Page 24 of Enduring Promise

Michael’s chest puffed out, the arrogance becoming a second skin. “Well, it’s not for everyone,” he said with a modest chuckle that clearly wasn’t meant to be modest at all. “You have to be able to see the big picture while managing all the intricate details. Most people don’t have the capacity for that kind of thinking.”

Hillary’s gaze didn’t waver, and she let her lips part slightly, as though she were hanging on his every word. Russ, standing silently beside her, felt a knot tighten in his chest. He knew this was part of the plan—Hillary playing the sycophant to keep Michael talking—but the way she looked at the man, even if it was a ruse, made something hot and primal twist in his gut. Was he actually jealous?

He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on Michael’s incessant rambling. It occurred to him, with an absurd clarity, that this really was that easy. Was ego the Achilles heel of men, even the so-called brilliant ones? Just a little ego-stroking, a captive audience, and suddenly their guards were down, their hubris blinding them to everything else. God men were simple creatures... in the worst possible way.

Michael waved dismissively at a passing waiter, signaling for another drink without so much as a glance. The waiter scurried off, clearly used to this kind of treatment, and Russ couldn’t help but bristle at the display.

“We should step outside for a bit,” Michael said abruptly, turning back to Claire. “It’s stifling in here, and I could use some air. Let’s go for a walk.”

Claire hesitated, glancing at Hillary and Russ with panic. Before she could speak, Hillary’s voice cut through, smooth and cheerful. “That’s a lovely idea! Russ and I could use some fresh air too, couldn’t we?” She looped her arm through Russ’s, her smile unwavering.

Michael’s expression darkened for a fraction of a second, his lips pressing together as if to stop himself from saying something vile. But he recovered quickly, plastering on a polite smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was hoping for a little privacy.”

Hillary didn’t blink, her expression completely unbothered. “Oh, don’t mind us. We’ll keep our distance, of course. I love the gardens at night, don’t you?”

Michael looked between them, clearly annoyed but unwilling to cause a scene. “Fine,” he said finally, his tone clipped. “Shall we?”

Russ tightened his grip on Hillary’s arm as they followed Michael and Claire toward the door. The tension in the air was palpable, but Hillary moved with an effortless grace, her demeanor so calm and collected that it almost put Russ at ease. Almost.

CHAPTER 24

The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine from the estate gardens. Overhead, the moon hung low and full, casting a silver glow over the meticulously landscaped grounds. Gravel crunched softly beneath their feet as they strolled along the winding paths, the distant hum of the party barely audible now.

Hillary’s eyes darted to Claire, walking ahead with Michael, her posture perfectly poised. Claire played her role convincingly, nodding at Michael’s words and occasionally offering a soft laugh at something he said. To an outsider, they might have appeared like any other couple enjoying a quiet moment away from the party, but Hillary could feel the tension radiating from Claire with every measured step.

Russ walked beside Hillary, his hand resting protectively on her lower back as if ready to jump into action at the first sign of trouble. She leaned slightly closer to him and dropped her voice to a whisper. “You need to go back to the house.”

Russ turned his head sharply toward her, his brows knitting in confusion. “What? Why?”

“You’re a barrier,” she explained quietly, her gaze fixed on Michael’s back. “He’s putting on a performance right nowbecause you’re here. He’s holding back because he sees you as a threat. If we want him to let his guard down, to feel completely in control, you can’t be here.”

Russ’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening. “I’m not leaving you two alone with him. That’s insane.”

Hillary stopped walking for a moment, forcing Russ to pause with her. She turned to face him, her eyes firm and unyielding. “You have to trust me. I’ve litigated cases against men far worse than Michael. I know how to handle him. But you being here only makes it harder for Claire to pull this off.”

Russ opened his mouth to argue, but Hillary cut him off, her tone softening.

“Russ, I need you to trust me. This is what I do. I know how these men think, how they operate. Michael needs to feel like there’s no threat to him at all. Let me do this.”

For a long moment, Russ said nothing, his eyes searching hers as though weighing the risk. Finally, he exhaled sharply and nodded, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice low. “But if anything feels off, you get out of there. I mean it.”

“I will,” Hillary promised, her hand briefly brushing his arm. “Go back to the house. Make up an excuse—say you need to make a call to the office or something.”

Russ hesitated one last time before reluctantly stepping forward. “I’ll go,” he said tersely, his gaze flicking toward Michael and Claire. “But I don’t like this.”

As Russ approached Michael, the man turned slightly, a smug smile playing on his lips. “Heading back in?” Michael asked, his tone casual but laced with condescension. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on the girls.”

Hillary’s jaw clenched, but she kept her expression neutral. “We’re fine,” she said lightly, looping her arm through Claire’s as if to emphasize their solidarity. “We’ll stay on the path.”

Russ shot Michael a pointed look but bit back whatever retort was on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he nodded curtly and turned toward the house, his back stiff with reluctance.

As his silhouette disappeared into the glow of the mansion, Hillary straightened her shoulders and took a steadying breath. “Let’s walk down to the barn,” she said to Michael, keeping her tone casual. “It’s quieter there.”

Michael smirked. “Lead the way,” he said, gesturing for them to continue.

The scent of charred wood and melted plastic grew stronger as they approached the barn’s remains. The once-pristine structure was now a skeletal ruin, its blackened beams jutting into the sky like jagged teeth. Smoke lingered in the air, mixing with the acrid smell of burnt rubber and hay.

Claire hesitated at the edge of the clearing, her hand tightening around Hillary’s arm. Michael stepped forward, surveying the scene with a detached concern.

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