Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

LIZZIE

S itting at my vanity table, I stared down at the stolen mobile I had partially hidden in my lap. I wasn't allowed a mobile of my own anymore. Despite owning one of the world's richest telecommunication companies, Richard hated technology, especially cell phones. He said they were a mindless, trivial distraction. He rarely carried his own, and I had fallen out of the habit of carrying one as well. It's funny how something that felt so necessary to modern life could so easily be discarded.

Unfortunately, I needed to check something on the internet and I didn't want Richard to find out by seeing a search history on the computer he allowed me to use in the study. I didn't trust those clear history options.

My hands were shaking too much to type the words in the search bar. I had to be quick. The sleeping footman I had stolen it from would soon realize it was missing. It had been hard getting the facial recognition to work with his closed eyes and slack jaw but eventually the softly illuminated screen lit up. When done, I would drop it under a chair in the hallway for him to find later.

"Ready so soon, my love?"

I jumped at the sound of Richard's voice. Hiding the phone within the folds of my dress, I met his gaze in the mirror's reflection.

His footsteps were silent as he walked across the thick bedroom carpet to reach me. Placing his hands on my bare shoulders, he gave the top of my head a kiss.

"Did you have a nice lesson today?"

Squeezing my thighs tight, praying the light of the screen didn't show through the tulle of my skirt, I had to swallow past the dryness in my throat before answering. "It was amazing actually. I never thought I'd like something as much as designing dresses, but I might actually like designing jewelry even more. All the techniques were fascinating and everyone was very generous with their time and in answering all my newbie questions."

I was rambling.

"The necklace rendering is over there, if you'd like to see it." I gestured with my head, hoping he would turn away.

He didn't.

Keeping his keen gaze locked on mine in the mirror, he smoothed his hand down over my hair before resting it once more, high on my shoulder. Slipping his other hand up higher, his fingertips pressed against my collarbone.

Feeling lightheaded, I tried to steady my breathing as my heart thumped loudly in my chest.

His voice was a husky purr against my ear. "Each time I look at those jewels wrapped around this pretty little neck of yours, I will remember the sight of them covered in my cum resting on your tongue."

Both of his hands were pressed against the base of my throat. If anyone were to look upon us, they would think it was a loving gesture.

It didn't feel like love to me. Memories of the dead bird flashed before my eyes. In this moment, it felt more like a threat.

Every second that passed increased the chances the phone hidden in my lap would suddenly ring. There would be no way I could explain its existence or why I was hiding it to Richard.

Curling my hands into fists, I let my nails bite into the barely healed scratches on my palms. The harsh sting of pain grounded me. Swallowing, I picked up a blush brush with what I hoped was a steady hand and swirled its bristles around the dusky pink compact. Raising it to my cheek, I said, "You need to let me get ready or we'll be late. I know how much you hate being late."

Richard smiled before giving the top of my head another affectionate kiss. Taking his jacket off as he crossed the threshold into his dressing area, I could hear his slightly muffled voice as he continued to make conversation. "Did I mention where we are going tonight?"

Lifting the cell phone from its hiding place, my heart sank when I saw the dark screen. Knowing what I would find, I touched it with my fingertip anyway. The familiar passcode screen lit up. Locked. My chance gone.

"Elizabeth?" Richard called out.

"Sorry, Richard. I got distracted. No, you haven't told me where we're going," I called out as I stood up, gripping the cell phone in my hand, panicked and unsure of what to do.

Tripping over my long skirts, I lunged for the bed and slipped the phone under the mattress, just as Richard appeared back in the bedroom dressed in a loosely open, deep blue bathrobe. I loved him in that robe. It brought out the dark sapphire in his eyes.

Richard crossed toward me and slipped a warm hand around my waist, drawing me in close. Nuzzling my jaw, he murmured, "I'm taking you to your favorite restaurant, Aqua Shard."

I hated how my body responded to his slightest touch. Just the feel of his hand on my hip. The way he drew me in close. The spicy scent of his aftershave that still lingered on his skin from this morning.

Closing my eyes, my heart ached. He always did this to me. Frightened me one moment, then charmed me the next. Leave it to Richard to surprise me with reservations at my favorite restaurant. I just loved the food and the stunning panoramic views of London. It made me feel as if we were alone in the world, staring down at all the twinkling lights of humanity.

Was it any wonder I tempted death and the devil himself by staying with this man?

"I have been very cruel to my sweet little bird," observed Richard, breaking into my confused reverie.

Tilting my head back with a slight moan as he playfully nipped and licked at the delicate skin just beneath my ear, I reached up to hold on to his shoulders as my knees felt weak. "Really?" I anxiously whispered.

My heart stopped. Would he own up to placing the dead bird in the car for me to find? Would he admit it was just another cruel game he was playing to keep me unbalanced and by his side?

"I haven't told you how stunning you look in your new plumage."

Stepping back, he took one of my hands and lifted it to his lips before he drew my arm up high and gestured for me to spin for him.

Obeying his silent command, I did a quick shaky spin, showing off my new dress; a blush-colored tulle covered in strategically placed hand-embroidered flowers that hugged my every curve. With its wide shoulder straps and floor-sweeping length, it was both seductive and modest, precisely Richard's preferred style for me.

"You are without a doubt the most beautiful creature to walk the earth."

Blushing, I tried to brush his compliment aside.

Taking my hand, he placed it over his already hard cock. "Can you feel what you do to me? I must be mad to share you with the rest of the world tonight. I should just tie you to this bed and have my wicked way with you instead."

As if it were second nature now, my hand gripped the rigid length through the folds of his robe.

Before my traitorous body could react to the kinky promise of his words, I once more remembered the stolen cell phone hidden inches away under the mattress. In my mind, I could hear its shrill ring betraying its hiding place like the beating of the telltale heart.

