Chapter 16
Elizabeth
I spend three hours nervously getting ready for the evening.
Theo orders a bottle of the most expensive champagne through room service and pours me a tipple into delicate crystal flutes.
I carefully sip it until I start feeling slightly tipsy, the bubbles beginning to work their way through my bloodstream.
I set the half-empty glass down on the dressing table and leave it.
I want to make sure I’m at least a little sober.
Theo keeps coming in to check on me. Impatient, protective, and a little endearing.
“Baby girl, I am not rushing you, but we need to leave in five minutes.” Little does he know I’ve been ready for the past fifteen minutes but have spent that time admiring myself in the full-length mirror.
I’ve never seen myself look so elegant and classy.
I can’t stop looking at the woman staring back at me.
The hairdresser Theo had ordered had put my hair in a loose bun with light wavy strands framing my face.
My makeup is soft, and my lips have a light lipstick that makes them glisten in the light.
The dress fits me like a glove. It hugs my curves perfectly.
The strapless design accentuating my collarbones and then snatching in at the waist before the lacy fabric flares into the skirt.
I rub my fingers down the lace corset and take a deep breath.
I step out of the bedroom and into the view of Theo.
He’s looking at his phone and doesn’t notice me at first. I study him; his tight jaw and perfectly groomed stubble match the tuxedo he is wearing.
He looks magnificent. My heart flutters and can’t help but smile as I watch him silently.
His shirt is tight to his chest, a black bow tie and black buttons to match.
I would choose him every single day.
I quietly clear my throat, and his head shoots up, his eyes meeting mine. He lowers his leg from the wall and treads towards me, longing filling his face.
“Wow.” One word and it causes my heart to pound. “You look stunning.” He grabs my waist and holds me at arm’s length, looking me up and down.
“Do I look ok?” I ask timidly.
“You look perfect.” Smiling towards the ground, I feel my ego swell with a newfound confidence. When I look back up at him, he is smiling ear to ear. He kisses me lightly on the cheek and turns towards the table where my letter had been earlier in the day.
“I have something else for you,” he says as I take in the room.
My roses sit perfectly arranged in a vase, positioned in the middle of the coffee table.
Things seem to happen without me even having to ask here.
I realise then that this is the life Theo is used to.
This is the life he has lived for eternity. The only life he knows.
Luxury.
Power.
Control.
Theo pulls a box from the table drawer and heads back over to me.
He places the blue suede box in my hand, and I can’t help stroking the velvet with my thumb.
I open the box and am met with a gorgeous diamond necklace.
The light sparkles from each individual diamond.
He carefully lifts it from the box and places it around my neck, closing the clasp.
He kisses my neck, and goosebumps race down it with his warm breath on my throat.
I place my fingers over the cold diamonds, unable to speak.
“I can’t wait to see you in nothing but this necklace tonight,” he growls in my ear.
Heat blooms between my thighs at his words.
“Happy birthday, Sunshine,” he whispers.
I spin around and kiss him hard. He pushes me back, laughing.
“Don’t ruin your lipstick, Elizabeth,” he teases.
“We have plenty of time for that later.” I giggle behind my hand.
He takes it and gently kisses each of my knuckles.
“Thank you, Theo. This is all too much.” He strokes my cheek with his thumb and gently moves a stray hair, tucking it behind my ear.
“Nothing is ever going to be too much for you, Elizabeth. I will never stop giving you the world.” I link my arm through his and we make our way out of the door.
As the door opens, we are met by three huge, burly men in suits with the same earpiece as Callum had earlier.
One of the guards, the same one from the club, grabs Theo’s arm, stopping him in his tracks.
“Sir, we’ve had to change your plans. The paparazzi are waiting for you outside. Someone in the hotel tipped them off.” I feel Theo go still, his muscles tighten under my touch, anger bubbling inside of him. One night. That’s all he wanted.
“Are you fucking joking?” His words take me aback. I’ve never heard him like this before. Security shakes his head.
“The plans aren’t changing, Jack. Tell Nigel to go around the back of the hotel, and we will exit through the kitchen.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it, sir.” Jack makes his point entirely clear, but Theo looks at him with dagger eyes.
“I don’t care what you recommend, Jack. My plans for tonight stay the same.
” The security guard nods and radios the orders to someone in his jacket.
My stomach twists into knots. Waiting for the elevator, I place my hand on Theo’s chest. Without a moment’s hesitation, he places his hand on top of mine, and I feel his body relax, the tension leaving his body with my touch.
“We don’t have to go, Theo. I’ll be happy spending the evening in the hotel room with you. It’s ok.” He turns to look at me, frustration covering his features.
“Elizabeth, we’re going.” His tone is firm.
I grip his arm a little harder and feel him soften.
He turns to me, holding the back of my head with his free hand.
