CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Muted conversation greeted Elizabeth as she neared the landing, climbing the stairs from the floor below. Madeline fidgeted next to her. She still wanted to wear the dress despite it now having a few chocolate stains on it which didn’t bother either of them in the slightest. Elizabeth had re-braided Madeline’s hair and sprayed it with silver glitter again.
Thankfully, everyone had been so busy that she hadn’t been questioned when she’d come back. Madeline was still in the kitchen helping Maria with the party food, and James had still been sequestered by Anastasia. The guests had filtered in about an hour ago. Elizabeth had the perfect excuse to keep away, but James asked them to come down to meet everyone. To Madeline, it was exciting. To her, it was going through the Gates of Hell.
Elizabeth wore the one pair of black pants she kept for special occasions, taken from the bottom of her backpack, which she’d matched with a plain, muted green, long-sleeved T. She simply didn’t own anything fancier. In light of that fact, she’d spent extra time doing her hair and applying her makeup alongside Madeline. She wouldn’t hold up to Anastasia, but at least she’d tried for her own self-respect.
“You look like a fairy, too, Liz’beth.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. Shall we go inside?” Elizabeth patted the phone Steve had given her tucked into her back pocket. She’d been on edge waiting for David’s return phone call. It had been hours of radio silence, and her nerves were stretched. Normally with a sniff of money to be stolen, it didn’t take him long to catch the scent. Especially since he’d made such a point about her getting James’ bank account details. He could have it emptied in a matter of minutes.
Now, however, she had to play the part of her life. She squeezed Madeline’s hand and stepped into Hanna’s room. People sat here and there, some stood, holding glasses of sparkling wine. Muted music filtered from a hidden speaker. Wait staff offered trays of food prepared by Mrs. D’llessio and the team in the kitchen.
The air was casual, yet restrained. Everyone here was well-dressed, neat and well-groomed. Sophisticated.
She was usually the waitress, the cleaner, the dishwasher. Overlooked. She was secure in that knowledge. Knew where she stood. The ground familiar.
She rubbed a damp palm over her thigh as several faces turned her way. Instead of gliding over her, they stayed to look. She offered a hesitant smile, feeling her face heat. She just wanted to melt into the ground, be that no one everyone missed.
Madeline tugged her hand and led her into the centre of the room. Two tall, burly men parted to let Madeline though. Then James was there and his gaze fell immediately to her.
He’d changed into casual clothes that served to enhance his solid chest, the straight line of his shoulders, the bulge of his well-defined biceps. His long-sleeved polo was tucked into beige pants that hugged well-formed thighs, emphasising his tall, lean physique. She knew how toned that body was. She’d run greedy fingers over every inch of him.
The navy blue enriched the midnight hue of his eyes, and as she peered into his face, they glinted with a hunger that shot straight to her abdomen. She grit her teeth. How quickly she responded, with something as simple as a mere look from him.
She couldn’t help any of it. She was a complete failure at resistance. If she wanted to kid herself, she’d ignore the way adrenaline spiked her veins, the way her heart tumbled in her chest, the erotic images that flashed in her mind, limbs naked and entangled, sweating, touching, feeling, desire blocking everything except where they existed in their own world. Hell, she was getting hot just thinking about the things they’d done.
“There’s the nanny. I didn’t know you invited her, James. Usually, the help doesn’t come to parties like these.”
Anastasia snaked her arms through James’. His body stiffened. He dropped his arm, and her hand fell away. The woman nearly pouted before she caught herself. She shifted her weight from one hip to the other, attracting the glances of several of the men as the movement showed off her shapely, and bare, thigh.
As much as Elizabeth knew she was underdressed, Anastasia was dressed to the hilt. Her ears, neck, wrists and fingers glittered with stones. Elizabeth knew were real diamonds. They kicked back the light with the sparkle of glittering sunshine.
Her flawless features were defined with dramatic shades of smoky charcoal around her eyes that made them come alive with an inner glow. Her lips were coated with thick, glossy orgasm red, making her teeth look pure white.
