Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
NATE
N ate's gaze fixed on the drawer containing the ring box, adjusting to the room's lights. He tossed his keys on the dresser and tugged open the drawer, fishing the box from within.
Their dinner had gone well, even with the unwanted interruption by his brother and his former fiancée.
Elena had handled it beautifully. She’d been her usual supportive self when they’d spoken in private, and had even managed to put Stephen in his place at the dinner table.
The corners of his lips turned up as he recalled her clever statement about not being able to embarrass him.
He collapsed into his armchair and snapped open the box, staring at the emerald inside. He hoped he could wait a few days to give it to her.
But he had to. He wanted it to be perfect. And that night would provide exactly what he needed.
He pictured her in her evening dress, him in his tuxedo. As the gala wound down, he’d take her to the gazebo outside. He’d tell her how he felt before he got down on one knee and asked her the big question.
His eyes narrowed. Maybe another spot would be better. Poolside? No. Maybe in the library. Or under the massive crystal chandelier hanging in the upstairs hall.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. He climbed to his feet, closing the box and depositing it in his drawer on his way to the door.
He pulled it open to find his mother on the opposite side. “Hey, Mom.”
“I just stopped by to see how Ellie was on the ride home after everything that happened tonight.”
“She seemed okay. She said she really enjoyed the evening and likes everyone very much.”
“With the exception of Stephen, I assume,” Victoria said.
A tiny chuckle escaped his lips. “She didn’t mention that. She just said you were very welcoming, and she liked you very much.”
Victoria raised her eyebrows as she shrugged. “Well, I guess we didn’t scare her off.”
“Nope. We’re still on for tomorrow night. Oh, unless she sent me a break-up text because of that private conversation you had with her.” Nate pulled his phone from his pocket to check as he shot his mother an amused grin.
Victoria grinned at him. “Very funny. Our private conversation was just that…private. There’s nothing you need to know about it.”
“Really? Because I am curious. Did you threaten her within an inch of her life to get her to agree to come to the gala?”
“I didn’t threaten her.”
“She seemed reluctant, didn’t she? Was that my imagination?”
Victoria cupped his cheek in her hand as she offered him a soft smile. “No, it wasn’t your imagination, but it didn’t have anything to do with you.”
“The dress thing?” he asked.
Victoria nodded. “Yes, but we solved that.”
“I’m glad you did because I’m really looking forward to the gala.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Hey, where do you think I should propose? I can’t pick a spot,” Nate asked.
His mother shifted her weight, pressing her lips together as she narrowed her eyes. “Can I think about it? There are lots of nice places, but I assume you’ll want to have some privacy when you actually pop the question. You’re doing it at the end of the night, right?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “Location unknown. I need an expert female opinion.”
“You came to the right place. I’ll give it some thought and let you know. It might be nice to surprise her with some roses, so we may want to set up somewhere out of the way.”
“Good idea. I just…don’t know. It’s so different from what happened the last time…” His voice trailed off as his mind flitted to the fated engagement. Chloe had pretended to be surprised despite orchestrating the entire event complete with a string quartet and a custom-designed dress.
Victoria squeezed his arm. “It’s a lot better than last time because I get the feeling no matter which way you do this, Ellie will love it.”
He offered his mother a tight-lipped smile. “I hope so. I want things to be perfect for her, but you’re right, she wouldn’t fuss no matter which way it happened.”
His mother pulled him into a hug. “We’ll talk details soon. Good night.”
He eased the door closed as she strode down the hall, reflecting on the conversation. Things would be so different this time around. Instead of a well-orchestrated charade, he’d actually be deepening a real relationship with a woman he had fallen head over heels for.
He sucked in a breath as he took a step into his room when another knock sounded at the door. Stepping back to it, he laughed while he pulled it open. “What’d you do, come up with a dozen thoughts already?”
The grin faded from his lips as he stared back at his brother’s face. “Stephen.”
“Nate,” his brother said.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you think you caused enough upset tonight?”
Stephen pushed past him into his room, spinning to face him. “I don’t think so.”
