The Arrogant Artist : A Billionaire Boss Romance (International Bad Boys Set Book 2), стр. 64
I’m a little taken aback by his sentiment. “Thank you.” I reach out and hug him. Strong arms envelop me, his hard chest presses against mine, and something inside of me breaks, but I have to try to push it back in.
The tears, the fears, the shock.
“Hey.” Daniel looks down at me, shaking in his arms. “Emily, are you okay?”
I shake my head, the tears fall further down my cheeks, soaking my T-shirt.
Daniel pulls me in closer. “Let it out. You’re safe now. Just let it out.”
He holds me until there’s nothing left inside of me.
39
Louis
I’ve let myself sink back into that dark place again with my trusty bottle of tequila by my side. The demonic colors are back against the white canvas. I haven’t heard from her in weeks. I’ve checked her social media, and the last images are of her running through the lavender fields. An image that I now have as my screen saver. I’m such a fucking stalker.
Daniel’s seeing Emily today, and my nerves are a jumbled mess. I’ve told the staff that they can have holidays as I won’t be requiring any help. Honestly, I want to be left alone. I want to wallow in my misery, and as much as misery loves company, I do not.
“Wow! I love the new direction.”
That voice.
A voice that months ago, I’d have longed to hear again, but now, now it’s like fingernails running down a damn chalkboard. The sound makes my stomach turn, the tequila curdling and wanting to make a comeback.
“What the fuck do you want?” I seethe. Her motherfucking boy-toy tried to rape my girl, and I detest Elisabeth for it. I hate her for ruining my life and for creating the monster that is Yves.
“Wow! That’s not how you should greet your wife,” she purrs.
Elisabeth is dressed in skin-tight jeans making her legs look miles long, her generous chest on display with the deep V of her cream top showing off her cleavage. Ordinarily, my dick would twitch at the sight of her, but now, there’s nothing.
“Ex-wife,” I remind her, but she just waves her hands in the air as if it means nothing.
“I like this new direction you’ve taken, Louis. It’s so dramatic.” Elisabeth smiles.
“I am going to count to three, and if you’re not gone from my property, I’m going to have security escort you the fuck out.” She lets out a heavy sigh, but she doesn’t move, which enrages me even more.
“Calm down, Louis.” She gives me her ‘fuck me’ eyes, and no shit, I want to hurl. “I hear Yves has been a naughty boy,” Elisabeth purrs.
“He tried to rape my girlfriend.” She bristles at the word girlfriend, and I think that’s what she has a problem with, not the fact that her boy-toy is a potential rapist.
“Girlfriend? That woman was your girlfriend?” Her lip snarls.
My eyes narrow on her. Never in my life have I ever wanted to harm a woman more than I do at this moment.
“I’d even go as far as to say she’s the one.” That comment hits its mark because she recoils.
“Is your so-called girlfriend going to be pressing charges?”
Ah, so that’s what she’s worried about. Her golden goose may be losing his shine.
“Yes,” I say confidently, even though I know she isn’t.
Elisabeth straightens herself. “It’s her word against his,” she tells me.
“There were witnesses. Plus, there’s a video of him putting something in her drink.” Usually, Elisabeth is hard to read, but I can tell by the small gasp that leaves her mouth that the comment has surprised her.
“Is this true?”
I nod my head. “Your little boy-toy is going to be going away for a very long time, especially if I have anything to do with it.”
Elisabeth’s nostrils flair at my comment. “Don’t you think people are going to wonder if this little story is about you seeking revenge on the man who stole your wife?”
“I don’t care, and there’s proof. I wasn’t the only one who saw it. He won’t get away with it. He attacked her in Monaco as well.” I’ve surprised her again with that little tidbit of information, but somehow she stays composed, and I give her credit for that.
“We’re on the verge of a multimillion-dollar contract, Louis. It’s something I have been curating for months. I’m not going to let some whore take it away from me.”
I rise to my full height, my face is red with anger, and my body rigid with rage.
“He tried to rape her, Elisabeth. Rape. Her. Do you understand what that means, or have you lost all of your moral compasses?”
Elisabeth doesn’t back down. “How much will it cost to make this all go away, Louis? Name your price? Ten million? Fifty million? One hundred million?”
“What? You think you can buy me?”
“Maybe not you, but I bet I could buy Emily.” Just hearing Emily’s name from her lips makes me splinter inside. I take a couple of steps toward her, and I watch as fear quickly wipes that smug smile from her face.
“You fucking go near Emily, and I’ll make your life a pure living hell. Do you hear me?” She doesn’t flinch, I don’t think I’m getting through. “I mean it! It will become my life’s mission to make sure that Yves is behind bars, and your career is in ruins. Furthermore, I will make sure you’re shunned from the art community, and I’ll ensure everyone knows how much of a piece of shit you and your boy-toy asshole boyfriend are.”
Elisabeth huffs. “You don’t scare me, Louis Marchant. You are a washed-up has-been artist. Maybe in your tiny little mind you think you’re still someone, but in reality, no one could give a shit about you, especially when you’re up against Yves. I made him. He has become even bigger than you ever could be. You never had the drive to be the