She wore a skin-tight black dress. The neckline plunged between perky breasts. She couldn’t have been wearing a bra, but with breasts like those, it didn’t matter. The dress outlined a perfect figure, hourglass waist and the rounded flare of slim hips. Elizabeth was sure she never had a derriere in her life. She had a butt, or a rear end, or a seat-of-her-pants, but never what could only be called a derriere, like Anastasia had. That woman was a bombshell.
Stiletto heels made sure she was a head taller than Elizabeth, so she was shoulder to shoulder height with James. Elizabeth was short, frumpy, beige. Next to Anastasia, she was a sparrow next to a peacock.
Anastasia aimed her black, gleaming eyes at Madeline. “Oh, look what she’s done to the child. Can we even find you beneath those frills, Maddison?”
“Her name is Madeline. And she picked out the dress herself,” Elizabeth said, riding a spear of anger. Anastasia could say what she wanted to her, but when it came to Madeline, there was a clear line.
“She looks beautiful.” James lifted Madeline and rested her on his hip.
“Yeah. I’m bootful. Liz’beth said.” The comment earned a chuckle within the group.
“Elizabeth, I’m glad you’re here. I’d like to introduce you to my foreman, Jordie, my accountant, Mike, and my draftsman, Stuart.” James gestured to the men beside him as he said their names.
To her surprise, each man reached to shake her hand and offer a smile, no egos involved. “This is Ian, Anastasia’s business manager.” Ian shook her hand and offered a smile as well.
“It’s…it’s nice to meet you all,” Elizabeth stammered.
“I heard you got J man on a horse,” Jordie said.
J man? Elizabeth’s gaze slid from Jordie to James. Somehow, she didn’t quite see James as a J man. “Ah, yes. He was very…good. I think he enjoyed it.”
“He told us you’re a pro. I guess working as a stockman, you get to ride often,” Mike said.
“We prefer to be called jackaroos, but unfortunately we ride motorbikes more than horses.”
Jordie snapped his fingers. “You should have told him that before he lost the feeling in his behind.” The group chuckled good-naturedly again.
Elizabeth felt her cheeks heating. “He told you about that?”
“Don’t worry about a thing. He’s gone soft sitting in that office chair of his all day. You need to get back onsite, get some hard, physical labour back under your belt,” Jordie said.
“Don’t blame him. With a nanny like Elizabeth, I’d rather be inside, too. I’m with you, James,” Stuart said.
Elizabeth was sure her cheeks were on fire. Intensely aware of James’ heated gaze, she dropped her attention to the floor, not wanting the stomach lurch that accompanied her perception of the look on his face.
“That’s enough, boys. I’ll be back onsite and bossing your lazy rear ends around sooner than you know,” James said.
“Yeah, don’t speak too soon, Stuart. We know what he’s like on location,” Jordie said.
“James has much better things to do than be on location. That’s what he hires you for.” Anastasia sniffed and sipped her champagne.
They were left in a long, uncomfortable silence. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, Anastasia. My men are invaluable, and so are my site visits.”
“Those building sites are so dirty.” Elizabeth eyed Anastasia’s bright red, talon-like nails. There was no way hands like that did anything manual.
“Building is dirty work.”
Anastasia slid James’ hand into hers and massaged his fingers, leaving him to balance Madeline with one arm. “But it doesn’t have to be for you. You need to get used to getting other people to do it for you.”
“I like going, Anastasia. Call me old-fashioned, but that’s the way I like to run my business. Now, would you like a refill?”
Anastasia straightened and released James’ hand, then handed her a glass with the flip of her head. “Please.”
“Excuse me, I’ll be back in a minute. Would you like anything, Elizabeth?”
Anastasia gasped, eyes widening. Everyone ignored her, but Elizabeth couldn’t. She couldn’t help noticing the expression on Anastasia’s face, making Elizabeth feel like she wasn't good enough to be the ground beneath Anastasia’s feet.
“That’s enough, Anastasia.” James’ voice was gravel. He glared at Anastasia. “While you’re under my roof, don’t insult the people I hire.”
“Maybe the people you hire need to know their place and treat the clients who pay their wages with some respect.”
