Chapter 14 Elodie
Elodie
Istare ahead at the open road through the windshield of my car, my hands gripping the steering wheel, my mind still numb.
I try to drive steadily, but I can tell from the car’s jerky movements that I’ll be paying Dale’s Garage another visit soon.
One of Dorian’s drivers took me home. We traveled in a Bentley.
It’s hard to go from that to this. I doubt I’ll be able to save the car this time.
Dale will take one look at it and write it off.
He already said the car was too old and I’d be better off buying a new one than spending money on repairs.
He was right, but all I could do at the time with what little I had was make the best bad choice.
That’s what is happening to me now. I am facing choices that all seem bad.
Dorian’s words haven’t left my mind.
Marry me, and the debt disappears.
Marriage to a billionaire.
And a baby.
But…a life where I’ll never have to worry about money again.
I haven’t decided yet.
I glance at myself in the mirror. My face looks absolutely awful. It’s swollen and bruised, proof of the danger I was in stamped right across my skin.
That’s why I’m going to see my brother.
I was home for less than a minute before I decided I needed to see Jack. He has the morning off, so I’m heading to his apartment.
If I actually go through with Dorian’s offer, Jack needs to see exactly how bad things got. He needs to see what Marcus did to me. He needs to understand this isn’t me being dramatic, reckless, or stupid.
This is me standing at the edge and trying to choose the path that might give me a better future.
I keep turning the offer over in my head, testing the idea from every angle.
I wanted to call Skylar, but I stopped myself because I knew she’d tell me to accept the deal.
She means well, and everything she’s ever done for me has come from a place of love, but this decision needs to be mine. Mine without anyone in my ear, swaying me one way or the other. That’s another reason I’m heading to see Jack.
Besides, he should know what’s happening regardless. He’s my brother.
And maybe some small part of me still wants him to do something to help me.
I guess that’s just the tired part of me hoping.
But it’s time to face reality. Jack couldn’t save me when I needed him most, so he won’t be able to help me now.
Even if he could, it isn’t fair to expect him, or anyone else, to rescue me.
I got myself into this mess. I have to be the one to get out of it.
I let out a haggard breath and slow the car for a red light. I’m not far from Jack’s place. Another five minutes, and I’ll be there.
I’m not sure what I’m going to say to him yet, but I’m more worried about myself.
Dorian has truly thrown me for a loop. He hasn’t even been back in my life for a full week.
And maybe his offer and terms hit harder because of how I used to feel about him. It isn’t supposed to be easy hearing that the guy you obsessed over your entire life will never love you.
The old me would have been crushed.
And maybe some small part of her still is.
It’s foolish.
What’s worse is that I used to put Dorian on a pedestal. No one came close to him. For a long time, I only dated men I knew I’d never be serious about. It took years after the business went under for me to finally move on.
Accepting his offer would feel like going backwards.
Even if it isn’t.
The lights change, and I drive on.
Minutes later, I pull up outside Jack’s building. I cut the engine and drag the hood of my sweatshirt over my head, trying to hide the bruises on my cheek.
I get out of the car and make my way inside. Carefully, I climb the stairs, each step pulling at the aches in my body.
By the time I reach the second floor, my chest feels tight in a way that has nothing to do with bruises, just the dread of having to confront my brother about the man who used to be his best friend.
I stop outside Jack’s apartment, stare at the door for a moment, then ring the bell.
A few seconds pass before I hear his heavy footsteps on the other side.
The door opens, and Jack stands there looking like he’s only just dragged himself out of bed. His hair is a mess, his T-shirt creased, his expression heavy with sleep.
He’s about to say something. Then he sees my face.
Everything in him snaps into focus.
“Jesus. What happened to you?” He steps closer, eyes wide with panic.
My throat tightens, but I force the words out. “Marcus. Marcus got to me.”
Jack’s expression darkens instantly. “What the hell?” He steps back, then looks me over again like he can’t quite believe what he’s seeing. “Oh God, Elodie.”
He takes my hand. Leads me inside and closes the door. Then he turns me around to look me over.
The moment the hood falls back, he sees the extent of the bruises on my face, and his hand flies to his mouth.
“What happened, Elodie? What the fuck happened? Why did he do this?”
Tears sting my eyes when I think back to Marcus’ cruelty. “I was late with the payment, so he decided to punish me, demand the balance in full, and then some.”
“Fuck,” he growls and throws a fist into the wall. “This is unbelievable. Fucking unbelievable. Let me go talk to him.”
“No.” I shake my head and press a hand to his arm. “I have to do something. I can’t pay him, but I have to try to reason with him.”
“I know I can’t pay. That’s why I went to someone who could.”
Jack goes completely still, his arm rigid beneath my hand. “Who? Who did you go to?”
“Dorian.”
The color drains from his face the instant I say his name.
“No. Fuck no. You didn’t.”
I hold his gaze. “I went to Dorian, Jack.”