“Give it up, Stephen. This little game you’re playing isn’t going to work. And you’re going to be the one burned here.”
“Oh, really? Is that a threat?”
Nate shook his head as he strode across the room to stare out one of his windows. “No. It’s not. Your own actions are going to be what hurts you.”
Behind him, Stephen scoffed. “Oh really? Care to elaborate?”
Nate twisted to eye his brother over his shoulder. Maybe his happiness with Elena was making him soft, but he didn’t want this war to continue. “Chloe’s dangerous. Don’t make the same mistakes I did just because you want to stick it to me. It’s not going to work, and you’re going to be the one who pays the price.”
Stephen pinched his eyebrows together as he crossed his arms. “Oh, I see. Big brother to the rescue to save me from big, bad Chloe. Did it ever occur to you that you’re the only loser she wasn’t interested in?”
“No, Stephen, because Chloe is out for one thing. Chloe.”
Stephen’s derisive laugh betrayed his disbelief. “Maybe you just don’t know her like I do.”
“Oh, really? You think you’re somehow special? That she’s not after just one thing with you, too?”
Stephen lifted his chin. “She’s not. See, because she never wanted you to begin with. She told me that.”
Nate stepped closer, his chest puffed out as he matched his brother’s icy stare. “Oh, right. I’ll bet. Let me guess, did she tell you that after I caught you two together?”
Stephen flicked his gaze away with a shake of his head. “You’re not going to convince me that she’s the problem, Nate. You’re not going to twist what happened between us. You were the problem all along.”
“Right,” Nate said with a bob of his head. “I was the problem. Let me ask you this. If I was the problem, why didn’t she just dump me and go with you?”
“She was afraid of you,” Stephen answered.
Nate sucked in a breath, astounded at the twisted story Chloe had sold to his younger brother in a desperate attempt to rekindle some relationship with a Kingsley. “Afraid of me? And that’s why she kept her relationship with you a secret. I guess she figured you couldn’t protect her, huh?”
“Look, I just came by to tell you that things aren’t going to be comfortable for you around here. You may want to tell your little girlfriend to stay away. Because Chloe and I are together, and she’s going to be around.” Stephen snorted a laugh. “Of course, Ellie will probably run screaming once you start drinking again.”
“Not going to happen, Stephen. Those days are behind me.”
“We’ll see. Consider yourself warned.” Stephen spun on his heel and strode toward the door.
“Stephen…” Nate called after him.
His brother twisted to eye him over his shoulder .
“Consider yourself warned. Chloe is not a nice woman.”
Without a word, Stephen yanked the door open and stepped into the hall, slamming it behind him.
Nate stared at it for a moment, the images of finding his brother with his fiancée resurfacing. Though now, that horrible moment seemed like a blessing in disguise. Without it, he’d never have met Elena.
But his heart twisted for his brother. As he sank into his armchair again, his eyes focused on the dark elm tree gently swaying in the breeze outside, he recalled a simpler time where the biggest problem between them had been who got the red pieces in checkers.
And while they’d always been competitive, Chloe had driven a wedge between them that he wasn’t certain would ever fully disappear.
Thankfully, with Elena in the picture, though, the woman no longer made him want to dive to the bottom of a bottle.
With a sigh, he tore his gaze from the dark night, changed, and slipped into bed. The promise of his date with Elena the next evening danced in his mind, soothing his thoughts as he drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Work sped past him the next day. The concert in the park along with seeing her for breakfast, the first step toward his engagement surprise kept his mind occupied.
As the evening approached, he found himself in his usual happy mood at the thought of spending time with Elena.
He pulled on his blazer and adjusted his collar before he smiled at his reflection. In just a few days, she’d be his fiancée. His heart buzzed with excitement as he grabbed his phone, finding a message from her awaiting him. I may be a few minutes late. I hope that’s not a problem. I’m finishing up some work.
He typed his response before he grabbed his keys. Oh, it’s a huge problem. I’ll miss you for those few minutes. I hope I survive.
As he climbed behind the wheel of his car, he snorted a laugh at her response. You poor dear. I certainly hope you’ll survive. Otherwise, I would be quite broken-hearted.
