Page 91 of Darkest Deception

To satisfy his need?

Is that why he didn’t want to fuck me?

Does being secretive about our pleasures while hating each other, a reckless thing to do?

Especially for someone like me, whom no one has ever spoken softly to?

For someone who lost her virginity, then never went within arm’s reach of another man again?

Helia may as well be my first. No man has touched me a second time. I never let them. My life never let me. My priorities were different.

Instead of drowning in alcohol or sex, I found myself constantly on the move to better Glamorous, to look over my shoulder in case someone was planning to overthrow me, to looking out for Aurora and making sure she was safe.

And I never realised that maybe I needed time for myself, too.

I lost too much of myself to the point where I don’t know what I want except to have Glamorous under my control.

Now, as I stand beside Helia at Remo’s new product launch event, I think about exactly what position I am in.

Vulnerable.

Then why does my heart refuse to push Helia away?

Why can’t I deny him when he asks?

Where is my strength when his eyes look over at me and my heart skips a beat?

What is happening to me?

28

I am more than ready to admit everything.

More than ready to gather Ambrose into my arms to keep her there forever.

It doesn’t matter that no one finds comfort in darkness; I know my emerald will.

I walk into the office and notice that Ambrose’s desk is empty. A frown makes its way onto my face as I enter my office, only to stop short when I see her on her way out.

She looks at me, then her eyes dart away and she walks past me like nothing has ever happened between us. Her strong perfume was a reminder of last night. It’s stronger at the junction of her neck, where I’d pressed my face, breathing her in, unable to entirely get my fill.

My hands twitch at my sides, wanting to grab her and place her on the desk in front of me.

The soft click of the door shutting fills the silence, and my eyes find my coffee on the table next to a pile of folders. They should contain the pictures of models for the next volume. I will have to approve them for the marketing team.

We need to be there on set tomorrow.

Why does the silence in my office bother me right now?

The light outside on my left shifts my attention.

London’s skyline is clear as the clouds make way for the sun, slowly swimming away while a beautiful day rises for the people of London.

And yet, something is wrong. Something doesn’t feel right.

My shoes click on the floor as I walk over to grab the folder with the models, then I walk back out to find Ambrose sticking up papers on her board, a pencil in her mouth, frowning before changing the papers.

My eyes catch onto what she is doing, and I realise she is piecing together drafts of how she wants a specific spread to look like. I gave her this task because one thing I cannot ignore is how good Ambrose is at her work.

---