Tamed by the Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter Six - The Leak

Elena



The story comes out on Friday morning, four hours before we are supposed to be doing wedding planning and I find out the way most of Detroit finds out. My phone was flashing on the kitchen table with a push notification from the Free Press: DRAKE'S SECRET FIANCÉE: Tech Titan to Marry Disgraced Auto Heiress in Weekend Ceremony.

There is a picture of me from three years ago taken from some class page and a picture of Cassian from a defense-contract news event his face doing the thing it does in public where nothing changes at all. Below in the letters is a picture of Richard. New, taken outside the house in Bloomfield Hills, looking exactly as gray and weak as he has looked every time I have seen him this month.

Cassian was already at the counter when I came down, coffee in front of him, reading the same article on a tablet with an expression I have learned to recognize as the calm before something happens.

"Someone in your stepfathers' group sold this," he says, not looking up. " For less than he owes me in interest this month."

"You don't sound mad."

"I'm not mad. I'm thinking again." He puts the tablet down. Finally looks at me and there is something sharpening behind his eyes a gear locking into place. "This is helpful."

"Helpful."

"Every board member who has ever wondered whether Richard Calloway still has teeth is about to watch me answer that question in front of everyone." He stands, fastens his jacket and for the time since I have known him, I watch something like excitement cross his face. Not warmth, not even close to warmth but a hunger that is almost as uncomfortable to watch. "There is a benefit tonight at the DIA. Richard will be there. I want you at my side."

"You want to use me to make him look bad in front of the city."

"I want to show the city what happens to men who sell their families to hide their gambling problems." His voice does not change. Something in the way his shoulders sit does some old weight settling into place. "You don't have to say a word. Just stand there. Let them see what he lost."

I should say no. I know I should say no. Every instinct I have built over years of being a piece in people’s games is telling me that agreeing to this makes me exactly what he called me the first night, a prize, a prop in someone else’s revenge.

I think of Richards face at dinner four years ago the night after my mother’s funeral telling me I was old enough now to "help" with the house and something cold and clean and completely mine settles into my chest instead.

"Okay " I say. ". I choose the dress."

Something that might in a man have been the hint of a smile appears at the corner of his mouth. "Deal."

The benefit is exactly as bright and harsh as I expect it to be. Cassian’s hand is on the small of my back the night warm even through the silk steady in a way that feels less like owning and more strangely like a support. When Richard finally sees us across the room. Drink already in hand tie already lose. I watch all the color leave his face.

"Elena " he says, coming toward us fast voice meant for an audience. "You look—"

"Don't " I say. It comes out quieter and colder than I expect quiet enough that only the three of us hear it. "You don't get to act of me tonight."

Cassian says nothing. He doesn't need to. His presence beside me does all the talking. A silent unshakable wall of a man who everyone in this room understands now holds every document with Richard Calloways name on it. Who is choosing, in this moment to say absolutely nothing at all because the silence is worse than anything he could say out loud.

Richard’s mouth. Closes twice before he walks back into the crowd. I feel Cassian’s hand press just a little more firmly, against my back. Not a claim, not tonight. Something closer to support.

"You didn't need me for that " I say quietly once Richard is gone.

"No " Cassian agrees. ". I wanted to watch you do it anyway."