Page 35 of Paparazzi Perfect
This was way beyond what I expected, even from him. How could I have known, though? I’d spent most of my life at boarding school on the other side of the planet. Suddenly, I was very grateful I’d grown up far away from him.
I spun toward the door, pulse racing, I had to escape.
Vladimir pulled his shoulders back and stiffened as he stood like a fortress in front of me.
“You’ll contact her once more to end things,” my father instructed. “Tell her you’renotleaving Sydney, that you already have a woman. Tell her she wouldn’t fit in here.”
I winced as he delivered his poisonous strike.
“Comply. Then your little nobody can continue her meaningless existence uninterrupted. Or,youcan be the reason she attends her father’s funeral. Your choice,” he said benignly.
He shifted his gaze to Vladimir, still holding vigil at the door. “Vladimir, assist my son in retrieving his phone. If he refuses to deliver the message I instructed, move forward with the plan for the girl’s father.”
I clasped my hands together, digging my nails into the skin.
Think! Think!How do I get out of this?
Vladimir stalked over, frisked me roughly, retrieving my phone before holding it in front of my face. It unlocked. He scrolled down, pressed call, then put it on speaker.
It went straight to voicemail. She’ll still be on her flight.I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing came out.
Vladimir prodded me, pulling me back into focus.
I hadto keep her safe. Even if it ripped out her heart.And mine.
The lump in my throat hardened like I’d swallowed gravel.
I closed my eyes. “Ivy, I know you’re not home yet. But I need to tell you something.”
“I’m not coming to Brisbane. I’m staying in Sydney to work at the company.”
The words scraped on the way out. Every instinct screamed at me to take them back.
“And I know you said you could come here… but it won’t work.” I looked at my father. He crossed his arms, his gaze unrelenting.
Vladimir shoved me again.
“There’s someone else…” I trailed off.
He drove his finger into my chest.
“She’s… right for me.” The words burned on the way out.
“You wouldn’t fit in here.” My nails bit into my palm.
“Just stay there. Live your life.” My voice almost broke, but somehow I managed to keep it flat.
“I’m sorry.” Everything in me strained against the next word.
“Goodbye, Ivy.”
Silence pressed in.
Vladimir snatched the phone, disconnecting the call as one side of his mouth twisted into an ugly grin.
“Delete all of his social media accounts and have his number changed,” Karlos instructed quietly.
I was unsteady, like the ground had shifted beneath me and sent me plunging.
