by Pamela Ann
Unhinged (The Encounter Trilogy: Book 2)
Title Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
He came into my life in the most unconventional way, turning my world upside down when I least expected it.
He was my dark knight amidst the chaos that was my life. His persistence in conquering me tested my resistance, and at one point, I thought I had prevailed. However, the immediate turn of events left me shocked and alone. He left me when I wasn’t ready to walk away.
For months, I searched for him, stalking the internet for any news of him, hoping that one day I would get to see him again. Nevertheless, he was great at covering his tracks, and I was left resorting to tactics I hadn’t considered before.
I simply wanted another chance. He had wanted me once. He could want me again, couldn’t he? He left a gaping hole in my life, and I knew nothing could ever fix it, except him. I was willing to put myself out there for him to relish, criticize, and devour at his will.
The heart wants what it wants, and it wanted Hugo Xavier.
Unhinged
(The Encounter Trilogy)
Pamela Ann
Unhinged
Book 2
(The Encounter Trilogy)
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Copyright © 2015 by Pamela Ann
All rights reserved.
www.PamelaAnnBooks.com
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“Anything less than mad, passionate, extraordinary love is a waste of time. There are too many mediocre things in life to deal with, and love shouldn’t be one of them.”
Tiffanie DeBartolo
Chapter 1
Hugo
“Hugo.”
I heard my name being called from across the hall. It was from a voice spoken with familiarity, causing pain for me to hear the certain catch in her throat. Isobel.
Refraining from a sigh, I searched for her and felt something hit me directly in my chest the moment our eyes connected with each other.
Sherry was still next to me, at least momentarily. Pulling her close, I cut my eye contact from Isobel before whispering softly into Sherry’s ear, “Let me take care of this. I shall be with you shortly, chéri.”
She merely gave an understanding nod.
Without thinking of my actions, I planted a chaste kiss on her lips, earning me a bliss-filled smile before she slowly moved away to make herself scarce. The moment she was out of my line of vision, Isobel took over, filling me with dread and all the unholy things I hadn’t felt before. It was frightening and humbling at the same time. Still, with all these emotions threatening my stance, I knew one thing, and confusion wasn’t one it.
Jealousy etched her beautiful, rose-tinted cheeks, yet that didn’t faze me. I had given this woman a chance, and what had she done with it?
Nothing. Rien. She did not do one damn thing. Well, not with me, anyway.
Jealousy was a vile thing to exist amongst us humans. It was a powerful emotion, one that wreaked havoc in one’s mind. The moment it planted itself in your system, there was no way to vanquish it. It simply became a part of you. Like breathing, like living, you became accustomed to it. Naturally.
This woman, I had openly welcomed, and she had bestowed something ugly in return. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t—shouldn’t—blame her for it. The blame lay upon me, knowing quite well that the chances of seducing her wouldn’t turn in my favor. Alas, I took a chance, and nothing came of it.
“Isobel.” Masking my emotions, I became a man of indifference as I graciously waited with an open door that led towards my office.
She moved towards me, seeming confused about my attitude towards her. The moment she was a hairsbreadth away, she threw me an accusing look with those powerful, violet blue eyes.
“Are you fucking her?” she spat out, as if it was the vilest thing she had ever uttered.
Taking a calm stance, I finished shutting the door without glancing at her. Her question wasn’t irrelevant. She knew I had kept two other women before her, so she shouldn’t have the gall to sound so accusing. Those weeks I had granted her my all without the other women to distract me had been a grave mistake, one I would never commit again.
I took the time to gather my tumultuous emotions and thoughts as I strolled about the room before I made myself a drink. All the while, I noted how shallower her breaths had become, how her temper intensified as she watched me with condemning scrutiny.
I had resorted back to my old lifestyle since Isobel hadn’t been prepared to give me what I wanted. I had to, or I would have become obsessed, and wherever and whenever women were concerned, obsession couldn’t be afforded. The price was too high to pay. Yet, even though I knew what was at stake, I simply couldn’t resist being tempted to skirt around the bloody situation, merely dying to taste, to simply savor what it was like to want something so beautiful, something that tugged at my guts, something that burned my heart and set my loins on fire. Isobel had become a weakness, but no more.
No more, I silently screamed in my head.
I devoured the drink in one gulp, welcoming the slow, steady burn.
“Would it matter if I was or wasn’t?” I threw the question at her, uncaring if the unmasked hurt shone in those eyes I had stared into for hours on end.
Even if I was willing to risk everything, she had lied, betraying me and my trust. She had valued me so little that she had willingly given herself away to another man while she was under contract. Worse still, she had done so then writhed and moaned my name afterward while I showered and worshipped her body with my touch, with my kiss.
