Bound By Her Shocking Secret by Abby Green

CHAPTER TEN

WHEN MIAWOKEin the morning she could hear the faint hum of Manhattan traffic far below. She’d always loved New York—it had been the first place she’d come to start her modelling career and she’d never forget that first view of Manhattan, coming across the bridge from the airport.

And now here she was, in one of those tall buildings. Married. A mother.

She lifted her hand and looked at the rings, nestled side by side. She hated to admit it, but she liked them. Liked the feeling that they marked her as Daniel’s wife.

She sat up in bed, holding a sheet up to her chest, and winced when she saw the torn lace of the body she’d worn under her wedding suit. Unable to find the opening, Daniel had ripped it, making Mia gasp, but then he’d put his mouth to the heated flesh between her legs, hands cupping her buttocks, making her squirm and writhe under his wicked mouth, torn clothes forgotten.

There had been something almost desperate between them...insatiable...as Daniel had taken her over and over again. They had only fallen asleep as the dawn had risen outside.

The apartment felt silent and empty. Mia got up and had a quick shower, and dressed in a pair of casual trousers and a matching long-sleeved rust-coloured top, pulling her hair back into a loose ponytail.

The housekeeper, a genial older man, was in the kitchen. ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Devilliers.’

Mia gasped and checked the time. It was after midday. She blushed profusely. ‘I’m so sorry. I had no idea it was so late.’

‘Don’t be silly—you just got married. Can I fix you some brunch?’

‘Um...where is everyone?’

‘Odile has taken Lexi to the park, I believe, and Mr Devilliers is down in his office. He said you weren’t to be disturbed.’

It was a long time since anyone had cared for her welfare. It was a strange feeling. Seductive.

‘I’d love something small—maybe just an egg and toast? If that’s not too much trouble?’

The housekeeper gave Mia a slightly funny look, before smiling and saying, ‘That’s no problem at all. And, please, call me Tom.’

‘Thank you, Tom.’

After she’d eaten an exquisite brunch of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, on delicate pieces of toast, Mia debated calling Odile and catching up with them, or going down to see Daniel.

She found herself acting on impulse, taking the elevator down to the main offices. She would find Odile and Lexi afterwards.

At the main reception area everyone was very friendly, and they showed her to where Daniel’s corner office was. An older lady in the anteroom stood up and introduced herself as Martha. She said, sotto voce, ‘He’s on a call but I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see you if you want to go in and wait. Congratulations on your marriage, by the way.’

‘Thank you.’

Mia pushed at the heavy door, which was ajar, and went in, thick carpet muffling her footsteps. The first thing she noticed was the astounding views of Manhattan on both sides.

Daniel had his back to her. He was standing at the window and had his phone up to his ear and his other hand in his pocket. His back was broad under a white shirt, and her eye travelled down to those slim hips and taut buttocks.

And then he spoke, his voice low but distinct in the silence. ‘Yes, we’re married. It’s the perfect solution. It takes the heat out of any potential news story and it’ll defuse any interest in my daughter. We’re a family unit now.’

The person on the other end was obviously speaking, and as what Daniel had said sank in, and Mia interpreted the businesslike tone of his voice, a cold chill crept through her.

Daniel sounded exasperated. ‘Look, Nikki, it’s done. She’s the mother of my child, and if we hadn’t married I couldn’t have guaranteed that this wouldn’t have ended up in the courts. She’s no pushover and money doesn’t sway her. This is the best solution to a potential PR nightmare. Returning to France unwed, with a child in tow, would have left us wide open to scrutiny and completely overshadowed the launch of Delphine, which is going to be challenging as it is—’

He suddenly stopped talking and turned around.

Mia wasn’t sure why she was feeling so winded all of a sudden. Daniel hadn’t said one thing she didn’t already know. But to hear him lay it out like that, so cold and stark, had sliced right into her heart.

Daniel terminated the call and looked at her. ‘Mia—’

She cut him off. ‘That’s why you brought us to Costa Rica, isn’t it? Because you wanted to use that time to seduce me again and persuade me to go along with your plans.’

Daniel was nothing if not honest. ‘Getting you away from the press was a concern. But I knew that I wanted us to be a family, yes. And I knew I wanted you. As for the marriage... I hoped that you’d agree. Because I do feel that this is the best outcome for all of us.’

