Chapter 29
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
S.K.A.M.
Later That Night
“It’s tough isn’t it, not having a family to fall back on,” I said, pouring empathy into my expression and willing humility to shine in my eyes.
My date sighed, then smiled back at me.
She was falling for it, hook, line and sinker.
I had prepared so well for this romantic evening, and soon it would become something else entirely. She had no idea what was coming for her.
“It’s so hard to make your own way in this world,” I went on, lifting my wine glass and pretending to take another huge sip. And just as I expected, she lifted hers too, gulping the contents down as her eyes stayed glued to mine.
From the moment we’d walked into this restaurant on our fake date, I’d noticed so many things about her.
Tells that would help me later tonight when I needed to take care of business.
It helped that the restaurant was almost empty.
There’d be fewer witnesses to say we were here.
Less people to testify when she went missing.
I was also lucky she’d worn a muted colour.
It meant we didn’t really stand out. We were nobodies, and nobodies could get away with murder.
I proceeded to tell her what a brave and strong woman I thought she was, standing up to her odious boss and navigating the world on her own, and I could tell she trusted me by her unwavering eye contact and how she smiled so sweetly back at me.
She was nervous and didn’t want to show it, but the way she spoke fast, her conversation muddled at times, was a dead giveaway.
She was easily pleased, and at the same time, eager to please.
She would be my easiest target yet. A target I had chosen to make a statement. If I wanted to, I could get to anyone.
Her mobile phone was still in her handbag.
I’d be sorting that discrepancy out a little later.
I wasn’t worried, though. She had no family waiting on her, and she hadn’t taken her phone out the whole time she’d been with me.
She’d given me one hundred percent of her time and attention.
I’d give her the exact same treatment later, when I had her alone in my studio.
Through the evening, I’d noticed that she was left-handed. I’d need to bear that in mind when the time came to restrain her. Subtleties like that had to be noted, and I was a perfectionist. There was no room for error.
She thanked me for the compliments I was showering her with, then reached for her handbag, as she said, “I have to use the bathroom. I won’t be long. Would you excuse me for a moment?”
“Of course.” I nodded and smiled as she stood up. “Take your time, Grace.”
She made her way to the back of the restaurant, glancing over her shoulder as she went, and she grinned when she saw I was watching her.
I shook my head, smiling to myself as she disappeared out of sight.
Fuck, I was good at this shit.
I poured more wine into her glass; more for her meant less for me.
I needed to keep a clear head. To stay focused on the goal of the evening.
There was no room for alcohol and no room for failure.
Discretely, I slid my hand into my pocket and took out the little white tablet.
I slipped that into her drink too. It paid to be well prepared.
As I sat back, assessing the area and planning my next move, I spotted a familiar figure striding through the restaurant, heading to our table.
He moved across the space as if he was starring in an action movie, with his foreboding height and rippling muscles, walking away from a disaster about to explode behind him. And I smiled, knowing it was the opposite. It was disaster he was walking towards, not away from.
“I would say I’m surprised to see you,” I said as he stalked towards me. “But part of me is disappointed you waited this long to pay me a visit.” I frowned and shook my head with regret, then narrowed my eyes at him. “How did you find me, by the way?”
He didn’t reply straight away, just pulled out the chair opposite and sat down.
Then he leaned forward, alert, glaring at me like he wanted to fly across the table and stab me in the eye with a fork.
“And I’m disappointed that I have to be here and state the fucking obvious, but here we are,” he finally replied in a gruff, low voice.
Then he gestured to the ring on my right hand.
“The ring I gave you for your birthday last year, it’s fitted with a tracker.
I knew it’d come in handy... eventually. ”
I lifted my hand and twisted the ring on my finger, shrugged, and said, “Good call.”
Anyone looking our way would think we were two businessmen, discussing deals and making money. Both of us were wearing dark blue, fucking expensive suits, and shoes that would cost a month’s wages for most people. But this was no friendly sit down. This was something else entirely.
“You need be careful what you say, Alex.” I smiled a slow, leisurely smile. “My date will be back soon. I’d hate for you to scare her off.” I tilted my head and winked. “It’s been going so well.”
