10
1234 Words
IVIE
T
hey say you can never escape your past no matter how hard you try, but I was determined to escape mine.
I smiled at Ethan Fort, the man. He was my key to leaving North America as soon as possible.
“I was hoping we could speak, Mr. Fort.”
“Of course, Ms. Westfield,” he nodded affably, his crow’s feet wrinkling as he smiled. “I went through your proposal, it is quite compelling, to say the least. Maybe we could finalize the details here and get the legalities sorted out later.”
My smile broadened, “You flatter me. An alliance between us will be most—”
My words cut off abruptly as I felt a presence behind me.
It wasn't just any presence, it was him. His scent hit me a moment later confirming my suspicions.
Oh Goddess, it was too soon.
I’d thought I would have time to prepare for this, or just avoid meeting him altogether by rounding up my business on time.
Diana stirred within me but this time I was prepared, holding her back before she did anything crazy.
When I turned to face him, it was with the most casual expression I could muster.
Dante looked between Fort and me and I can see his eyes slightly widen.
“Mr. Fort,” he said, finally holding his hand out to Fort.
Despite my best preparations, I wasn't ready for the full assault of his voice.
The rough melodic timbre hit me like a slap to the face and a shiver down my spine at the same time. I sucked in a breath to stabilize myself, but all I could smell was his scent.
I thought with the bond between us broken this draw would be gone. I had been wrong. It was muted but it was still there.
Fort smiled at Dante, taking his hand in a firm handshake like they were good friends.
“Mr. Orion, I thought you wouldn't be able to make it today.”
Dante returned his smile.
“To attend your launch, of course, I would clear my schedule.”
Fort laughed then he indicated to me.
“Have you met Ms. Westfield? She's new to this scene.”
Dante’s steel gray eyes met mine for the second time that evening, and I didn't flinch away from them. Instead, I held my hand out for a handshake.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Orion,” I said evenly. And to my surprise, Dante took my hand easily, without a moment of hesitation, his eyes never leaving mine.
“The elusive Ms. Westfield.”
I ignored the jolt of electricity that raced through me at his touch, irked by the attraction that was a remnant of the mate bond he had broken.
It was unfair.
Unfair that despite the fact all I felt for Dante was intense dislike, his touch could still elicit something inside me.
Unfair that he still looked good, easily towering over me despite my heels, and filling out his suit perfectly like every inch had been tailored to him. It probably had been.
His ink-black hair was longer now, pulled back into a ponytail with the shorter pieces framing his aristocratic features.
I took him in for a moment, just enough to satisfy Diana’s primal desires, but that's all.
I was never going to fall for that again.
I ended our handshake properly and turned back to Fort. The last thing I wanted to do was pitch my idea in front of Dante, but if that was the chance I was going to get then I would take it.
“About the proposal—” I began only for Meredith, Fort’s secretary, to sidle up to him from nowhere and whisper something in his ear.
Fort looked at her sharply before facing Dante and me with an apologetic smile.
“Please excuse me, there seems to be a minor situation. I'll be right back.”
No. I don’t want to be left with—
But Fort was already walking away, Meredith at his side as they argued. Leaving Dante and me alone.
We were still at the party so we were far from alone, but you wouldn't have known it from the way Dante was staring at me.
“Ivie,” his voice was crisp and unemotional as ever. “I wasn't expecting to see you here today.”
Fighting my twin urges to hit Dante or just leave this gala, I swirled my wine glass between my thumb and index finger.
If I left, he would think I was running. I would be damned before that happened.
“I wasn't expecting you either, Mr. Orion,” I said and to my surprise, Dante smiled.
“You really didn't have to go through all this subterfuge to get my attention.” He smirked and I blinked, slowly trying to understand what he was saying.
“To get your attention?”
“Don’t act innocent now,” Dante said, his voice soft but razor-sharp. “From undercutting me at the bid anonymously to taking the exclusivity rights, what exactly is this, Ivie? Revenge?”
He had also wanted the nanotech bid and the exclusivity rights? I had no idea, or I would have let him have them just to avoid Dante’s notice. He couldn't find out about Mace.
Dante stared at me waiting for a response to his accusation.
How had I forgotten how arrogant Dante Orion was? Of course, he would assume I had come back for him.
Dropping my wine glass on the tray of a passing waiter, I leaned in meeting Dante’s gray gaze head-on.
“Mr. Orion, with all due respect, get over yourself. The world doesn't revolve around you.”
With that, I walked away. Fort and I would have to continue our meeting elsewhere. Nothing good could come out of lingering around Dante Orion.
I had made it all of two steps away when Dante caught up with me, holding on to my arm and blocking my path.
I looked up at him in askance, but his next words shocked me to silence.
“Shall we dance?”
Dance? With him? Never. How could he even offer that?
“No—” I said when I recovered from my shock, but Dante was already pulling me onto the dance floor.
I could easily put him on his back with all the training I had now, but struggling with Dante would only cause a scene and draw attention to us, although it might have been too late for that.
Already, I could see Fort watching us with a faintly puzzled expression on his face. I’d spent years cultivating my persona as the aloof billionaire widow and in one night, Dante had erased all my effort.
Dante pulled me close, seamlessly falling into the slow waltz.
“What do you think you are doing?” I gritted out.
In the year we had been mated, even though I had been etiquette trained in the palace, Dante had never danced with me. Not once.
Dante pulled me closer, his hand on my waist a disturbing distraction, his lips at my ear.
“You disappeared. I couldn't find you no matter where I searched.”
My ears rang and for a moment, I faltered in my waltz.
He’d searched for me?
- Writer