She’d fallen into his plans within the week, like a ripe peach. She realised that even up to this moment she’d been harbouring a tiny illicit flame of hope for more. But what she’d just heard had killed that flame for good.

She forced breath into her lungs, dazed—and annoyed with herself for feeling blindsided. She couldn’t even say that Daniel had manipulated her. She’d wanted him too. And she had agreed to the marriage of her own volition, for all the right reasons.

‘Mia—’

She put up a hand, not wanting him to hammer home the message. It was loud and clear. Her emerald ring sparkled in her peripheral vision, mocking her. This one might be real, but it meant no more than the cubic zirconia necklace had.

‘It’s fine. I’m sorry I disturbed you. I just... I was actually on my way out to catch up with Odile and Lexi. They’ve gone for a walk.’

‘I know. Security are with them.’

Mia turned around, but Daniel said, ‘Wait.’

She turned around reluctantly. She just wanted to go—get away from that far too incisive grey gaze.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

She pinned a smile on her face. ‘Absolutely fine. Will we see you later for dinner?’

‘Actually, we’re going to take an overnight flight back to Paris tonight, so you should probably prepare for that.’

‘We’ll be ready.’

Mia left the office and avoided catching anyone’s eye. It was only when she was out on the street that she let her mask fall and put sunglasses over her eyes to hide the sting of tears, hating herself for the weakness.

Paris was grey under leaden skies when they returned from New York early the following morning. Odile had gone home, and Mia and Lexi were in bed, sleeping off the flight. Daniel was restless, and had come down to his office above the salon. But he was alone. It was too early for any staff to have arrived yet.

He wasn’t remotely superstitious, but the slate-dark skies felt like some kind of omen and he scowled at himself.

He didn’t like how the image of Mia standing in his Manhattan office the previous morning kept coming back into his head. Her face had been pale, with the same stricken expression he’d only seen twice before. When she’d seen the leak in the newspaper about his proposed engagement to Sophie Valois, and when she’d come to tell him she was pregnant.

He recalled the conversation she’d overheard, his conscience pricking again.

He’d felt under pressure. His chief PR advisor had been freaking out at the news that Daniel and Mia were married, without any prior warning. Daniel had felt exposed. He knew marrying Mia in haste had been an impulse to make her his as soon as possible, out of a primal need that didn’t have much to do with logic. And it was as if his PR advisor had intuited that.

But he’d reassured himself that everything he’d said to Nikki had made total sense. And it was everything Mia had agreed to. To make a marriage based on respect and mutual chemistry for the sake of their daughter.

Marrying Mia and ensuring Lexi’s security and future was the right thing to do. He couldn’t offer Mia empty platitudes and promises, much as he knew it might make things more palatable for her. But they were his family now, and he was going to do everything in his power to ensure that the toxicity of his past did not infect the future. He would do things differently from his parents, and already he and Mia had a foundation stronger than anything he’d ever seen between them.

It was enough. It would have to be.

So why was he feeling guilty?

That sensation of something precious slipping out of his grasp was haunting him again, mocking him. He pushed it down deep and told himself he was being ridiculous.

‘I feel like you’re avoiding me.’

Mia looked at Daniel across the dinner table at the end of the first week since they’d returned to Paris. ‘What gives you that impression?’

Daniel arched a brow. ‘The fact that this is the first meal we’ve shared since we got back to Paris, and the fact that you’re not sleeping in my bed.’

A pang of sexual need gripped Mia. In spite of the deep vulnerability she felt around Daniel now, she couldn’t dent the aching need at her core. Every night she had lurid X-rated dreams and woke up aching and frustrated in the morning.

‘Lexi has been unsettled at night since we returned. I don’t want to disturb you.’

‘Where is Odile? I offered her a full-time job.’

‘I told her she didn’t need to start straight away.’

‘The launch of the Delphine line of jewellery is next week. We’ll have press junkets and the launch party to attend.’

An assistant of Daniel’s had informed her of the schedule, and it alternately terrified her and excited her.

She looked at Daniel now. ‘I’ve never been involved with anything this high-profile before.’

‘I’ll be right by your side.’

That thought should have comforted Mia, and it would have at any other time. But every minute she spent in close proximity to Daniel now left her terrified that she’d reveal her feelings, or he’d see something. And if he knew how she felt she wouldn’t be able to continue pretending she was okay with a marriage in name only.

That was why she’d been avoiding him. Because she didn’t know if she could truly do this. And she felt like a failure because she should be stronger for her daughter’s sake.

