Bound by Fate by Sherilyn Gray Page A

there.”
     
    There could be hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth of jewelry in my arms and I was about to drop it all on the floor
with shock! “Did you say...trophy?”
     
    “You’re going to look amazing next to me,
Dove. You’re going to look like you belong naturally at my side. Go ahead and
start getting dressed.”
     
    I was pleased with the fact that he thought I
was ready enough to mingle with high and mighty business people like him, but I
was also way too nervous about screwing up. The odds were that I would make at
least one mistake that would leave me blushing for the rest of the night.
     
    I looked down at the extravagant, emerald
green silk dress I wore as well as the adornment of jewels on my arms and neck.
Earlier that day, Victor had sent me to a hairdresser where she pulled my hair
up into a fancy bun with a few curls framing my face. I had on more makeup than
I’ve ever worn before, and I desperately hoped I wouldn’t get my red lipstick
all over my face. Well, at least I look the part of a socialite. It was amusing
to think that I was being used to display Victor’s wealth and status, since it
would be unseemly for a man to be seen wearing as many jewels as I was dressed
in.  I looked in the mirror, imagining him wearing my dress and jewelry.
Much to his confusion, I practically doubled over on the floor with laughter
from the thought of it.
     
    There was still some tension left between us
from a few nights before when I had broken down in tears, but I tried my best
not to bring anything that happened that night back to attention. I figured
that I would wait until we were back in California to go over the contract
again with him. Maybe I would have a clearer mind by then. Maybe the romantic
illusion of being in Paris clouded my better judgment of falling in love with a
guy like Victor.
     
    As we walked out of the hotel, I was
beginning to feel a little bit more apprehensive. He made it clear to me that
this was my “debut” at his side. If it went well then I would be expected to be
at his side at social events more often.  If it ended up badly, well, I
didn’t even want to think of how furious he would be if I embarrassed him in
front of these important people.
     
    The party was held at a chateau on the
outskirts of Paris. There were already a ton of people there when we showed up;
many of them lingered outside by a large fountain with a stone sculpture of the
goddess Venus at the very top, pouring water out of the vase.
     
    I stopped to admire it. “I knew you’d like
that,” he said, his voice a harsh whisper. “But don’t act so slack-jawed at
everything, like you’ve just walked out of some backroad country. Act like you
belong here with everyone else.”
     
    “I will,” I said, not sure whether or not to
fall back to calling him “Sir” rather than “Victor”. At times I felt like he
chose to forget our little moment of lovemaking that night.
     
    As we began our path up the steps to the
white, French home, an elderly gentleman with a much younger looking woman
walked up to us, stopping us along the way. “Why Mr. Draper, it’s been a while!
You’re looking more and more like your father each day!”
     
    Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Victor
grit his teeth before turning towards the old man. Uh oh, this couldn’t be
good. I watched in the background with interest. “Ian Monaghan!” Victor
exclaimed, his voice sounding tight. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”
     
    “Well, you know. It’s tough being so far away
from home, especially when I’m stuck in the wettest, coldest part of the UK.
Scotland is like hell frozen over. It’ll be good when I move my company to
someplace warmer.”
     
    The young woman hit the man playfully on the
arm. “Mr. Monaghan, have you forgotten that I’m from Scotland?” she said
teasingly.
     
    “Nope, not at all,” Ian said, giving me a
wink. I suddenly felt uncomfortable. “Who’s this lovely woman