“I apologize for the delay, sir. I’m trying to gain her entrance pass. No one goes in without an entrance pass.”The male in front of me gives the officer at the checkpoint a look that says he already knows that, and from that look alone my opinion about him sours further. He’s the guy I met at the mall.The one who was wearing his wedding ring but was trying to pay for the gifts I picked out, and then also trying to get to me so much that he had to be held back by the guards trailing me and I had to be rushed into the carI look into my rear mirror to see it’s just my car and his that are on line right now. His husky voice floats into my ears in a smug tone, “My eyes are up here pretty lady.”I raise my gaze to meet him again and I see a light gleam in them now. His eyes are a pale shade of green. Like leaves that have fallen and are gradually fading to brown. My tone is cold as I respond, “I wasn’t looking at anything else so there was no need for that.”He gives a smirk that tells
The doors open immediately and every activity in the hall stops. I freeze where I stand and I feel like asking to be shown the exit, but the fear and nervousness clenching in my stomach prevents me from doing so.I swallow to ease my suddenly dry throat and that low, ashy voice floats into my ears in a whisper as he asks, “Do you think they can see us?”I turn sharply to him and hide the light confusion that lines my face. Aside from the blank look in his obsidian eyes, I can see no other indication of anything on his face. I don’t know if he’s trying to be funny or if he’s just mocking me. When the side of his lips quirks up in a smile, I still can’t tell what he means by that. He stretches his hand forward and I leave it hanging instead of taking it.Working for Malachi has taught me not to jump headfirst into situations. If Malachi wants me to set up a meeting with some of the members of his board, I read his body language first and set the meeting based on what I can glean. If h
I turn to face him and I speak frankly, “I intend to.”I’ll deal with this like I'm dealing with one of the men in the office who thinks hounding me is a good idea when they know I'm married to their boss. My tone is stern, “I don’t know who you are, and I don't trust strange men. Thank you, for whatever this is you’ve done to the strange lights beneath me, everyone is avoiding me like the plague now.”“Are you married?” Instinct almost makes me say yes, but I hold myself back at the last moment. I respond a second later, “Yes.” Something of an amused twinkle enters his eyes but I hold up my hand and show him Tieran’s ring, “It’s an unconventional kind of ring, I know. But it still signifies something. So beyond my unwillingness to entertain you with my presence, I’m also bound by duty not to.” He smiles like he knows something I don't and nods, “Pardon my manners then, Antonia. I didn’t intend to make you uncomfortable.” A jolt of shock goes through me but I hide it. He turns and
Malachi’s pov.Antonia stays out the whole night.Anger and annoyance curl in me as I think about it, but I won't let it affect me. She’s bound to think she can be a bit wild and she’s made that clear from her argument with my mother. Antonia is like an insolent teen seeking attention when she’s angry. I won’t give it to her. That’ll only encourage that behavior.The door opens and Skye walks into my room. She slumps onto my bed. I’m silent even as she pants in deep and husky breaths. When she’s done she turns her head on the bed to look at me. A frown lines her pretty, well-formed face and her hair is a curtain of deep ebony locks on my bed. She asks, “You didn’t notice I came in, Malachi?”There’s obvious annoyance and ire in her tone. Most people would be scared of speaking to me that way but I've known Skye forever now, and she’s known me. I responded tightly, “I did.”Skye turns on the bed and she glares at me, not speaking anymore.A while after Antonia left and I refused Skye’
Antonia’s pov.I sleep on the cold floor when I return from the auction. I don’t even care about the fact that it’s cold, or hard, I’m just glad the dusty, flea-infested furniture Sienna asked the maids to bring into the room hasn’t been brought in.I’d have slept in the car if that had happened. Tomorrow I'll find a way to get furniture into the room. Furniture of my liking.The sun streams into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and nestled in nothing but a light nightgown and sleeping on a blanket, I would have enjoyed this feeling. Sometimes I crave simple things, and this is one of those things. Sleeping on a cold hard floor and waking up to the feeling of the sun on my face. The beauty of it is lost on me though because my mind is still burdened by the loss I suffered yesterday.Who the hell is His Excellency the senator? Just thinking about it puts a frown on my face, because I could have gotten the Moon’s tears fabric. I could have achieved my aim of going there
At the cafe.“What’s wrong Antonia?”Bridget sees right through the smile I'm trying to put on. I keep that smile on my face as I pick up the cup of coffee before me and take a sip. I respond calmly with a shrug, “Nothing’s wrong.”Bridget gives me a look that shows she doesn’t believe that, and I didn’t expect her to either. She’s known me as far back as college. She was there when I got married to Malachi and she experienced the whirlwind of emotions that was me being with him. She always told me to leave him, and I always ran to her when Malachi started mistreating me again after I refused. I know she has questions she wants to ask, but she won’t, not before I've told her what’s wrong, and I feel a slight twinge of shame when I finally give in, “It’s something that happened at the mansion Bridget, it’s nothing serious.”She nods understandingly and smirks, responding, “No doubt it has something to do with his royal highness Malachi Finn.”A half-amused smirk forms on my lips too.
I blink as I hear Bridget’s words, taking it in and trying to search for a suitable reaction. I never knew she had someone she was seeing.I know she has a boyfriend, unless, “You broke up with Paul.”She shakes her head, “He broke up with me and got married to some blonde Barbie doll the next day.” Ouch.“That’s… That’s so wrong. How could he do something like that?”Bridget shrugs, and suddenly the disorientation she was showing last night starts to make sense. I surmise again, “You went to see the lady yesterday.”Bridget nods again and that clears it all. She must have gone there after we went off the call to set up our breakfast date today. She never said anything about her and Paul having an issue, but up until now I've been so wrapped up in myself and trying to please a man who doesn’t care about me. Malachi’s love is all I was focused on. So much so, that I ignored everything else.I put on a brave face and infuse some brightness into my voice, “We’re going to get the Moon’s
Bridget and I conclude breakfast a few minutes before noon. The cafe owners know we’re regulars so no one complains about the amount of time we spend here. Going out now, I feel really good. Way better than I was feeling this morning. Bridget stops in front of my car and gives a wolf whistle. I roll my eyes and ask with an amused smile, “What now?”Bridget responds with a chuckle, “I really believed you were going to keep catching car rides with Malachi forever. Glad to see you have a ride of your own now.”I smile shyly and she waves as she walks over to her car. Our plan is fairly simple.We’ll return to the Starlight Hall.Bridget says she’ll try to ask the patron who informed her of the Moon’s Tears fabric about anyone who is referred to as His Excellency the Senator. Yet we both know that it isn’t a surefire route to go. What if that patron doesn’t give her a solid response, or does not know who that is?Since I seem to have an identity somewhere that grants me access to the St