Indebted

Chapter Eighteen

I emerged from the shower dripping wet, my stomach over stuff with left over curried lamb and jasmine rice from Nickolai's last night's dinner, a dish he had prepared for himself, another plus he can cook.

Walking back into the room I eulogized the gold and brown furnishing, the room extermely large with a great view of the city. I am also taken a back by the sliver satin grown lying on the bed, a Stelle McCartney design, the price tag still attach.

I lifted the price tag dropping it instantaneously.

Three thousand five hundred, so much for an evening gown, the design meant for a grecian goddess not me.

A woman who no longer had any cleavages to compliment the v cut surrounded by diamond sequences, sighing I continued to examine the fabric.

It hung on one shoulder with a long split that would reach my thigh, revealing my unscarred right leg. There was a diamond choker, matching lace panties, thigh high stockings and padded bra.

I traced my fingers over the smooth texture reflecting briefly on the subject matter of the charity event. It was a fundraiser to aid cancer victims and at two thousand five hundred a plate it will go a long way in assisting with research and medical advancement. I moved away from the bed, I was so not ready for this with all that has happened. I should be planning a funeral not attending a ball.

I snag my purse off the cottage style dresser calling José

"Hi I am glad I caught you." holding the phone away from my ears, the music blasting loudly. I wondered if any of my neighbours had lodged a complaint as yet.

He lowered the volume "Hi how are you feeling?"

"Okay, trying to hold up." tears thickening my throat."But I miss her José. Did she die peacefully or was she in pain?"

"I really don't know I didn't get to see her, she was already dead when I got there." his voice barely above a whisper.

My chest seized tightly, breath Emily Côte breath. Air in air out, you have been doing it from the day you were born it's quite simple, my pulse coming faster.

Mama died alone with no one at her side to comfort her. I should have been there but I was too caught up in my own problems, debts, Nickolai and the fiery passion that blazes between us.

Something broke inside me but I bit my lip hard to stop myself from screaming knowing that I would get a beating.

Glaring at the panel door and what lay behind it. The light red streaks a reminder of just what Nickolai is capable of and the lengths he would take to ease me of this pain but still it couldn't dispelled my sadness.

"What time are you going to the ball?" cutting across my thoughts

"You guys are coming?"

"Yes we all are, Alley, Gianna and myself. Nickolai had tickets delivered to us as well as some amazing, really expensive threads. I guess he invited us so you can be tolerant with all of our shoulders to cry on."

"Thank god he knows that."

Trying to smile but my oxygen turned into soup. I give up, I didn't care if I got another beating. Tears glassing my vision and spilled, my life would never be the same. I lost strength, pity and loss had taken over.

I ended the call before he could say another word, sobbing in my hands before I grabbed a pillow sobbing uncontrollably.

I didn't even hear him walk in or the door open, he moved so silently like a ghost. I only felt him when he grabbed the back of my neck pulling me towards him roughly. I rolled my shoulders, shedding the shock I felt.