Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Reid was there, standing in the corner in a three-piece tuxedo, looking like sin.
Jealous rage boiled in my gut as I watched several women and even a few men take notice of how he looked more like James Bond than a bodyguard.
My fiancé arrived about an hour late, reeking of gin and vermouth.
“You look lovely, darling,” he slurred, not really looking at me.
“Thank you,” I said automatically. “You do look dashing in that suit.”
What I had wanted to say was a biting comment about his mother’s view on punctuality, but I didn’t. There would be no point.
“Of course I do. Now do your job and start introducing me to the right people,” he groused before grabbing my arm a little too forcefully and dragging me across the room to where Harrison was talking with my brother.
“Harrison.” I smiled sweetly. “Have you met my fiancé?”
“No, I haven’t.” He offered a hand to Romney.
“May I present the Honorable Romney Zeigler. Romney, this is Harrison Astrid, District Attorney to the State of New York, and Amelia’s older brother.”
While the men shook, Romney shot me a quick quizzical look.
Being the well-trained lady that I was, I pretended to turn and look at something behind him while I quietly whispered in his ear. “Amelia is Luc’s wife. She was at the dinner the other day.”
He nodded and said something about Amelia’s school, and the men started chatting.
I took half a step back, still on Romney’s arm but giving the men a little space to talk for a few moments while I took stock of the others in attendance that I needed to introduce Romney to.
“Actually, Charlotte,” Harrison said, pulling me back into the conversation. “I’d love your opinion.”
“Oh?”
“Luc and I are on a charity board who want to raise money with an opera performance of Lohengrin.”
I sucked air through my teeth. “Oh my!”
Luc placed his dirty glass on a passing tray and snatched a glass of champagne for both of us, handing me one of the delicate crystal flutes. “Exactly! The battle-ax head of the board won’t shut up about the epic romance, handily ignoring all the nasty bits.”
Romney chortled as he drained his own glass, then took my untouched one from my hand and drained that as well. “Yeah. I mean who wants to sit through a Chinese opera anyway. Lo Hang Gin,” he laughed. “What a stupid name. Stupid Asians.”
I placed a hand on his upper arm. “Actually, it’s a German opera by Wagner. The problem is the composer’s difficult personal views, so he’s rather controversial.”
If I had been paying more attention, I wouldn’t have made such a stupid mistake.
“Excuse us for a moment. I see someone we need to speak with,” Romney said through thinned lips while taking my arm, digging his manicured nails into the soft skin of my elbow.
I had to rush to keep up with his long stride while smiling to anyone we passed, so it didn’t appear as though he were dragging me out of the room.
By the time we reached the double doors at the other side of the ballroom, I was a little winded and my feet were killing me.
I didn’t care how fashionable they were, Louboutins were a form of medieval torture and should be banned under the Geneva Convention.
We left the ballroom, and he dragged me further down the hallway until we got to a private conference room, still beautifully decorated, but clearly meant for business rather than pleasure.
He pushed me over the threshold and had barely slammed the door before screaming, “How dare you?”
His cheeks turned red, and spittle flew out of his mouth.
I flinched at the grotesque display.
“What did I do?” I asked, not sure how he’d become so mad so fast.
“You will never correct me again. I don’t care if we’re in public, or we are alone in my bed and you’re sucking my cock like the paid-for whore you are. I own you. Understand, wife?”
Shocked by the crudeness of his words, I stumbled backward, easing toward the exit and safety… Then something inside of me snapped.
Enough.
It had taken years of hiding behind a polite, doll mask, but I’d finally had enough.
Maybe it was Reid’s influence. Maybe I was just finally coming into my own.
Crossing my arms over my chest, my gaze narrowed. “You have that the other way around. You’re not paying for me. My family is buying your father’s shriveled up, useless, dusty old title. I own you!”
“You stupid American bitch.”
The back of his hand slammed across my face, hard enough to throw me to the floor.
CHAPTER 21
REID
The solid hotel door splintered off its hinges under the weight of my boot.
Charlotte was on the floor in a pile of wedding-white tulle, looking like a broken doll.
Romney rubbed his fist as he straightened his shoulders. “How dare you enter this room without permission. I’ll have you fired.”