Page 45 of His to Possess
I yanked my wrist away, my skin crawling where he touched me. "Alain," I managed to choke out.
His smile widened, predatory and calculated. "It's been too long. I see you've landed on your feet after our misunderstanding in Paris."
Misunderstanding. The word hit me like a slap. "That's what you call ruining my career and reputation? A misunderstanding?"
Alain's eyes darted around the room, his smile never faltering. "Now, now, Laurel. Let's not make a scene. I'm simply here to admire the art, same as you."
If there was one thing I was certain of, it was that Alain always had a plan or something going on. He never did anything out of the blue, and I didn't think it was a coincidence that he was here, in Chicago, at this exact exhibition. Bile rose to my throat. I had tried to escape him so desperately, yet it felt like no matter how much I ran, I could never fully escape my past.
"What do you want, Alain?"
He leaned in close, his breath hot on my ear. "Perhaps we could discuss this over dinner? For old times' sake?"
"Absolutely not." I recoiled, disgust and fear mingling in my gut. "Stay away from me," I warned, my hands shaking.
Alain's expression hardened for a split second before smoothing back into that practiced charm. "As you wish, ma chérie. But remember, the art world is small. Our paths are bound to cross again."
With that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me shaking and feeling sick. Panic hit me all at once, and it felt like the walls were closing in. I couldn't catch my breath. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it wouldn't go away. My heartbeat was loud and erratic, I could hear it in my ears. I needed a minute to myself. I had to get out of there before I completely lost it. I fled the gallery shortly after, desperate for fresh air and distance from the nightmare of my past.
Now, lying in bed, I felt like Alain's appearance was just the beginning of something much worse.
I tried to focus my scattered thoughts, attempting to decipher Alain's motives for coming to Chicago. He was delusional if he thought he could seduce me again—that much I was certain of. The very idea made my skin crawl. But destabilizing me? Playing mind games? That was definitely a possibility, one I refused to allow.
Alain could rot in hell for all I cared. The anger that surged through me at the thought of him almost made me forget how awful I felt physically. Almost.
I forced myself to take a deep breath, wincing at the pain in my chest. I needed to think logically about this. What could he want? Why show up now, just when I was starting to rebuild my life?
The relative safety I had constructed for myself, precarious as it might be, was something I wasn't willing to let him destroy. Sure, my arrangement with Rex was far from ideal, but it was a step towards reclaiming my career and reputation. Alain had no right to jeopardize that.
I considered the possibility that he was here for reasons unrelated to me. But I quickly dismissed that thought. Alain never did anything without multiple motives, and I refused to believe our encounter was a mere coincidence.
I pushed the covers aside and sat up slowly, my head spinning with the effort. I needed to be prepared for whatever Alain might try. He was resourceful and cunning, traits that once attracted me to him but now filled me with dread. I couldn't let him catch me off guard again.
As I contemplated my next move, a nagging thought persisted: should I tell Rex about Alain? The idea of revealing more of my past to him made me uneasy, but keeping this secret could be dangerous. If Alain decided to approach Rex directly…
No. I shook my head, immediately regretting the motion as pain lanced through my skull. I could handle Alain on my own. I had come too far to let him or anyone else derail me now. Also, my agreement with Rex was fragile, and it wasn't as if the man wanted problems from me.
I knew I had to keep moving. What was my schedule for today again? Just trying to think about it made my skull want to split intwo. It was Sunday, wasn't it? I squinted at the window, noticing how gloomy it looked outside through my bedroom curtains.
I should take a shower and eat something, but the idea of just standing seemed like an insurmountable task. Of its own accord, my body returned under the covers, seeking the warmth and comfort I desperately needed.
The softness of the sheets offered a momentary respite from the aches wracking my body. I closed my eyes, willing the pounding in my head to subside.
I wasn't sure if I slept or just managed to empty my mind for a while, but even without opening my eyes, I knew I was no longer alone in the room. It must be Rex, probably royally annoyed at me for messing up his precious schedule. I braced myself for a confrontation, but instead felt a soft, careful touch on my forehead, followed by Rex whispering my name.
Then, he touched my shoulder and squeezed it gently, calling my name with caution until I had no choice but to open my eyes. He was crouching by my bed, with clear worry in his eyes.
"It's afternoon," he said softly. "You hadn't emerged from your bedroom yet."
"I'm sorry, I know the schedule…"
"Don't worry about the schedule," he murmured, completely catching me off guard. What was happening? He didn't seem like the caring type, at least not so far. Each time we had interacted, in one way or another, afterward, I was left discarded and dismissed, as if I had served a single purpose and nothing else. Yet, I wondered right now if that was really the case.
His obvious concern baffled me. I tried to push myself up, wincing at the effort. "I'm alright," I managed to croak out.
He clearly didn't agree. "I'm going to call a doctor," he said, already reaching for his phone.
I grabbed his wrist to stop him. "No, really. I'm okay. I need to sleep it off. It's only sudden fatigue and a migraine. Nothing I haven't experienced before. It just took me by surprise."
