Page 19 of The Price of a Promise

“At least we agree on that,” I told him.

“Fine.We’ll table the grandchildren for a later meeting,” Jeffrey conceded.“But we can’t let the future of this Margulis-Rossberg merger get away from us.That’s why we need to act now.Look at all this talent around us.All this opportunity.We’d be negligent to let it slip away.”

Dinner churned forward, punctuated with Asian pear salads, lamb shank, expensive wine, and unending chatter about business.The attention turned from my childbearing and business merger potential, thankfully, but Eli buzzed with interest at my side and it was all I could do not to tell him to fuck off.That was Axel’s influence, no doubt—he had a way with words, but he did not hesitate to scrap the finesse and resort to a good oldfuck offwhen necessary.

When the chardonnay and lamb shanks were tucked away inside me, I saw my chance to snag my handbag and head for the bathroom.Curiosity clawed at me, wondering if Axel had replied.I excused myself, grabbed my purse, and bolted for the ladies room.

Inside the mauve and taupe tiled paradise, where fragrance oils gave the mundane a touch of the elegant, I leaned against the wall and scrolled through my phone.

AXEL: Babe, where are you?

AXEL: I need you.I need to see you.Like, NOW.

CORA: What’s wrong?Just saw these texts.I’m at dinner with my parents.

Three dots appeared on the screen as Axel typed.I wriggled with anticipation, gnawing on my upper lip.

AXEL: What’s on the agenda for after?I’ve got a surprise cooking.

CORA: Just tell me where to go and I’m there.I’ll figure it out.

After I had tucked my phone away and tinkled, I stared at my reflection in the oval mirror.I’d opted for a nude lip gloss to complement my sharp business dress.My dark brown hair was gathered to one side, obscuring the hint of a bruise Axel had left on my neck last night.I’d covered it well with concealer, but one could never be too cautious in these situations.

I smirked at my reflection as I dried my hands.Shivers raced through me, remembering how Axel had bitten his way up my spine, across the underside of my breasts, and to the fleshy parts of my neck.He’d left no part of me untouched last night.I was still trapped in the fantasy of last night as I left the bathroom, hardly aware of my surroundings until I crashed into someone.

Eli, to be exact.

“Hey, sorry,” he said, gripping me by the sides of my arms.“I didn’t mean for you to run into me, though I can’t say I mind.”

“Maybe if you didn’t lurk outside of the women’s restroom, stuff like that wouldn’t happen,” I said, stepping away from him.He stepped with me, blocking the exit to the dining room.

“Can you blame me?You’re so hard to get, Cora.You love to play that game, don’t you?”

“I’m not playing a game, Eli,” I told him, my irritation ballooning to new heights.“I went to the bathroom, and now you’re in my way.”

“Can’t you just give me a chance?”he asked.Something in his tone broke through the irritation.He was being sincere, or as close to sincere as was possible for him.I’d known him since elementary school, but only from a distance.I didn’t know the terrains of his heart or what he acted like in his down time.This fleeting glimpse of vulnerability caught me off guard.

“A chance for what?”I asked.“You know perfectly well that I have a boyfriend.”

His eyes sharpened.“Has he proposed to you?”

“No.”I swallowed.“Not yet.Why?”

“Then he’s not going to.Besides, there’s nothing that says we can’t talk about ourownfuture,” Eli pressed on.“That kid can’t handle a woman like you.I can.Promise me you’ll give me a chance.”

I rolled my eyes.“You know nothing about my boyfriend and what he plans to do.But sure.In the alternate universe where I’m somehow dissatisfied with the love of my life, yeah, I’d give you a chance.”I held up my palm as I edged past him, creating a barrier between his intentions and my body.

I didn’t make it five steps before Eli called out to me.

“You know I could have him ruined, right?”

I turned to look at him.“Are you really that hard up, Eli?You don’t need to do that.In fact, you don’t need me at all.Just go find a girlfriend, literally anyone else.”

His jaw flexed, a smile tugging at his lips.“You know it just turns me on when you play hard to get.”

I expelled a frustrated sigh and turned on my heel.That was the last thing I cared about.“See you at the table.”

But Eli’s words followed me closely.

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