Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

LIZZIE

H oly shit. I'm fucked.

I was so stunned at learning I had gotten the lead that not even seeing John standing outside the theater penetrated my shocked mind. It should have been an amazing moment. I had gotten the freaking lead in a major play.

Yet, the only thing spinning around and around in my head was… what was I going to tell Richard?

My first impulse was to hide it from him.

Rehearsals weren't going to start for at least two months—a lot could happen in two months. Who knew? Maybe I could take that time to slowly work Richard around to being okay with me being in a play. It could happen. Doubtful, but it could.

Somehow, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this from him that long.

This was all silly, of course. It wasn't like I'd broken the law or anything. I auditioned and got into a play. It wasn't like I'd cheated on him. I was a grown woman; if I wanted to be in a play, I could be in a play.

Sighing, I realized none of these thoughts were easing my anxiety because I knew deep down, I had willfully deceived Richard. I should have just been honest and broached the subject with him. He probably would have been fine with it, but now? Knowing I had auditioned behind his back? Doubtful.

Something Jane said brought my attention back to her. There was no denying I felt guilty for taking the lead from Jane. As it turned out she got the part of the parlor maid but she was taking it very well.

"Actually, I'm glad I didn't get the lead. I have a big class load this semester and I don't want something on the side sucking up all my time," she reasoned.

She was lying, of course. She wanted the lead, but I played along.

As she talked, I glanced over my shoulder, John followed silently behind looking very annoyed at me. I didn't question how he found me. I had forgotten to leave my mobile behind at the flat. No doubt Richard had some kind of tracking on it. It was strange how accepting I was of that fact. As if it were normal for the man you were dating to be tracking your phone and hiring a bodyguard to follow you around.

I wasn't worried about Richard finding out what building I was in. The Barbican was a large art center with more than one theater and lots of auditoriums and classrooms. I could easily explain I was there for a costume design lecture.

As for sneaking out and trying to evade John? That would take more thought to come up with a believable lie.

As we walked down the hallway, I could see a large flat white box on our doorstep. Jane ran ahead and picked it up. "Looks like someone got another dress."

I could not match her enthusiasm. Taking it from her hands as if it were a box of snakes, we walked inside. Setting the box on the counter for Jane to tear into, I opened the card.

Eight p.m.

Flipping the card over to look at the back, I realized that was all that was written, just eight p.m. Not even his usual "R."

Fuck. He knows.

Stop it. He couldn't possibly know. John was waiting outside the building. I even worked up the courage to ask him if he had gone inside and got a curt no in response.

Jane's gasp caught my attention.

My mouth opened when I saw the dress she pulled free. It was so delicate, it looked as if it would float out of Jane's hands if she let go. Pure white, it was a feather-effect lace cocktail dress. The entire dress was made of white feathers that shifted and shimmered as you walked.

"There's a second box," said Jane as she handed me the designer card from the first.

I wasn't familiar with the designer, Ermanno Scervino, but knowing Richard, I was sure this dress cost a small fortune.

Jane threw aside the second lid and we both gasped; inside was a bright crimson silk taffeta cape. We had both seen a similar one in the photos from the Moschino fashion show this spring. What was I thinking? This was probably the actual cape from the runway.

Jane drew it out of the box and placed it on my shoulders. It had long puffy sleeves and swept the floor. Reaching back, I pulled up the hood.

"You look like a sexy Red Riding Hood," said Jane with a laugh.

With the Big Bad Wolf coming for me at eight.

"You look good enough to eat."

Said the wolf.

"Thank you," I replied demurely as Richard placed the beautiful cape on my shoulders.

"I almost want to forget about this party tonight and take you straight home," he whispered huskily, before giving the sensitive underside of my ear a kiss.

"That would be a shame after I got all dressed up in your gift," I responded coyly.

I was such a fucking coward. Under normal circumstances an evening alone with Richard would be precisely what I would want, knowing it would be spent naked in his massive bed, but not tonight. Tonight, I wanted to be surrounded by people and noise. Safety in numbers.

"You do look beautiful, but there is something missing."

Pulling open the cape, I examined the feathered dress and Swarovski-studded heels I found in the box with it. Seeing nothing amiss, I looked up again to see him holding a jewelry box.

Cocking my head to one side, I put my hands on my hips. "Richard, we talked about this."

Nodding sagely, he said, "Yes, we definitely did."

"We agreed no more jewelry. You've already given me way more pieces than I could possibly wear."

"You agreed. I simply didn't openly disagree with you."

I wasn't going to back down. For all the intensity and ups and downs of our relationship, there was one thing I never wanted him to doubt, and that was that I was with him for him… not his money or the jewels. Something told me that even without his billions Richard would still be just as enigmatic, intense, and charming.

In fact, I might love him even more. Without all this money, he would seem less, I didn't know… ruthless… unstoppable? Scary?

Richard opened the box. Inside, there were a pair of stunning diamond drop earrings with a massive pearl dangling from a delicate gold thread. Each pearl was almost the size of my thumb.

"Richard!"

Leaning over, he placed one earring in. I could feel the weight of the pearl pull on my lobe. When he tried to put in the second one, he missed the mark slightly. I felt a sharp stab of pain. Raising my fingers to my ear, I saw a drop of blood on my fingertips.

"My dress!" I exclaimed, worried about the white feathers.

Richard's head swooped down, his mouth closing over my injured earlobe. My head lolled to the side, and I couldn't stifle a groan as he sucked. Lifting his head, he ran his tongue over the center of his bottom lip as if he enjoyed the taste of my blood. The taste of my pain.

"All better," he said as he ran his knuckles over my cheek.

His deep blue eyes were warm with affection. He hadn't said he loved me yet, it was way too soon, but he definitely treated me like he did.

Taking my arm, he escorted me out of the building. As we waited for his driver to open the doors of his Rolls Royce Phantom, Richard looked down at me. "I missed having you curled up on your cushion in my office today."

"I missed you too," I said as I rested my head against his upper arm.

"I'm looking forward to hearing all about your day away from me."

Attentive words any woman would rejoice at hearing from the man she loved… yet they turned me cold with fear.

Fuck. He knows.