Chapter 4 4

The air inside the jewelry store was perfumed and chilled to a temperature that kept the clientele awake and the diamonds sparkling.

The store manager, a man in a suit that cost more than Eliza's car, bowed slightly as they entered.

"Ms. Koch. Ms. Solomon," he greeted them. "Please, follow me to the VIP suite."

He led them past glass cases filled with jewels that could feed a small country. They entered a private room at the back, enclosed by frosted glass walls.

A tray of sparkling water was waiting.

"Mr. Koch instructed us to show you the bridal collection," the manager said, clasping his hands.

Azalea choked on her water. She coughed, slamming the glass down. "Bridal? Who is getting married?"

Eliza froze. Dallas moved fast. Too fast.

"It's... an investment portfolio," Eliza lied, grasping at the first thing that came to her mind. "Diamonds hold value."

Azalea looked skeptical. "Since when do you care about investment portfolios?"

"Since I decided to stop being poor," Eliza snapped, a little too defensively.

Azalea shrugged, distracted by a massive 5-carat emerald cut diamond sitting on a velvet pillow. "Fair enough."

Eliza picked up a ring. It was a vintage setting, platinum with a solitaire diamond. She slid it onto her finger.

It fit perfectly.

Of course it did. Just like the clothes.

Suddenly, the bell at the front entrance chimed. Not a polite ding, but a jarring sound caused by the door being thrown open with force.

Voices raised at the front desk.

"Sir, you cannot go back there!"

"Get out of my way."

Eliza's blood ran cold. She knew that voice.

She turned just as the frosted glass door to the VIP room was shoved open.

Anson stood there. He looked disheveled. His tie was crooked, his hair messy, and his eyes were wild. He spotted Eliza instantly.

He stormed over, ignoring the manager, ignoring Azalea.

"Take it off," Anson commanded.

Eliza clenched her left hand into a fist, protecting the ring. "What are you doing here, Anson?"

"You're playing house with Koch's money to make me jealous," Anson spat. He reached for her, grabbing her upper arm. His fingers dug into her flesh, painful and familiar. "It stops now. You're coming home."

"Let go of her!" Azalea shouted, jumping up. She shoved Anson's shoulder. "You're bruising her!"

Anson sneered at Azalea, not releasing his grip. "Stay out of this, little girl. This is family business."

He turned his glare back to Eliza. "I control your trust fund, Eliza. Your entire life is funded by my signature. You do what I say."

Something inside Eliza snapped. The fear that had been choking her for years suddenly crystallized into anger.

She yanked her arm back with all her strength. She stumbled, but she broke his hold.

"Not anymore," she said. Her voice shook, but her chin was up.

Anson froze. "What did you say?"

"I said, not anymore. You aren't my guardian."

"You think running away changes the law?" Anson laughed darkly. "I control your trust. I control your life."

"I'm married, Anson," Eliza said.

The words hung in the air, sucking the oxygen out of the room.

Anson's face went pale. The arrogance drained away, replaced by shock. "Married? To who? Some waiter you picked up at a bar?"

"To a man who knows how to treat a woman," Eliza retorted.

Anson took a step forward, raising his hand. It was an instinct, a move to intimidate, to silence her.

But before he could move another inch, two large security guards materialized in the doorway.

"Mr. Hyde," the store manager said, his voice icy. His hand was under the desk, pressing a silent alarm. "You need to leave. Immediately. Or the police will be called."

Anson looked at the guards, then at Eliza. He saw the ring on her finger. He saw the defiance in her eyes.

He lowered his hand slowly.

"I'll find out who it is," Anson hissed. "And I'll ruin him. I will bankrupt him and leave him in the gutter. And then you'll come crawling back."

He spun around and stormed out.

Eliza stood there, trembling. The adrenaline was fading, leaving her knees weak.

"Mr. Hyde," the manager called out to the retreating figure. "You are banned from all Koch properties. Effective immediately."

Anson didn't look back.

Eliza stared at the door. He was going to try to ruin her husband.

He was going to try to ruin Dallas Koch.

She almost laughed. It was a hysterical, terrified sound bubbling in her throat. Anson was about to kick a steel wall and break his foot.