Page 309 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
I sit on the bed, not wanting to impede his quest to pack quickly. My heart aches and my stomach is churning, but I predicted this exact reaction.
I just wish it didn’t hurt so much.
As he secures the zipper on his bag, his eyes float over my face for the quickest second. His brows furrow, seemingly surprised, like he’s already forgotten I’m here.
“Isabelle. I have to go. I have to do this.”
Unable to speak through the lump in my throat, I simply nod. The air is sucked from my lungs when he crouches down in front of me. Having his gorgeous face this close is just cruel when I’m seconds from losing him. After cupping my cheeks, he presses a quick peck to the edge of my quivering mouth, stands, then leaves without so much as a backward glance.
The rumbling of his engine sounds through the eerie quietness of his house a few minutes later. Then not long after that, the silence matches the sentiments of my heart—empty and hollow.
I crawl into a ball in the middle of our bed and sob, hurt he could leave me so quickly, and how easy it was for him to forget the promises we’ve made to each other the past few months.
I cry and cry until there are no tears left.
The next morning, the devastation of my loss is still twisting my stomach, but as the day goes on, it’s joined by the piquant grasp of anger. My annoyance is so paramount, it visibly shakes through my body, flushing my skin with a hue of pink.
Ignoring the pain shredding my chest into pieces, I pad to the walk-in closet and find the sluttiest outfit I have before preparing my makeup for a night out on the town. My spur-of-the-moment decision to go dancing with Cate has been incited by Isaac’s lack of communication all day. He maintained complete radio silence. Not a text. Not a phone call. Not even a Facebook message.Nothing.
Once I have my face perfectly made up, I guzzle down the last mouthful of chardonnay in the bottle before making my way downstairs. My footing is a little rickety, not just because of the dangerously high stilettos I'm wearing, but because I’ve had a few glasses of liquid courage to ensure I can leave Isaac’s residence unaccompanied and for the last time. Even though my levelheadedness evades me whenever I'm in Isaac’s presence, I'm smart enough to know only a fool would remain living in a man’s house that she no longer has any claim to.
Pain grips my heart when I snag my clutch purse from the kitchen counter and amble toward the front door. I place my cell phone and engagement ring into the crystal bowl on the entry table, along with a handwritten note for Isaac, choosing the coward’s way out. I'm too much of a chicken to confront him in person, and this way, I won’t have to witness seeing him with Ophelia. My heart would never survive seeing that.
After one final glance of the foyer, I head outside to wait for the taxi I called an hour ago, my heart cracking more with every step I take.
Cate greets me at the front of The Dungeon parking lot with a big grin. She's wearing a pink, sleeveless sequined dress that showcases her petite body in a fitting light. Her shoes are sparkly and black, adding a few inches to her short stature, and her tangy citrus smell engulfs me when she throws her arms around my neck.
“Izzy, you look like a naughtylittle devil,” she playfully chides when she takes in my super tight, black lace mini dress that leaves nothing to the imagination. I was aiming for the naughty devil look, so her comment gives credit to my outfit selection.
“Hi, Cate, you look ravishing.”
After wrapping her arm around the crook of my elbow, she guides us toward the entrance of the nightclub. “We better get you inside before Isaac catches sight of you in that dress. He’ll lock you up so the drove of men can’t charge at you.”
I stiffen for only a second. Thankfully, it isn’t long enough for Cate to notice. I’m not surprised to observe the line to enter The Dungeon stretches for as far as the eye can see. That can be expected, considering it’s New Year’s Eve. That’s the reason my anger is even more supreme today. Isaac only told me days ago that he couldn’t take any time off during this time of the year. But last night, he left without a word being spoken to any of his staff members. After fielding calls from Roger and Tina today on his home landline, I soon realized they're as much in the dark as I am to Isaac’s current location.
I know where he is. My heart just chooses to ignore the facts displayed in front of it.
“Travis, this is Cormack’s sister, Cate. Cate, this is Travis.” My voice only slightly slurs during my introduction since the last few glasses of chardonnay are pumping into my veins.
“Wowzers, your head is nearly as big as my whole body.” Cate’s eyes bug before they appreciatively scan the monster-size bouncer in front of us.
I snort before my panicked eyes shoot to Travis, wanting to gauge his reaction to Cate’s jibe. I’m surprised when I notice his beaming white smile. This is the first time I’ve seen his smile.
I gag when Travis mutters, “That’s not even my biggest body part.”
“That’s disgusting.” I drag a shocked-faced Cate into the jam-packed nightclub. “He’d snap you in half.”
Cate’s chuckle gains her the attention of a handful of men. “Isn’t that the point?”
Now, I understand why Harlow has become Ms. Party Queen the past few months. I’ve only spent five minutes with Cate, and I can already tell my night is going to be interesting, indeed.
After an hour of dancing to the latest club hits, I head to the bar, wanting to replenish the fluids I’ve lost bumping and grinding with Cate. The Dungeon has always been popular with the younger crowd due to its ‘eighteen-plus’ drawcard, but tonight, it’s so packed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the fire department arrives to shut them down for being over-capacity.
When the good-looking male bartender serves me the margarita I ordered, I move down the bar hoping to find a spare stool to rest my tired feet. A grin tugs my lips high when I spot a vacant spot right down the very end.
“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” I ask a gentleman in his mid-twenties with long blond hair. I have to shout to project my voice over the thumping music blaring out of the speakers.
He stops talking to his male companion and turns to face me. He grins as his green eyes scan my body. After his vivid assessment is finalized, his eyes return to my face. “Not at all, please take a seat.”