People lived through marriages of convenience all the time—what was so special about her that she thought she deserved more? But Mia knew that she did. And so did Lexi. Living with Daniel and knowing that his feelings only ran to like and respect would wear away at her soul until she was a husk.

And that couldn’t be good for Lexi.

Hearing Daniel during that phone call had brought home just how clinical he was about this marriage. And yet when he touched her he made her think that there was a chance of more.

But that was just sex.

That was why she couldn’t let him touch her again.

And yet even as she thought that her body ached. The thought of not making love to Daniel ever again... That was obviously not something he would tolerate. Did she really want to drive him into the arms of a lover? The mere notion of that made Mia feel violent.

Daniel’s gaze was narrowed on her face. ‘Want to share your thoughts? You look like you want to commit murder.’

Desperation mounted inside Mia. Something had to give or she’d lose it completely. Clearly avoiding Daniel and depriving them both of release was not working, and it would only invite scrutiny and, yes, possibly murder.

Could she do this and hide her feelings, not confuse passion for emotion? She had to. Or she might as well get up and leave now.

Baldly, before she lost her nerve or changed her mind, she said, ‘I want you.’

His eyes flared at that. ‘Right here? Now?’

She blushed. She felt gauche, like the first time she’d gone out with him. But he took pity on her, standing up and taking her hand, pulling her up from the chair and leading her out of the dining room and down to the bedrooms.

After Mia had checked on Lexi quickly, just across the hall, she stepped into Daniel’s bedroom. His shirt was already off and the top button of his trousers was undone. He closed the door behind her and caged her in with his arms, hands either side of her head.

‘Now, where do we start to make up for lost time? This week has felt like a month, Mia.’

She reached up, pressing kisses to his jaw, her hands exploring his chest, revelling in the feel of taut muscle under hot silky skin. She pressed kisses there, trailing her mouth down, her hand finding the zip of his trousers and pulling at it, then urging his trousers off his hips along with his underwear, until they fell to the floor.

He stepped out of them, kicked them aside. Still wearing all her own clothes—a pair of trousers and a silk top—Mia dropped to her knees and heard Daniel suck in a breath. This she could handle, she thought, as she wrapped her hand around Daniel’s erection, which was straining towards her.

She took him into her mouth and his hands went into her hair. ‘Mia...you don’t have to...’ But then his breath hissed out. ‘Dieu, tu me tué.’ You’re killing me.

Mia was ruthless, wringing every ounce of pleasure out of Daniel, and when she was done he lifted her up and stripped her bare, eyes feverish with pleasure and fresh desire. Like this, there was no time or room for words or tenderness. And that was how Mia would get through this and stay sane.

A few days later Daniel woke at dawn, as he habitually did, his body naked and feeling so heavily pleasured that he wasn’t sure if he would be able to move. Every night he and Mia made love and fell asleep in an exhausted tangle of limbs. But when he woke she was gone.

Sometimes, like this morning, when the rush of last night’s images came back into his head, he wondered if he was losing it. If he was hallucinating these torrid nights with his wife, when she disappeared like a ghost before dawn.

He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something had changed. Making love to Mia had always been an incendiary thing, from the very first time, and it had only got hotter. But since they’d returned to Paris, there was an edge that Daniel hadn’t noticed before.

It was as if she was deliberately doing her best to send him into orbit, with a pleasure so intense and all-consuming that his days were populated by fevered daydreams. As soon as he returned to the apartment they didn’t even bother with the niceties of sharing dinner before tearing their clothes off. Dinner had become a midnight kitchen interlude.

Daniel cursed his introspection. Was he seriously analysing and scrutinising the fact that sex with his new wife was off-the-charts hot?

He got up and had a shower, before he lost it completely.

When he was on his way out of the apartment to go to work that morning, he paused at Lexi’s bedroom door. It was open a crack and he pushed it open all the way. Lexi was on her back in the cot. Mia was in the bed on the other side of the room, also on her back, asleep, hair spread around her head in a wild tangle.

The bed that was for the nanny. Not his wife.

Immediately Daniel wanted to scoop her up and place her back into their bed. And then he wanted to bend down, wrap her hair around his hand, wake her with a deep, drugging kiss and have her beg and moan for mercy, in punishment for leaving him feeling weak after so much pleasure.

