54. The Upper Hand
THE UPPER HAND
Lorelei
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Go away!” Damn it. I rolled over on my bed, ignoring the asshole at my door, and shoved a pillow over my head.
My lids were swollen and heavy from all the crying, and I’d barely slept all night.
My chest felt like it had been trampled on, then all my ribs tossed into a meat grinder.
Walking away from Axel had been the most difficult thing I’d ever done.
Seeing his expression crumble when I told him it was over was hell.
That look of agony would be permanently engraved in my brain, torturing me for the rest of my life.
“Open the door, Lorelei. I won’t ask again.”
Fucking Brock. Not even twenty-four hours since I broke up with Axel, tearing my heart to shreds in the process, and the bastard was already knocking down my door. What happened to a respectable time frame to make the official announcement?
“I’m sleeping,” I growled.
“It’s almost ten o’clock in the morning, and we have a lot to do today before I return to Houston on Monday night.”
Only two days? Thank God. “Oh, what a shame it’s so soon.”
“Lorelei,” he hissed, “do not begin to think that simply because you’ve agreed to my proposal you’ve somehow gotten the upper hand in this relationship.”
“I don’t think it. I know it, honey.” Anyone desperate enough to go to these lengths to marry someone who despised them had lost all power. And that knowledge was the only thing getting me through the day.
I might have been forced to marry this man, but I’d never cower at his feet again.
If I’d learned anything from my relationship with Axel, it was that I deserved so much more.
Brock might have thought he won, but there was no way I was going willingly.
He forced me to break up with Axel and I did, but I never promised to be a loving, faithful, doting fiancée.
Another fist to the door, then another.
“You don’t want to make a scene, do you, Brocky?” I shouted. “What would your father say if the Haversham name were dragged through the mud like that? I can almost see it in print now, Haversham Oil Heir Caught Harassing Sorority Girls. How embarrassing.”
“You can’t hide in your room forever,” he snarled through the crack in the door. “I haven’t initiated the funds transfer yet, and your father is starting to sound a little desperate.”
I rolled off the bed, dragged my fingers through my hair and staggered to the door. My head spun, and my stomach roiled as I crept closer to the entry. Maybe that second box of wine hadn’t been the best idea.
On the bright side, if I puked all over my new fiancé, it would be an excellent start to the day.
And besides, what I had to say to the arrogant asshole would be best said in person.
Swinging the door open, I planted myself in the doorway.
I probably reeked of cheap wine and looked like absolute shit after crying all night, my hair in tangles and cheeks splotchy.
Good. Maybe he’d change his mind.
“Christ, Lorelei.” His eyes bugged out as he took me in. His blond hair was slicked back, a three-piece suit completing the perfect businessman persona.
“What’s the matter, Brock? This is what I always look like in the morning.” I shot him a cheeky grin.
His hand jutted out, but I stepped back just in time, evading his grasp.
“Don’t ever fucking touch me,” I snarled.
His eyes grew wider still, brows furrowing as he regarded me.
“Yeah, I’m not the same desperate girl you met a few months ago, Brock.
I’m not scared to be poor or to lose Daddy’s money or his love.
I don’t think I ever had it anyway, to be honest. So I don’t give a fuck if you save my family from ruin or not.
The only reason I haven’t run away screaming yet is because of Axel.
He was the first good thing to come into my life and you had to ruin it.
So now I’ll spend the rest of my life ruining yours. ”
“You better watch your mouth, Lorelei.” He reached for me again, but I easily spun away, using the door as a barrier.
“Or what, Brock?” I glared up at him. “You’ve already taken everything from me.”
“Oh, you have no idea—”
I slammed the door in his face, locked it and trudged back to my bed. “Fuck off, Brock. I need the day to myself, and I’ll be the picture-perfect fiancée tomorrow. Just let me know when the paperwork is ready for me to sign.”
Belly-flopping onto the mattress, I buried my head in the pillow. It wasn’t until the footsteps in the hallway finally fell away that I let the tears loose.
A warm breeze sailed off the bluff, lashing blond hair across my puffy eyes. Sweeping the errant strands behind my ears, I took another long pull from the little silver flask I’d stashed in my purse. Stealing a quick glance at my watch, I released a breath.
Ten more minutes until the car arrived for me. If I was going to be forced to attend a dinner at the country club with Brock, I’d be good and plastered. This would be our first public outing, confirming my engagement with Axel was officially over, and Brock and I were a legit item.
The thought alone made me queasy.
I couldn’t decide if I wanted to run into Axel and his family at the club or not. I missed him so badly. I just wanted to see him, but I hated the thought of seeing him hurt. And I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep up the sham either.
As I placed the flask down, I caught a glimpse of my bare ring finger.
Even though the engagement ring was never mine to begin with, I loved how it looked on my hand.
