16. BELLA
16
BELLA
T he warm water cascaded over me, washing away the frustration, the disappointment—or at least, that was what I’d hoped it would do.
It didn’t.
It wasn’t as easy to rinse away emotions as it was the remnants of last night. When the steam swirled around me, I could still smell our sex, but it didn’t bring the kind of images I wanted to dwell on. Instead, it made me feel sick.
Chris was on my mind all the time and it irritated me. He didn’t deserve me being there for him if he was just going to shut down and push me away.
At least I was lucky that he’d been there this morning, and I hadn’t woken up to an empty bed.
But like he’d said, it had been his suite.
It turned out that he hadn’t needed to physically leave me at dawn to make me feel abandoned. He’d done that perfectly well being right next to me.
The way he’d shut down, that vacant look in his eyes as he pulled away from me… Again. He hadn’t even given me a chance. And damn it, I was tired of letting him do this to me. I’d asked him not to hurt me again, but after all this time, I was the only one to blame.
I knew who he was, after all. I knew how he could hurt me. I’d told him that he hadn’t changed—I’d meant it in a good way, that he was still capable—but it was true for the negative side of him, too.
People didn’t change. They only became more so.
I stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself. I glared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My hair was wet, sticking to my shoulders, and my eyes were tired and puffy. There was no hiding the sleepless night or the raw emotion. Chris had managed to leave his mark, just like he had before. It was pathetic, really, how much power he still had over me after all these years. I should’ve learned my lesson the first time.
My phone chimed with a new message. A small part of me hoped it was Chris. That maybe he’d come to his senses—that maybe he was sorry.
It wasn’t him.
Eli: Let’s have some fun tonight. I’ll make it worth your while. Meet me at the dock.
I stared at the message, my lips tightening. I wasn’t na?ve enough to think Eli was anything more than trouble wrapped up in a charming smile. But maybe that’s what I needed right now—a distraction. Something to push away the ache Chris had left behind.
You’re being spiteful , I told myself. Which wasn’t wrong. A part of me wanted to get back at Chris for pushing me away. If he didn’t want me, and someone else did, why would I say no?
But Eli was the enemy, and going with him was nothing short of betrayal.
Except… I could still find out what Eli was after, right? I could still try to help Chris.
You’re playing with fire , I heard Gigi’s voice again. And I knew she was right. I was just so tangled up in this mess, it was hard to be objective. And the fact of the matter was that I didn’t belong to anyone. Not Chris, and not someone else. I could do whatever I wanted. Even if it was going out with Eli Moretti.
I typed a reply, agreeing to meet him as he’d requested, and dressed to take care of my day’s duties. I would do what I needed to do for Chris since he was my boss and I never did a bad job. I didn’t have to let my emotions get in the way of anything. Besides, working during the day was as much of a distraction as tonight would be, and thankfully, Chris wasn’t around.
I tried not to think that he was avoiding me. That would just hurt even more.
By the time evening rolled around, I’d convinced myself that going to meet Eli was fine. There was nothing wrong with it. Dressed in tailored black pants and a silk blouse paired with elegant flats, I made my way to the dock, the soft click of my shoes against the wood carrying over the water. The air was warm, the sun just beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the harbor. I spotted Eli standing by his yacht, his grin widening as he caught sight of me.
“Ah, Bella,” he called out, his voice smooth, the kind of voice that made you feel like you were the only person in the world. “Right on time. I knew I could count on you.”
I offered him a smile. “Well, you did say you’d make it worth my while,” I replied, my voice teasing. “I figured I’d see if you were telling the truth.”
He chuckled, reaching out to take my hand, helping me onto the yacht. “You’ll find that I always deliver on my promises. Come on, I’ve got something special planned.”
I followed him, taking in the lavish setup.
The deck had been transformed—a table set for two with candles flickering in the soft evening breeze, a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket, and soft music playing in the background. It was all perfect and staged , but I smiled and made sure I looked pleased. It was a nice setup, I couldn’t deny that. Eli was nothing if not extravagant.
“Wow,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “You really went all out, didn’t you?”
He shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Nothing but the best for you, Isabella.” He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down, smoothing my pants as I crossed my legs. Eli poured us both a glass of champagne before taking his seat across from me.
“Champagne,” I said, holding up the glass, looking at the bubbles as they traced perfectly straight lines upward. “Are we celebrating something?”
Eli’s smile widened, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Celebrating you, of course. And maybe a little bit of me for convincing you to join me tonight. Let’s just say it’s a toast to good company and better times.”
“So, tell me,” he said, leaning back, his eyes never leaving mine, “how’s the glamorous life on a Blackwood yacht treating you?”
I froze. Did he know who I was? What I was doing here?
I took a sip of champagne, feeling the bubbles dance on my tongue, scrambling to think of the right answer.
“Oh, you know, it’s exactly what you’d expect. A lot of parties. Luxury. Blackwood goes all out.” I kept my tone light, trying not to look like I’d been caught in the act.
Eli laughed. “The Blackwoods do try to dazzle their clientele, blinding them with brilliance so that they can’t do anything but buy into the dream he sells.”
