His scent fills my nostrils. He doesn’t smell like me anymore. His scent is mixed with Silver’s expensive Chanel perfume.
I grit my teeth to avoid getting lost in his touch. “Let go or I’ll scream the whole place down.”
“I’d prefer you scream for another reason.” The dark, seductive tone takes me completely by surprise.
Is he flirting with me in front of his fiancé? What the hell is wrong with this psycho?
I would’ve felt sorry for Silver if I didn’t feel so bitter and completely out of my element right now.
“Let. Me. Go.” I emphasise every word.
“If I do, you’ll run away and I can’t have that.” He tugs and whirls me around so I’m facing him and Silver.
My head is held high, meeting both their gazes.
They won’t see my weakness. Not today. Not ever.
“We have something to tell you.” Aiden raises an eyebrow. “I would’ve told you earlier if you’d have listened to me.”
“I have nothing to talk about with either of you.”
Silver studies her nails. Her beautiful nails all peachy pink and polished. “Remember what I said at the car park?”
I won’t say anything until you talk to Aiden.
Her words have been playing in my mind since she said them. I tried not to give them weight, but I couldn’t ignore them. Especially at night when I can’t sleep.
For that reason alone, I choose to stay.
Seeming convinced that I won’t leave, Aiden releases my arm.
“Are you engaged to Aiden?” I ask her.
She nods.
I press my lips together, gather my bearings around me, then speak in a neutral tone that conveys nothing of the chaos running rampant inside me. “Then we have nothing to talk about.”
One step is all I take before Aiden grips me by the shoulder and pins me in place. “Listen for once, and stop running away.”
Could be because of his intoxicating touch.
Or their engagement that hangs over my head like a guillotine.
Or the fact that he smells like Silver.
Could be all of those combined.
All the pent up feelings I’ve been repressing explode to the surface. It’s ugly, it’s irrational, and it’s out of control.
“I’m not running away.” My voice raises with every word. “I’m walking the hell away from you, Aiden. You’re cancer who’ll keep eating me from the inside out until there’s nothing left. I’m done being your pawn. I’m done being played. I’m choosing me this time. Not you. Me!”
My lungs choke with my breaths. It rises and falls so quickly, I can barely catch my thoughts that scatter all around me like smoke.
“That’s smart,” Silver says.
“Queens,” Aiden warns.
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes and faces me. “The engagement is fake.”