Billionaire's Revenge (22 page)

“Do I pass inspection?”
  H
er sensual voice
saw
him give a curve of his lips, his head cocked to the side as though paying considerable attention to
her question
.  Sara
stood still, her eyes alight with laughter.  He
looked stunning in his tuxedo, the blackness of the suit
complemented
by his own g
ood looks.  He stood with his hands behind his back and
made a small unsure noise.  She frowned softly not sure what he could be finding so wrong with her dress.
 
“Turn a
round”
  H
is voice
saw
her turn as he
moved closer.  The feel of his fingers on her neck
made Sara jump, a small groan leaving her lips as he
strung
a diamond necklace around her throat, a larger light blue sapphire
s
e
t
within
a cluster of
diamonds in the tear-shaped pendant which dropped against her creamy skin.  Her hand flew
to the exquisite and expensive piece of jewellery, seeing it in the mirror.
 
“I
t
...
It’s
beautiful”
,
she
managed
,
her eyes flying to his, a smile o
n his handsome face
. 
“But why?”

Darius
gave
a small surprised frown before a chuckle
left him
,
“To celebrate the fact that you actually made it a week
” Despite
her attempts not to, her lips
curled into a wide smile
,
her eyes dropped from his
to stop the laugh which was bubbling below the surface. “Well a real
milestone”
,
she
chuckled, h
olding back a small moan as he
dropped a kiss on the nape of her neck.
 
A
tremor
skated down her spine.

The party that night had
been one she was nervous
about, the venue one she knew well, her family having been patrons of the charity for years.  She knew that her family and all her acquaintances would be there, the thought of all of the people she
had known
her whole life seeing her paraded as his latest
sex toy, complete with a pet collar
,
she
thought ruefully to herself
making her uncomfortable
.  He however,
had
been nothing but a gentleman, Sara surprised
but delighted at his change of attitude to her.

Darius
led Sara around the room, the two stopping often to talk with
different acquaintances both of his and hers.  Unlike the previous gala they
attended together, he
introduced her as his girlfriend, this surprising Sara who
felt relief seeing so many people she knew.
 
Finding themselves alone, she
turned
to him, a smile on her lips as her eyes
looked deeply into his
,
“Thank you”
H
is
look of confusion
saw
her add softly
,
“For upgrading me from ‘companion’ for two weeks
”
He
held back the small laugh, his lips twitching
,
“You are very welcome”

Sara
found herself enjoying the night, Darius’ hand
resting
on the base of her spine
comforting
as they walked, surprising herself as this thought
ran through her mind. 
Laughing at a joke as they were moving from one group, she
froze
,
her eyes staring in horror at the group who
had
just arrived
. 
Darius
looked
down at her with concern, his eyes following where she was looking.
 
“Is that Nigel?
”
he
queried gently, her eyes flying to his
.
 
“Yes...how did you know?”
S
eeing the grim set
of his mouth as he
looked back over to the group, his voice low
,
“I have my secrets
too
,
Bella
”
,
before once more turning to her
.
 
“Would you like to go?”

B
linking in surprise
,
she
gave
a small shake of her head, a feeble smile pulled to her lips
. 
“No. 
That man is not going to make me run away” rewarded with the approving look on his handsome features
.
 
“Bravo Miss Balfour”
,
he
grinned dropping a small kiss on her lips, the two continuing around the room, though Sara
noticed that Darius
had
been caref
ul not to set a course that the two would meet, thankful for this consideration.

For another hour they
made their way around the event, Sara finally excusing herself to go to the
washroom
.  As she
left
,
moving up the small
corridor
back to the
main hall, she
felt herself grabbed, the hands pulling her into an alcove.  Holding back the small squeal of shock
,
she
turned finding herself face to face
with
Nigel
.
 
“Hello Sara”
,
he
said softly, his eyes all over the woman who
had
once been his wif
e.  She
felt the panic rise, her eyes darting to the corridor for any sign of another person, however, they were alone.  Taking a deep breath
,
she
faced him, aware as he
blocked the way.
 
“Hello Nigel
”
,
she
finally managed, her eyes showing th
e anger she felt.
 
