Chapter 14 GHOSTS BETWEEN US -CLAIRE'S POV ~ I'm fucked . That's the very first sensible thought I have as I look at myself in the small mirror above the bar cart in the conference room . I have a smear of lipstick on . My hair is mussed . I look exactly like what I am .... a woman who just let her ex - husband touch her in ways that would destroy two engagements and a marriage . Perfect . I grab a napkin and try to fix the damage , but my hands are shaking too badly to be effective . Richard's words echo in my head like a death sentence : ' You're still mine . You'll always be mine . ' The worst part ? He's right . I take a shaky breath and smooth down my dress . Time to go back out there and pretend I'm not falling apart . Time to be Claire Winfred , successful businesswoman and devoted fiancée to Alexander Hayes . Time to lie my ass off . The ballroom hits me like a wall of sound and light when I slip back inside . Nothing's changed , the same glittering crowd , the same orchestra , the same champagne flowing like water . But everything feels different now . Tainted . " There you are . " I freeze . Alexander appears at my elbow , devastatingly handsome in his tuxedo , concern etched across his perfect features . " I was starting to worry . You've been gone for .... " " Just needed some air , " I interrupt , forcing a smile that feels like broken glass . " You know how these events can be . " His green eyes scan my face , and I see the exact moment he notices something's off . The tiny crease between his brows . The way his jaw tightens almost gradually . " Claire . " His voice drops to that low , intimate register that usually makes my knees weak . " What happened ? " " Nothing happened . " The lie tastes bitter on my tongue . " I'm fine . " " You don't look fine . You look ... " He reaches up to touch my cheek , and I have to force myself not to flinch . " You look like you've seen a ghost . " More like being thoroughly manhandled by one . " Dance with me , " he says suddenly , offering his hand . It's not a request . I let him lead me onto the dance floor , hyperaware of every eye in the room watching us . We're the golden couple tonight - billionaire and his beautiful fiancée , the fairy tale everyone wants to believe in . 1/4 Chapter 14 +15 Bonus If only they knew how fucked up fairy tales are . Alexander pulls me close , one hand splayed possessively across my lower back . We move together perfectly , like we've been doing this for years instead of months . He's an incredible dancer , all smooth confidence and perfect timing . So why does it feel like I'm dancing with a stranger ? " Talk to me , " he murmurs against my ear . " Something's wrong . " I can feel Richard watching us from across the room . Can practically feel the heat of his stare burning through my dress . When I catch sight of him over Alexander's shoulder , he's standing with Monica , her red dress a slash of color against his dark suit . She's laughing at something he said , her hand possessive on his arm . The perfect couple . Just like Alexander and me . " Claire. " Alexander spins me , bringing me back against his chest . " You're not here with me . " The words hit like a physical blow because they're true . I'm not here with him . I'm still in that conference room , pressed against the wall with Richard's hands on my skin and his voice in my ear . " I'm sorry , " I whisper . " I'm just tired . " " Liar . " But he says it gently , without accusation . " Did someone say something to upset you ? One of the investors ? Thomas ? " God , he's so good . So concerned . So completely undeserving of what I'm putting him through . " No , nothing like that . " I force myself to meet his eyes . " I promise , I'm fine . " The song ends , and I pull away before he can question me further . " I need some air . Real air this time . " Before he can stop me , I'm weaving through the crowd toward the balcony doors . I need space . Need to think . Need to figure out how to salvage this nightmare before it destroys everything I've worked for . The rooftops were calm and not crowded . From the terrace , I can see the city is spread out below as if a glittering carpet had been laid down . I grip the railing and take gulping breaths of the cool night air , trying to center myself . " Running away again ? " I spin around , my heart lurching . Monica stands in the doorway , elegant and predatory in her red silk . She looks like a goddess of war , beautiful and terrible . " I needed air , " I say carefully . " Mmm . " She glides toward me , champagne flute in hand . " Funny . Richard needed air around the same time you did . What are the odds ? " My blood turns to ice . " I don't know what you're implying . " " Don't you ? " She stops just close enough to be intimidating . " You always did wear white when you were pretending to be innocent , Claire . Some things never change . " The insult hits its mark , but I refuse to let her see it . " And you always did look better in red . The color of blood suits you . " Her laugh is like breaking glass . " There's my old friend . I was wondering when she'd show up . " 2/4 Chapter 14 +16 Bonus " We were never friends , Monica . Friends don't sleep with each other's husbands . " " You're right . " She takes a sip of champagne , her eyes never leaving mine . " Friends don't . But desperate women do . " " Is that what you were ? Desperate ? " " Weren't we all ? " She moves closer , and I catch her perfume - something expensive and cloying , " The difference is , I went after what I wanted . You just sat there and let it slip away , " " I trusted you . " " Your first mistake . " Another sip . Another step closer . " Did you know he used to call your name in his sleep ? Even after we were married , even after you'd disappeared like the coward you are he had call for you . " The words are designed to hurt , but they hit a different target than she planned . Because if Richard was calling my name in his sleep , it means ... " You are getting good at lying Monica . " " Am I ? " Monica's smile is sharp enough to cut . " Ask him yourself . Oh wait - you already did , didn't you ? In that