Everything You Want: Everything For You Trilogy 2 (22 page)

“Haven’t you forgotten something?” he asks.

I look round at the violin on the bed. The luggage hasn’t arrived yet. “I don’t think so.” I’m hesitant. It’s clear he’s directing my attention to something in particular, in his own cryptic way.

He appears disappointed. Possibly even annoyed. He’s so changeable I can’t tell what he’s thinking half the time. If I operate on the premise that he’s mad at me for something, I’m usually not far wrong. I remember bashing his car which I haven’t owned up to yet. Is that it?

“I’m sorry Jack for whatever I’ve done or not done but I really have no idea what you’re annoyed about this time.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Clearly you’ve forgotten already we’re meant to be engaged.”

My head hasn’t stopped whirling with the whole torturous scheme since he told me. “When’s the press conference?” I suppose we need to get our stories straight.

“Later this morning. I thought we’d get it over and done with as soon as possible.”

So he can forget me faster or before I chicken out of going along with the charade? I widen my eyes in horror. “I’m not ready.”

“Exactly.” He steps towards me. “Just as well I’m here to make sure you will be.”

He lifts my hand and I’m so hypnotised by the blue eyes sparking, I don’t notice what he is doing until he’s slipped the huge diamond onto my finger again. I glance down at its unaccustomed weight. Immediately it provokes feelings of hurt rejection. I try to remove my hand from his to take it off but he won’t release me.

“Leave it,” he demands. “Don’t you think people will expect to see one?”

“There’s no-one here yet.”

“Lenuta’s here. Blackstock’s here.”

My eyes fly to the closed door. They were here when he announced our engagement. But surely he can’t imagine Lenuta or Blackstock would sell our lies to the press.

“Don’t they know the truth?”

“What, that it’s all an invention? No. They really think we’re engaged. Lenuta thinks I bullied you into it. Blackstock probably thinks you’re insane agreeing. Besides I asked them not to repeat anything yet. Why make things worse? But people will expect to see a ring on your finger. They might even expect you to be happy about it. I’ll damn well make sure they get one of the two.”

He’s irate, yet this whole thing was his idea. “Sorry, Jack. I should have thought.” I don’t want to argue. He’s unhappy enough about having to go through with this without me making it any more difficult for him. “Of course they’ll expect to see a ring. I’ll go talk to Lenuta.”

“Leave Lenuta to me.”

“I wasn’t going to reveal the truth. I’ll keep up the pretence.”

“When we’re in public you’re going to have to pretend a lot of things you don’t feel.”

That stings. If there’s any moment I want to throw myself into his arms and tell him I really do love him with all my soul, it’s this one. But when I look in his eyes all I see is anger, irritation and disappointment. There’s simply no way I’m strong enough to put myself through another rejection right now. Or see his pity; hear his cruel laughter as he tells me there’s no woman on earth he would less want to be shackled to for life.

“I can pretend as long as you can.” The lie chokes me.

“Exactly what I thought.” He grazes my cheek gently with the back of his knuckles, looking almost wistful. Perhaps he’s concerned about my feelings after all.

“Your belongings have been taken to my bedroom.”

I look around. Everywhere is clean and tidy as I would expect with a housekeeper. But then more detail becomes apparent. There’s nothing of mine on show. It looks like the empty guest bedroom I slept in on my first night here. I open a drawer where I know I left things. I turn to the walk-in wardrobe.

“It’s empty,” he tells me. “Everything is in my walk-in.”

“When did you arrange this?”

“I asked Lenuta to organise it as soon as I announced our engagement.”

A week ago. What else has he planned, executed and failed to tell me about? I wheel round to face him. “You
have
been busy.”

“I intend to manage the situation.”

“Situation? I suppose that’s a vast improvement on mess.”

“I’m being practical. You do realise it’s the twenty-first century. How many engaged couples don’t sleep together? The press will be here later and I’m not leaving them in any doubt.”

“You’ve already made certain we’ve done plenty of
sleeping together
since our engagement. That bit won’t be a lie.” I’m wounded to think it might have been a callous plan for authenticity all along. Actually, I feel sickened by the thought. Yet it doesn’t make sense. Surely we only need to pretend in public. I recall his kiss on the plane and touch my fingers to my lips. They’re still bruised and tender. Just how far is he willing to take things? “Sex is part of this deal?” I’m shocked. Not only has he arranged our public betrothal without my knowledge, he’s expected me to give him the benefits that go along with it without even a certificate of legitimacy at the end. “You’re beyond belief.”

So am I, acting like I don’t want him that way.

He takes hold of my upper arms and moves in close. I feel the hot breath flow over me in a rush. “You were happy enough to have sex with me before you knew.” His voice sounds gravelly. I was right. He anticipates us continuing a physical relationship now we’re back in London.

It confirms I was the only one making love. He uses the other word: sex. “That’s before I knew what a control freak you are.”

“Is that all it is?” He takes my mouth in another punishing kiss.

I’m affected by his demands immediately. I know I’ll be lost in an instant if I let him do this. He’s powerful and demanding and beginning to overwhelm me. I struggle and turn my head aside. “Don’t Jack.”

He releases me abruptly. “Sorry.” He claws his hands through his hair and relaxes the knot on his tie, flipping open his top shirt button. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He looks almost like the same angry tormented man I fled a week ago. I wish I hadn’t promised him I wouldn’t run again. It might be better for everyone if I got right away this minute.

He releases a hard sigh. “If I’m so hateful to you I won’t touch you again. You have my word. But you’re sleeping in my bedroom, with me, until this is all over.” He strides out without looking back.

“I don’t hate you.” I whisper the words, stunned, but I know he doesn’t hear them. I’m left alone with a showy diamond and a false promise. I think we might yet manage to hurt each other without really meaning to.

