Page 28 of Desire

“You seem to know a lot about me. Far too much for just a dance partner. Whatever Elise has been telling you is all lies. She has an illness, and she needs help.” I bend down and pick up my bag before barging past him. I’m not going to listen to anything else he has to say. “My daughter is in danger, and what you’re doing is making it worse. You need to throw the dance this weekend and get her chucked out of the show. Then I can get my wife the help she needs,” Simon continues to shout at me as I walk down the corridor. His footsteps hurrying to keep up with me. “She hits our daughter. Do you want to be responsible for Elise harming her?”

I slam to a halt. Rage boils within me. I need to calm down.

Be sensible, Leo.

He’s doing this on purpose.

You know Elise.

You don’t doubt her for one minute.

If you reveal that you know about his abusive behavior, Elise could lose Izzy.

I’m almost at the main door to the building when I turn around slowly and drop my bag back down on the floor.

“You know what. Elise wouldn’t harm a single hair on Izzy’s head. I’ve seen them interact together, and they worship each other. You, on the other hand, I’ve serious doubts about. I’m not convinced you’re anything but an asshole. You’ve just proved to me you’re a liar who can’t leave hisex-wifealone. I know Elise a lot better than you because I grew up with her. I knew her for eighteen years, and despite a period of time apart, during which you somehow managed to destroy her confidence, she hasn’t changed at all. She hates lying and if she does feel the need to lie, she starts playing with her hair. She’s always been the same. She twists the strands around her fingers because she’s too honest and doesn’t like having to deceive anyone. I bet she did it loads around you just to keep you happy. Now, I’m telling you one final time to leave, or I’ll call the police and have you charged with trespassing. This is not a public studio. It’s open only to those who’ve rented it, so unless you’ve got a booking,get out!”

Maybe I let my temper loose a little bit too much, but I’m seriously pissed he would even dare to suggest Elise could hit Izzy. Her heart is the biggest I know, and she’s passed that overwhelming kindness onto her daughter.

My hands are shaking now. I’m on the verge of losing it, and I know I can’t. Simon is the sort of man who’ll twist it around for his benefit. He mustn’t know Elise has told me about how he abused her. I need to stay calm. I’ve said my piece. I just need him to leave.

“Idiot. You’re a complete fool to believe anything that bitch says. She doesn’t like sharing the limelight as you’ll see soon enough. She’ll eclipse you on this show, and you’ll lose everything. That’s what she was trying to do to me. She may be an Oscar nominated actress, but the truth is she’s a nobody from nowhere with no discernible talent at all. She only made it famous because she married me. I’m the real star, and I’ll prove it when I see her rotting back down in the gutter where she came from.” Simon leans into me. The heavy scent of too much aftershave wafts in my nose—it distracts me from the rage threatening to erupt in the form of a punch, which would no doubt shatter his perfect, plastic surgeon enhanced, nose. “You’ve had your warning. You’ve become fair game now and can join her in the gutter.”

Simon barges past me and out of the front door of the studio. The door slams back and hits me. I know I need to stay here, rooted to the spot, or I’ll hurt him. I’ve got so much anger coursing through my veins it feels like I’m on fire. What right has he got to say those things? Who does he think he is? He’s nothing but an abusive asshole with a bank balance that gives him an overinflated opinion of himself.

I take a few deep breaths before reaching down and picking up my bag once again. I have to get out of here. I need to go home and take a cold shower. Actually, no, I need to go to the gym for a while and lift weights, lots of heavy ones…no, scrap that, I wonder if there is a boxing facility near here where I can punch the hell out of a bag. I’ve got to do something. Anything to get rid of all this aggression.

I turn to leave when an ashen faced Elise appears at the door. She takes one look at me and runs.

Chapter 15

Elise

Realizing I’ve left my phone with Leo, I turn the car around and return to the studio. Izzy is staying the night at Natalie’s, so I need my phone to keep in contact with her. In addition, I don’t know if I’m going to see Leo later, and when I’m alone, I’m one of those people who would rather sit and read about random stuff on the internet than watch television.

What I don’t expect to see as I pull up to the dance studio is Simon leaving the building, his face red and with a stern expression on it. Getting out of the car, I keep to the shadows so he doesn’t notice me. What the hell is he doing here? I peer into the lobby and can see Leo standing there with his shoulders hunched over and his fists clenched. Whatever it is can’t be good. Once I’m sure Simon has definitely left, I race as quickly as I can into the dance studio. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out something bad has happened when I see Leo’s face. My first thought is for Izzy, and I run back to the car as quickly as possible. I don’t make it before Leo catches up to me and pulls me toward him. His bag smacks into my legs, and he drops it to the floor as I try desperately to get away from him.

“Izzy,” I cry, worrying that Simon is here for her.

He told me he would come, surely he can’t be planning on taking her. Damn it. What is he doing here?

As if sensing my fears, Leo pulls his phone from his bag and hands it to me.

“Call Natalie and warn her. It will be much quicker than driving. The number’s in there. She gave it to me in case of an emergency.”

“Thank you.” My hands tremble as I pull up her number and dial it. It takes a few seconds before she answers.

“Hello?”

“Natalie, it’s Elise.” My voice is shaky.

“What’s wrong?” she asks on the other end of the phone, her voice laced with concern.

“Simon…he was here. Is Izzy…?” I can barely form a sentence. Why was Simon here with Leo?

“Lucas,” I can hear Natalie shouting down the other end of the phone. “Get the children inside. Lock all the doors and put up the closed sign. We’re not open to any guests other than those booked in already for tonight.”

In the background, I can hear Lucas calling the children, and when I hear Izzy’s disappointed voice on the other end of the line, I let out a long sigh of relief.

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