Page 26 of Entwined
I smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, you are my stepson. I think it’s only fair you know where I live.”
He chuckled, a sound that was almost foreign to my ears. I grabbed my purse, and together, we walked out of the office, the tension between us momentarily eased. But I knew this fragile peace wouldn’t last. There were too many wounds, too many unspoken words between us. And sooner or later, they would all come to the surface.
Chapter 11
Vaughn’s behavior at the office had shifted after our dinner, though not in the way I had hoped. He was calmer, more measured in his dealings with me, but the undercurrent of obsession remained. It was in the way his hand would linger on my shoulder during meetings, the way he’d brush his fingers against mine when passing a document. These touches seemed casual, almost accidental, but I knew better. Each one was deliberate, a silent reminder that he was never far from my thoughts, or my skin.
Despite his attempts to maintain a façade of normalcy, I knew Vaughn was seeing other women—many of them, in fact. He flaunted his flings, making sure I was aware of every new conquest. Yet, even as he paraded his dates in front of me, his focus never truly left. It was as if he was trying to make me jealous, to provoke a reaction, but I refused to give him the satisfaction.
Instead, I split my time between the mansion and the triplex. The weekends were my refuge, especially when I could escape to the yacht now docked at Pier 84. The open sea had becomemy sanctuary, a place where I could breathe without feeling Vaughn’s eyes on me. But as much as I tried to distance myself, there was no escaping the obligations that came with my new status.
I had reluctantly stepped into society, hosting garden parties and teas for the wealthy ladies of Windmere Haven. It wasn’t a role I ever envisioned for myself, but it was necessary. These women no longer looked down on me; they knew I wielded power, and they craved my favor.
One afternoon, as I stood on the terrace of the mansion, overseeing the preparations for yet another garden party, Vaughn appeared at my side. His sudden presence made my skin prickle, though I tried to suppress the reaction.
“Another social event, Joey?” Vaughn asked, his voice smooth, but with an edge that I couldn’t quite place.
I didn’t look at him, keeping my focus on the workers arranging flowers in the garden. “It’s expected. These women need to be reminded that I’m here to stay.”
He chuckled softly, stepping closer, his arm brushing against mine. “And here I thought you despised this sort of thing.”
“I do,” I replied, a sharpness to my tone that I didn’t bother to mask. “But I despise weakness even more.”
Vaughn reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so intimate, so familiar, that it made my stomach churn. “You’ve never been weak, Joey. That’s what I admire most about you.”
I turned to face him, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “Is that why you keep trying to break me?”
His expression faltered for a split second, something dark flickering in his eyes before he masked it with a smirk. “I’m not trying to break you. I’m just reminding you that you’re not invincible.”
Before I could respond, the first guests began to arrive, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Vaughn stepped back, giving me space, but his presence was still heavy, a weight I couldn’t shake.
The garden party unfolded as these things always did—superficial conversations, forced smiles, and endless small talk. But today, I found it particularly exhausting. The women who had once snubbed me were now vying for my attention, eager to align themselves with my power. It was a game, and I was tired of playing.
As the afternoon wore on, I excused myself, retreating to the library for a moment of solitude. The sun filtered through the glass, casting warm patterns on the floor, but even the tranquility of the room couldn’t ease the tension knotting in my chest.
I wasn’t alone for long. The sound of footsteps behind me made me stiffen, and I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Vaughn’s presence was unmistakable.
“Can’t get enough of the party?” I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm.
“I came to check on you,” he replied, his tone almost tender. “You seemed… overwhelmed.”
“I’m fine,” I said curtly, walking to the windows and staring out at the garden where my guests convened.
Vaughn moved closer, too close, and I felt his breath on the back of my neck. “You don’t have to do this, you know. These people—they don’t deserve your time.”
I clenched my fists, the words he spoke feeding into the anger I’d been trying to suppress. “What I do or don’t do isn’t your concern, Vaughn. You made it clear you don’t care about anything but your own desires.”
His hand brushed against my arm, a featherlight touch that made my skin crawl. “That’s not true. I care about you, Joey. More than you know.”
I whipped around, putting distance between us. “If you really cared, you’d stop. You’d let me live my life without constantly hovering, without trying to control me.”
His expression hardened, the warmth in his eyes replaced by something colder. “I’m not trying to control you. I just don’t want you to forget who you are.”
I laughed, the sound bitter and humorless. “Oh, I know exactly who I am. The question is, do you?”
Vaughn stared at me for a long moment, his jaw clenched. Then, without another word, he turned and left the room, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding in my chest.
I watched him go, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. He would never stop, I realized. Vaughn’s obsession with me ran too deep, and no matter how many women he paraded in front of me, no matter how many times he claimed to care, he would always come back.
