Page 12 of Mistaken
In which Ella faces a supercilious supermodel secretary, a haughty housekeeper, and a murderous fiancé
Ella…
“This is insane!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, knocking the expensive-looking lamp off the desk.This can’t happen!I thought wildly,Someone can’t just- just stroll in and decimate my entire life!
Of course, that was exactly what this gigantic sociopath had been doing since the first second I’d laid eyes on him in his stupid, pretentious club. “I hate your boring, overpriced drinks!” I shouted at the door, knowing that I’d gone off the deep end but I was way past caring.
Married?He has to be joking. This has to be another one of his twisted head games, like chasing me through the forest, right? I’m going to wake up tomorrow and he’ll drop me off at home. Really, I’m perfectly happy to ride back to Manhattan in the trunk, just to be away from him. I’m going to stop screaming. I will never see him again.
By the time I stopped angrily pacing and mouthing obscenities, I was so exhausted from the drugging and the kidnapping, then more drugging and getting chased through the forest, that I almost instantly fell asleep.
“You need to get up now.”
The tone was deeply disapproving, and as I opened my eyes, it belonged to a face pinched with disgust, like I was gum on the sidewalk and she’d just stepped on me.
“Yeah, thanks, Megumi. You’re a ray of sunshine today. Oh, wait,” I rolled off the bed, making my way to the bathroom, shuffling like I was an 80-year-old.
I heard a loud, put-upon sigh behind me and a click as she hung something up on the hook in the bathroom.
“Well, you are a lot of trouble. Get dressed. You are leaving soon.” Megumi marched out the door after glaring at me one last time.
I was struggling with the zipper on my dress when Maksim walked in. My eyes narrowed as they caught his in the mirror. He pushed my hands away, slowly pulling up the zipper. I could feel his curved index finger stroke my skin as he brought the zipper to the top of the dress, slowly fastening the tiny hook and eye. His hands slid to my shoulders, holding me there. I was acutely aware of their size; long fingers reaching down to the beginning slope of my breasts, calloused, and almost hot, searing my skin. I wanted to shrug free, but I didn’t dare. His gaze was expressionless, but I still felt pinned.
“Are you ready to go home?” Maksim finally asked, and I nodded vigorously.
Maksim…
Walking away from her last night was harder than I’d expected. I was certain she was suitably terrified. Telling her I’d kill her best friend and worthless brother guaranteed that. But her outraged tears… I almost wanted to sit and let her hit me for another hour or so.
Ella had handled everything I’d thrown at her, even when I thought she was the traitor I wanted I intended to kill. But the horror on her face when I informed her that we would marry- it was the most violent response I’d seen from her.
I was Pakhan. I did not feel guilt. But maybe, a little pity. She did deserve better. But I required her, and my needs would always take precedence.
Ella…
“Since you scoped out my entire life history, you probably have my home address,” I tried to sound matter-of-fact as we headed into downtown a few hours later in a heavy, luxury SUV that I suspected was bulletproof. “But if you take-”
Maksim was still speaking into his headset, looking at some specs of something on his phone. My eyes widened as the driver turned onto West 33rd Street. I could see The Vessel - the huge sculpture that towered inside Hudson Yards come into view.
“Seriously, I’m the other way-” I tapped on the glass separating us from the driver. “Hey, you have to turn.”
Finally hanging up from his call, Maksim watched me for a moment with that creepy, expressionless stare he had. “I told you, Ella, that we were going home today.”
“Yes, Maksim, and my home is in the opposite direction, and-” A shadow seemed to move over his face, like a cloud over the sun. I did not recognize this man. I’d seen this lunatic Russian angry, furious, aroused, amused, even threatening last night, but this? This was terrifying, ice-cold Maksim.
“Would you like me to kill your brother first, or your best friend?”
He was not joking. I could tell he wasn’t joking.
“Please, look- I can’t do this, you’ve got the wrong girl, I can’t-”
The SUV was turning into the driveway of a stupidly high, futuristic-looking limestone and glass tower. A smartly suited doorman stepped up to the car and back just as fast as the giant bodyguard in front got out, opening Maksim’s door. He didn’t move, staring at me coldly.
“Make your choice, Ella.”
He put out one big hand, and I stared at it. Did he hear anything I’d said since his twisted proposal? I felt like I was twittering frantically like a parakeet and he was tapping the bars of my cage like I was adorable.
“This is the only choice I will offer you. To say ‘no,’ and take the consequences, or say ‘yes’ and enjoy a life of luxurious excess.” His hand was extended patiently, and feeling like I was stepping into an open elevator shaft, I took it.
