For the past week, Jonathan has been parading me around China for his investors and fuck knows what else.
If I have to sit down for another meeting like a puppet, I’m going to destroy something around here.
This is Jonathan’s revenge for breaking it off with Queens. In his words, I put a smudge on his immaculate relationship with Sebastian Queens, and I’ll have to do something in return.
Truth is, he’s still petty about how I called him out about Alicia.
I only agreed to play along because he threatened to take it out on Elsa.
While I’m fine with declaring war on Jonathan, I won’t watch him use her as a subject of destruction.
He’ll have to go through me first.
Still, I need to go home — like yesterday.
Nash, Knight, and Astor have been filling the group chat with texts that pissed me the fuck off.
Knight: So King is no more, huh?
Nash: Looks like it.
Astor: Fuck yeah. My threesome dream will come true.
Astor: On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely do you think I can convince Kimmy and Ellie to wear bunny outfits?
Nash: Elsa, 0. Kimberly, 6. If drunk, 9.
Astor: I better get Kimmy drunk then *grinning face*
Knight: Do you want to die?
I’m surprised that little shit Astor even showed up in the group chat. He sometimes acts like the thing doesn’t exist then bitches about how we keep him in the dark.
Bottom line is, I need to go back and fuck the three of them up for even thinking I’d leave Elsa.
That will only happen after death. Even then, I might make a deal with the devil so I can haunt her from afar.
What? I have to protect her.
We’ve been texting for the past week — or more like sexting. I came to the sound of her voice more than I can count.
After our momentary — and fucked up — separation, Elsa has become more liberated about her sexuality and pleasure. She even texted me she’s been thinking about me in class.
Little fucking tease.
Other times, she’d tell me about the snippets of memories she’s been having lately. Like my tattoo and the nights she spent with me in that basement.
However, she never mentioned her mother or the promise she made me.
A huge chunk of her memory is still missing, and I think I know exactly how to get it back. It’s a drastic method, but it’s all I have. She asked me to tell her everything, and I will. Just not in the traditional way.
Elsa will never be whole unless she remembers what happened that night. She’ll never fully accept me unless she remembers our bloody past.
After all, it was all because of me.
She might have erased her memory due to all the trauma she lived through, but I was the final nail in the coffin. If she hadn’t done what she did, maybe things would’ve been different.
No.
I won’t allow myself to think of that option. Everything is said and done. I just have to find the best way to tell her.
After the 10th meeting of the day ends, Jonathan’s Chinese investors shake hands with him and me. As the door closes behind them, I flop onto the sofa.
Jonathan’s Chinese office is more grandiose than the one in London. It has grey and blue decor, a glass desk, and a large window that overlooks Shanghai’s endless buildings.
I twirl the phone in my hand. “I’m booking a ticket to England.”
Jonathan smiles from behind his glass desk.
Well, fuck.
It’s never good when he’s smiling with triumph as if he scored the deal of the century.
“You know.” He interlaces his fingers at his chin and leans back in his tall leather chair. “As indestructible as you were, I knew you’d self-destruct one day.”
I tilt my head to the side.
He’s been pissed off since the reality check I threw in his face about Alicia’s death. I knew he’d find retribution in some way. I thought the trip to China was it. After all, he kept me away from Elsa — even if temporarily.
I should’ve known better.
Jonathan’s temporary solutions are usually a camouflage to a bigger plan that concocts in the background.
“What have you done?” I rise to my feet. “I swear if you hurt her —”
“I don’t need to hurt her. I only need her away from you.”
My left eye twitches. “What the fuck did you do, Jonathan?”
“You’re right, Aiden. I have other allies beside Sebastian. There’s another member of the Rhodes’ voting committee who promised to be my way into Ethan’s corporation.”
“Do you seriously think Ethan Steel would let anyone close enough to spy on him? He’s more private than you.”
“He’d let his future son-in-law.”
My muscles go rigid as I hiss, “What did you just say?”
“If I can’t keep you away from her; I’ll keep her away from you.” He motions ahead. “Ethan has just accepted to marry his daughter to Earl Edric Astor’s son. You can go back to England now. Congratulate Elsa on my behalf.”
Earl Edric Astor’s son.
Fuck no.
A heavy weight settles on my chest as I slip out of the office without a word.
Elsa is mine.
Fucking mine.
It’s time the world learns that fact.
