Page 23 of No Way Forward

When she tried to pull away again, he snatched her close, forcing air from her chest. His hand crept down her back. She blinked up at him in shock and then caught sight of Zaid over his shoulder. Her temporary bodyguard stormed toward them with a look in his eyes like he would rip Felix into little pieces when he reached them.

Novette held up a hand to stave off Zaid’s approach. He halted mid-step, anger seeming to emanate from every pore.

I can handle him.

Zaid couldn’t hear her thought, but she hoped her expression said it all. The last thing she wanted was to make a scene, but part off her wanted to put Felix in his place for the lame proposal and his horrible attitude.

With effort, she put a little space between her and her old friend so she could look at him. “Let me get this straight, Felix,” she began. “You’re telling me you’re only interested in marrying me because it would tick your mom off because I’m Black?”

He chuckled. “Something like that.”

“And you don’t have any feelings for me. I’m just a body for your future kids?”

“I can’t say I don’t have any feelings. I’m attracted to you. I’ve always wondered—”

“Don’t finish that sentence. Okay, look. First of all, I have more self-respect than to marry you. There are zero reasons for me to say yes to your proposal. You don’t have anything to offer. I mean I’m already rich.”

He reddened.

She only claimed to be rich to insult him as he had insulted her. Not for one second did she consider her dad’s money to be hers. She desired to make her own way in the world one way or another.

“Secondly, I’m not attracted to you. So I mean… You get the picture, don’t you?”

Her last words were spoken in a sweet tone. From the collar of his crisp white shirt to the roots of his hair, he reddened. No one could miss it.

“Now, you can get your disgusting hands off me before I lodge my knee in a place you don’t ever want it to go. Are we clear?”

From red to pale as death, he leaped backward, stumbled, and fell to the floor. She didn’t even need to follow through with her threat.

“You’re…you’re…” he stuttered, scrambling to get up and wipe hands over his tuxedo front. Gasps of alarm erupted all around them followed with muttering behind hands. His color improved in an instant, and he glared at her. “You’re common, always have been and always will be. Doesn’t matter whose name is stamped on your adoption papers. We all know where you come from.”

“Felix!” The squeak came from his mom as she rushed through the guests toward him.

Before Mrs. Davenport could reach her son, Zaid arrived and smashed a fist into Felix’s face. He smacked hard onto the floor for the second time and didn’t get up. Mrs. Davenport screamed and dove for her son. Mr. Davenport appeared to catch her.

“Don’t make a fool of yourself, Claudia.” Mr. Davenport held onto his wife while snapping his fingers at one of the servers. “Help me get my son to the car. He’s had a little too much to drink.”

Novette expected any second for her dad to show up and scold her, but he was nowhere in sight. Neither was Azalie. Novette stood still, feeling eyes from every direction on her. A hand touched her arm, and she looked around. Zaid propelled her gently toward the French doors, and she stumbled along beside him, leaving the ballroom and everyone else behind.

Chapter 11

“He might have raised me, but I know what everyone thinks of me.”

Novette felt the bark of a tree pressing into her palm. She leaned her forehead on her hand and shut her eyes. Not that it mattered much since so little light reached the area where she stood with Zaid.

They had left the house, and the music from the ballroom faded. Trees surrounded them on every side. She pictured the layout of her dad’s land and knew exactly where they were. The Southside of the property was prettiest with a multicolored carpet of wildflowers during the spring.

Rose bushes lined both sides of the pathway, but the time of blooming was past. She recalled the perfumed scent and how she had loved exploring the maze. When something bothered her, this was the place she escaped to. Zaid knew that, and she supposed so did Azalie and Felix.

“Felix Davenport’s words don’t reflect the thoughts of the other guests.”

“Yeah, right. I saw the looks on their faces.”

“Did you?” Zaid raised her chin. She shook a little but suppressed the emotions that threatened to run rampant. Embarrassment and humiliation choked her. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“Don’t try to cheer me up, Zaid. I’m not in the mood. I just want to feel sorry for myself for a few minutes.”

“If that’s what you want.”

---