Chapter 25 DAUGHTERS OF MEN LIKE HIM
NIRELLE
I stormed into the house and straight to the study. I did not know how angry I was at the entire family until I came face to face with Cory. I needed to have revenge for myself now. I push open the door and I can see Lucien behind the desk flinch, but he seems to recover almost immediately.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was sure I'd find you here," I say, trying to steady my breathing after climbing the stairs so quickly.
"What are you doing here?" he asked again as I walked towards him. He looked as if he was about to challenge, so I stopped midway and stared at him. Did he not know that he had the upper hand? Always?
"I am going to ignore the fact that you used me this morning and that you tried to test me as well."
"I did not..." he stuttered, but one look at me made him look away. "How did you know?"
"That restaurant scene was not as subtle as you'd think," I spat out at him, and he shrugged.
"Good for me; at least you are observant enough to work with me." I blink and let out a dry, short laugh.
"You needed to see what my reaction would be to seeing my brother; you wanted to know if I'd be moved with compassion and try and rethink my decisions," I continue, and he closes the book on the table and steps out of the frame and out in the open. I stare at him for a moment.
Even though he worked from home, he still seemed to dress up fully, and even though I can't really tell the difference between anything, I am sure that this is a designer's.
"Would you have been comfortable if you were me?" I pause from answering to think about his question. It's kind of annoying, though, that he is right. "A man with a lot at stake for me will not just put all my eggs in one basket."
"Meaning, even with how I proved myself today, you still can't trust me?" I asked as I rested my body on the back of the sofa. "Of course, that is understandable," I nod, not because I understand, but because I am truly trying to place myself in his shoes.
"I have to be honest with you, I can't fully trust you." I was expecting him to add the word 'yet' because it had to come to a time when he could come to trust me.
"You know I am not thinking of going back on my word. After the humiliation I suffered because of them, I don't think I can think of sparing them now. They turned me into something that is..." I trail off as I think of the right words to express myself.
"Abnormal?" he asked, and I nodded slowly.
"I have not been outside in years, and it's become my new normal. I have no friends, nobody to call when I am in need; I am just isolated and they wanted it that way," I say, feeling my eyes well with tears. I sniffle to chase them back in, but a few fall to my face, and I almost shiver at how hot it is.
"Enoch did not even think twice; I am sure he must have signed the documents to sell me off to you when they crossed his table." I have no idea how it went down, but that's how I imagine it. And then he gave me up to a man he did not know because he thought it was going to give him an edge in society. Do you really think I am going to pity him?"
Luucien's response is silence. I take a deep breath and nod. "I will do whatever it is that I have to do to prove myself to you."
"Would you now?"
"As long as you do not try to manipulate me," I say, and he shakes his head.
"Nirelle." I freeze at the sound of my name from him. It was unfamiliar but not in the wrong way. It wrapped around my skin like a warm blanket, and I am almost tempted to smile. "I have told you that I have no intentions of becoming like him. Why would I do what he did to you? I am better than that."
"That is all I need to hear," I say as I lift my body from the couch. "Now you need to tell me why you are doing this as well."
"He took away my family." his words were simple but drove a lot of emotions through me. I wanted to ask for more but I doubt he would be ready to talk about it. "All he cares for is money, and I am going to make sure he loses that as well."
The tension in the room shifts. I want to comfort him, but I really do not have the right words to say that would make him feel better now, so I sigh and smile. "I am sure we would find a way around it."
"I already have a plan; all you need to do is step into it."
"What do I do first?" I am sure Yvette would lose her mind to know I was going to help someone who considered Enoch an enemy, but I think that I might be able to save Yvette, even though she does not think she needs saving from this man.
"First, you change."
"You want me to change?" I could not believe it. He should have gotten someone else to help him then. I opened my mouth to talk, but he beat me to it.
"You need to make some powerful friends, and I trust you to do it." Hearing that I needed friends made it more scary than it should be because I did not exactly remember how I was supposed to do that. "You would attend meetings with Theo, and they are going to introduce you as my wife; you need those connections," I sigh and shake my head because I can't do it.
"I am sure you can," he said, sounding as if he knew what I could and could not do.
"But..." I stop myself and nod. "Let’s give it a try then."