“You look amazing...stunning”
,
he
simpered softly
, his
hand moving to touch her shoulder as she
shrunk further against the wall
. 
“What do you want Nigel
?
I am with somebody so if you don’t mind I would like to return to them”
,
trying to push past him
.
  
H
e
blocked her way, his face reddening as anger
took
hold of him.
 
“Yes...I saw that...didn’t take you long did it
?
”

Sara
recognised the tone, growing quieter
,
“We are divorced Nigel.  It is for the best
”
She
saw
a
s his eyes
filled with sadness, the anger draining from him
as quickly as it
had
risen
. 
“Sara...this is a mistake.  We were good together you and I...we were happy.
I loved you.  I know that you c
ould learn to love me ...I know it
”
Now
she
looked u
p at him in complete disbelief
,
“You hit me Nigel...do you really think I could love somebody who did that
?”
 
His demeanor
bec
a
me one of guilt as he
looked
back
at her
.

“I loved you Sara...I still love you...but you taunted me with the fact you didn’t love me.  It wasn’t my fault, it was yours
”
She
stared back
at him with pity in her eyes
-
pity and anger.
 
“No Nigel.  It was not my fault.  You knew the day you married me that I did not love you...and your violence...that is
unforgivable”
 
Raising herself to her tallest
,
she
looked coldly at him, seeing the anger once more return, his fi
st clenching as she
g
ave
him a contemptuous glare
.
 
“Do you want to hit me again Nigel?  In front of all of these people...what would mummy and daddy think of that?”
  S
he saw
the fear cross his face as he
stepped back
,
Sara taking her chance as she
moved around him, needing to get away.

“I know about Nick
”
,
his voice paused as she
continued walking
,
“and
Tara
”
His
soft words
froze
her to the spot, as slowly she
turned to face him
. 
“W
...
what did you say?”
 
Nigel repeat
ed
his words, his face now that of the cat with the cream.
 
“I can fix it all Sara...you can have everything if you just do one thing
”
Sara
felt the colour drain
from her
face;
her legs shook
as she
stared back at him in horror
,
unable to speak as he
moved closer
. 
“All you have to do is come back to me Sara.  We remarry and everybody will be happy
...we can be a family...a happy family
”
,
a more sin
ister sneer lighting his face
,
“If you don’t...well let’s just say that everything might get messy...which would be very bad for you”

Sara
covered her mouth with her hand, holding in the pained moan as her eyes
shone with tears.
 
“No...
No
...
Never”
,
her head
s
h
ook from side to side, as
turning
;
she
fled down the corridor back
towards
the main hall, Nigel calling after her
. 
“It is the only way Sara...choose...you know you have to
”
Sara
felt the panic filling her as she
moved into the
crowded throng, her eyes darted
from side to side
looking for the sanctuary that was Darius.

“You OK?”
He
sudden
ly
appear
ed
beside her, his hand resting on her arm
ma
king
her jump as his look
held such concern.
 
“N.
.
.Nigel
”
,
she
began
,
her eyes full of fear
,
his hardening as they rose
to the man who
followed her, Sara seeing him at the same time, her hand grasping
Darius
. 
“Please...don’t make a scene, not here...it’s what he wants
...he knows about Nick...everything”
 
“Did he hurt you?”
,
his one question saw
her shake her head, Darius giving a deep sigh as
his eyes
returned to her, his head nodding
. 
“
Fine
.
  We are leaving”
,
his arm moving around her
as he
led
her away
;
she smiled
with gratitude and thanks.  The sound of the younger man laughing
hysterically
behind them, his voice high and venomous
made her groan softly
.
 
“Well Sara...didn’t take you long to fall on your feet”
,
his cruel sneer loud enough for many others in the
room to hear, the muted sounds of the people closest falling into silence.
 
Sara’s eyes
flicked to Darius, her expression pleading, her arm on his holding him back as he
made to turn to the younger man.  Looking at her
,
he
stilled, his mouth set angrily as he
again started
with her to the door.
 
“Hey...Darius”
,
the cry from behind even louder
,
“You might want to be careful...she gets around”