by Lucy Smoke
Grayson took my hand and led me out to the dance floor as a new song started. My heart pumped in my chest as he pulled me close and the music began. "Relax," he whispered in my ear, causing me to stiffen.
"I'm fine," I assured him.
He shook his head. "You look like you're going to run at any moment."
I glared at him. "I do not." I knew that I didn't. I wasn't that bad at hiding my emotions...was I?
"Okay," he conceded, "maybe not, but I can read you like a book, Babydoll. Relax. I don't want it to seem like my date doesn't like me."
"Sometimes, I don't," I said dryly.
He chuckled. "You always like me."
"That's debatable."
But he was right, I needed to relax a bit. I let him twirl me around the dance floor, and noted that he actually wasn't a bad dancer. He lifted and spun me with a natural ease of someone who had been dancing his entire life. I envied him that, especially because I felt like a calf just learning to walk half the time. Give me a solid floor and I was good—dancing felt like torture. I had to pull on all my previously acquired knowledge—most of it from Ms. Enders' Etiquette Camp—to keep from embarrassing myself. I must have been doing something right because Grayson picked up the pace, spinning me faster as the song came to a conclusion. I felt dizzy by the time we stopped.
"That was interesting," he commented as he led me back to the side of the room.
"What was?" I asked, curious.
"I think that might be the first time I've stolen you away like that and the others weren't upset by it."
"They're getting used to you," I assured him gently.
He shook his head. "They're being nice to me. There's a difference."
"What's the difference?"
He shrugged. "They feel bad for me."
"I don't think that's what it is," I said.
"No?"
I wasn't given a chance to respond because in the next moment Bellamy was approaching and Grayson nodded to him without saying anything as he handed me over and walked away. I wondered if he was upset by my disagreement or just feeling down because we were here to deal with his mother. I didn't blame him for what she was putting us through, but I could certainly understand if he wasn't entirely comfortable with being here.
"She's been sighted," Bellamy said, making me go on high alert. I felt myself stiffen even after just trying to relax as I danced. I turned my head, searching the crowd at his words.
"Where?"
"She was talking with a few men around the lounges on the other side of the ballroom," Bellamy answered.
My eyes strayed across from us where several lounges and couches in a deep velvety red had been placed for attendees to relax. There were several men over there as well as several women, all dressed to look like they were someone else obviously. The men wore pinstripe suits and women wore feathers and glittering jewels. I realized that I was out of my depth here. But it made me feel like we were back at the beginning, too. It was nostalgic. I found myself moving closer to Bellamy despite the fact that I should have been looking for Teddi. I let my hand graze his and he took it without hesitation or complaint.
I looked up and started when I realized that his eyes were not across the room like mine had been. They were centered squarely on me. The bronze colored mask I had chosen for him hid the upper half of his face, but there was no mistaking the intensity of that gaze. I swallowed as heat rose within me.
"Sweetheart—"
"Do you think we should go over there?" I asked, interrupting him before he could say more. I didn't know what he was going to say, but I didn't think now was the time to get distracted.
He quieted and then shook his head. "No, I don't think we should approach her just yet. Let's see if she comes to us. She knows we're here. Everyone else has arrived already."
I nodded. "Okay."
We stood like that for several more minutes, watching people walk by. Distantly, I wondered where the others were. If they were looking for Teddi as well or if Knix was off doing business with some of the men here. I knew that several of them had to be connected to him in some way, shape, or form. There was no doubt in my mind that events like this weren't just meant for charity.
"Harlow," Bellamy said, disrupting my thoughts.
"Hmmmm?" My gaze strayed around the ballroom, up to the glimmering lights of the chandelier and then down to the spotless floor, so clean that it almost looked as though it were made of glass.
"Can we talk?" I stiffened once more, my shoulders going tense and my spine, straight.
"About what?" I managed to choke out.
Fear gripped my chest. No. There was no reason to fear, I tried to reassure myself. They had just told me the other night that things were fine between us. It had to be about Teddi or something else. Something insignificant. Maybe he was just trying to get my mind off Teddi.
"That painting." My eyes went to him immediately as confusion set in. Then, I recalled what he was talking about. The painting—my painting—the one we had done in his room all those weeks ago. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I wasn't sure what he meant and he seemed to pick up on that because a moment later, he spoke again. "I put the finishing touches on it. I was hoping you would come take a look at it soon."
"Oh." That definitely had not been what I had been expecting, but the thought wasn't unwelcome. I could have slapped myself upside the head for getting so anxious over nothing.
"Yeah," I said. "I'd be happy to look at it. Are you wanting to sell your painting or keep it?" His already dark brown eyes darkened even more. "I'd never sell that painting," he said sharply.
I blinked at the vehemence in his tone. "I wouldn't mind," I said, thinking he must have been trying to reassure me. "I wouldn't be offended."
"No," he said. "It's special. It's something just for you."
I inhaled sharply as realization dawned. "Just for me..." I repeated, dazed.
He nodded. "It's for your eyes alone...and mine." At that last part, his tone softened and he smiled at me, the darkness of his face brightening just a bit. I found myself smiling back.
