The Arrogant Artist : A Billionaire Boss Romance (International Bad Boys Set Book 2), стр. 65
“Get the fuck out of my house, Elisabeth, before I do something I know I’m going to regret.”
She grins widely, knowing she’s getting to me. “You have twenty-four hours to accept, Louis. Otherwise, I’ll take matters into my own hands.” And with those parting words, she walks out of my studio.
Fuck! I want to scream. I want to trash everything. I want to hurt someone.
I grab the bottle of tequila and bring it to my lips, but stop.
What the hell am I doing? I’m not going to let that bitch destroy my life again. Elisabeth has just proved to me that she’s nothing but a gold digger. The fact she’s okay that her boyfriend nearly raping someone confirms it all.
There’s only one person who can help me take down Elisabeth, and I just pray that he will.
“Louis,” Victor greets me warmly.
“It’s so good to see you, old man.” I pat him on the back, making him chuckle.
“I’m not that old.” He waves his arms around. “Come in, come in… it’s been ages seen we’ve seen you.”
“Is Eloise here?”
“I heard my name.” Eloise enters the foyer, and my chest tightens because I know this is Emily’s mother. I see the resemblance, they could almost be twins they look so similar. She pulls me into her arms and kisses my cheeks. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”
“I need your help.” They glance at each other. “I’m going to need you to listen to me first, then I’ll answer your questions when I’m finished. Do you trust me?”
They both nod their heads.
“Come, we’ll sit in the garden, maybe a bottle of wine is needed for this chat,” Eloise states.
We all take a seat outside on the terrace, Victor pours the glasses of wine, then he sits back in his chair. “Please start.”
Taking a large sip of the wine, I’m hoping it will give me the courage to tell them the whole story. I begin with Elisabeth and Yves, about the darkness I had lived in, how my art had taken on a more somber feel, and about the New York show. Then I begin to tell them about Emily, about how she took me from the darkness and brought me back into the light, that she showed me how to appreciate color again.
Eloise pats my hand, giving me a warm smile as I talk about Emily—if only she knew. I tell them about the party in Monaco, and Victor’s face blanches, then I hear his breathing increase. I continue to talk about what happened in Paris. I see he’s now fuming beside me, and that he too wants to stand up and destroy something.
“Oh my,” Eloise gasps.
I tell her that Emily was assaulted previously. That this attack has brought on flashbacks, and she ran away back to London the minute she knew what had happened to her. Emily blames me, but I don’t blame her for leaving me and the country because I brought Yves into her life.
Eloise squeezes my hand. “This isn’t your fault,” she tells me.
I give her a weak smile, then continue to tell them that Elisabeth came to see me, offering to buy me off, so Emily won’t press charges.
These words set Victor off as he jumps off his chair and starts pacing around the garden.
“There was always something about Elisabeth that I couldn’t put my finger on,” Eloise adds.
“Then why did you let her…” My eyes look up at Eloise as I trail off. I don’t understand how she’s okay with Victor having girlfriends, sharing the man she loves with others.
“Not everyone is made for a monogamous life, Louis.” She pats my hand. “I don’t expect you to understand, but Victor and I have an agreement. We’re both artists, we both follow where the creativeness takes us, sometimes different people bring out different things in each of us. Doesn’t mean I don’t love him any less.” She looks up adoringly at Victor. “He just can’t always give me what I want and vice versa.”
I guess if that’s what makes them happy, then who am I to judge their lifestyle.
“I wish I’d never introduced the two of you,” Victor adds, the strain of the conversation weighing heavily on his shoulders. “Elisabeth pretended with me. There were glimpses of something, but I thought it was the age difference. Because when I saw her with you, she was different, not as guarded, freer, and I thought maybe you were the better fit. And you were for many years but…”
Yeah, he doesn’t need to say any more.
“I never knew her. Not really. I think you’re right… she masks the real person behind whatever you want her to be. She’s cunning, conniving, and manipulative. The blinders are off now, and I see the true person behind the mask she wears.”
“I’m sorry you had to learn it the hard way, sweetheart.” Eloise smiles at me.
“Whatever you need from me, whatever contacts you require to put a stop to these two, I’ll help you,” Victor tells me.
“Thank you.” He has said exactly the words I was hoping for.
“Can I see a photo of her?” Eloise asks.
My stomach sinks. Should I? It will be strange if I don’t show them. It’s been over twenty years since she saw her daughter. Would she even recognize her?
I hand over my cell to Eloise, she pulls out her glasses and stares at the image for quite a while. It’s the picture of the two of us in the sunflower field after our bike ride where she’s carefree and happy.
“Oh my God.” Eloise clutches her chest. She looks up at me, but her eyes are wide as saucers.
She knows I