Page 44 of Ensnared
Chapter 17
I bolted from the room, my breath coming in quick, shallow bursts as I sprinted down the hallway. My mind was a blur of panic and determination. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I had to get away from him. From the man who had chosen me, who had claimed me, who had just shown me exactly what that meant.
Reaching my room, I slammed the door behind me and twisted the lock with trembling fingers. For a moment, I just stood there, leaning against the door, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The reality of what had just happened hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt my knees buckle as I slid down to the floor.
But I couldn’t let myself break. Not now. Not when I had to face him again in just a few hours.
I stayed in my room, curled up on the bed, until it was time to meet the caterer. I should have dressed nicely—put on one of the elegant dresses Colson would want me to wear—but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not after what had happened. Not after the way he had treated me.
Instead, I grabbed a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, pulling them on without even bothering to check how I looked. I didn’t care. Let him be angry. Let him see that I wasn’t going to play his perfect little puppet today.
When I finally left my room, I felt a cold, steely resolve settle over me. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower. Not today.
Colson was already waiting when I arrived at the dining room where the caterer had set up. He looked me up and down, his jaw tightening at the sight of my casual attire. Good. Let him seethe.
The caterer was a young woman with a polite smile, setting out an array of tasting options for us to try. I could feel Colson’s eyes on me, burning with anger, but I ignored him, focusing on the food in front of me.
“Shall we begin?” the caterer asked, her voice cheerful as she gestured to the first dish.
I barely glanced at it before wrinkling my nose. “No, that doesn’t look appealing.”
The caterer hesitated, clearly taken aback, but she quickly recovered and moved on to the next dish. I could see Colson’s knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the table, his patience wearing thin.
“How about this one?” the caterer asked, her voice a little less confident this time.
I leaned forward, pretending to scrutinize it before shaking my head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Colson’s anger simmering, but I refused to acknowledge it. After this morning,I didn’t care how furious he got. I wasn’t going to be the docile, obedient fiancée he expected me to be.
The tasting continued, and with each dish, I found something to criticize, some reason to reject it. The caterer’s smile grew strained, and I knew I was making this more difficult than it needed to be. But I couldn’t stop. This was my small rebellion, my way of pushing back against Colson’s control.
Finally, Colson couldn’t take it anymore. “Judy, will you excuse us please?” Once she stepped out of the room, he leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous. “What do you think you’re doing, Josephine?”
I turned to him, meeting his gaze with a defiant lift of my chin. “I’m deciding what I like,” I replied coolly, even as my heart raced in my chest.
His eyes narrowed, and I could see the fury blazing in them. “You’re being difficult on purpose.”
“Am I?” I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “I thought you wanted me to have a say in the wedding.”
For a moment, I thought he might lose it right there, but instead, he straightened, his expression hardening into a mask of coldness. “You’ve had your say, Josephine. Now let the adults handle the rest.”
I stormed out of the room, Colson's words echoing in my ears like a cruel taunt. My heart raced as I tried to maintain my composure, determined not to let him see how deeply his words had cut. This battle was far from over.
As I rose from my chair, Judy re-entered the room. I shoved the seat roughly into the table, the scraping sound a small outlet for my frustration.
"Where are you going?" Colson's voice carried a hint of surprise and irritation.
I turned, meeting his gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. "You don't need me here," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I have things to do. Pick whatever you want."
Without waiting for a response, I hurried from the room, my destination clear in my mind, the library, my sanctuary in this gilded cage. As I rushed down the hallway, my mind raced. I knew there would be consequences for my defiance, but in that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care.
Lost in thought, I nearly collided with Vaughn as he came down the hall, dressed in crisp tennis whites. His hands shot out, steadying me, his fingers lingering on my bare arms in a way that made me uncomfortable.
"Where are you going so fast?" he asked, his eyes searching my face.
I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure. "I'm looking for cover," I admitted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
Understanding dawned in Vaughn's eyes. "Colson?"