"She's on the move." I jumped when I realized that Knix had approached, he took my arm and pulled me behind him. Bellamy's head jerked up and his eyes narrowed across the room. "It seems she's found us," Knix said.
Bellamy nodded. "She's heading this way."
"I'll watch Harlow, go get the others," Knix commanded. “I’d feel a lot more comfortable if we were all here for this, this time.”
Bellamy nodded and then molded into the crowd, heading to wherever the others had gone off to.
"You guys are acting like she's going to try to off me right here in the middle of the masquerade," I said with a lifted brow as I stared up into the eye holes of Knix's white mask with the gold filigree on the sides.
Knix blinked down at me as his lips turned down. "I just don't trust her, Little Bit."
I shrugged. "With good reason,” I agreed, “but we're not James Bond. She's just a woman." In truth, I wasn't a hundred percent sure who I was trying to reassure—him or myself. Maybe it was a little of both.
"I just want to be careful with her," Knix said. "She has a lot of money and with money comes power."
I didn't have a response for that, so I simply nodded and turned to watch her as she moved through the room towards us. Instead of wearing a mask like everyone else, Teddi had gone with a painted look. Her upper face was adorned with a shimmery gold. Fake diamonds—at least, I hoped they were fake, because if not then holy shit was this woman outrageous—adorned the edge of the "mask," dusting up over the bridge of her nose and then across both of her cheeks leaving the lower portion of her face in her natural skin tone. Her eyes were dusted with something darker than the gold, making it appear as though she, too, were looking through a mask's eye holes.
She swayed her hips as she approached, a smile slithering across her lips as she looked Knix over first and then me. "Fancy meeting you here, darling," she said in
a polite tone.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes—or punch her in the face. Truth be told, I was getting really tired of the anxiety she was giving me. I was sick of feeling like I was constantly on guard, of being watched. Honestly, that's probably why I was so worried about my relationship with the guys—because this woman had put me so on edge. Coming face to face with her like this felt good in a way, but it also made me want to throw up or do something physical to mess up the perfect way she presented herself. Just once, I would have liked to see the real her under the mask.
I watched her like a hawk, waiting for a telltale sign—something to show what a terrible person she was underneath all of that pretty. It came the moment Grayson arrived—with Texas and Marv at his back.
“Mother,” Grayson said coldly.
She smiled wider, her teeth showing as her eyes gleamed. “Darling, I’m so glad you could make it tonight. It’s so good to see you.”
“I wish I could say the same—it’s rather unfortunate.”
My eyes widened as Grayson spoke. His tone wasn’t just cold—it was arctic. When I glanced at him, I noticed Bellamy moving closer and he caught my eyes, shaking his head at me to stay quiet. I didn’t like it, but I would let Grayson handle this if I needed to.
Teddi pouted at her son, crossing her long, slender arms over her breasts—plumped as they were in her little slave girl costume. I grimaced. Truly, it looked like she’d draped scarves over her form and called it a dress. I was half scared that one would fall away and I’d have to actually attack her for flashing my guys. At least it would give me the excuse to use some of that extra-training Knix had made me go through before. I curled my fingers at my sides, waiting...hoping.
When her eyes strayed to me, I stiffened. Teddi's pout fell away and she smiled. "Hello, Harlow," she said.
I shifted next to Knix but didn't reply.
"I'm so glad you're here," she said. "I have someone I'd like for you to meet." I stared at her, distrusting and definitely on edge. Teddi turned around and gestured behind her. A man began to make his way across the room from the lounge area that she had come from. I looked up and met a pair of familiar brown eyes that shocked me to my core. I froze.
Knix must have felt my immediate reaction because he jerked his head down towards me. My lips parted as the man approached. Despite the event being a masquerade, he wore no mask, and I could clearly see all of his features. He looked a little bit older than the last time I had seen him, his hair was shorter, his beard growth a little thicker, but there was no mistaking his facial structure.
"Harlow, meet my date for the evening," Teddi said, grinning wickedly as the man approached. She leaned back and slid her arm through his, threading their limbs together. I felt like I was going to be sick. "Michael Hampton."
Chapter 18
I stared at my brother, half in horror and half in confusion. "What are you doing here?" I blurted the question out, unable to stop myself.
"I came to escort Ms. Vandersen," he said. "And I came to see you. Teddi got into contact with me a little while ago. She's been keeping me apprised of what you're up to."
"You could've called me," I snapped. "I've tried calling you."
"Yes, well, I wasn't worried until Teddi started corresponding with me."
"Worried?" I parroted. "About what?"
Grayson growled low in his throat, disrupting my conversation as I turned towards him. He glared at his mother. "This is low, even for you," he sneered.
Teddi laughed lightly, waving her hand as though she hadn't just brought my estranged brother all the way from New York just to torment me. Oh, she was good. She was very good. I had to give her that.
"I don't think this conversation needs to happen here," Knix joined in.
Teddi's eyes shot to him. "Oh, no?" she said. "I think this is the perfect time to have a conversation, Knixon."
Knix stiffened and glared at the offensive woman. How any mother could be so calculating and cold-hearted, I would never know. This woman wasn't a fucking mother to me though—there was absolutely no way I saw her as anything more than a problem. Poor Grayson, having to put up with her for so long. I let my gaze drift to him.
