Chapter 126
Julian’s POV
I felt a forceful tug on the sleeve of my blazer, and before I could protest, Catherine was pulling me toward the darkened corridor.
We slipped inside the room, and Catherine didn’t waste a second. She turned on me.
“What happened, Julian?” she whispered with a tight voice. “You told me you already handled Lucy. You said you sent her to a hotel and she was fine with it. So what’s going on now? Why did she show up and ruin the live press conference p>
I let out a breath I’d been holding since we left City Hall, running a hand through my hair. My head was thumping with war drum. “I know what I said, Catherine. But it seems like things got… they got out of hand. I didn’t realize how angry she was p>
“Out of hand? Angry she was? She called you a thief in front of the entire state. Explain why she did that p>
“She was mad,” I said, leaning back against the wall. “She felt abandoned. She called this morning and told me she felt like trash I’d dumped on the curb while I went off to play ’Golden Boy’ with the family. She wanted me to come to her this morning but I didn’t show up because of the press conference. This must be the reason for her action p>
I should have seen it coming, she had warned me to see her within three hours.
“And you kept all this from me?” Catherine crossed her arms, pacing the small space. “Nevermind. Right now, we have to worry about what Richard will do to her, especially now that she’s talking with him p>
From the other side of the door, a highlaugh rang out. That was Lucy’s voice.
Catherine stopped pacing and moved toward the door, cracking it open just enough to peep through the little hole. “Julian,” she called. “Come see this p>
I moved to her and stood behind, looking over her shoulder. Inside the room, Richard leaned back in the armchair while Lucy sat opposite him, her face glowing with pride. They looked like two predators negotiating over a carcass.
“Why are they laughing?” The question rolled left my mouth.
“I have no idea but it’s not safe for Lucy,” Catherine said, turning back to me. “We have to find a way to get her away from Richard. He could be planning to get at her for ruining today’s conference p>
Wow, Catherine was right. This didn’t even cross my mind.
“This is how Richard operates. He gets you to like him, so that his victim doesn’t know the very moment he strikes p>
Catherine nodded. “Even if Richard doesn’t want to her, I’m scared that Lucy might telling him about us, Julian. You know she was Sasha’s friend p>
“Don’t worry too much, I will sort it out p>
“Julian!” Richard’s voice thundered, calling me back to the arena. “He left without informing me p>
I felt my jaw lock when I heard the second sentence. I now needed permission from him to move, what sort of madness was this? My shoulder muscles flexed so hard they felt like they might tear. The rage was hot in my chest.
I took a step toward the door, my fists clenched at my sides, ready to walk out there and probably throw a punch to his face if the opportunity presented itself.
“Julian p>
Catherine’s soft voice cut through my anger. She stepped in front of me, placing her hand on my chest. I looked down at her, my breath coming in shallow hitches. She didn’t say anything; she just held my gaze and gave a gentle nod of her head.
Breathe, her eyes told me. Don’t lose your mind.
I felt the tension drain out of me, replaced by calmness. I covered her hand with mine for a brief second, drawing strength from the only person in this house who wasn’t trying to destroy me.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I’m good p>
“Good,” she breathed, stepping back and smoothing out her sweater.
We stepped out of the library, but we didn’t even make it three feet before a shadow fell across us.
“There you are,” Lucy said.
She was leaning against the wall.
“When did you get here, Lucy?” Catherine asked with a fake pleasant tone, her face morphing into a polite surprise.
Lucy let out a dry, rattling chuckle. “Oh please, drop the act. You don’t have to act like you are concerned about me,” she paused and added just a second after. “Moreover, I didn’t see or hear you guys doing anything p>
She was trying to hit a nerve with that additional comment but I wasn’t going to give her the benefit.
Her gaze slid over me with an expression of pure venom, as she took a slow sip of her wine, before landing back on Catherine. “I can literally see how unhappy you are of my presence. Are you disappointed that I returned p>
“I don’t know what you mean,” Catherine said, her smile getting bolder.
“Oh, I think you do,” Lucy stepped closer, the smell of perfume and expensive wine clinging to her. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper that made my skin crawl. “I’m sure you were hoping I’d just disappear. Maybe you even hoped I’d die. It would be so much easier for you, wouldn’t it? You’ve always wanted me out of the picture, just so you can have my Julian to yourself p>
I felt Catherine stiffen beside me. “Lucy, that’s enough,” I warned, stepping forward. “Stop saying nonsense. There’s nothing between me and Catherine. What is wrong with you p>
“Oh really?” Lucy turned her fire on me, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve underestimated me enough, Julian p>
“You are so good at lying, that I can’t help but wonder if you are like your father, or even worse. You keep women in boxes until you need them, and then you’re shocked when they find a way to break the glass. But guess what? I’m out of the box now. And Richard? Richard actually knows how to listen p>
“What do you mean?” Catherine was the one who spoke this time.
Lucy smirked, then winked. “Nothing much. Richard could listen to me talk all day. I might have to get things interesting by revealing a few things to him p>
“Lucy,” I groaned, her name out, my forehead twitching. “Do you even realize that we are friends p>
She scoffed and moved two steps back. “Stop acting like an idiot. We are not friends. I’ve always wanted more and you know it p>
“So you are going to blame me for not liking you back in that manner p>
She turned on her heel and began to walk away, not giving me an answer. After a few steps, she paused and turned to me. “You are mine, Julie. If I can’t have you, then I’ll make sure no one else can p>
I looked at Catherine. She looked like she was about to faint.
“We’re in trouble,” she whispered. “I doubt that this is an empty threat. It feels like she means every word of what she said p>