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Eliott could hardly believe his bloody eyes.

A scoff puffed out of him, and he looked over his shoulder like someone would step in to explain just what he was seeing.

He gets dragged to an annoying event he’d so badly wanted to miss, only to see what?
He looked at them in surprise. Two of the women he’d spent the most money on out of every woman he’d ever met.

“My goodness,” he nearly whispered, coming closer.

She’d grown beautifully.

Karma was glaring viciously at him, but Eliott couldn’t take his eyes off the girl behind her. Was that his little Kendall McCarthy?

Her beauty, at its peak, surpassed anything he’d predicted. Even though she looked pale and tense enough to bolt at any second.
Her fingers, white at the knuckles, were curled tightly into Karma’s blouse as her wide green eyes stared at him like she was witnessing the rise of the biblical beast.

“Don’t worry,” Karma whispered, glaring at him. “I’ve got him.”

Eliott blinked. “Hello to you, too, Karma.”

“It’s Carmell,” she hissed.

“Ah,” he said, nodding. “That’s right. Sly told me you left the club. Carmell, now? Are you still Jon Oliver’s bitch? How’s that going?”

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” she growled. “How can you stand there, yapping like Valencia’s not right here? After what you did to her.”

With his attention returning to the younger girl trembling in the shadows, Eliott felt his dark mood brighten. It was nice to see her.

“Hello, my Kendall,” he said softly, tilting his head at her.
His lips curved into a bright smile.

There was no difference. Just like that night eight years ago, the smile on his lips didn’t reach his eyes. They were still evil.

“Don’t speak to her,” Carmell warned. “I’m not the person you once knew, Eliott. I won’t stand by powerlessly anymore. Valencia is under my protection.”

Eliott scoffed in amusement. “Who said I have any interest in either one of you? And, who’s Valencia? You don’t mean my darling Kendall McCarthy, do you?”

Carmell paused. Frowning, she glanced back at Valencia.

“Valencia?” she whispered. “Did you…?”

“Yeah. I changed my name, Kar— Carmell.”

They both had. Understanding her reasons for doing so without her having to explain, Carmell sighed, nodding. “It’s okay—”

“Where have you been?” Eliott calmly interrupted, looking at Valencia. “Up until several months ago, you lived in that apartment. Then you disappeared. I mean, I don’t care, but I would like to know where you are, sweetheart. For my own reassurance, of course.”

Her back straightened and, swallowing hard, Kendall composed herself, returning with an ease that only years of experience could produce. “Of course.”

He smiled. “So? Where have you been?”

“That isn’t your business, Mr Cross. You don’t have to worry. I won’t come anywhere near you or… or Evander.”

At the sound of that name, Eliott’s smile faded a little.

“Maybe… you shouldn’t go around saying that name like that,” he suggested.

She pressed her lips together, looking at a face she’d prayed she’d never have to see again. That prayer went unanswered, so the best she could do was deal with it now. “Understood.”

“Is it?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. “Maybe we should speak in private, so I can make sure we’re on the same page.”

“That won’t be necessary—”

“I wasn’t requesting, Kendall.” He smiled warmly. “Come on, sweetheart. My car’s outside.”

Carmell’s heart pounded in fear. “No. She doesn’t want to.”

“I suggest you shut up,” Eliott muttered in a near whisper. “Unless you want to be washed up on the beach by next week.”

The woman’s eyes widened, her throat drying.
This wasn’t Sly, it wasn’t Jon Oliver. It was Eliott Cross. There was nothing he couldn’t do.

“You h-had…” Her voice shook, and she fought to strengthen it. “You had Valencia living in one of your apartments? And then, what? You had men visit her there? Why did you take her away from us? How sick can you be?”

His face tightened with anger, but he forced his lips into a grotesque smile. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, woman. So, move.”

He marched forward, closing the space between them and reaching for Kendall.

“No!” Carmell threw her arms around Kendall, holding her just as tightly as she’d wished she had eight years ago.

“Let her go,” Eliott muttered, his fingers closing around Kendall’s wrist.

“Like hell I will! I wasn’t there to protect her before, but I’d rather die than let you take her now!”

“For fuck’s sakes, I’m just going to talk to her.”

“She doesn’t want to!!"

“Shut up, you’re making a fucking noise,” he hissed, glancing behind him. Luckily, nobody had ventured to this end of the hallway yet.

“What do you say, Kendall?” Eliott said, smiling at her. “Let’s have dinner together. For old times’ sake. Then we can catch up without…” He glanced dismissively at Carmell. “Distractions.”

Her lips parted and trembled like she couldn’t find the words to speak. Kendall wanted to yell at him, to pull away. But something within her was so broken that all she could do was pray he would leave. All of a sudden, she was sixteen again and damaged enough for Eliott Cross to manipulate. Weak enough for him to pull her strings like a puppet master. She hated the way he seemed to have the power to switch her between her two identities. A little intimidation, and he had her back to being Valencia Raine, putty in his hands.

He read the flicker of fear in her eyes and felt his heart swell with satisfaction. Why was she looking at him that way? It made him want to hurt her even more, to see more of those tears leak from her lovely eyes. But, God, she was beautiful. His determination to have dinner with her suddenly grew. Maybe they could arrange another million-dollar deal.

But he had to get her out of here before anybody saw them together.

“I don’t know,” she finally muttered. “I c-can’t—”

"Just do as you're told!" he hissed.

“What’s going on here?” a deep voice suddenly asked.

In one swift motion, Eliott released Kendall’s wrist and spun away from the woman with a practiced smile, his mask sliding back on again.
Anything to not look like he’d been harassing them. His spotless reputation in this industry meant everything to him.

Still, no amount of practice could’ve prepared him for coming face to face with Lucien bloody Sinclair.

Of all people.

The smile froze on Eliott’s face.

“Lucien!” Carmell gasped gratefully.

“Carmell, what are…” Lucien trailed off, his eyes narrowing when he saw Eliott.

And then he looked behind Carmell and finally saw Kendall, pale, trembling. Her fear was so obvious, even a blind man would’ve seen it. It was like a switch, shooting a bolt of fury into his blood.

His eyes slowly returned to Eliott, and Lucien approached, once menacing step at a time. “Cross. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”