Page 16 of Brix

She glared at him, practically seething with hate and anger.

“You will be kind to them, or you will leave. I’ve agreed to host this ridiculous gala, but so help me God, if you do one thing out of line, I will end you.”

Dierdre straightened her dress, buttoning the jacket. It was an absurdly expensive Dior suit that she didn’t need. There were twenty more upstairs that still had the tags on them. But she wanted it. She deserved it.

Grabbing her clutch, she picked up the car keys and headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I’m having dinner with some of the ladies in London. I’ll be back late. Don’t wait up for me.”

“Dierdre?” he called out to her.

She stopped, slowly turning with a sweet smile on her face. For a moment, he remembered with fondness the day they met near Oxford.

She was wearing these sexy, tight-cropped white pants with a little black sweater that accentuated her curves. Her beautiful skin and smile made him stop in his tracks, staring at the strange young woman. She was just standing outside the gates as if she were lost.

“Do you have something to say, or may I leave now?” she snapped.

Suddenly, he realized how much he disliked his wife. How much she’d changed from the pretty young girl with the big brown eyes and mocha-colored skin to an old, bitter woman. She was still attractive, but there was nothing pretty about her.

“Remember my words, Dierdre. I have the clout and friends to ruin you.” She stared at him for a long moment, then smiled.

“Of course, dear.”

“I’ve been waiting for an hour. Where have you been?” snapped the man.

“Don’t yell at me. I’ve had enough of that from my husband and daughter today,” she sneered.

“Well, is she coming?”

“She’s coming. With her new husband and his entire family,” she scoffed. “I’ll be overrun with Americans. Rude, obnoxious, uncouth Americans! I can only imagine what they’ll be wearing to my event. I’ll be the laughing stock of everyone.”

“I hate Americans,” said the man. “Will they be staying at the manor house?”

“Dear lord, no,” she said, clutching her pearls. “They’ll get rooms elsewhere.”

“I need to know where. I need to speak to her alone and convince her of what a colossal mistake this has all been. I need her, Dierdre, if this is all going to work.”

“I am well aware of what you need,” she said with a tight-lipped expression. “You seem to forget that I get to it all first. Not you.”

“Tell me, Dierdre,” he smirked. “What made you such a cold-hearted, ruthless bitch? You have money. You have the huge mansion and all the property. You’ve got status. You should be happy, but you’re not. Why?”

“Why? What an absurd question. Because there is more. So much more.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The old castle had been converted years ago into a private hotel. The four turrets with spiral stone stairs led to three rooms on each side of the castle, plus the other rooms scattered about the main floors.

There were just enough rooms for everyone on the team and their wives, which made the owner very happy. A lifelong friend of Daphne’s, he and his partner were thrilled that she was home for the fall gala.

“You’ve been missed, Daph, darling,” said Heath.

“I haven’t been gone that long,” she smiled, kissing his cheeks. “Heath, Timothy, this is my husband, Brixton Slater.”

“Oh my,” smiled Timothy. “I wouldn’t have returned to England either. You are quite delicious.”

Brix laughed, shaking his head, and shook the man’s hand. He winced from the pressure, and Brix immediately apologized.

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