Wild Submission
Page 7
THIRTEEN: ISABELLE
The casino charity night arrives out of nowhere: I’ve been so wrapped up in Cam, I don’t have time for my usual nerves about whether the event will go OK. There’s barely time to call my committee and check in before I’m sitting in the back of a limo with Cam, trying to remember if there’s anything I’m forgetting.
“I should call the caterers again,” I fidget nervously. “And I should have been there this afternoon for set-up. I can’t believe I missed it. If anything was wrong—”
“They would have called you,” Cam interrupts me, soothing. “Or, better yet, they would have solved the problem themselves. This is why you hired professionals,” he adds. “You don’t need to be there to fold every napkin.”
“I know.” I can’t stop worrying—at least until Cam takes my hand, bringing it to his mouth. He kisses my palm.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he smiles at me.
I feel a glow. “Thank you.” I agonized over what to wear before picking out a long gown in pale blue silk. I hoped that he’d like it, and from the way his eyes are skimming over the plunging neckline all the way down to the thigh-high slit, I’ve got my wish.
“But it’s missing something…” Cam muses, pulling something from his jacket pocket. A slim blue box. Tiffany’s. I gasp. “A little something for you. To celebrate our arrangement.”
I open the lid. A pair of glittering, diamond-studded bracelets twinkle up at me from the satin lining. “Oh my God,” I breathe. “Cam, these are gorgeous!”
He lifts them from the box and fastens them around my wrists: a matching pair of jeweled cuffs. I run my fingers over the metal, pausing over gold loops that are fixed to each cuff. “What are these for?”
“All kinds of things.” Cam’s voice turns throaty. He leans in, nipping at my earlobe. “I’ll show you later.
A shiver runs through me. I can’t wait to find out.
“I love them,” I tell him happily. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure, princess.” Cam claims my lips in a lingering kiss that sends heat racing through my body. I’m already wet for him, wanting his muscular body crushing mine, his hips pistoning fast, cock buried deep inside my slick, wet pussy. “Now, are you ready for your night?”
I take a breath and clasp his hand. “I am now.” I think of the crowd waiting for us, all the sneering, judging faces. “Just don’t let go, OK?”
“I promise.” Cam vows.
* * *
When we arrive at the hotel ballroom, everything’s already in full swing. The chandeliers glitter over New York’s social elite, mingling and chatting by the casino tables. Dealers lead games of roulette and blackjack as the band plays in the corner, and wait staff circulate with hors d’oeuvres and champagne.
“Looking good,” Cam applauds, as we make our way into the crowd.
“So far.” I’m still on edge, nervous something will go wrong. To everyone else, this is just another excuse to get in the gossip pages, but I really care about raising money here tonight, and I want everything to be flawless.
“Izzie!”
We turn. Olivia is cutting through the crowd. She greets me with a kiss, beaming. “Isn’t this great? The pit master says we’ve already raised fifty thousand dollars.”
“So soon?” I smile, happy and relieved. “But the evening’s barely started.”
“I know! Apparently some tech billionaire bet everything on red, and it came up black. I’ve told the waiters to keep him supplied with champagne,” Olivia adds with a wink.
I laugh. “Clever.” Olivia gives me a look, and I realize Cam is standing beside me, silent. “Oh, this is Cam. Cam McCullough. Meet my friend, Olivia.”
Cam shakes her hand. “Any friend of Isabelle’s is a friend of mine. Now, can I get you ladies something to drink?”
“Thanks.” Olivia waits until he’s gone before giggling. “Iz! Where have you been hiding him?”
“Why? What do you mean?” I flush, suddenly self-conscious. My two worlds are colliding here tonight.
“Just that he’s hot!” Olivia squeals. “Wait, is he that Scottish designer you were talking about?”
“No, different guy,” I say quickly. “Cam works at the company. Runs it, really. He was friends with my father.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” Olivia links her arm through mine. “Come see the girls. They’re all basking in praise for pulling this off, but we all know it’s down to you. You did a great job.”
I say my hellos and catch up with everyone, reminding them all to gamble and fill those fundraising coffers. “It’s for a good cause,” I joke to a group. “And when was the last time you could say that about losing your shirt at roulette?”
They all laugh. Cam joins me with a glass of champagne, steering me away from the crowd. “You should be proud of yourself for tonight,” he tells me. “This is a big deal.”
I flush at his praise. “I just know I got lucky, being adopted. So many kids don’t have that chance. This is the least I can do to help them.”
Cam squeezes my hand. “You’re a good person, Isabelle.”
Guilt strikes through me. He has no idea.
“I just want to run and thank the caterers,” I say quickly, needing some air. “I’ll be right back.”
I hurry through the crowded ballroom, and down a hallway. It’s quieter here, and I catch my breath, trying to push back the memories. Tonight is a good thing, but suddenly, I feel like such an imposter. Cam doesn’t realize, what I’m trying so hard to keep hidden. He doesn’t see my dark past, or know what I’ve done to get to where I am today.
“Well, well, well. Look at you.”
The voice sends chills down my spine. No. Not here.