"Richard, you need to get ready. We'll be late," I said as I anxiously ran my hands over the lapels of his robe.

With a playfully dramatic sigh, he relented, but not before placing a hand under my chin and raising my gaze to his own. "Fine, but I will make good on my threat later tonight."

I swallowed my fear. Part of me knew he was talking about restraining me to the bed later, but there was another part of me that knew you couldn't always be certain with Richard. Maybe he was referring to the threat he had not-so-subtly made earlier with the dead bird?

As he walked away, he tossed over his shoulder, "By the way, I called ahead and made sure the chef would prepare your favorite dish tonight; Barbary duck breast with apricot ravioli. I know how disappointed you were the last time when it wasn't on the menu."

Damn the man. He was driving me insane!

Thoughtful boyfriend one moment.

Torturous puppet master the next.

Waiting several dreadful heartbeats after hearing the shower turn on, I pulled the phone free from its hiding place. Hiking up the heavy length of my skirt, I ran across the bedroom. Opening the door, I looked both ways down the dimly lit hallway before sliding the phone across the black-and-white marble tile. It came to rest against a printed linen armchair halfway down the hall. Just as I closed the door, I could have sworn I saw a shadow move but couldn't be certain. Quietly closing the door, I raced back to my seat before my vanity. Picking up a large brush, I dusted my cheeks with pale powder, attempting to brush away the stain of my deceit.

Richard emerged from his dressing room still shrugging into his Emporio Armani satin lapel dinner jacket, its blue-black tones once again perfectly matching the color of his eyes. I bit my lip. Damn the man for being so freaking handsome. It was hard to think clearly when he looked so effortlessly hot as hell.

"Help me with these cuffs, will you, sweetheart."

Rising, I crossed to him and took the sterling silver with sapphire cufflink from his hand. As I secured it into one cuff then the next, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Enter," called out Richard without taking his eyes off me.

A blonde-haired maid with shaggy bangs that rather unattractively covered most of her face entered the room carrying one of my evening purses.

"Excuse me, Your Grace. I am returning Miss Elizabeth's purse. As requested, I have removed the slight stain from the satin in time for this evening."

Creasing my brow, I stared at the purse in her outstretched hand. I had wanted to use the gold satin Jimmy Choo clutch purse this evening, which is why I had left it out on the marble countertop in the center of my dressing room. But I couldn't remember staining it or asking for it to be repaired. Just as I turned my head to get a better look at the maid in question, I noticed her other hand held the cell phone I had discarded moments earlier.

"I'll take that," I said, snatching the purse.

Feeling lightheaded, I turned my back on Richard, not wanting him to read my expression. Had the maid seen me ditch the phone? Maybe I was overreacting, and it was her phone, not the footman's. I knew I couldn't reach for it without Richard questioning or, worse, the maid complaining that I had grabbed her phone.

Fuck me! Nervously I opened the purse and stuffed my lipstick, money clip with the few thousand pounds Richard insisted I carry with me, a small bottle of lotion, and my compact into it.

My entire body shook. Waiting for the ax to fall.

"I believe Miss Elizabeth dropped her mobile in the hallway."

Closing my eyes, I waited for the interrogation to begin… and wondered what the punishment would be.

Shifting a hesitant glance over my shoulder, I realized Richard was clearly not paying attention to the maid as he finished adjusting his cuffs. He answered distractedly without even looking up. "You are mistaken. Miss Elizabeth does not carry a cell phone. It must be one of the servants. Give it to Mr. Smythe. He will see it returned."

Looking down, I could see the whites of my knuckles as I gripped the back of my vanity chair, waiting for the maid to accuse me of tossing the phone away.

After an eternity of silence, I heard the rustle of the maid's skirt as she curtsied and evenly replied, "Yes, Your Grace."

Not till the door closed softly behind her did I finally take a breath.

I started when Richard's arm reached over my shoulder and picked up the purse. Without saying a word, he headed into my dressing room. Was he checking to see what I had placed in it? Why?

Richard emerged with my purse and a cobalt blue with gold lettering Graff Diamonds' jewelry box in his hands.

"I wanted to make sure it would match your gown and purse, but I think I will have to insist you wear the lovebirds brooch this evening, my love."

Closing my eyes in relief, I nodded. Clearly, my nerves were frayed, and they were now running wild with my imagination. "As you wish, Richard."

Originally, I had loved the brooch because it reminded me of my birds, Coco and Dior, who were at this moment being spoiled rotten by the London staff who had basically claimed them as their own.

But now… I thought differently about the little pink and white diamond lovebirds nestled close to each other on a jewel-encrusted branch.

To the world, these brooches were a quaint and rather old-fashioned proclivity of Richard's. I knew them for what they truly were… his mark on me.

A constant reminder that I was no more than a bird caught in a gilded cage forged by him.

As we waited for the driver to open the doors of Richard's Rolls Royce Phantom, Harris called out to him.

I hated that man. There was just something sinister and untrustworthy about his appearance. There was also no mistaking that whenever Richard needed something unsavory done, Harris was the man he called.

Richard waited till I was settled in my seat before turning toward Harris.

It was clear the two men were having a heated discussion. Judging by the way they both kept looking in my direction, it was about me. With the car door closed, I could only hear muffled snatches of their conversation.

Elizabeth.

Dangerous.

Knows too much.

Needs to be dealt with.

Game over.

Oh, my God, he was going to kill me.

I had pushed him too far. Questioned his motives with the games he liked to play. Told him I hated him. Like a pawn that had outworn its usefulness, he would get rid of me.

Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, I nervously opened the metal clasp of my evening bag to appear as though I was searching for my compact. Nestled inside my purse… the purse Richard had just handed to me… between my lipstick and the money clip was a single blood-soaked feather.

Game over.