In the theater, hundreds of pairs of eyes are on us, so I lace my fingers through Elise’s. I spot our fathers sitting together, with Thatcher grinning from ear to ear. Jack’s eyes assess us as I move Elise’s hand to my lips and kiss each knuckle. She giggles and places her head in the crook of my neck.
“It’ll be over soon.”
I nod and don’t reply.
The rest of the evening is a blur of faces and voices I can’t be bothered to pay attention to.
After posing for a few more pictures outside, Elise gets into the car with me, and her shoulders sag. Once the partition is up, she leaves a few inches of space between us and pours herself a drink. I stare out the window at the world rushing outside. The car pulls up on the other side of the city, outside a bricktownhouse in an affluent residential area where a red Tesla is parked out front.
Elise blows me a kiss over her shoulder on the way out. “Don’t be late next time.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
London is fast asleep when I return to the estate, peel off my clothes, and leave them in a pile on the floor. By the pale light of the moon, I tiptoe over to her, pull back the covers, and exhale. As I curl myself around her, London stirs and moves an arm over my head. I wrap my arms around her waist and nuzzle her neck.
“How was your work thing?”
“Fucking long,” I murmur, my fingers splaying themselves across her stomach. “I thought of you the whole time.”
London whimpers. “I don’t like fighting with you.”
“I can think of much better ways to spend our time.”
***
By week’s end, I’m sure I’d rather sit through one of my father’s lectures than attend another event with Elise by my side. The past few weeks have been a series of events from fashion shows to galas to movie premieres, all with the same group of people and the same inane chatter. To her credit, Elise doesn’t falter, and I have a begrudging respect for her.
By the second week, there’s a pit in my stomach at the number of pictures floating around, and the knowledge that London is a tabloid story away from uncovering the truth. I want to come clean to her, but I know it won’t do us any good.
London won’t understand.
How could she?
She’s never had to lie to protect an empire.
How do you think she’s going to feel about you spending so much time with another woman? London is considerate, but even she has her limits.
It’s exhausting having to come up with reasons to leave the house.
I almost want it to catch up to me. At the end of the second week, I dress for another movie premiere. As usual, my father is lurking in the background. In the hallway, I see London in a pair of yoga pants with a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, and I consider how much trouble I’ll be in if I skip the event.
What’s one more movie premiere?
When I catch the murderous gleam in my father’s eyes, I give London a tight smile and force myself downstairs where Elise and her father are waiting. Elise spends the entire car ride there texting on her phone. As we arrive, Elise puts her phone away and turns to me with the same practiced smile I’ve grown accustomed to.
“We need to be photographed at your club.”
I climb out of the car and hold out my hand for her. “No.”
Elise tucks her hand into my elbow. “You know it will be suspicious if we aren’t.”
I match her stride and ignore the clamor of voices around us. “If you knew about my club, you would know I’m doing you a favor.”
Elise pushes herself up on tiptoe and brushes her lips against my cheek. “I told you that I want to have fun.”
I lower my eyes to hers. “Fine, but we do it on my terms.”
I hate that she’s right and considering how much of her world I’ve been exposed to, it’s high time she sees mine.
