Page 56 of Owned By a Billionaire

“And if I don’t?” I challenged.

“Then Markus Reiner becomes a reality, and Carrington Lovelace will find his natural home as some two-dimensional character in one of those cheesy, unreadable airport novels.” He chuckled. “What were you thinking? Carrington Lovelace? I say.”

His mockery stabbed at me.

I punched him in the face just as Caroline came running over.

“What’s happening?” she demanded. Her beautiful eyes were wide and filled with shock.

Crisp held his nose. “I think I’ll leave it to your bargain-basement lothario to explain.”

And off he stalked.

Chapter 18

Caroline

Carytookadeepbreath. “He made some smarmy comment, and forgetting myself, I punched him.”

To escape that atrocious, warped fountain music, I led him away to the parking lot where black BMWs and Mercedes SUVs had taken the place of vintage Aston Martins, Jaguars, and the other elegant vehicles I always admired. The entire scene was alarmingly tasteless and lacking in refinement.

Elysium was never meant for such an uncouth crowd.

“I’m leaving.” Cary turned and touched my arm. “You can stay. I just can’t be here.”

“But Cary.” As I watched him leave, I debated whether to go after him, but that wasn’t my way. Also, considering I’d only been there for thirty minutes, it would cause all kinds of issues for me. Alas.

I headed back inside in search of Rey and found him leaving the bathroom, holding a hanky to his nose.

“What did you say to Cary? He just left.”

“I told him he wasn’t good enough for you, that’s all.”

“Who the fuck are you to make that call?”

“Keep your voice down, Carol. You’re sounding like that unrefined East End girl I once knew.”

“I don’t give a damn.” I poked him in the chest, and his eyes darkened before softening as he looked over my shoulder at a guest.

“Oh, Damian, have you met the illustrious Caroline Lovechilde?”

I took a deep breath and turned to greet Rey’s guest. The man kissed my hand and rambled about something that my brain, having its own conference, was too busy to absorb.

After he sauntered off, I turned to Rey. “I’ve got a headache. I have to leave.”

His eyes turned dark again. “Carol.”

“The name’s Caroline.” I left before he could taunt me with sarcasm.

As I walked away, I felt his furious glare on me.

When I arrived at Merivale, I couldn’t find Cary. The hall was empty. Savanah and Carson were in France, and Manon was in London with Drake and Evangeline, visiting Drake’s mother. Even the servants were tucked away.

Eventually, I found Cary outside by the pool, smoking.

“I thought you’d kicked the habit,” I said, taking a seat by his side.

“I had.” He turned to blow the smoke away from my face.

---