He made the short trip into town, parking in his reserved spot in the GenoTech garage before he trekked through the streets to the park. The south lawn had been transformed for the musical event.
He found their seats and settled into his, his gaze falling to her empty chair as he wondered how late she’d be. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the music began. Halfway through the first number, a winded Elena plopped into the seat next to him.
“Hello,” she whispered as he kissed her cheek.
“Hi,” he answered, sliding an arm around her. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she answered. “Sorry to be late.” She sucked in another deep breath as though trying to steady herself.
“You didn’t have to run,” he said. “I survived, see?”
“I see. I’m so glad. But I did hurry as I did not want to see you fall to pieces.” She grinned at him. He smiled back, his eyes narrowing a bit. Different lipstick, that was it. She was wearing different lipstick.
His mother would be proud of him for noticing that detail. She always insisted it mattered. Different shades for different events.
He wondered why she’d chosen to change it up for a simple concert in the park, though as she squeezed his hand, he decided it didn’t matter. Instead, he relaxed into the evening, sliding an arm around her as the second number roared to life.
She leaned closer to him as the music played on for another fifteen minutes before she stiffened after a glance at her watch. “Excuse me for a moment, I’ll be right back.”
He furrowed his brows, wondering if everything was okay. The broad grin she gave him suggested it was.
“Okay,” he said with a nod.
She hurried down the makeshift aisle between the sets of chairs and disappeared from his sight. He shifted in his seat, eyeing the stage again as another set of musicians took the stage. He listened to their entire set before Elena slipped back into the chair next to him with a soft smile.
Her chest heaved as though she’d just run a marathon. “Terribly sorry, the line for the ladies’ is outrageous.” She shifted her bag onto her lap.
He knitted his brows as he stared down at it, not recalling the bejeweled clutch from earlier. He could have sworn the black wristlet she often used had been on her arm earlier.
As the music swelled around him, a growing sense of unease gnawed at Nate. Her sudden departures and her breathlessness upon return didn’t add up. He clung to her explanation, desperate to ignore the signs of anything beyond it. “It’s okay. I’m sure you could hear them from there.”
“Oh, yes,” she answered. “They were quite good.”
He nodded as he slipped an arm around her shoulders to enjoy the next set before an intermission. Elena drummed her fingers against her thigh as the music played.
He wondered if she didn’t care for this group. As they finished their time on stage, he leaned closer to ask when she leapt up from her seat.
“Intermission,” she announced. “I’ll grab us a snack. You wait here.”
“Ellie!” he called after her as she flitted away.
He rose to follow her when a figure blocked the path. He rolled his eyes, setting his hand on his hips. “Of course, you’re here. I’ll bet my brother isn’t far behind.”
“I noticed your girlfriend isn’t,” Chloe said.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Nate answered with a shake of his head, “but she’s getting us something to eat.”
“She’s a real go-getter, huh? I guess that’s why you like her. You never were good at knowing how to take care of a woman.”
“Shut up, Chloe.”
“She missed the entire second set, too,” Chloe pointed out.
Nate pressed his lips together as he curled his fingers into fists. “Been keeping close tabs on us, huh?”
“I’ll admit I have been. I’m…interested.”
“Well, don’t be. It’s not your business.”
Chloe smirked at him as she took a step closer. “Where is she disappearing to, I wonder?”
He heaved a sigh. “I don’t wonder. She went to the ladies’ room.”
“Really? For an entire set?”
“There was a line,” he said with his eyes narrowed.
“No, there wasn’t. I went there shortly after she left. Never saw her. No, I’m sorry, Nate. Something else is going on here. You’re just too stupid to see it. Just like you always are.”
“Did my brother put you up to this? He wasn’t too happy when I warned him about what a worthless tramp you really are.”
Chloe’s features twisted into an angry frown. “I’d be careful who I call a tramp. Because I’m fairly certain your new girlfriend is two-timing you.”
His blood ran cold. The words echoed in his mind, a chilling reminder of past deceptions. Was history repeating itself? Was he being duped again?