Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
There's a brief intermission where Claude stands to speak about his movie so far, and I try to make small talk with the other VIPs around me. I recognize plenty of them—world-class climbers, other companies CEOs, and even a pair of B-list movie stars—and groan internally. If even a single one of them recognizes me, Drake will know I was here.
Isn't that what I want, though? For Drake to realize I have a life outside of him and that if he wants me, he needs to act?
Once the movie restarts, Claude ups his efforts to get into my space. The fake-casual touching, the talking so close I can feel his breath, makes my chest tight. I don't want this. I don't want him close to me at all. I have gravely misunderstood what Claude thinks tonight is going to entail.
"Can you get me some water?" I blurt out to him, and he stops mid-sentence, furrowing his brow.
"Now?" Claude whispers back. "But we're almost at the part—"
"Please."
He huffs in annoyance, but once he remembers that everyone around us can see him trying to dismiss my request, he stands up to do as I ask. Letting out a breath of relief, I look around and try to decide just how I'm going to make my exit. Maybe I'll be able to get upstairs and change before Drake is done with his demo, and he won't ever have to know I was here.
Spotting an exit at the bottom left of the screen, I start to rise out of my seat when suddenly someone drops into the seat Claude was just occupying. I immediately know it isn't him—the sprawled-out, almost lazily casual body language of the newcomer is different from the stuffy Frenchman.
In an instant, without even turning to look, I know it's Drake, even in the dark. Swallowing hard, my pulse kicking into overdrive, I turn to look at my boss.
He's still in his climbing clothes from the demo, loose shorts showing off his perfectly defined legs and tight white shirt bearing the Dragon Ascent logo, leaving little to the imagination.
If he weren't obviously pissed beyond measure, I'd take my time to enjoy the view.
As it stands, I can tell he's already about to explode. His green eyes are lit up with anger, his hands clenched into fists on the armrests of his chair.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Drake growls out, and I quickly look around to see if anyone is paying attention to us.
A few people have turn, curious, but no one seems to notice who Drake is. He's holding himself loosely, but his face tells me that's all an act. There's nothing casual about Drake right now. He's seconds from igniting.
I've never seen him so angry. All over me.
"I-I got an invite—"
"And you came?" Drake hisses. "I told you no. I told you I didn't want you alone with Claude, and you lied to me, Ellie."
"It's not like that," I whisper, trying to keep my voice down, even though I'm getting mad too. "I never lied to you. I asked, and you said no, and that was that. I didn't think it was your decision to make."
"When it comes to you, it is," Drake snaps back, eyes flashing. "You're mine. Mine, Ellie. You're my responsibility, and you’re here alone with that asshole when I specifically told you to stay away."
"You're not my dad, Drake," I spit, crossing my arms over my chest. "I don't need a babysitter, I'm an adult. And I'm not going to let you dictate my life. We're at a conference, we have things to do, and I thought this would be a good networking opportunity for me."
"For you?" Drake scoffs. "If you wanted a networking opportunity, you should have told me. I would have made it happen. Why would you choose to spend time with him instead of me?"
His words are laced with hurt, and I feel a twinge of guilt. "It's not that," I say quietly. "I just..."
Both of us go silent when another figure hovers over us—Claude returning to find Drake in his seat.
"What is going on here?" Claude demands, placing a hand on my shoulder. I immediately shrug him off, but Drake has already seen the movement. His eyes flash.
"You two seem to have gotten to know one another," he growls.
Claude gives Drake a look, obviously annoyed. "She is my guest here tonight."
My boss stands, taking advantage of his height next to Claude. "The fuck she is," he says, his voice low and dangerous.
No one is paying attention to the movie anymore, not that I can blame them. There is a furious energy passing between Claude and Drake, and I want to be anywhere but in the middle of it.
With the two men a breath away from fighting and fixated totally on one another, I slip behind them and run up the aisle.