Chapter 71: La Classe 1

June

"Untouchable." The word echoed over and over. Okay, Scarlett used Dangerous and now, Ari was using the same word that could mean Dangerous in clear terms. I was beginning to think there was something they knew that they had refused to tell me. I couldn't bring myself to overthink anything else, my mind was screaming in its own language.

With what he had told me recently, I was okay with not knowing everything. But damn, this is Levi Stark we were talking about. I might be engaged long enough to be married to him. First, I was kidnapped, and now everyone seems to know something I don't.

"Do you mean, he is into something shady?" I asked Ariadne. Scarlett was avoiding the conversation altogether. "He has refused to say anything about his work. Honestly, I am scared he would kill me in my sleep."

Scarlett choked on her drink. Ari smiled, almost like extending a hand of sympathy towards me. "Well, he has bought a few paintings from Seb. All he knew was that he had connections with the Italians. We both know what it means when Italians are in the picture." Sebastian Pembroke—Ari's husband—built his own fortune in venture capital, specializing in clean energy tech and rare asset investments. Like fine art, collectable wines, and heritage estates. Maybe he must have estate deals with Levi, but I didn't see him as an art person. Levi Stark did things to serve his own purpose. How do I understand that kind of man?

I narrowed my eyes. "Mafia" I shook my head. "He is too composed to be that dirty."

"Well, you were kidnapped by one of his clients' sons. Says a lot about what he has been up to." I didn't want to believe it, but it was clear. The dots were distinct, but I couldn't pin him to something that dirty. He was the CEO of global Businesses, of course, there might be a time he must have soiled his hands in something sketchy.

"You were kidnapped?!" Ari's face was bloated with shock. I smacked Scarlett's arms, as she winced before going back to her milkshake.

"The goal was not to make her more worried. You were supposed to act nicely. You promised."

Scarlett, rolled her eyes. "I promised to support you. I didn't promise to not tell her; besides, she has to know."

"Were you not planning on telling me how your life went shits while I was in London?" A wave of disappointment flashed across her face.

I stumbled with my words. Fuck. "Of course, I wanted to tell you. I know if I did, you were going to drop everything and be here right away. I didn't want to cut your vacation short."

"Your well-being is more important to me than any vacation. For fuck’s sake, you had an accident, lost the baby, and as if that wasn't enough, you were being kidnapped by the same man you are engaged to, which is just wild."

"He wasn't the one behind the crime."

"It was because of him that the crime existed in the first place." Ari pinned her look on me, I couldn't deny that fact.

"I think you have to pull the plug on this whole thing. You can't keep putting yourself in danger."

"I have no other option. I have no choice in this. It is what's best."

"Bullshit! You always have a choice. You don't want to open your eyes one day and see your life flash before your eyes."

"I mean, I can run away, but Levi has been helpful these past few weeks." Scarlett's brows were winged.

"He will find you. There's no running from a man like Levi Stark." I rolled my eyes even when she was right. Ari's eyes were filled with horror and pain. I knew that look. It was the same look she had when Sebastian dragged her ass to Town Hall for a wedding before they even had a ceremony. She was helpless but still got used to the idea of being married to the love of her life.

"Are you sure you want to be there?" I nodded. I lied. Not only that, but I wanted to be far away from him; I didn't like living under the same roof with him. This minute, he was kind, and the next, he was sticking his nose where it didn't belong.

"I will be fine. I promise. Besides, it is better than being with Axel. Levi is just..."

"Different. Dangerous. Sketchy son of a gun." I glared at her for a hot second before the three of us burst into laughter.

"When is the ceremony?" Scarlett was the one asking. "Is there going to be one, or is he keeping you under his wing because he feels like it?"

I sighed. "To be honest, we haven't discussed that at length. For now, he's just focusing on keeping me safe from my stalker."

Ari exhaled. "At least he wants to keep you safe. I just hope he isn't putting you in any danger by doing that. Men can be oblivious to the damage, they cause, at times." I knew who she was referring to, but I couldn't ask...

