Chapter 59 #3
The hint of mistrust in Arnold's lowered, fragile voice made me look back at the man in whose presence I didn't want any woman in the world to be.
For the first time since I had known him, he didn't seem like the iron-fisted director. No. He seemed small, old, frail.
I thought I detected a trace of unease in his eyes, but a shadow quickly settled over his wrinkled face, so I was sure I had only imagined it.
“The weeds that grew when you thought you had everything in your garden under control.”
A satisfied smile spread across my lips as I stepped back with a triumphant feeling in my chest, certain that it was the most genuine smile in the room.
“Your line of succession will end with Davian.”
There was nothing more to say. Nothing that could protect me from their piercing glares of anger.
Arnold seemed completely thrown off balance, so I took advantage of the moment to turn away from the two of them, and, with their eyes burning into my bare back, walked up the semi-circular staircase, where I leaned against the railing, keeping a little distance between myself and the other guests while clutching my blue velvet clutch tightly.
Cheri Cheri Lady
Modern Talking
I could still feel their eyes on me, but I let my gaze drift to the dance floor, where I spotted Tony whirling Lara around with a grin on his face. She grinned back, seeming carefree. At least for that moment.
The friendship she had with my brother seemed to do her more good than the one she had with me. Nonetheless, she lied to him for me.
Swallowing, I looked down at my clutch, but as soon as my thoughts drifted too far into the dark, I forced my gaze back to the dance floor until I spotted Davian with Brittany.
She seemed reserved, smiling at him more shyly than I was used to seeing her do, while he avoided her gaze and stared into the void.
He seemed more absent than usual. As if he weren't really there mentally. And it did something to me, now that I knew what he had kept in his nightstand.
Brittany talked to him, which eventually made him look at her.
Something in my stomach knotted.
It's just a meaningless dance.
“Everyone in this room knows him. Every man envies him for his career success. Every woman stares at him because they hope for a place in his bed. And he? He decides to dance with this slut who could be his daughter.”
Startled, I turned my head to the blonde woman in her thirties with high cheekbones and blue eyes framed by black mascara, who definitely stood out next to me in her glittering gold dress – which hugged her hourglass figure so perfectly that she looked like a goddess – and yet somehow fit perfectly into this society.
She looked down at the dance floor. Her gaze, judgmental.
His daughter? How old did she think they were?
“Brittany is twenty-six. Davian is forty-two.”
The woman looked back at me.
“You know this man?”
There was mistrust in her voice. The same mistrust that was building up in my chest.
A large emotional part of me wanted to make it clear to her that this man was close to me, that he meant a lot to me.
“He's my mentor,” was all I could manage, my gaze fixed on him. The most beautiful man in the room. And he looked around as if searching for something.
“So you are the girl with a death wish who dared to enter the lion’s den of Maplecrest Law School.”
“That's me.”
My gaze continued to wander around the room, trying not to stare at Davian, because this woman seemed to be very observant.
Instead, I spotted Monica staring at me, clutching her glass as if she had seen a ghost.
Breaking Point
Ahmet Kenan Bilgic, Turgut Mavuk
“He'll train you well,” sighed the woman next to me.
“But I seriously doubt that law is the reason you're letting him train you.” Caught out, I looked at her, but she continued to stare at Davian.
“That man is too old for you, sweetheart.
And he's definitely not going to risk his career for such a young, naive thing.”
There was so much I needed to say to protect Davian, but the words refused to come out.
She seemed to notice, because she turned to me.
“Know your place if you want to climb the ladder in this society.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away, heading down the stairs.
My gaze wandered back to Davian, and I held my breath when our eyes locked.
There was something in his expression that made me feel uneasy.
Shock.
He had stopped dancing and his eyes were now fixed on the blonde woman.
Brittany followed his gaze.
Who was this woman?
“What is that bitch doing here?”
I flinched when Monica appeared beside me, staring after the blonde woman before downing her Cosmopolitan.
The woman continued down the stairs and was immediately surrounded by men.
“Who is that?”
Monica placed her glass on a butler's tray without taking her eyes off the blonde diva.
“The woman who ruined Davian's life. Lily Chester.”
Whenever I encounter her unexpectedly,
something about her presence petrifies me.
A feeling so strange and yet so familiar.
Like a puzzle piece that fits precisely
into the last empty gap in my mind.
As if she were déjà vu.
– Leaking Batteries Diary