flemish chandelier."
I gazed up at it in stunned wonder, my keen eye appreciating the sheer magnificent beauty, especially now that it was all lit up.
David studied it with a puckered brow, clearly unimpressed. "It's…nice. Not my style or taste though."
"It was sixteen thousand," I quietly gossiped out the side of my mouth.
His eyes bugged out again. "What the fuck? For that twisted metal?"
Exasperated, I turned to chastise his annoying commentary, but before I could, my nostrils flared, and I breathed deep, my back snapping ramrod straight.
He was near.
Among the smell of paint, perfume, cologne, and warm food, his scent punched through, overwhelming each and every one.
"Alice."
I closed my eyes—drew a deep cleansing breath—before turning to greet the man who'd gotten so far under my skin.
My mind was not prepared for what greeted me. He was dressed in an all-black three-piece suit. His jacket was unbuttoned, as well as the top two buttons of his shirt. The dark color brought out the unique blue of his eyes in vivid detail.
I hadn't seen him since that kiss we'd shared, much to my relief—and frustration. Out of sight, out of mind. It was easy to pretend that nothing had occurred when he wasn't constantly invading my space. It was bad enough that he constantly invaded my traitorous mind.
And seeing him now, with my husband at my side, had my heart thumping in shame and nerves.
After this event was over, I never had to see Acheron Angelou again, and then I planned on telling David what happened between us.
The guilt would just eat me alive if I didn't confess, consequences be damned.
"It is good to see you, Alice." He didn't glance at David once, even though my husband's arm was curved around me.
"Mr. Angelou." My voice quivered, and I immediately cleared my throat. "Thank you for inviting us. The house looks incredible."
"I had an incredible and talented designer." His eyes never wavered from mine, their intensity creating waves of desire to crash around me. His naked want shone brightly in his stare, so much so that David shifted on his feet next to me.
"This is my husband," I quickly introduced. The sooner we got this over with, the sooner we could leave. And then I would have to face the repercussions of what I'd done. "David Harper."
David grinned and stretched out a hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
Acheron glanced down, and for a horrible second, I was afraid he would dismiss him. But to my relief, he very slowly extended his hand in greeting.
"Honey, this is the owner. Acheron Angelou."
David tensed, his whole body stilling. It only lasted a second because he immediately ripped his hand from Acheron's. "I'm sorry, what? Did-did you say his name is Acheron?" he choked out.
David's arm dropped from around my waist, and he stepped away. Confused, I followed his movements as his face drained of color. He was glancing between us in growing horror.
"David…?"
Unperturbed by my husband's behavior, Acheron inclined his head. "A pleasure to finally meet Alice’s…husband." His tone was wrapped in smug disdain.
I ignored him as I focused on David, his expression now laced in agony as he stared at Acheron.
"Honey? What's wrong?" I worried, attempting to draw him back.
He shook his head, his body recoiling from mine. "I have to get out of here," he rushed out before swinging on his heel and bolting.
"What? Dav—"
Acheron held onto my arm when I rushed to follow. "Let him go," he gritted out. "It is not safe."
His words didn't register with me. I needed to find David. Why had he reacted like that? Surely, he couldn't know about my betrayal? There was no way.
"No! Something's wrong. I need to find him."
"Leave him," he ordered.