little conference room ? " My calm cracks . " You might want to watch your mouth , Monica , the wrong words could create damage . " " I know Richard Blackwood better than anyone . I know the way he looks when he wants something he can't have . And tonight ? " She leans in close , her voice dropping to a whisper . " Tonight he looked at you the way he used to look at me . Like he wanted to devour you whole . " " Monica ! " " The question is , Claire ..... what are you going to do about it ? " Before I can answer , heavy footsteps echo across the terrace . We both turn to see Richard striding toward us , his tie loosened and his hair Messy . There's something wild in his eyes , something dangerous . " Ladies . " His voice is rough around the edges . " Am I interrupting something ? " Monica straightens , instantly transforming back into the perfect wife . " Just catching up with an old friend . " " I'm sure you were . " His gaze locks on mine , and I feel that familiar pull in my chest . " Monica , why don't you go back inside ? I need to speak with Claire . Alone . " " Richard ..... " " Now . " The command in his voice brooks no argument . Monica's jaw tightens , but she knows better than to push . " Of course , darling . Don't keep her too long . Alexander will worry . " She brushes past me , pausing just long enough to whisper , " Some battles aren't worth winning , Claire . Some men aren't worth the fight . " Then she's gone , leaving Richard and me alone under the stars . He moves closer , and I can smell whiskey on his breath . " She's right , you know . About me calling your name . " " Richard , don't ... " 3/4 Chapter 14 +15 Bonus " We were never friends , Monica . Friends don't sleep with each other's husbands . " " You're right . " She takes a sip of champagne , her eyes never leaving mine . " Friends don't . But desperate women do . " " Is that what you were ? Desperate ? " " Weren't we all ? " She moves closer , and I catch her perfume - something expensive and cloying . " The difference is , I went. after what I wanted . You just sat there and let it slip away . " " I trusted you . " " Your first mistake . " Another sip . Another step closer . " Did you know he used to call your name in his sleep ? Even after we were married , even after you'd disappeared like the coward you are he had call for you . " The words are designed to hurt , but they hit a different target than she planned . Because if Richard was calling my name in his sleep , it means ... " You are getting good at lying Monica . " " Am I ? " Monica's smile is sharp enough to cut . " Ask him yourself . Oh wait - you already did , didn't you ? In that little conference room ? " My calm cracks . " You might want to watch your mouth , Monica , the wrong words could create damage . " " I know Richard Blackwood better than anyone . I know the way he looks when he wants something he can't have . And tonight ? " She leans in close , her voice dropping to a whisper . " Tonight he looked at you the way he used to look at me . Like he wanted to devour you whole . " " Monica ! " " The question is , Claire ..... what are you going to do about it ? " Before I can answer , heavy footsteps echo across the terrace . We both turn to see Richard striding toward us , his tie loosened and his hair Messy . There's something wild in his eyes , something dangerous . " Ladies . " His voice is rough around the edges . " Am I interrupting something ? " Monica straightens , instantly transforming back into the perfect wife . " Just catching up with an old friend . " " I'm sure you were . " His gaze locks on mine , and I feel that familiar pull in my chest . " Monica , why don't you go back inside ? I need to speak with Claire . Alone . " " Richard ..... " " Now . " The command in his voice brooks no argument . Monica's jaw tightens , but she knows better than to push . " Of course , darling . Don't keep her too long . Alexander will worry . " She brushes past me , pausing just long enough to whisper , " Some battles aren't worth winning , Claire . Some men aren't worth the fight . " Then she's gone , leaving Richard and me alone under the stars . He moves closer , and I can smell whiskey on his breath . " She's right , you know . About me calling your name . " " Richard , don't ... " 3/4 Chapter 14 +15 Bonus " Every night for two years , Claire . Every goddamn night . " He's close enough now that I can see the pain in his eyes , raw and desperate . " You want to know why I chose her ? Because she was safe . Because she didn't make me feel like I was drowning and flying at the same time . " I take a step back , my heel catching on the uneven stone . I stumble , and he catches me instantly , his strong hands gripping my waist . We're inches apart now , his breath warm against my face . Time slows , the city noise fading to a whisper . " You still make me crazy , " he says quietly . " After everything , after all this time - you still turn my world upside down . " " I'm engaged , " I whisper , but the words have no power . " To a man who doesn't know you . Not really . " His thumb traces along my jawline , gentle as a butterfly's wing . " He doesn't know that you hate the sound of alarm clocks . That you cry at dog commercials . That you have a scar on your hip from when you fell off your bike when you were seven . " " Stop . " " He doesn't know that you're afraid of thunderstorms . That you used to steal my shirts because they smelled like me . That you make this little sound when you're about to come that drives me out of my mind . " " Richard , please ...... " " You don't belong to him , Claire . " His voice is barely above a whisper , but it hits me like a shout . " You never did . " The Earth wobbles on its axis . My engagement ring feels like it weighs a thousand pounds . My heart is beating so hard I'm sure he can hear it . And despite everything .... despite the betrayal , despite Monica , despite Alexander waiting for me downstairs ..... I want nothing more than to close that last inch between us and let him destroy me all over again . God help me . I'm still in love with Richard Blackwood . COIN BUNDLE : get more free bonus