Mind the Gap

Chapter 10

I made it as far as the dinner table before a hand gently grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.

“Amelia, please wait.”

“Marcus, I’m really done being insulted and called a w***e by your girlfriend. Please leave me alone and lose my number.”

“No, I won’t leave you alone. This has all been a spectacular c**k-up. “ Marcus runs he hands through his hair and ruins his perfectly coiffed style. “Lizzie had no right saying the things that she did and I’ll deal with that. But she’s not my anything. As a favor I agreed to come to this event with her. I didn’t realize this was the same event you’d be at.”

“Come on, my Lord,” I sneer. “You hired a f*****g investigator to find out about me, yet he didn’t tell you I would be at attend at this event? You know I’m friends with Sophie, so how did you not think that I would be here?”

He looked everywhere but at me. For a moment I thought it was because we possibly had an audience. A quick check around us and I knew that wasn’t the case. He knew. He knew and he’s trying to play it off.

“You knew,” I whisper. “You kissed me the way you did yesterday but it didn’t matter because you knew I’d be here.” I started my breathing exercises. In, one, two. Out, one, two. “I’m an i***t. A f*****g idiot.”

I turn and heads towards the cloak room. Sophie, Sebastian and Kate will be pissed that I didn’t say anything to them, but I have to get out of here. 

“Benedict, please,” I tell the girl as I give her my ticket for my coat. As soon as she hands it to me, I’ve got it on and I’m rushing down the stairs towards the door. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to find a black cab to take me home, but if I have to walk to the closest tube station then I will.

“Amelia, stop.” Marcus was rushing down the stairs and I was determined to put as much space between the two of us. I’d run but this damn dress that I had such high expectations about was not going to allow that. Unfortunately, Marcus’ much longer stride had him at my side before I even cleared the front door.

“Amelia, please. Give me a moment to explain.”

Anger coursing through me, I turned on him. “Explain? Explain what, exactly? That the American is good to dally with in secret? That you can investigate me but the only thing I knew about you was your name? Probably worse is that I built up this version of you in my head but apparently I had it all wrong.”

“No. You don’t have it wrong. I didn’t tell you who I was because I didn’t want the complications that come with knowing that. I liked just being my regular asshole self without all the other trappings.”

I roll my eyes and turned away from him. The alcohol that had made me brazen earlier was quickly leaving my system and I was just done. Closing my eyes, I breathe deep. At that moment all I want is to go home and bury my head under the covers until this goes away.

“Lia!” Sophie shout pulls me from thoughts and open my eyes to find a very irate Lady Sophia standing in front of Marcus and I. “What’s happening? Are you leaving?”

“I’m sorry, Sophie…”

“Stop. You are not leaving,” she points her finger at me. Then she turns on Marcus. “But you and the trash you brought with you are.”

“Lady Sophia, I apologize…”

“f**k off, Duoro.