Elizabeth was speared by the black look Anastasia shot her. She shot a worried glance to James. From her place in life, you didn’t insult people with Anastasia’s wealth and position.
“It’s okay, James. I’ll take Madeline and tuck her into bed.”
“I’d like her to meet some of the people here. Some have never met her, and I plan to rectify that tonight. And she’s so nicely dressed up for the occasion.” He jiggled Madeline, and she giggled.
“First name basis. Seems like everyone is from an even platform here. If that’s the case, where’s your present for James, Elizabeth?” Anastasia’s lips curled in a not-so-pleasant smile.
Elizabeth felt her forehead pucker as confusion rippled through her.
“It’s James’ birthday,” Anastasia said. “Oh, you didn’t know. Did you?”
Elizabeth inhaled with a small sound. “It’s your birthday?”
Elizabeth noticed a table topped with wrapped gifts. There was a huge box in the middle, looming over the other wrapped presents, with a large red bow on the top.
“I didn’t tell you, Elizabeth. It’s not important. This a celebration for my birthday. It’s a casual business meeting. We’re here because Anastasia wanted it.”
Anastasia skimmed her hand over James’ chest. “Because I wanted to do something for you.”
More like to you, but Elizabeth didn’t say anything.
James grabbed a full glass from a passing tray and handed it to her. “I’ve been too busy thinking about other things.”
Anastasia turned her unpleasant look to Elizabeth. “Too bad you don’t have anything for James. I guess only the people who care about him gave him a present.”
She didn’t have anything to give him, let alone afford a gift. Besides, what did you give a man as wealthy as James? She didn’t own anything valuable enough. She wanted to give him something. Wanted to tell him she did care, that she was in love with him despite David Logan and knowing she had to leave. What could she give him?
Then it came to her. It was the only thing she had. “I do have something for you.”
Anastasia’s brows rose. “What could someone like you possibly offer James?”
Realistically, little more than heartache. Her stomach churned, but when Anastasia’s haughty gaze roamed her over, fire burnt through the shakiness.
She had nothing worth anything but herself. And by that standard—she had nothing to lose.
* * *
Elizabeth looked so unsure of herself. She’d caved in on herself throughout Anastasia’s onslaught, shoulders hunching, darting gazes in all directions. She owned such a brittle shell of self-esteem, he was afraid Anastasia would ruin whatever little was there. He couldn’t stand to see Elizabeth like this. He liked the bold, multi-dimensional woman she was when her guard was down. It didn’t take much to bring her down, and Anastasia was doing a good job.
He could throttle the woman. In fact, his tongue itched to put her back in her box, contract be dammed, but so many people depended on him for their jobs, he held it under a tightly clenched jaw. He hated that so much depended on this spoiled woman he was finding harder and harder to be around.
He’d worked hard all night to keep Anastasia at arm's length. And he hadn’t been able to talk to Elizabeth about that dammed kiss Anastasia had surprised him with at the front door. He’d been devastated when Elizabeth saw them. He couldn’t get that hollow look out of his mind. Had gone over and over it as they’d run through building plans and projected costs.
He would have thought making love to her had proved how much she meant to him, but Elizabeth wasn’t surprised by Anastasia’s attitude.
All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless, tell her he didn’t give a damn about Anastasia no matter how many times she’d tried it on tonight, tell everyone to get the hell out and leave just the two of them together.
He was sick of Anastasia’s sexual assaults. They’d been more and more insistent as the weeks had progressed. It was probably more the fact that he’d never given her any more than professional attention, that she wanted more. He was the conquest she never had. And she was used to getting her way. He must be the only man who hadn’t wanted a sexual bar of her, and that had obviously gotten to her.
Elizabeth nibbled her bottom lip as though it was a food, looking insecure and out-of-her-league. If she only knew she was the brilliant shining star in a room full of black holes.
“I...I do have a present for you, James.” Her voice was soft, hesitant.
“You don’t have to give me a gift, Elizabeth.”
He started towards her. She held out her hand, palm facing him. “It’s okay. I…want to give you this gift.”