Brent strolls closer, looking smug as usual.
I tense. “Don’t tell me you burned through that money already.”
He snorts. “Not quite.”
But I see the anger in his eyes. Damn it. I glance around, but luckily, we’re out of sight, hidden here in the hallway.
I straighten up and face him. “Get out of my way.”
“Not so fast, sister. We’re not done.”
“I’m busy.” I try to seem bored.
“With him,” Brent says scornfully. “That low-rent bastard. He’s got no fucking class.”
“And you do?” I shoot back.
It’s a mistake. His face darkens. “You liked me just fine, sis. All those years I came to visit your bedroom at night.” He moves closer, backing me against the wall. “You didn’t complain then, did you? You loved it, you little slut.”
“Stop!” I shove him hard, wriggling out from the alcove. “I won’t keep doing this. It’s over, I’ve told you before.”
“And I’ve told you, it’ll never be over. You’re mine,” he sneers. “You think your white knight will have you once he knows you’re damaged goods? Face it. Once trash, always trash. You should feel lucky I’d even look twice at you.”
I swallow, shaking with rage and panic. There’s a time I would have believed him, but being with Cam has taught me differently. Brent made me weak, but Cam gives me the strength to believe in myself. Believe I’m worth so much more than what I’ve been settling for.
“You don’t own me, Brent. In fact, you’re nothing without me.” With a final burst of angry strength, I wrench my arm from his grasp and try to walk away.
“Do you really want to risk it, killer?”
I freeze. Fear surrounds me, sharp and cold.
Brent strolls closer, placing a possessive hand on my waist. “That’s right, Iz. I know your secret, and believe me, I won’t think twice about telling everyone in that ballroom what you’ve done. You think Cam will want you then?”
Oh God. I can imagine the look on his face. The revulsion. The blame.
“Come along now.” Brent begins to steer me back to the party. “We’re leaving now. You and me. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. You’re coming home with me, where you bel
ong.”
I try to pull away. “Fine,” I stutter, buying time. “I’ll meet you there. I just have to—”
“No.” Brent scowls.” I want everyone to see you on my arm. Especially your precious Cam McCullough.”
I have no choice.
Brent steers me back toward the music and twinkling lights of the party.
My heart breaks in two.
FOURTEEN: CAM
I look around, bored, trying to seem engaged with the uptight businessmen around me. The party is in full swing, but without Isabelle at my side, everything is a dull blur.
I need her too much, but I can’t help it. She makes everything vivid and new, like I’m seeing the world for the first time.
And there she is.
I catch sight of her moving towards me. Even in the crowd of hundreds, she stands out. Gorgeous.
But her face is tense. Then I see the man beside her. Brent. His arm around her waist, his body tight against hers.
What the hell?
Something’s wrong.
I try to move away from the CEOs and VPs all around me, but before I can break free, one grasps my arm and asks how Ashcroft’s fiscal quarter is looking. I mumble a reply and pull away, lunging towards Isabelle and Brent.
“You better get the hell away from her,” I growl at Brent, the fact that we’re in the middle of a crowded ballroom the only thing keeping me from punching his face in. “Get out!”
“Cam, don’t!” Isabelle steps between us. “Calm down, you’re making a scene!”
“What’s he doing here?” I demand. “Why are you defending him?”
Isabelle’s chin trembles. “Please, Cam,” she says again, not answering my question. “People are looking.”
“To hell with people.”
But Isabelle looks around us. She flashes a tense smile, acting like everything’s fine. It’s not.
“Let’s go,” Brent barks. He holds out his hand, and actually has the nerve to snap his fingers at her.
Isabelle won’t look at me. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. Then she turns to leave.
With him.
“What’s going on?” I demand. “Tell me, now. That’s an order,” I add.
But Isabelle doesn’t obey. She finally meets my eyes, her expression blank. “Thank you for your hospitality,” she says politely. “But I belong at home.”
“No.” I growl in frustration. “I’m not letting you leave like this.”
“Tough shit,” Brent smirks. “That’s not your decision. It’s mine.”
“No,” Isabelle speaks up calmly, “It’s mine. And I’m choosing to go with him.”
“Part of our contract is for me to keep you safe. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Isabelle lowers her voice. “No, Cam. You were right. Your world, it’s not for me. The truth is…” she wavers, but then her face sets with determination. “It’s sick. You disgust me, you and your games. I want no part of it.”
.I watch as she takes Brent’s arm and walks away. I feel like my whole world is walking out that door, and I can’t understand why. I can hear whispers around us and I can’t be responsible for ruining her event. Not when it means so much to her.
I know she’s lying, but why? I’m not going to embarrass her in front of all these people and demand she stay, but something’s got her running scared, and I’m determined to find out what it is. Our connection is real. The way she felt, moaning in my arms, that’s real, and she needs me. Whatever hold Brent has over her, I’ll find a way to break it. I’ll release her from his chains and set her free, where she belongs.
With me.
THE END
What happens next? Cam and Isabelle’s
story continues in TOTAL SUBMISSION—
out January 12th.
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