Fearless (19 page)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

It was on the ice rink, that Saturday, when everything started going wrong. Luke and I had a great time. His show was coming up in a few more weeks, so he felt on top of the world, and so did I.

He skated rapidly around the rink, while I stood in the middle, wanting just to stay up. He was showing off for me, of course. I loved him for that, too. He had such a boyish way about him, really. He leaped up in the air, and, to my surprise, he was able to execute a perfect turn in the air. He must have executed three revolutions before landing softly on the ice.

As he skated towards me, a huge smile on his perfect face, I stood there looking at him, my arms crossed in front of me. I pretended to be annoyed by his antics, but, really, I was just charmed by them. “You think that’s cool, huh? That you’
re some faggy figure skater? Here I thought you were just a macho hockey dude. What’s up with that?”

At first he looked crestfallen, but then he saw the smile on my face creeping up.
“Sorry, Dalilah, I just wanted to demonstrate to you how I feel. I don’t know where I learned how to do a triple jump, but it’s something that I think that I do well.”

“Along with a multitude of other things,” I said. “And you know what those are, I’m quite sure.”

“I do,” he said. “I do, I do, I do.” And then, at that, he got down on one knee. “Dalilah Gallagher, I told you that I had to do this properly, so that we could have a memorable story to tell to our kids.” He produced a box and he opened it. A perfect diamond ring was in there, and I knew that it had to set him back a bundle. My hand flew involuntarily to my mouth, as I looked at the perfect little diamond, which was princess cut and set in gold.

He looked at me earnestly, his breath visible in the cold air. “You have made me happier than anybody has ever made me in my life. I couldn’t imagine life without you. Dalilah Gallagher, would
you please do me the honor of being Mrs. Roberts for the rest of your life?”

I nodded my head, tears running down my cheeks. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. One thousand times yes!”

At that, he stood up, and kissed me. There were people all around, pointing at us and smiling. Several of them started clapping and cheering.

He slipped the ring on my finger, and I looked at it in awe. I looked at him. “How did you…”

He shrugged. “I pawned my guitar.” And then he started laughing when he saw my shocked expression. “Don’t worry, I’m going to get a new one when I sell out of that Matthew Marks show. And then I’m going to buy you the best wedding ring I can find.”

“Oh, Luke, this ring is so beautiful. It really is. I love it. I love it so much.”

“Well, it doesn’t compare to your mom’s red diamond ring. I’ve never seen anything like that. Ever. But, this comes from my heart.”

“I love it. And I love you.” Truth be told, he could have literally gotten me a Cracker Jack ring, and I would have been just as happy. Because the ring came from the heart.

We skated that day for hours, after Luke patiently showed me how to stroke on the ice. At first, it was awkward, as I fell many times, always in his arms. But, by the end of the day, I was tentatively stroking around the ice with him. I never had a better day.

That day was the pinnacle. It really was. Especially considering what was to come. My behavior with Nottingham was not to be without consequences, I soon found.

And those consequences were things that I never, ever imagined.

Chapter
Twenty-Nine

The Wednesday after Luke and I got engaged, I had a date with Nottingham. I was so looking forward to the day when I didn’t have to see him anymore, because Luke would have his show, and the critics would love him, and he would get a multitude of benefactors just fighting over him. Of that, I was sure. So, after this show, he wouldn’t need Nottingham.

In the meantime, though, he did. So, I had to keep Nottingham happy.

As I was falling more and more in love with Luke, it was soooo difficult to be with Nottingham. It was always hard to put on an act for him, and it was increasingly getting more difficult. But act I did. I felt like I should have been up for the Academy Award.
And the Oscar goes to Dalilah Gallagher for her role in Dates with Nottingham!

He picked me up in his limo, as usual. I got in, and proceeded to kiss him lightly on the lips.

He kissed me back, but I could tell that there was something really wrong. I could sense it.

“It’s good to see you, Dalilah,” he said. “As always.”

“You too, Blake. Where are we going?”

“I thought that we could just drive around a little bit, and see the city.”

“Sounds like fun to me.”

He didn’t say anything more for several minutes. Then he said “Luke Roberts. I know about the two of you.”

My heart started racing. NO! NO! PLEASE GOD NO!

As casually as possible, feeling the lump in my throat, I said “I’m sorry? I mean, of course you know about us. I’ve been posing for him for months now.”

He leered at me, and then slapped me hard across the face. “Fucking cunt bitch liar. How stupid do you think that I am?”

My hand went up to where he just slapped me, and I felt tears coming down my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“You and he. Him on one knee on the ice rink. Any of that ringing a bell?”

Oh, shit. Crap. Crap. Crap. “Blake, I don’t know what to say.”

“I do. His show is going to be cancelled. And he’s finished in this town. Nobody will touch him now, after I get through with him.” And then he gave me a very cruel look. “Really, Dalilah. Seeing me just so that I could give Luke a showing. I would have done that all on my own. You never had to manipulate me like that. But you did. You did, and I’m going to punish you by pulling your boyfriend’s show.”

“No, no, no, no, no please. Please, Blake, please don’t do this to him. Please. Please. It wasn’t his fault. He had no idea about you and me. Please don’t take this out on him. Please, Blake, please.”

I started to panic. Luke’s opportunity of a lifetime would not only be slipping through his fingers, but Nottingham had the power to blackball Luke from further shows.

There must be something I can do. Something, anything.
Anything. Anything at all. Anything.

“You can’t do this. He needs this. He needs this. Please, Blake, please don’t do this. Please.”

He slapped me again, harder this time. “Shut up, cunt.”

And then he looked out the window. I crawled towards him, tugging desperately on his jacket sleeve. “Blake, please. Please don’t. I’ll do anything. Anything at all. Whatever you want. Whatever you want. Just please don’t pull his show. Please.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

“Okay, then. You’ll be my wife. You will never see that boy again. And you will submit to me, whatever I want, whenever I want. I can beat you, in the context of our sex games, of course, and you can’t say one thing. That’s what I want. I want you to be my wife, and I want you to be my sex slave.”

Without thinking, I just said “I do this, and Luke still gets his show?” That was literally all that I could think about at that moment. I didn’t have time to think about how devastated I was going to be acquiescing to his terms. I only wanted to make sure that Luke got his show. That was all I could see.

“Yes, Luke will get his show. I’ll make sure that every top critic and benefactor in the city will be there, too. Luke will be a superstar, there is no doubt in my mind.”

“And if I don’t agree to your terms?”

He shrugged. “Luke’s show gets pulled and I’ll use my considerable power to make sure that he never gets a show in this town, ever.”

I took an enormous breath. I had no choice. Nottingham held all the cards. Alaina’s voice rang in my ears
don’t be surprised if the manipulated becomes the manipulator, Dalilah. You’re getting in over your head.

It all came back to bite me, at last.

Defeated, I said, quietly, “okay. I’ll meet your terms.”

He smiled wickedly. “I knew you would.”

There was nothing more to say.

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Books by Annie Jocoby

Beautiful Illusions

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Broken

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Saving Scotty

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Ever After

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Please note that
Fearless
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Illusions
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