"Is it about Sebastian? Is something going wrong in your marriage?"

"Scarlett? Why the hell would you ask that?" I tsked as Scarlett laughed over more fries.

"I'm curious."

She shook her head, a smile forming on her lips. "I really missed you guys. And nothing is going wrong in my marriage. Yet. If nothing seeps out of the carpet, we are good." Ari's being sharp has more to do with hiding behind her eloquence and brilliance. With the way her cheeks sagged, I knew she was hiding something from her husband and us too. I could only wish that she would come to us when she was ready. Nothing more. I hated prying.

I flipped my wrist and saw I wasted two hours already. Noon was far gone. I had promised Patricia I was going to be back before Levi does. My phone, which Levi had newly gotten for me, had died. There was no way anyone could reach me." Shit!"

"What's wrong, Junie?"

"I promised to be back before Levi creeps back into the house." Their lips were apart, ready to ask more questions, but I pulled each of them and kissed their cheek. Running off to the car and driving back at full speed.

I got home, and the entrance to the main living room was slightly ajar. I wish there were a way to know if he had truly come. There were so many cars, it was hard to spot if anyone was missing or had arrived.

The smell of tobacco filled my nostrils before I saw those eyes. Burnished bronze. Side dark curls. Broad build. Strict dress sense. A cigar between fingers. He was checking his tablet, probably checking the stock market. A food package was beside him as he was focused on the screen. I gripped my bag, hard. Maybe it's best not to provoke him. I said to myself. I tiptoed, heading for the stairs. I was already three steps in when his eyes met mine.

"Why are you sneaking in?" He narrowed his eyes as he blew out rings of smoke. "This is your house, too, Birdie. If you were not up to something terrible why were you sneaking in?"

I swallowed. "I...didn't want to disturb your reading."

He scoffed. "The stock market is annoying today. The stakes are so high, nothing is ever as you left it. So imagine my frustration when I come home, hoping to find you probably doing anything that doesn't scream 'defiance' and you were nowhere to be found." He stuck the cigar against the ashtray. "Where have you been?"

"Out."

"Don't play coy with me, birdie. Trust me, my patience is wearing thin."

"You don't expect me to sit down here and wait for you to arrive before I can breathe out some air. I went out."

"You know, I went to Velvet Crumbs, to get your favorite pastries and milkshakes. Added some Greek yogurt too. I know how much you love having those. I wanted to make amends for how we left things the other day. I come home, you've done something else that's just as terrible."

"That was Sunday. Three days is enough for me to forget you ever existed. I don't need your treats, Levi."

"Where have you been birdie?" He was close to me now. Eyes pinned me to my back, and I couldn't move my legs further backwards. "You know I hate repeating myself."

"You don't own me."

"You are mine still. Tell me."

"I had a meeting okay." I left the tension swirling behind. Moving further down from the stairs. "In case you've forgotten. I still have a pending divorce and a case building in court. If I don't address it, I might be looking at jail time. Maybe that part of my life isn't of no relevance to you, but it matters to me. I went to see my lawyer to talk about the next steps. Then I hung out with my friends. Scarlett and Ariadne. I just needed air okay."

"What are those next steps?"

"I am not fighting to take my license back from the board. I want to try something different. Something I wanted without my reputation hanging by a thread." I sighed.

"Drop your lawyers." He quietly says as he grabbed his phone, texting away.

"Excuse me? I can't do that. They have been working tirelessly..."

"I know, but I want to give your case to a firm that I trust. Besides, the lawyer you are using is a friend's lawyer, no?" My lips were forced apart, wanting to object, but I nodded, lowering my gaze. "Your case would now be handled by the Blackthorn & Vale law firm. Adrian Vale is a senior partner at the firm and the best in Seattle. He would handle your divorce and the fraud case."

I sighed, tears biting the edge of my eyes. "Axel would never sign those papers."

"Then we would give him an offer that he can never refuse."