Page 92 of King of Deception

“Alex?” I whispered.

“I insist.” Philip’s commanding grip got a hold of my friend’s will, leading him gently toward the backseat of the stretch limo.

I, on the other hand, was left alone with Abel’s magnetic effect that had me quietly gasping for breath. When he came nearer, I automatically took a step back. The wounded look in his eyes pulled the words out of my mouth, and they hurt like what I imagined labor pains would feel like.

“You’ll have to forgive me,” I said almost breathlessly. “I’m not sure I know who you are at all.”

“You know me, Ella,” he said with a low voice. “You just didn’t know how much I’m worth.”

“That’s a big deal,” I let my determination not to cry take over every muscle of my body.

“Would you at least walk with me?” He gestured through the open gates.

I was apprehensive and unsure of what Abel would have to say to me. But Alex had abandoned me, and I thought I might as well ‘face the loss’ and ‘embrace the grief.’ Maybe this talk would give me the closure I never knew I needed.

So I accepted.

As we delved deeper into the labyrinth that was his garden, I felt my body begin to relax. The sweet fragrance of flowers and freshly cut grass seeped through my nose, refreshing my lungs and giving them reason to inhale deeply.

A few minutes passed in complete silence before I decided to jump for the promised prize… finality.

“Nathan made it clear that you paid for his services,” I started. “I wanna pay you back.”

“Did he say that?” he kept his eyes ahead.

“He implied it.”

“I thought so because it’s not entirely accurate. Nathan’s firm charges my company—a retainer fee for all legal services.”

“I don’t work for your company.”

“It includes personal assistance.”

“I’m not your… person,” the last word came out in a whisper as I tried to ignore the lump in my throat. Regaining my composure, I pushed up my chin. “Why did you lie to me, Abel?”

“Technically—”

“Getting off on a technicality is beneath you, Abel Drakos. It’s also insulting to my intelligence. So, please, just be straight with me.”

“Wow,” his chuckle came out more like a strained exhale.

“Yeah. I’m cruel. Believe what you will.”

“I never said that.”

“It’s the other things you never said that I’m interested in.” Stopping, I turned to face him. He was standing awfully close, and I could smell him. The proximity was torturing me, so I took a step back. “C’mon, Abel. If this is the last time we’ll ever talk, then be real for once. Fuck it, right? It’s over.”

“I don’t want it to be.”

Tilting my head, I frowned so hard that the crease between my eyebrows hurt. “What do you think is gonna happen? That I’m just gonna forget? You made a fool out of me, God!” Shaking my head, I looked away. “To think of all the ways you played with words. Said things that held two meanings. Very clever, bravo.” I paused, linking eyes with his. “Yes, Abel, technically, you didn’t really lie. Which makes me so much angrier with myself.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Wow,” I tittered, shaking my head as I took another step further. “It’s not like you knocked over my cup of coffee, Abel. You gotta have something better to say to me.”

Clutching his hands into an intertwined fist, he held them in a ball in front of his nose. “Right. You want the truth. Here’s what I’m thinking…”

I held my breath and watched as his whole body language shifted.

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