Page 40 of Desire

“Cheeky, but I love you for it. Why don’t we get changed and go home? It’s getting late.”

Elise pulls Izzy into her arms. I just stand there smiling at them both.

“Another reason you’re a bad mother.” The deep timbered voice comes from somewhere near the stage. There are a lot of people milling around, so it takes a few seconds for me to locate its owner. The second I do, I step in front of Elise and Izzy. Lucas and Issac, who’d accompanied Natalie and Izzy in the audience, do the same. Leah is standing to the side of the stage, talking with a few executives.

“Leah, call security.”

Simon smirks as he stops in front of me. He’s accompanied by four cops.

“It’s okay, Leo. I brought my own protection. You don’t need to be concerned about my safety,” the smug actor retorts.

“Believe me, I wasn’t. I was thinking of the quickest way I could get you removed from the building.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not hanging around.” He tries to step around me to talk to Elise, but I stand in the way.

I shake my head,

“Not happening, you don’t get to talk to Elise. Leave now.”

Leah must have already called security because several large men in suits arrive. One of the police officers with Simon steps aside to talk to them while a number of the male professional dancers come and stand beside us as well. Another one of the policemen steps forward.

“Ms. Landry, is there somewhere a little more private we could talk.”

I don’t allow Elise to respond. I’m too quick with my own answer.

“Anything can be said here in front of witnesses. Mr. French is not allowed anywhere on his own with Miss Landry.”

“As you wish.” The police officer moves away.

Simon continues to give me a shit-eating grin as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He goes to hand it to Elise, who’s still hidden behind me with Izzy in her arms. I snatch it from him and hand it to Elise. I don’t want him to have the chance to get anywhere near her.

Elise opens the paper and starts to read. A few seconds later her legs give way, and I have to move like a bolt of lightning to catch her before she hits the floor.

“What does it say?” I question.

“He’s taking custody of Izzy.”

“He can’t do that.”

“I think you’ll find I can, Mr. Westwood,” Simon taunts.

I’m very close to smacking him in the face, but I know it will just cause more issues. Izzy screams and clings tightly to her mama as Natalie rushes forward and tries to comfort the little girl.

“You can’t do this!” Elise shouts. “You know you can’t.”

“I can. It’s all there in black and white. Due to the nature of your affair with Leo, you’re an unfit mother to our daughter, and a bad example for her. She’s going to be better off in my care. I was granted custody of her this afternoon.”

“No, you gave her to me.”

Simon leans forward to Elise.

Don’t hit him.

Don’t hit him!

“And now I’m taking her back.”

He nods to the police.

---