Betrayal was something I couldn’t live with. Once my trust was lost, it was gone forever.
My lack of response simply darkened her mood even more. “Are you?” she growled like an injured kitten. “You are, aren’t you? It’s because I’ve been less engaging lately, and you just couldn’t help yourself.”
She was less engaging lately? If at all. Did she even notice how I had looked at her since? Of course not.
Isobel was lost in her dreamy world, possibly recalling her tryst with the rotten man. I had too much pride to show how her actions had dented my ego. Then again, she hadn’t cared; hopping from my bed to her past lover’s then back to mine. I doubt she even regretted it, because if she did, she’d have done something to make me feel worthy of her.
Merde. There was no point in any of this.
Barking a dry, cruel laugh, I shook my head, wondering if she saw how wounded I had been. “You’re
one to talk. You’re the one who broke one of the rules. The first rule, in fact.”
Her once indignant face turned into confusion then horror before mortification settled in. “You read the letter,” she gasped in shock. “You’ve known all along.”
Of course I had, and what a day that was. I kept telling myself that she was innocent, and I wasn’t worthy of her at all. Nevertheless, the betrayal ate at me. So much so that I was slowly pulling away from her, gradually and steadily, until I knew I could fully let her go. I was sure, in her own world of confusion, had she given me a little attention, she would have noticed the difference. She hadn’t, though. There wasn’t much to be said; therefore, I was to continue on to where I thought would suit us best—being apart.
“Hugo…” Her small, pleading voice did something to me, but when she tried to come towards me, I had to take a step back, needing space from her.
I simply didn’t trust myself to have her so close to me.
“If you’re thinking of voiding the contract—” she started saying, granting me a glimpse of where her train of thought was going.
“I’m not,” I interjected harshly.
She blew out a breath, relieved that she wasn’t going to be paying a price for her betrayal. “God, thank you so much,” she rushed out before she mindlessly ran up to me, surprising me as she wrapped her arms around my neck before giving me a passionate kiss.
Her kiss was so unexpected that my ears started to ring, as if to warn me that I was in danger of making a fool out of myself again.
Steeling myself against her, I slowly took hold of her arms before backing away from her. “Please, don’t insult me, Isobel,” I grunted out, unveiling how her recklessness hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“Hugo, you should’ve said something…” She was getting choked up, but as much as I fought with myself to comfort her, my anger prevailed. “All this time—every night you held me—you never uttered a word about it.”
“What was there to say, Isobel?” I asked her calmly as I recalled how painfully aware I was of her, aching to be with her, each time she had slept next to me, and she had remained unperturbed, ignorant of this wretched desire I had for her. “You made your decision, and I had to respect that.”
There were a lot of women who could take her place, ones who would value what I would give them in return. Isobel was young and in love with another man. It was best she got on with her life, wherever that might take her.
“I’m sorry. You’ve been so kind to me, even though you have every right to do as you please, but you were generous enough to give me freedom to choose and make decisions.” She was gazing at me like an injured deer, wanting some comfort, wanting something from me.
I was tempted to touch her, but before I did so, my mind flashed something despicable before my very eyes—Isobel, naked, laughing, and giddily happy as she let her lover touch her, fuck her until she was out of her wits.
Bastard!
Grounding my teeth together, I strolled towards my desk, needing to be away from her so I could think clearly. Then I reached into the second compartment drawer and took out the envelope that had been sitting on my desk, dauntingly waiting for the right time to dispense it. Yesterday, tomorrow, today—it didn’t matter. I had made up my mind, and since she was already here, right now was fine. It was time to the cut the strings and be free of each other.
“I meant to give this to you at a later time, but now that you’re here, I think this is as good a time as any,” I said, barely glancing at her.
She looked pale and nervous, as if she was waiting to be sentenced.
I cleared my throat before going towards her to hand her the envelope. “This is for you.”
“What’s in it?” she asked in a small, frightened voice before taking it. She grasped it as if she was holding a diamond that had a bomb attached to it, drawn and fascinated yet knowing it was a thing that would end something beautiful.
“Open it and you’ll see.” My eyes lingered on her hands that clutched my last gift to her. Despite dealing with her rejection of me, I knew she still needed me to help her in certain aspects of her life. I was letting her go, but not without making sure she was going to be okay, that she wouldn’t need her father or any other man to dictate her future. Her life. It was a gift I hoped she would appreciate. Also, in some perverted way, it was a way to ensure that she wouldn’t ever forget me.
The moment she opened it, horror and confusion ran across her beautiful face. She shook her head as if she didn’t understand why I would do such a noble thing after what she had done to me.
