Page 14 of His to Possess
He raises an eyebrow. “You might want something stronger for the conversation we’re going to have.”
I swallow, nerves returning. “I thought you were too tired to talk tonight.”
He smirks a little and man, I still love the way the corners of his eyes crinkle up when he looks amused.
“I was reinvigorated by the drive home,” he says drily. “Besides, there are some things that can’t wait until tomorrow.”
That doesn’t sound like a very fun time for me. I follow him to the kitchen, accepting the glass of red wine he hands me. I expect him to pour some for himself as well, but he instead reaches for a bottle of whiskey.
“How scared should I be that you need hard liquor to get through this discussion?”
He sighs, collapsing onto the kitchen bar stool. It’s the closest I’ve ever seen him to looking disheveled. Philip is a man who always,alwaysexudes control. Now he looks tired and stressed and more than a little frustrated.
He rubs a hand over his face. “Lilah, what on earth were you thinking tonight?”
I swallow past the lump in my throat, hating how disappointed he sounds. I hadn’t thought about this part—hadn’t considered what would happen if anyone in my life found out what I was planning. It hadn’t seemed like much of an issue. Who did I possibly know who frequented a club like that?
My best friend’s older brother, apparently.
I look up at him and realize he’s studying my face. When he speaks again, his voice is soft, almost gentle. “You’re afraid of something, aren’t you?”
That lump thickens in my throat as I nod. I’ve been afraid for so long.
He makes a strange motion then, his hands rising from his thighs before he clenches them into fists and shoves them into his pockets. It almost looked like he was about to reach for me, but that’s a silly way to think. He made it very clear at the club that his interest in me is purely platonic.
“Please tell me what has you so scared.” When I can’t force words past my lips, he stands. “I can help you, Lilah.”
I want to believe that his words are true. If I just come clean to him right now, could he magically make all my troubles disappear? Looking around the sweeping space of his penthouse, it almost seems like it might be possible. The living room wall is lined with massive picture windows, and the city sparkles brightly in every direction. From this point high in the sky, it feels like Philip is some benevolent god with the power to control everything that happens to the mere mortals below us.
But no one knows better than I do that there are many powerful men in this world, and not all of them have good intentions. Philip might have the money to get me out of trouble, but what would he expect in return? In my experience, money from men always comes with conditions.
I take a deep breath. “I’m not going to tell you why I need the money.”
His eyes flash. “Lilah—”
I hold up a hand. “I can only hope that after knowing me for so long, you’ll realize that I must have a very good reason to do something so drastic.”
He scowls. “Does my sister know what’s going on?”
My stomach drops. Veronica taking a gap year in Europe has been the only stroke of luck in this whole mess. It’s a lot easier to lie to my best friend when she’d on the other side of an ocean.
I cross toward him without thinking, hands extended in supplication. “Please don’t tell her, Philip. Veronica doesn’t know anything. Shecan’tknow anything.”
He sighs. “Well, at least I don’t have to wring her neck for not stopping you.”
“I wouldn’t have let her stop me,” I say softly.
He studies my face for a long moment. “You’re really not going to tell me anything? I’m supposed to just let it go?”
“You’re supposed to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
He jumps up from the stool, pacing the kitchen in front of me. I’m reminded strongly of a caged panther, energy and tension seeming to coil in his every muscle, just waiting for the flame to make it all explode. “How am I supposed to trust you on this?” he asks. “You clearly don’t have anycluewhat you’re doing!”
Annoyance flickers through me. “You don’t get to make that assumption.”
He throws up his hands. “Of course I can! You tried to auction off your virginity tonight, Lilah! Do you have any idea what could have happened?”
“You act like I went into this totally blind!” I shoot back. “I talked to a friend who did it last year, she told me what to expect. There was a contract—”