Jack isn’t in his room when I go there so I lie on the bed for a bit. I feel so weary of everything. The next thing I know Jack is shaking me gently.

“Wake up, Tabitha.”

I open my eyes, look up and everything comes rushing back into my mind. He’s changed out of his business suit and is wearing smart casuals. I wonder how long he’s been in here. Did he watch me while I slept?

“What time is it?” My voice is rough with sleep as I drag myself up onto one elbow.

He brushes the hair back from my face. “It’s only eleven but they’re setting up outside already. We’re giving the first press conference at noon.” He hands me a glass of water and I drink it gratefully. “Do you think you can be ready by then?”

I flop back onto the bed and hold up the hand with the diamond to show him.

“That’s what I thought.”

My eyes move to his at his regretful tone. “I’m sorry we have to do this Jack.”

“You said.”

He moves so slightly I can’t be sure but I think he goes to kiss me again and stops himself. Perhaps he’s sorry too. This feels so lonely I reach out to touch his cheek but he jumps up as if my fingers might burn him. I don’t understand how things have sunk to this. Perhaps I should tell him how I really feel. Don’t we both deserve that much honesty? Perhaps he wouldn’t be too unkind in his rejection, if he knew and then I can put him from my mind forever. Move on.

“I’d better go keep an eye on proceedings.” He moves to the door.

“What exactly are we going to tell them, Jack?”

He stares at me so long before answering I wonder if he even has an answer to that.

“Stick as close to the truth as possible for your conscience. I’ll say the rest.” He leaves.

It’s your conscience you need to worry about, Jack, I think. If I tell them I love you, it won’t be one word of a lie.

I shower to freshen up and clear my head and search through the shared walk-in, wondering which of these lovely clothes I should wear to send the right message. I hear more people arrive and figure out it will satisfy Jack if I’m seen emerging from his bedroom so I wrap my damp hair in a towel, tie a robe around me and peek out to catch his eye.

I spot Jack across the room, hidden out of sight of people setting up the interview behind the huge central fireplace. His back is turned and he’s talking quietly to someone, his head lowered to them. I can’t see who it is as Jack’s well over six feet tall and broad shouldered but I get the most uncomfortable feeling. When the pair of purple manicured claws slip over his shoulders, I stiffen in disbelief.

Amanda Devereaux.

I’m instantly alert; mouth dry, heart pounding.

What the hell business does she have being here? Is this Jack’s way of reassuring her, his feelings for her haven’t changed in the slightest, even if he has to go through this diabolical parody with me?

Chapter Ten

I watch, shocked senseless, as they manoeuvre enough for me to witness the whole awful scene. She rises on tiptoe, snakes her arms round Jack’s neck, pulling him tight against her. Her mouth instantly touches his.

I can’t move. Some evil force compels me to stare despite the heartbreak it inflicts. I physically hurt. It is one thing to suspect something but quite another to be confronted by it and this confirms all my fears. Jack and Amanda are together. He’s using me.

Everyone hears the tortured sound that escapes my lips at the same time. My hand flies to my mouth but it’s too late to stop it.

Jack turns and sees me in the doorway. I no longer care about being discrete. I presume the look of abject horror on my face matches the one in my head as several of the technicians turn first to me and then towards the place I’m staring. Of course, all they see is a fireplace. They cannot see what I see. That would be a fine story for their newspapers. Brand new fiancée jilted in cruel public display of infidelity.

Jack’s so in love with her he would jeopardise his own plans for damage limitation. He whispers to her, drawing her arms from his neck. She nods at him but I notice her claws still claim him until the very last moment. He strides towards me and I flee back inside the bedroom but not before I see the look of triumph in her eyes. She’s achieved what she wanted to, I’m sure of it.

My devastation.

As always Amanda is dressed to kill and perfectly flawless. Her hair has been professionally styled. She’s a woman going all out to hold the attentions of a man. She wants me to be in no doubt that Jack belongs to her.

Jack closes the bedroom door behind him and watches me warily as I yank the towel from my damp hair. It falls in limp strands over my shoulders as different from Amanda’s as it’s possible to imagine.

“That would have spoiled your devious little plot if anyone had seen the two of you.”

He looks furious. “They didn’t.”

How dare he be angry with me? “How convenient.” I imagine I wasn’t supposed to have seen either. “What the hell is she doing here? To say the least it’s risky.” I still pretend I don’t know what’s really going on between them. Or care.

“I didn’t expect her to come.”

“Then why did she? Won’t it be a bit hard to lie to the press in front of her?”

His features darken in anger. “Just say if you’ll find the lies easier with her gone and I’ll ask her to leave.”

I’m incredulous. He refers to
my
lies. What about his? How can he stand there and pretend he loves me and wants to marry me, with his girlfriend looking on? He’s one cool customer, that’s for sure. If that’s what you need to be an effective CEO, I’m dead in the water.

The only retaliation I have is assumed indifference. Why should I hand either of them my pain on a plate? “Let her stay. Why should I care?” Let her feel a fraction of what I felt watching him kiss her, when she hears him lie about his feelings for me.

“Exactly. Why should you?” His Arctic eyes glitter with ice-cold animosity.

He doesn’t that’s for sure. “I’m just surprised you’d want her to witness it, that’s all.”

“She came to wish us luck with the press. See if she could help.”

I scoff and sit heavily on the bed.

“I don’t know why you don’t like her. She’s done plenty to help you. She’s a friend.”

What an easy liar Jack is. He must think I’m completely naïve. “She’s no friend of mine.”

He looks at me like I’m crazy. “She’s been very supportive. As soon as we got backed into a corner over those photographs, she offered to help.”