Page 67 of Sinister Games

CHAPTER21

LIZZIE

“Ihaven’t seen you in ages!” exclaimed Jane as she entered our flat and came running over to give me a hug.

I had spent the last two weeks over at Richard’s.

His home was a beautifully restored Victorian mansion right in the center of Mayfair with an amazing view of the Thames. It wasn’t exactly a hard sell to get me to stay for a bit.

It had been like a dream. Willfully forcing away any lingering questions I might have had about that infamous day, I focused on our future. Thankfully, he agreed and there was no more talk of when or how we met. Instead there were dinners, parties, trips to the museum, and nights filled with ever more increasingly kinky sex games.

Unfortunately, he was still a very busy man with numerous companies to run, so most of my days were spent curled up on a large floor cushion at the end of his office reading as I watched him work. It really was thrilling to observe him take the helm and command his countless employees. I could easily see how someone as confident and intelligent as he had amassed so many billions.

Eventually, I convinced him to let me return to classes but only until he could arrange for private tutors for me. He was in the process of hiring some of the best designers to come and personally teach me. I couldn’t say no, even if I wanted to. The fact was no one said no to Richard.

It had taken longer to convince him to let me stay at my old flat a few nights a week. He finally capitulated after I agreed to a bodyguard who would be stationed outside the door at all times.

Still, I was enjoying my small breath of freedom.

The further away from him I got, the more space I felt to think over our relationship and all that had transpired. It was as if a mist was slowly dissipating before my eyes. Once more those nagging questions began to creep forward.

Who was that woman?

What did he mean about us meeting much earlier than that day with the cab?

Even further back questions began to surface.

Just how did he know where I lived? Or what school I was enrolled in? I was absolutely certain I hadn’t mentioned those details to him.

As Jane stepped back from our hug, her shirt caught on my pin. It was another jewel-encrusted bird pin. I couldn’t remember what designer. He had given me so many at this point. It seemed like every day I was finding one on my pillow or resting on the book I was reading or presented to me over dinner.

I now had a small menagerie of birds, each with cold black diamond eyes.

“Oops! No, I got it. Just twist. There you go!” Smiling, I walked over to my bird’s gold cage and cooed to Dior and Coco. I’d missed their pretty morning songs these past few weeks. “Thanks for taking care of my birds.”

Jane waved her hand dismissively. “No problem. I’m actually getting to like the little stinkers. I’ve even let them fly around the room a few times each day.”

Jane flopped down on the sofa and patted the cushion near her. “So how is life among the rich and famous?”

“It’s pretty amazing. Crazy really,” I answered as I sat on the sofa and settled against the throw pillows.

“You know I’m insanely jealous of you and have to restrain myself from killing you and taking your place, right?” she teased.

Laughing, I nodded. I missed her.

“You are back just in time. The auditions are tomorrow.”

“What auditions?”

“For The Lady Protests, that Victorian play I told you about. Remember, you were going for the part of the parlor maid?”

I had forgotten all about it. Being kidnapped by your overly controlling possessive boyfriend will do that to you.

“Don’t tell me your new man won’t let you audition,” she grumbled.

Straightening my shoulders, I felt a rebelliousness uncurl in my stomach. Richard had been not only monopolizing my time but my thoughts as well. Dictating when and where we ate, and what I wore when we went out. Hell, he was even picking what I read. Each time I neared the end of a book, I would find another book resting under it. True, he always picked out the perfect titles for me, but still.

It wasn’t like I was going to get the part. I had very little acting experience. Before their accident, my parents were very much against me pursuing it as a career so they would never pay for lessons or allow me to go out for pageants or plays.

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