I loved the idea of a future with Axel. I took another gulp of tequila before fishing the phone from my clutch.
I stared at the screen, willing Axel’s familiar number to pop up.
He hadn’t called or texted once since the breakup two days ago.
Maybe I’d been wrong, and he wasn’t hurting at all.
Maybe he was back with Cordelia already, and I couldn’t blame him really.
I’d come off as a total bitch. If the roles had been reversed, I would’ve definitely been looking for a revenge fuck, too.
As if my thoughts had conjured her, Cordi appeared on the front steps of Davenport Hall. Lexi and Micah trailed after her, backpacks slung across their shoulders, the trio chatting and laughing like everything was right in the world.
Please, don’t come over here.
I turned my head to face the bluffs, hoping to go unnoticed. If Cordi and Axel were back together, I certainly didn’t want to hear about it.
“Hey, Lore, is that you?” Micah’s voice flitted on the breeze.
Ugh. With a sigh, I pivoted toward the happy threesome. “Yup. It’s me.” I chugged down another gulp from the flask.
“Damn, girl, are you okay?” Cordelia actually looked worried.
So much for my best effort to look presentable this evening. Actually, I hadn’t tried at all.
I waved a dismissive hand. “My allergies are acting up, that’s all.”
“You sure?” Lexi narrowed her eyes at me. “Because I heard—”
Shaking my head, I popped up, grabbing my clutch. “I’m fine. I’m meeting someone for dinner…”
“Not Axel?” A hint of hope lit up Cordelia’s expression, and I wanted to gouge my eyes out for noticing.
“No, we broke up,” I whispered, emotion clogging my throat. I was honestly shocked she hadn’t heard by now. “So, you know, if you want Ax, now would be the time to go after him before he gets snagged by some other girl. He’s too great of a guy to stay single for long.”
“Um, duh.” Lexi shook her head. “So why aren’t you with him?
Killian said he’s been miserable—” She clenched her jaw, pressing her lips into a tight line.
“Look, I shouldn’t be saying this, but what the hell is wrong with you, Lorelei?
Axel loves you. I’ve never seen him like that with anyone before.
” She turned to her best friend with a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, Cordi, but it’s true. I really care about Ax, and he deserves to be happy. For some wild reason, he was with you.”
A slap in the face would have surprised me less. “There’s shit going on that you don’t understand,” I finally blurted.
“There’s always shit going on when it comes to our fraternity,” Micah interjected.
Oh, hell, how much did Micah know? As if Brock weren’t enough of a problem, was that video the secret Axel had been keeping from his frat brother? It had to be. It would explain why he’d attacked him that night…
Lexi knotted her arms across her chest, glaring up at me. “Whatever it is, you need to work it out together.”
Cordelia shrugged. “Lexi’s right. Axel is crazy about you. He has to be if he passed me up.” A wry smile curled the corners of her lips. “He wants you, Lorelei, and you clearly want him. So what’s going on?”
“I can’t say,” I gritted out, my gaze flickering between Micah and the girls.
“So there is something?” he asked.
Fuck. “No, it’s nothing.” Curling my hands into little fists at my sides, I tried to walk past them, but Micah sidestepped, cutting off my escape.
“I can help you, Lore. Are the Sigma Delts blackmailing you? Are they threatening you? They’re behind this too, I know it.”
Someone was blackmailing me, but it wasn’t their damned secret society.
“Micah, you’re out of your mind. You have no idea what you’re talking about.” I jabbed my finger into his chest. “Axel and I are over, and it has nothing to do with the fraternity so just drop it.”
The last thing Ax needed was someone else on his ass.
The rumble of an approaching engine sent my head swiveling toward the parking lot. I never thought I’d be relieved to see Brock’s driver in the Rolls Royce. Both Lexi and Cordelia’s gazes followed mine, and matching expressions of surprise flashed across their faces.
“I have to go. My ride’s here,” I mumbled before spinning away.
“Wait, Lore,” Lexi called out. “Wasn’t that the same car from a few months ago? And the guy who tried to force you into it?”
Shit. The elegant silver Rolls Royce wasn’t exactly commonplace.
“It was all a misunderstanding,” I called out over my shoulder, quickening my steps. I couldn’t believe I was making excuses for the abusive asshole now.
The car pulled up next to the sidewalk, and the driver got out, opening the back door. The older gentleman, dressed in all black, tipped his hat as I approached. I held my breath when I peeked into the back seat.
Empty. Thank God.
“Mr. Haversham will meet you at the country club,” said the driver. “He had a last-minute business meeting to attend to.”
“Great.” The less time I had to spend with him the better. As I crawled into the back seat, I could feel three pairs of inquisitive eyes following my every move.
Would Lexi tell Killian? Then Axel would be sure to find out Brock and I were official.
And he’d lose his fucking mind…