Page 37 of Ensnared
My stomach churned with disgust, but I forced myself to stay calm. “There is no way in hell I would ever let you touch me,” I said, my voice steady but laced with fury. “You’re worse than your father. I would rather spend a lifetime with Colson than one night with you.”
Vaughn’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out. But instead, he straightened, his expression hardening into something colder, more calculating. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Joey. But you will. Soon enough, you’ll see I’m the one who should be by your side.”
“I’d rather die than let that happen,” I spat, standing up to face him. I refused to be intimidated by him, even as my heart raced in my chest.
Vaughn stared at me for a long, tense moment, his jaw clenched, before he finally turned and walked to the door. He paused, his hand on the doorknob, and glanced back at me with a chilling smile. “You’ll crawl into my bed eventually. You can bet on that.”
He unlocked the door and slipped out, leaving me standing there, my body trembling with anger and fear. I knew Vaughn wouldn’t give up easily, but I also knew I had to find a way to protect myself from him—and from the twisted game he was trying to play…Colson.
If I told him what Vaughn said and did, Vaughn would be cast out into the street. Colson would ruin him and though I would enjoy watching his demise, I preferred not to be in his line of fire.
I shut my mind off to the occurrences in the past twenty-four hours, Colson’s seduction, Simone’s attack and Vaughn’s request. I had a job to do and, in another hour, my day would get even busier with my lessons and dress fittings.
My lessons started like any other, with Velva guiding me through another round of lessons, her voice sharp but encouraging as she drilled proper posture and table etiquette into my head. But no matter how much I tried to focus, my mind kept wandering to the moment I’d finally try on wedding dresses with Evelina.
The thought filled me with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. I was going to choose the dress I’d marry Colson in—alone. The weight of that responsibility pressed down on me, making it difficult to concentrate on anything else.
By the time I joined Luke for our wine-tasting session, I was a mess of nerves. I swirled the glass in front of me, trying to recall the steps Velva had taught me, but my thoughts were miles away, envisioning lace and silk.
“Josephine, are you even listening?” Luke’s voice cut through my daydream, sharp and impatient.
I blinked, pulling myself back to the present. “I’m sorry, Luke. I just…”
“You need to focus,” he snapped, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t just for fun. When you’re married to Colson, you’ll be expected to manage these things. The wine selection is your responsibility when hosting events. You can’t afford to be distracted.”
I felt a lump form in my throat. His words hit hard, reminding me of the immense pressure I was under. I nodded, trying to push the anxiety down and pay attention, but it was no use. The joy I’d felt earlier was slipping away, replaced by a dull ache of inadequacy.
The session dragged on, each sip of wine a bitter reminder of my failure to stay focused. By the time it was over, I was more than ready to leave, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the dining room.
When I finally walked into the ballroom, my heart skipped a beat. Evelina and her assistant were busy setting up, the room filled with beautiful fabrics and intricate designs. The sight of it all was overwhelming, but nothing compared to the shock of seeing my mother standing there, waiting for me.
“Mom!” I breathed, my voice catching as I rushed to her.
She opened her arms, and I flew into them, burying my face against her shoulder. The familiar scents of the bakery clung to her—sugar, flour, a hint of cinnamon. It was like coming home after being lost in a storm.
“Oh, Joey,” she whispered, stroking my hair. “I missed you.”
I clung to her, inhaling deeply, letting the comfort of her presence wash over me. For a moment, the tension, the anxiety, everything just melted away. All that mattered was that she was here, and I wasn’t alone.
“I’m so glad to see you. How did you know?”
“Colson called the bakery and demanded that Jean Paul let me off early.”
“Josephine,” Evelina called. “Let’s get started.”
I stepped into the tent to try on the first dress, taking my time with the delicate fabric.
Evelina’s voice called out to me from behind the dressing tent. "Josephine, are you ready, darling? Let’s see how it looks."
I peeked out to see my mother sitting quietly on a plush chair nearby, her eyes warm and encouraging. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the tent, feeling the weight of the dress settle over me like a shroud.
The fabric was beautiful—soft ivory lace that trailed down into a long, flowing skirt. Tiny pearls were sewn into the bodice, and the neckline dipped just low enough to be alluring without being scandalous. It was a dress designed to make someone feel like a bride.
But not me.
Evelina clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up. “Oh, you look stunning, Josephine! Simply divine!” Her assistant nodded in agreement, adjusting the train behind me with precise, practiced movements.
I caught my reflection in the mirror and frowned. “It’s... pretty,” I said, my voice faltering.