He thought I was one of Chris’s guests, that Chris was trying to sell me his yacht. The tension bled out of my shoulders. He didn’t know, but at least now I could come and go from the yacht without trying to look so sneaky. I just couldn’t pull it off.
Clearly. Because Eli had seen me.
I smiled and tilted my glass toward Eli, acknowledging his statement. “Well, he does dazzle with brilliance, I can’t disagree.”
“I think he baffles you with bullshit instead.”
I blinked at him, his hard words in sharp contrast to his usual charm.
“That’s another way to look at it,” I said carefully.
He tilted his head, his gaze sharp. “And what about Chris Blackwood? He must be a lot to handle. I’ve heard he can be… intense.”
I let out a soft laugh, rolling my eyes. “You could say that. He’s… dedicated. Very focused on his work.” I paused, swirling the champagne in my glass. “But you probably already know that, don’t you? I mean, it must be interesting trying to keep up with him in this industry.” I was very careful about my choice of words.
Eli’s lips twitched, and I could tell he wasn’t used to anyone throwing his own insinuations back at him. “I don’t keep up with anyone,” he said. “I like to be a trailblazer, to make my own path and do things my way. It’s not the same as the Blackwood way, so there is no competition.” His words got sharper and his blue eyes turned icy. Despite being careful with my words, I’d hit a nerve. Eli definitely had something against the Blackwoods. I didn’t know the extent to get what he wanted but there was a reason Chris was worried about him. There was no denying he was a snake.
He was just so damn charming.
Eli cleared his throat and smiled, his usual charm returning as if he’d suddenly remembered to put his mask back on. “But let’s not talk about Blackwood tonight. We’re here to enjoy ourselves, aren’t we?”
I smiled, nodding, though my mind was far from enjoying myself. “You’re right. No business talk.” I hesitated, then added casually, “Though I have to admit, I’ve always wondered what it’s like—being the opposition, I mean. Trying to find that edge to get ahead. It must be quite the challenge.”
Eli’s eyes narrowed just a fraction, his smile still in place but a little tighter now. “It has its challenges,” he said smoothly. “But you know what they say—all’s fair in love and war. And business, of course.” He grinned at me but it didn’t reach his eyes and that made him look a lot more dangerous than a moment ago.
All is fair in love and war. It was a terrifying statement.
I hummed in response, taking another sip of champagne, trying to ignore the pang of guilt that shot into my chest. This was what I’d come here for, wasn’t it? To find out what Eli was planning, to protect Chris—even if he didn’t want me anymore. But sitting here, with Eli’s charm and his calculated glances, it all felt wrong. Like I was betraying Chris.
Even though he didn’t deserve anything I did for him. Even though he’d pushed me away.
Maybe it wasn’t just about him and betraying him. Maybe it was about me—I was betraying myself.
Eli leaned forward, his eyes searching mine. “Enough about all of that,” he said, his voice dropping an octave. “Tell me something real, Bella. What’s a girl like you doing hanging around the likes of Chris Blackwood? Surely you could be doing something… more.” He gestured around him, the implication clear—something like this, something lavish and carefree. Something better.
I smiled flippantly, trying to keep it light. “You’d be surprised how much a girl can get out of it,” I said.
“Get out of it?”
“Blackwood has a lot to offer.” I shrugged. “Even if he doesn’t know it.”
Eli’s smile broadened again and I knew what he was thinking. He thought I was using Chris, the same way he would. Eli thought we were cut from the same cloth. For now, I’d allow him to believe it. But what I’d said was true. Chris Blackwood did have a lot to offer and he didn’t know it. I wished he would start seeing it the way I had before.
Eli studied me. “I see that you’re a woman of many talents. And many secrets.”
I smiled at him, leaning into the part that made me seem mysterious.
“But still,” Eli said. “If you ever decide you’re ready for something different, something more… just know I’m right here.”
I forced another smile, ignoring the way my stomach twisted. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I said lightly, lifting my glass in a toast. “To possibilities.”
He clinked his glass against mine, his eyes watching me over the rim. “To possibilities.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and forced smiles, Eli laying on the charm as thick as ever, and me playing along, all the while feeling the weight of what I was doing. The guilt gnawed at me, the memory of Chris’s touch, his voice, the way he’d opened up to me this morning. And then the way he’d shut me out.
Again.
It created a push and pull, a love-hate feeling toward Chris. I felt guilty for being here. And at the same time, I felt like he deserved it. If he didn’t know what he had, why not let someone else see the value in me?
But Eli wasn’t that guy. He only saw what he could gain from me, and I had to remember that I was playing the same game. I had something to gain from him, too.
Right now, it was his trust. And finally, when he had that, it would be his secrets.
It was easy to flirt with Eli, to let him spoil me and distract me from the ache in my chest. But it wasn’t real. It wasn’t Chris. And no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, no amount of champagne or lavish dinners would change that. Eli was a means to an end.
The end part of this game was a little blurry at times, but I would still make sure that I got what I needed.
I just had to make sure that being so close to Eli didn’t consume me in the end.