“It will be fine, baby. You have nothing to worry about. I’m here to protect you.
” He releases his arm from my grip and wraps it around my waist, bringing me closer to his body.
A wave of reassurance washes over me, and my heart rate begins to settle, but I can feel tears filling my eyes.
I don’t want to cry, but the fear coursing through my body is making me emotional.
We fly out of the lift with the security guards stripping off their jackets and throwing them over our heads, hiding our identity until we reach the back of the hotel.
Certainly, nowhere near as glamorous as the front, but quiet with no one else in sight.
The kitchen has been cleared out to ensure no one sees us.
The door slams open, and the cold night air hits me in the face, the fear and the night air making me shiver.
When we get into the back of the car, I exhale, breathing a shaky sigh of relief. That was anything but pleasant. Theo places his hand on my leg, slowly rubbing his thumb up and down my thigh in comfort, and I make a poor attempt at stopping my legs from trembling.
Four minutes later, we pull up at The Royal Opera House. It almost doesn’t seem worth it.
We could have walked quicker, I think. Nigel opens my door and offers his hand.
We are greeted by a lady in a suit who shows us to the royal box, escorting us through the hallway.
I grip Theo’s arm, gaping at the lavish design of the building.
Behind red suede curtains waits a table set for two.
Food already served, and a candle flickering in the middle of the table.
Theo pulls out my chair, and I take a seat. He gently rubs my shoulders.
“You need to relax. The worst is over with. There’s nothing to worry about.
” I nod my head, and he sits down opposite me.
“I’m so glad you came, Elizabeth.” He winks and I smile at him with a small chuckle bubbling out of me at the innuendo.
He raises his eyebrow, knowing exactly where my mind went.
He shakes his head and looks away, trying to hide his grin.
We eat delicious food and chat about everything and nothing. The chaos of the start of the evening vanishes from my mind. It’s perfect. When we finish, I slip through another set of curtains onto the balcony of the box, looking out over the red and gold theatre.
“What a stunning theatre…” I turn to speak to him and realise he isn’t there. I peek back through the curtain.
“Are you coming to look?” I ask, smiling. He shakes his head.
“Not until the lights go out and the show starts. I can’t be seen out there, baby.
I just need to wait until everyone’s watching the stage and not scanning the boxes.
” A wave of sadness rushes over me, his words hitting me in the gut.
I wrap my arms around my middle, unable to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling that is taking over my body.
He hasn’t said it, but he doesn’t have to. I know exactly what he means.
He can’t be seen with me.
All day I had stupidly managed to forget. Forget that we have to be together in the shadows. Forgot that I’m still his little secret.
“I need to use the ladies,” I say quietly, and without the permission I hadn’t realised I needed, I leave the quiet of the private box.
I hadn’t expected it to be this busy outside in the hallways.
It’s overwhelming. My ears fill with laughter, voices, and snippets of conversation.
I can’t think. I need to escape. Suddenly, a large presence looms behind me.
“Tell Mr. Masters that I’m with her.” It is one of Theo’s security team following me to the toilets. I weave quickly through the crowd towards the restroom, hoping to lose him, but knowing I won’t. When I reach the door to the ladies, I turn to face him.
“I can manage from here, thank you.” It is irritating me that this man is following me. I just need a moment to myself.
“I’ll be waiting here for you ma’am.”
“Of course you will.” I retort, unable to hide the irritation in my voice.
The washroom is busy with women in beautiful, shimmering dresses and laughter reverberating from the tiled walls.
I stare at my reflection, disappointment written all over my face.
I wash my hands slowly, my thoughts racing, questioning my next move.
Why did I let myself believe this was different?
Why do I not see that I will never truly be his?
I let cold water run over my hands. How could I have been so stupid to believe that this weekend was going to be any different from the time we spent at home?
The only thing that has changed is that I am now hidden in a hotel room.
The weekend felt like freedom, but now it feels like I’m simply locked in a different cage to the one I am so used to.
I beg my tears not to fall. I will not cry yet. I smooth my dress down and leave the bathroom. Just like he promised, when I exit the ladies, there he is to escort me back.
“I’m not going to run away, you know.”
“It’s for your safety,” he replies.
“My safety? Nobody here even knows who I am.” He ignores me, and I don’t know what it is, but his silence sparks something inside of me. I feel like his lack of acknowledgement is trying to tell me something; I just don’t know what.
I go back through the two sets of curtains to my seat on the balcony. The show has started, and Theo is sitting on one of the chairs watching the dancers on stage. I slip quietly into the seat next to him, and he places his hand on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze, leaning into me.
“Are you alright?” he whispers. I don’t reply. I can’t. I just nod and watch the dancers through silent tears that seem to be slipping down my cheeks with quiet fury. My fingers play with the diamond necklace around my neck, the gift that suddenly feels like a shackle.