I had wondered the same thing for quite some time, but I knew in my heart that, if something were to happen to her, I wouldn’t forgive myself. Likewise, if I could prevent any of it with a kind gesture, then my conscience was clear. I didn’t want to look back years from now and wonder what had happened to her. I needed to make sure she would succeed in life. I had no doubt in my heart that she would. She had it in her—motivation, the hunger and thirst for a better life.
She gripped the paper in her shaky hand, her eyes rimmed red, grateful and shocked at my generosity. “You paid my tuition? What’s with the bank account with all this money in it?” She shook her head in bewilderment. “I’m confused,” she barely uttered the words before something caught her eye, a piece of heavy weight paper on the very bottom of the pile, a deed to a flat in London, fully paid with her name glaringly attached to it. “What the bloody hell is all this, Hugo?” she choked out as tears threatened to spill down her face.
Something glowed inside me. “You’ve fulfilled the contract, Isobel.” I knew I had done the right thing. Letting her go to live her life was the right thing to do.
She shook her head, disagreeing with me. “But it’s only been about two months. I don’t understand, Hugo.”
I doubt she ever would. I couldn’t grasp it myself, but I knew this must be done.
Striding over to the floor to ceiling glass wall that overlooked the majestic French Riviera and its heart-stopping beauty, I took it all in before expelling a slow, steady breath to address her.
“You’re free to leave.” The words hung in the air, and then I heard her take a sharp breath before pushing myself to finish what I was trying to say. “Let’s put this behind us. It’s time to stop the games and get on with our lives. If you have any problems, contact my secretary for anything you need—food, money, school. There should be a card in the envelope with her contact number. You can reach her anytime for whatever you need.”
There was no turning back now.
“B-b-but…” she stuttered as she tried to gather her thoughts, letting my final words sink in. “After all this—what we shared—you don’t even want to stay in touch?”
At least I could say she knew me well enough to know that, yes, I had no qualms in cutting communication with her. What for? So she could fill me in on her love life? I thought not. The torture must end here.
“Why?” she demanded, as if I had slapped and insulted her when I didn’t respond to her question.
“You were forced into this. Now, you’re free.” I merely shrugged, not wanting to see her and her tear-stained face. Was I scared to do so because something might shift inside me, and I would change my mind? Yes.
Even though I was saying my goodbyes, the fire she had lit inside of me still burned willing and true. I couldn’t risk falling back into her beauty, entranced by her naiveté and enchanting smiles that made my heart speed a little faster. Instead, I regarded the sea below me, steeling myself as I tried to find the stillness inside me amidst the chaotic mess that was threatening to come out of me like a shaken champagne bottle that was ready to expel its cork.
“Why question any of this? You’re free to go, Isobel. Why are you even here, spouting off questions, when you should’ve run out of here, packed the rest of your things in the villa, and caught the first flight out of here?”
Silence filled the air.
The moment she spoke
again, I felt like she gutted me alive. “You said you wanted me.”
“Everything’s changed.” Wanting and desiring her would never ebb away. It would forever be a battle for me. I had acknowledged that long ago.
“How about if we stay in touch?” Her light suggestion went unanswered; as a result, she pressed on with the caveat, “As friends?”
She wanted to stay friends? What an absurd idea.
“I don’t think that’s possible. I choose my friends wisely, and since trust and loyalty isn’t really your strong suit, I’ll pass.”
“Hugo.” Desperation laced her voice. “You can’t just let me leave like this. We need to talk … please.”
“You’re wasting precious time, Isobel. Besides, this is a working day for me; I don’t have time to spare.”
From the glass reflection, I could see the tears spilling freely down her face. Each tear tore me apart, but I knew what I had to do. I had never known the meaning of hard goodbyes. Well, I did now.
Nervously wiping her tears away, she gave me a pleading look. “Why do I feel like this is goodbye?” she whispered in a small, broken voice.
“Because it is.”
“So that’s it? You got bored with me, and now you’re ready to have Sherry and Chantel or whomever you fancy take my place?” she lashed back, obviously needing a reaction from me.
I remained still, unwilling to have a duel of words. Not only was it hard not to soothe her worries away, but it was better not to say anything at all when I had nothing to offer her or even try to argue my point in dismissing her from her contract.
My apparent detachment seemed to have incensed her more.
“Answer me, damn you!” she screeched.
Expelling a ragged breath, my nostrils flared as I gathered my bearings before I finally had the courage to spin around and face the woman I had once adored. There was half a second when I was tempted to gather her into my arms so she didn’t have to feel wretchedly guilty about what she had done, but thank heavens that maddening urge was fleeting. It left me the second my eyes caught the envelope she still clutched.