For one second, the room seems to sway, tilting back and forth and back again. Then Jack’s face twists with anger.
“Why in the hell would you do that?” His voice rises fast. “Why would you go crawling back to someone who destroyed us?”
“Jack, he didn’t destroy us. You told me the business was lost and Dad owed too many people.”
“You know what I fucking mean. And where do you get off making excuses for him?” He points at the door, as though Dorian is standing on the other side. “We lost everything, but he could have stopped it. Everything, Elodie. An eighty-year-old family business gone just like that.”
“He helped me now.”
“That doesn’t make up for the past? Fuck, if not for the past, you wouldn’t need his help. Why didn’t you come back to me?”
“I called you several times, and you never replied.”
He drags a hand over his face. “Shit, I was busy.”
“I had no choice, Jack.” The words come out sharper than I mean them to, but I don’t take them back. “Marcus had men beat me. He threatened me. He threatened Skylar. What exactly was I supposed to do?”
He blows out a sharp breath. “Maybe he was bluffing. Maybe he just wanted to scare you.”
I stare at him, stunned. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m saying maybe he wasn’t going to go any further than the beating.”
“No. He was serious.” My voice goes cold. “He wasn’t just scaring me. And even if he was, why should I have to be that scared when there was someone who could help me?”
He flinches. “It shouldn’t have been him.”
My chest burns now, anger pushing through the hurt. “Well, it was. Dorian took care of it and made sure Marcus won’t bother me again.”
He lets out a bitter laugh. “Wow, you two sound like real old pals. Didn’t realize you’d been in contact all this time.”
“We haven’t. I ran into him last week at the coffeehouse.” God in heaven, I dare not tell him about the Dark Odyssey, or that this is actually the second time Dorian helped me. The embarrassment of knowing he bought me in an auction would probably kill him.
“So, what did he do, take one look at you and see how desperate you were?”
“He didn’t expect to find me in a coffeeshop. I ended up telling him I was saving for something, and he offered to help.” That is all true.
“And what’s he expecting in return for his help? There’s no way he did this for free, and he knows you can’t pay him back. The fucker must know I’m broke, too, or you wouldn’t need help.”
I hesitate, and that’s all it takes for him to see I’ve only just touched the surface.
Jack’s expression changes as more unease creeps in. “What did he ask for, Elodie?”
I swallow, searching for the right words. “He said I could pay him back over time. Or marry him.”
Jack goes pale.
“Marry him?” he breathes, his voice barely audible. “And what did you decide?”
My hands tremble. “I haven’t made the decision yet.”
“Good. Let me make it for you. You will pay him back.”
I ball my hands at my sides. It’s time to take the reins. “You won’t make that decision for me.”
His face hardens. “What the fuck? You’re actually considering marrying him?”
Marrying him. And having his baby. That part can go right to the top of the list of things Jack doesn’t need to know.
“Yes. I am considering it.”
“I forbid you to do it.”
A bitter laugh almost leaves me. “Jack. This isn’t about you.”
“It damn well is if you think you’re going to marry him.”
“It’s about me,” I snap. “My life. My decision. If I marry him, the debt goes away. And I have a better life.”
“This is not happening.”
“I’m sorry. But it is.”
“You said you haven’t decided yet. But it sounds like you have.”
“I haven’t. But I need you to know that whatever I decide, it will be for me.”
“Fuck that.” Jack steps toward me. “If you marry him, you’ll ruin the rest of your life.”
“My life is already ruined, Jack.” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. I gesture to my face. “Take a good look at me. Look at my face.”
That seems to get his attention, but it’s not enough. He shakes his head.
“I will never be okay with you marrying Dorian Vale. Never. Don’t do it.”
We’re just going around in circles. “I’m leaving now.”
“Elodie—”
I turn and walk away.
He calls after me again, louder this time, but I don’t stop. I don’t look back, either. I just keep moving, down the stairs, out of the building, back into the cool air.
I’m shaking as I get into the car, and the tears aren’t far. One escapes, streaming down my cheek, but I hold the rest back. I can’t break now. I can’t.
I sit still, breathing hard, then I pull down the visor mirror and look at my reflection.
My face stares back at me, bruised and exhausted and battered.
This is not the life I want for myself. And realistically, this whole ordeal is about so much more than the loan and Marcus.
Things have been hard for a long time—losing my parents, losing the business, losing what little hope I had for freedom, then being betrayed by a person I thought of as a friend.
I don’t want any of it.
I don’t want fear. I don’t want debt. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life scraping by, living from hand to mouth, never knowing what fresh disaster is waiting around the corner.
Dorian’s offer is a chance.
A loveless marriage will never be the dream.
But at least it’s something safe.
Maybe that makes me weak. Maybe it makes me foolish. But right now, the thought of money, stability, and a life where no one can hurt me again feels a hell of a lot more real than love.
I stare at myself for one beat longer, then close the mirror.
Whether I like it or not, I think I already know which way I’m leaning.