Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(21)

All she knew was that something huge had begun tonight with Marcus Ubeli, and her life would never be the same.





Six





Marcus was a perfect gentleman. Cora stood in the foyer of her beautiful apartment a month later, putting on her earrings in front of the mirror, waiting for Sharo to knock on the door.

Occasionally Marcus sent his employee to pick her up. Marcus got caught up in meetings sometimes, but didn’t like to be late for their outings. Sharo was a decent stand in, taking her to a restaurant, where they would serve her a glass of wine, and Marcus would always arrive soon after, smiling and full of compliments to her beauty.

A perfect gentleman, she thought again. He hadn’t kissed her again, but he put his arm around her to keep her warm whenever they went on long drives through the park, or to his favored private club on the edge of the city. And when he took her to more dangerous parts of town in order to show her a friend’s restaurant, he would loop her arm through his as they walked from the car into the building, and stay by her side all night. She felt safe with him.

He was generous, too. The roses in the foyer were a gift from him. The dress and necklace she wore were other gifts. She always blushed when she got a gift—it seemed too much. But try telling Marcus that and he just shook his head and got stubborn. And when Marcus got stubborn, well…

Once, telling her that he had to miss a date because of business, he told her to go into a shop and try on whatever she liked. Sharo had followed, a silent shadow who saw everything and said nothing. Everything she touched, whether she liked it or not, arrived in large shopping bags at her apartment the next day.

She would have been exasperated—she already felt that things were so uneven between them, and every gift he gave her only made her feel that gap all the more. She didn’t care about the jewelry or the clothes. Sure they were nice.

But all she wanted was Marcus.

In the end, it was why she accepted all the gifts. Because she knew it made him happy. It meant something to him, she could tell, to be able to drape the woman he cared for in fine things. To help her stand out as his. And that was all she ever wanted because she could barely remember a time before Marcus.

But could something so beautiful and perfect actually last? For her, Cora Vestian?

Things were just so good. And well…she couldn’t help feeling on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She couldn’t help it. Her mother had built a lifetime of paranoia in her.

It didn’t help that she felt sure she was being watched. Once in a while, returning home from work in the evening, she’d be coming down the street and get the feeling. She’d look over quickly, and there would be the sleek tip of a car, turning out of an alley, or parked on the street. The windows were always tinted so she could never see inside.

At first she’d been terrified, sure it was her mother come to steal her back to the farm. But when nothing ever came of it, when the cars continued simply waiting patiently and following her movements…she couldn’t help wondering. Was…was Marcus having her followed? Or was she just being totally paranoid and no one was following her at all?

It’s a coincidence, Cora thought to herself as she got ready for her evening out. You’re making up something to be worried about.

Standing in the small room that served as a foyer in front of the door, she faced the mirror one last time.

Tonight was important. Marcus had been busy lately, working early and late and all hours in between, so that she barely saw him. Their last date had been three nights ago, at a new restaurant called simply ‘Nectar’. His car had met her at the animal shelter where she’d been dropping off a volunteer application and taken her straight to the place, despite her protests that she wasn’t dressed for the occasion. The night started with champagne in the car and ended with them both on the rooftop of the building, looking down over the world while the band played softly for the few late customers.

“This is beautiful,” she said.

“You’re beautiful.” Marcus wasn’t looking at the city. “I think I like you in your work clothes.”

She was just wearing jeans and a plain T-shirt. She tugged at the hem of the t-shirt. “You owe me for this, Marcus Ubeli.”

His mouth quirked and she went on. “Dragging me to this fancy restaurant, plying me with champagne…I’m barely fit to ride on public transport in these clothes.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” he said. “I’ll buy you a dress.”

She rolled her eyes and blushed like she always did. And his face, usually so serious under his dark and shining hair, had held a little half smile.

“I’d buy you all this if I could.” He swept his hand over the city, glittering below them like a box of jewels. Cora giggled at his teasing. Seeing Marcus so at ease and making jokes, while he stood so close to her, she felt euphoric.

“You mean you can’t?” she smiled back. “Mr. Ubeli, what will we do with you? You’ve been working too hard.” The moonlight cupped his dark features, the shadows under his eyes evidence of long, long nights. She wanted to reach up and touch his face but she didn’t quite dare.

“I’ve missed you,” he said. Two fingers came to stroke her cheek. Her heartbeat took flight. He was touching her. Gods, he was touching her. “I can’t believe I have someone like you.”