Page 86 of Fallen to Thievery
He was staring at me for a while, making me want to get up and run, but I held still. I tried not to squirm. “Why are you here? Why haven’t you gone back to your parents? To that friend of yours?” His eyes glided over my body, my dress. “Are you meeting him here?” He looked around the lounge, searching the room.
“Oh, gods no!” I exclaimed and hoped it sounded real. “I’m hiding. From him, and also… I don’t know,” I sighed. “When he let me go, I bought a crappy car and went straight home. To my parents’ house. But when I got there, I couldn’t make myself get out of the car. I don’t know, Mr. Anderson, I can’t explain it. I couldn’t go back to that life. It wasn’t a life. I wasn’t living. I just…existed.Did what everyone expected of me. Was the good, faithful daughter. I couldn’t do it anymore. No one knew I was still alive. I had a chance to break free, so I took it. I got my passport,took the money and the gold and ran. Am I crazy, Mr. Anderson? There’s something wrong with me, right?” I looked up to meet his gaze, looking to see what he made of my story, my babbling.
He had a small, knowing smile. “I always knew there was more to you. That you couldn’t possibly be happy with your…lacklustrelife.”
Of course, my life seemed lacklustre to him. To all of them, it seemed. But Charles was projecting. He didn’t want me to be content with my life, because then I wouldn’t possibly fit into his. And I could see it now. The way he looked at me. How he struggled to keep his eyes from drifting to my breasts. He wanted me. Grayson had been right.Of course,he was right. He was never wrong.
“And please. Call me Charles.”
I smiled warmly at him, hoping I could muster a blush, but it wouldn’t come—a thing that was so common around Grayson. So instead, I inched a bit forward, leaning into him, smiling down at my lap. It would have the same effect. “I won’t lie, Charles,” I said his name with a small, tentative smile. “It’s good to see a familiar face. And I’m glad it’s yours. I’ve been so lost, and you’ve always been so understanding.”
He brought one of my hands up and kissed it. “I’m just glad you are okay. I’ve been worried sick.”
“You have?” I blinked.
“Of course, my dear. You know you’ve always had a special place in my heart. My son was an idiot for letting you get away.”
I smiled down at our hands and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The definition of a blushing maiden.
“Have dinner with me. I want to know everything of your ordeal. In detail.”
Mywatchshowedthatthree agonising hours had passed since we’d sat down at the restaurant table. I had told Charles everything in detail and answered all his questions without missing a beat, thanks to Grayson’s thorough planning.
Charles had become bolder in his flirting as soon as he’d decided that I was telling the truth, and I let him. He was excited by the idea that I wanted more in life than what I had. I had even admitted, in an innocent manner, that I’d felt weirdly powerful for manipulating the robber the way I had.Thathad him on the edge of his seat with excitement.
“I can help you with it, you know. The gold.” He looked at me with a twinkle in his icy blue eyes. “I have someone who’d buy it for eighty percent of its value. And he wouldn’t question its origin.”
“You would do that? For me?” I whispered shyly.
“Of course, dear. I will set up a meeting for tomorrow,” he answered.
I shook my head in admiration while staring wide eyed at him. “How do you even know someone like that?” It was a stretch, but maybe it would lead to the diamond.
He smiled smugly. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Ava.” He took my hand across the table, and it was a battle not to pull away. “I would like to show you if you’d let me.” He waited for my answer.
I nodded shyly, watching our hands.
“Good, now let me take you back to your hotel. And I hope to see you again tomorrow.”
“Of course.” I beamed at him but let it falter as I stood. “But what about Charlotte?” I bit at my lip, letting disappointment take over my expression.
He came around the table, putting a heavy hand on my bare shoulder. “I can let someone take her back home to Willsbury if that is what you want?” He looked hopeful. Eager to get rid of the girl. To have me instead.
I fought against every instinct in me and leaned closer to him. “I would like that very much.” The girl wouldn’t know it, but I was saving her life.
We walked out the large doors of the lounge, our arms linked, to the waiting black car. The chauffeur opened the door, and I scooted inside, but not before getting a glimpse of the van. The engine was already purring, waiting to follow. I let out a sigh of relief.
I had done it. It had gone better than expected. Charles was already fantasising about me on his arm as his partner in crime. Grayson would be proud. I was sure that I could get information about the diamond from Charles sooner than expected. I’d underestimated his desire to have me by his side. His trophy.
Charles insisted on walking me to my hotel room. My heart was pounding in my throat at the thought of him wanting to come inside, but he didn’t.
“I will call up to your room tomorrow to let you know the details of our meeting with my buyer.”
“I can’t wait,” I chimed, and added, “Thank you, Charles. For helping me. And keeping my secret.” I put my hand on his arm.
He lowered his head to kiss my cheek. “Of course, dear.”
A moment later, he disappeared into the elevator, and I closed the door behind me. I hadn’t made it two feet into the room before there was an urgent knock. My shoulders sagged in relief as Grayson stood in the door, his brow creased and his eyes assessing. He looked like a movie star in his jeans and tight-fitting, knitted shirt.
