Be a Doll(30)

Noticing the lull in conversation and growing more and more nervous, I decided to do what I had been taught, starting with participating in mundane chat around the table.

“Oh, that’s nice. Where are you going?’’

Sylvie’s relieved smile made some of my growing tension disappear as I felt Mathis beside me watching me, rendering the side of my face hot with tingles that seemed to invade my every pore.

“France. I go back every year a couple of weeks to visit family.’’ She put down her cutlery in her empty plate. “While my life is here, I do miss my country sometimes.’’

I nodded and started to say something, hoping it’d encourage Megan to join in and then maybe the two Grimes men brooding wouldn’t be too difficult to overlook, but the older man’s glower hit me with such a force that it dried my throat and stole my words before they were fully formed in my mind. I recognized the look on his face, something I had seen in my past life, something that had always made my heart beat faster as if it was too scared to stay around and let someone else bruise it yet again.

“I wonder if that manor had you traveling.’’ The venom in the older man’s voice further hit me, reminding me once again that I was worth less than nothing here. As if that hadn’t been made perfectly clear for me for a long time. I barely remembered a time in my life when I felt worth something, worth someone.

“We didn’t, unfortunately.’’

He nodded and put down his cutlery without finishing his plate. His eyes barely left mine for a couple of seconds to glance at my husband who had stopped eating to focus on the disaster bound to happen.

“Hm, why am I not surprised?’’

“Oscar,’’ Sylvie said in a warning as her hands started to tremble.

He ignored his wife and kept on sending daggers at me. A weaker person would already be fidgeting on her chair and probably begging silently for her husband to help her out, but not me. It had nothing to do with my education at Carter Manor and everything to do with who I was to my core.

“It’s probably because you’re aware of the purpose of Carter Manor, sir.’’

He shook his head and then let his stare travel to his son still silent at my side, silent and immobile. “I never thought the son I had left would marry a prostitute, but that too shouldn’t surprise me after all.’’

The only sounds troubling the heavy silence that fell around the table was Sylvie’s labored breathing and Megan’s gasp. I risked a look to my left to stare at my husband and the fury I found barely contained in his eyes making his whole body tremble had me worried he would stand up and throw everything to the floor while his mother and sister seemed to barely hang on.

I honestly couldn’t believe what he said. I also had a hard time describing the sudden urge to put him in his place. I didn’t know the Grimes well and I had no fond feelings for Mathis, but the tragedy that hit that family couldn’t let me be indifferent. I was sure that this despicable moment I was unfortunate to be a part of had a lot to do with it and the things left unresolved, but someone grieving and in pain couldn’t make others miserable.

Slowly and with deliberate movement, I broke the stillness by drying my mouth and putting down my napkin next to my plate. The appetite the starter had awakened had disappeared and after opening my mouth I didn't think we’d stay much longer anyway.

Mathis’ eyes were now on me. I didn’t have to check to make sure. Every time he stared at me I felt it physically, a sensation between uneasiness and a heat wave that seemed to grow more and more as time went on.

I daintily cleared my throat and offered the older man my most sugary smile as his eyes latched onto me again, searching somewhere he could hit. He would come up empty as he didn’t know me.

“I need to warn you beforehand so there’s no misunderstanding here, Mr. Grimes. Your son knew upon marrying me that controlling me and what comes out of my mouth would be challenging. I’m sure you’ll be able to keep this in mind considering we’ve been married for just about twenty-four hours now.’’ I planted my palms flat on the white tablecloth and made sure to keep my back straight and my eyes on the man I grew to dislike more and more. He blinked at me, momentarily taken aback before he composed himself and glared at me once again. “You see, while I often think that my role is pretty much similar to an escort, I deeply resent it when someone else, someone I don’t even know, judges me in such a way.’’ I leaned slightly over the table and relished in his attention on me, and if I was honest, on the others’ too. Actually, the thrill coursing through me and making my blood sing came from the man who had given me his name yesterday, whose stare was unwavering. “You know nothing of me or my life, Mr. Grimes. It’s of no interest of me if you don’t respect me as starting from now on I won’t respect you either, but your callous attack on my husband is despicable and makes me sick. Instead of talking in such a way with the only son you have left, you should cherish him.’’

“You don’t know a thing about my family!’’ he bellowed as color rose on his face.

“And you don’t know a thing about me or my life!’’ I bit back with as much intensity. My eyes narrowed so much that I had tunnel vision. I didn’t see the lavish apartment anymore or the other three people around the table. Only the man in front of me existed. My body was coiled so tight I was sure I’d be able to launch myself over the big table. My dress and heels wouldn’t impair my movements with the energy bursting through me and screaming to be unleashed in the least polished or educated way. “Your son is married to me on a business arrangement, but he is my husband and I won’t stand you or anyone else insulting us.’’