Vanquished (The Encounter #3)(15)
Chapter Nine
The door to Julien’s suite instantly opened after the first knock, catching me off guard. It was as if he had been standing close to the door, waiting.
He was still dressed in his business suit sans a tie, indicating he had dashed from the boardroom to his jet to meet me across the English Channel.
“Hello. Thanks for coming again on such short notice, Julien,” I said as I entered the room with a smile.
“Of course,” he immediately responded before kissing each of my cheeks then looking over my face for a quick assessment, as if trying to gauge the severity of my situation, as he guided me towards the living room area. “Can I get you anything to drink? Dinner perhaps? I admit I’m quite famished.”
“That would be lovely.” I agreed, ready to do anything really to stall the impending conversation.
However, when he offered me a glass of wine after he had called in our dinner? I graciously declined him, even though the thought of crisp white wine on my tongue to calm my nerves sounded like heaven. I supposed it was one amongst many glasses I would have to give up. It was best I got used to it.
I was trying not to appear nervous as I lounged on one of the cream-colored damask sofas, trying to get comfortable as much as possible while I watched him take the seat opposing me.
“Did you call upon me to check on Hugo?” he asked casually, seeming rather pensive as he trained his eyes on me.
He didn’t waste time before getting to the point, so I might as well get this over with, or else I would be in danger of a heart attack.
“Not really. Although, it indirectly affects him … in a way …” My words trailed off as I licked my lips while breaking eye contact with him. I let my gaze fall to the coffee table that sat between us. “I … well …. I’m sort of pregnant.”
“I beg your pardon?” he asked in disbelief. “I must’ve misheard what you—”
“You heard right the first time.” I glanced towards him, feeling all sorts of emotions washing over me. “I found out a few days ago, so please don’t make me repeat it again because I’m already having a difficult time dealing with this as it is.”
He didn’t know the half of it, but I would cope somehow, someway. I would make this work with or without his help.
My heart almost jumped out of my chest when Julien shot to his feet, furiously pacing back and forth as he threw some colorful French expletives in the air. He looked more stressed out than I was, which was bizarre.
“Julien, for goodness’ sake! I knew you’d overreact, but this is going above and beyond.”
“You’re keeping this baby; that’s why I’m here in London.” He pieced it together while shaking his head. Then he stopped mid-track and gazed at me with a haunting expression that made my insides curl with fear. “You can’t go back to your life, Isobel. That life is over. You must understand what you’re giving up here, what you are risking.”
Now it was my turn to feel as if he had doused me with cold water. “What do you mean I can’t go back to my life? I still plan to pursue my degree, my friends … I—”
“You can’t. It’s over. This is not a minor thing, Isobel. You and I can’t even fathom what the risks would be. But while we try to figure out how to go about this, you will be living with me, under my protection. I must know where you are at all times. I can’t let you out of my sight. Once we’ve figured out a way, only then will we try to deal with Hugo.” He released a strained sigh. “I know this must be something you’re not ready to do just yet, but you leave me no choice. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to forgive myself nor my conscience.”
Hugo … Hearing him say his name made me ache inside. But remembering what Julien had said about giving up my life almost immediately made no sense at all, because no one knew I was pregnant. Apart from him and myself, there was no one else.
“Julien, I understand your concern—I seriously do—and I’ve considered the risks. Of course I have … But no one knows, and I won’t be showing for months to come, so I can still go back to school for the time being. There’s no need for drastic measures just yet. That way, we can sort of get used to the idea. When the time comes that I really need to leave, then I’ll go wherever you are, but until then, I just don’t see the point.”
He immediately shook his head in refusal. “No, Isobel. That’s not agreeable, not in the least.”
“Why the hell not?”
“There are some things that I don’t know myself, and to be quite frank with you, I’d rather not know. But since I was the person you chose to confide in and not Hugo, you’ve handed me that responsibility. I can’t protect you if I don’t know who’s coming for you, Isobel, and trust me; someone will.”
“They don’t know. It’s still too early.” I shivered, feeling sick all of a sudden.
“Oh, someone will know. Nothing gets past them, most especially you. You’re already on their radar, so whatever you do, they know. Hell, I wouldn’t put it past them to have you followed.”
Who are they? I wanted to ask, but I knew he didn’t have the answer. Hugo had never divulged anything. Julien only knew the facts of what had happened to that woman. He simply wanted to be safe rather than sorry. And I should pay heed and use caution. This revelation wasn’t a small thing. It was literally going to turn my world upside down. No more freedom.