Grayson looked ready to tear Teddi apart. Marv’s and Texas' hands on his arms might have been the only thing stopping him.
"We're drawing attention," Bellamy warned.
Teddi heard him and hummed pleasantly. "Are we?" she asked. "So, it seems."
"What do you fucking want, Teddi?" I snapped.
"Harlow." Michael's voice was chastising. I didn't look at him. I knew he and I would have to have a discussion later, and I knew that I needed to calm down before I spoke to him rationally. Because, in that moment, I was as close to the edge as Grayson seemed to be. I wanted to slap him, punch him, kick him, hit him—I wanted him to realize that this was not okay. He could not just show up in my life after I had tried and tried to get him to come back all because some stranger—this woman—convinced him to.
"Oh, do calm down, dear," Teddi said with another wave of her hand. "Making a scene is so elementary."
I grit my teeth and glared.
“I can’t believe you would pull something like this,” Grayson said. “No, I’m wrong. Actually, I can believe you would,” he corrected himself. “I fully understand now why Dad dumped your ass. You’re a vile, manipulative bitch, Mother.”
Teddi rolled her eyes. “Oh please, Grayson. What did I say about making a scene?”
“That’s no way to talk to your mother,” Michael said sharply, glaring at Grayson.
I scoffed, drawing his attention. “Really?” I said. “You’re really going to pull that? Let me ask you a question, have you even seen Mom since you left?”
“I’m not talking about this with you here, Harlow. We will speak later.”
“Maybe,” I said, turning. “If I feel like fucking talking to you, which—by the way, in case you’re not getting the hint—is highly unlikely.” I grabbed Grayson’s hand and then Knix’s. “We’re leaving,” I decided.
None of the guys stopped me. None of them tried to convince me. By the time we were out of eyesight of Michael and Teddi and I could no longer feel Michael’s gaze on my shoulders, I felt defeated. I felt like we had shown up to prove a point and Teddi had been ready—she’d been one step ahead of us. Bellamy caught my eye and nodded as he moved towards the front hall leading towards the exit with Texas and Marv on his heels. Knix leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
“I’m going with the others,” he said. “You might want to stay here for a moment and calm him down.” He tipped his head towards Grayson, who had my hand in a death-grip.
“I think you’re right,” I whispered back. “We’ll be outside soon.”
Knix nodded, departing with long strides as he followed the others. I slowed my steps and finally came to a stop in the empty hallway, pulling Grayson close to me.
“I’m so sorry, Harlow,” he said, his voice rough and dry.
“You couldn’t have known what she was going to pull,” I replied.
“It doesn’t matter. She’s a problem I’ve brought to you. She’s something that will follow me no matter where I go or what I do. She’s always going to be a bone of contention.”
“I don’t think that,” I said. “I don’t think the others do either.”
“They just don’t want to say it.”
I released his hand, reaching up to cup his face. I held him between my palms and forced his ice blue eyes to meet my gaze. “Stop it,” I hissed. “Stop blaming yourself for what she puts you through. For what she puts us through. Her actions and choices are not yours. You can’t hold yourself responsible.”
“She’s doing this because of me,” he said.
“That doesn’t make it your fault.”
He shook me off, turning and striding a few feet away as his shoulders heaved. He was a man on the edge, strung tight. I could see the desire to hit something sliding through his skin lik
e a disease that wouldn’t be cured.
“It’s simple cause and effect,” he said. “I left and now she’s retaliating.”
“So?” I ran a hand through my hair, dislodging some of the strands as they scattered around my face and mask. I reached up and yanked the thing from my face and let it fall to the floor.
Grayson whirled around to face me, reaching up and yanking his mask off when he saw mine gone. “I’m the cause, Harlow. It is my fault.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, stop it. Stop being a martyr, damn it. She’s not as all important as she thinks she is.”
He gestured wildly, striding back and forth in a line. “So, what then? You’re okay with her just following us around for the rest of our lives? You’re okay with her always being there to throw a wrench in our plans?” He stopped and looked at me, his crystal clear gaze cold and serious. “And what if we want to get married? What then?”
“After you turn twenty-one, things will…” I started, but he shook his head.
“I don’t trust it,” he said. “She may be doing this—coming at us this hard because of the time constraint, but if you think she’ll just give up the second my birthday hits, then you haven’t been paying attention. She’s not going to quit.”
“Then we just have to make her,” I snapped. “Or are you giving up? Are you done? I thought you wanted to be a part of Iris. I thought you wanted to be friends with Marv—and the others…” I trailed off, not wanting to say the next bit but knowing the question needed to be asked. “Are you giving up on me?”
“Iris…” he started. “It’s not about Iris.”
“Answer the question, Grayson.”
He paused for a moment and my chest squeezed tight. His eyes glossed over, but still, he didn’t reply. I waited, but no words escaped his lips. I took a step back, my mouth tightening, my eyes burning. I didn’t want to cry, but I felt the tears slowly building, rising from the depths of my pain.
“You promised you wouldn’t regret this,” I said.