I noticed the way his jaw clenched at my playfulness, before he replied.
“I already paid the waiter to stall her until I say so. We don’t need an audience for this,” he sneered.
I folded my arms as I lazed back in my chair, wanting him to know how relaxed and unfazed I felt. The polar opposite to his hunched forward stance and uptight demeanour.
“But you know how much I love an audience. Why would you try and stifle me, Alex? You should never stifle a creative when they’re in their element.”
“You’ve gone too fucking far this time. You know you have.”
I shrugged as if I had no idea what he was talking about.
“I know nothing of the sort. I think you need to elaborate for me.”
His jaw was ticking like a lunatic now, as if he might break a tooth at any minute. I did love making him squirm.
“Don’t play games with me,” he hissed. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“Which is...?”
“Emma,” he snapped. “Stay the fuck away from her. I fucking mean it.”
I gave a low chuckle as he bristled with anger.
“You’ve got it bad for this one, huh?”
In all the time I’d known Alex, he’d never shown interest in a woman. And then along came Emma fucking Belmont.
His reaction to her had startled me at first. I found his lack of restraint a little unnerving, and I was doing my best to try and show him the error of his ways.
Putting your trust and heart into something that wouldn’t work was for fools.
Alex was no fool. And I’d keep reminding him of that fact for as long as I needed to. It was my duty, after all.
“She doesn’t deserve the crap you’re giving her,” he went on, as if I cared what she deserved. I couldn’t give a shit.
“Doesn’t she?” I replied, frowning. “She wasn’t very nice to me in the press. Or have you forgotten that?”
“You and I both know that was bullshit. It was a fake review, written by Gold, using her name. You know how Gold works. You aren’t that stupid. In fact, I know you aren’t. And I don’t think this is about a shitty review at all. Your ego isn’t that fragile. Nothing about you is fucking fragile.”
“I’m offended.” I reared back, pretending to look affronted. “I take pride in my work, and she shit all over it.”
“No, she didn’t, and you know that as well as I do. So, tell me, what is this really about?”
I drummed my fingers on the table and sighed.
“Do I really need to explain myself to you of all people?”
His brows raised like he was surprised I was challenging him. I didn’t normally have to challenge him. He always danced to my tune.
“I’ve supported you from day one,” he stated, jabbing his finger at me. “I’ve done everything in my power to help you. I wanted you to have purpose and drive, but this...?” He sneered in disgust. “It’s fucked-up and it stops. Today. You’ve fucking lost it.”
I gave him another nonchalant shrug.
“I haven’t lost anything. I know exactly what I’m doing.” I nodded over at him. “I think you might’ve lost a few things, though. Did you leave your balls back at home with Emma? Nice touch, moving her in with you, by the way.”
Fury burned in his eyes, knowing I was watching her. That I was watching everything. And he picked up a steak knife and stabbed it into the tabletop, his eyes on me as the knife wedged into the wood.
“There he is,” I chuckled to myself. “I’ve missed seeing this Alex. I like it when he comes out to play.”
“I’m not playing this time,” he seethed, keeping his hand on the knife as he glared at me. “You’re lucky it wasn’t your hand that I stabbed this into. I’m holding myself back right now and we both know how hard that can be for men like us.”
I shrugged. “Put your knife wherever you fucking want. It’d be nice to feel something for a change.”
He shook his head, that sneer firmly imprinted on his face.
“You’re a sick motherfucker.”
I winked back at him. “But I’m your sick motherfucker.”
He took a few deep breaths, and then, in a hushed tone, he said, “If you go near her again, I swear I will end you. Send her any messages, break into her house, or even so much as breathe in her vicinity and I’ll cut your fucking heart out.
” Then leaning a little closer, he added, “Even if you think about her, if her face ever crosses your mind, then my face will be the last thing you’ll ever see, right before I send you to fucking hell. ”
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. I loved it when he showed this side of him.
“Jesus, it really was love at first sight.”
“Is that what this is about?” His brows knitted together as he stared daggers at me. “Are you jealous?”
I regarded him for a moment, and then decided to give him a taste of my truth.