A little stunned at the intensity of his thoughts, Daniel stepped back. Mia moved minutely on the bed and he noticed slight shadows under her eyes. A faint tension around her mouth. Something wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. And Daniel instinctively shied away from looking too closely, telling himself again that he was being paranoid. They were in the honeymoon phase that every couple went through, and their marriage wasn’t about regular intimacies like waking up together.

Everything was fine. What more did he want?

‘So, Mia, can you tell us how you met Daniel Devilliers?’

Mia was totally out of her comfort zone, talking to the radio host, but she was doing her best to sound confident.

This was the last PR interview before the launch party for the new jewellery line this evening. She’d already seen the huge billboards featuring eye-catching images from the Costa Rica campaign, but the images were so hyper-stylised they didn’t even really look like her.

Instead of marvelling over them, all she could think of was of the time she’d spent there with Daniel. Watching him bond with Lexi. Making love again for the first time. Discovering his fear of water, what he’d told her of his sister. All those moments that had felt tender, but which she knew now had been contrived to get her where he wanted her.

In his bed and shackled to his side.

‘When did you know you were in love with your husband?’

Mia blinked and came back to the present moment. Maybe she’d misheard? ‘I’m sorry, can you repeat the question?’

‘Of course. We would love to know when you fell in love with your husband?’

Mia longed to say something blasé, but the memories of Costa Rica were still vivid in her mind’s eye. She knew Daniel was outside the small radio studio, listening, and the words that she was terrified of speaking now tumbled out of her mouth, as if she knew she had a licence to say them without fear of censure. After all, it was what everyone expected. They didn’t want to hear that there was no love in their marriage. They wanted the fairy tale.

The problem was, so did she—in spite of everything.

She said, ‘I think I always loved him...from the first moment I saw him. But we went our separate ways, and it wasn’t until we met again that I knew I’d never stopped loving him. And then, when I saw him with Lexi, our daughter...that’s when I knew I would love him for ever.’

The radio presenter sighed theatrically. ‘Ah, l’amour...c’est fantastique, non?’

They wrapped up the interview after that and Mia emerged, feeling a little dazed. Daniel led her to his car, and when they were in the back, speeding away, he tugged at his tie.

‘You did well,’ he said, and then, ‘What is it with this obsession with romance and love? Everyone wants there to be some fairy tale story.’

He looked at her, and her skin prickled with awareness.

He said, ‘You answered well. I almost believed you myself.’

Daniel’s careless remark broke the last remaining barrier around Mia’s heart. She’d spent the week trying to pretend that she could endure a purely physical relationship if she felt as if she was in control. But any sense of control was rapidly fraying at the edges. Maybe if he hadn’t said the words fairy tale with such derision she wouldn’t feel so reckless right now.

She wanted to dent that arrogant cynicism.

She turned to Daniel, an unstoppable force rising inside her. ‘Actually, I answered it well because I wasn’t making it up.’

Daniel’s hand stilled on his loose tie. He looked at her. ‘What?’

‘You heard me.’

Mia’s heart was thumping. Daniel said something to the driver, who put up the privacy partition, cocooning them in the back.

Then he shook his head. ‘You’re going to have to say that again.’

‘What I said to that interviewer... I meant it. I didn’t have to lie or make it up. I love you, Daniel. And, believe me, I wish I didn’t. Because things would be so much easier. But I do. And I have done ever since we met. Even though I thought I hated you for a while...after the baby... I didn’t really.’

Daniel looked shocked—stricken. ‘But you agreed to this marriage on the basis of mutual desire...respect...you knew I wasn’t offering more.’

Mia suddenly felt deflated. ‘I know... And I thought I could do it, for Lexi’s sake. But when we got married I couldn’t help hoping that perhaps things might change. I was wrong.’

Daniel was shaking his head. ‘My background broke me, Mia. I can’t promise you—’

‘More. Yes, I know.’ Mia cut him off, not wanting to hear him spell it out.

She knew she’d crossed a line now, in articulating her feelings. But she couldn’t continue to be physically intimate and yet have no emotional connection. Daniel believed he was broken. She couldn’t fix him if he wasn’t willing to be fixed.

She shook her head. ‘I can’t do this, Daniel. I’m sorry. I thought I could, but it’ll destroy me to continue a charade...and I don’t think that’s good for Lexi either. You know what it was like to have unhappy parents. I won’t do that to her, and I don’t think you want to either. She’ll still have two parents who love her, because I know you love her.’

‘What are you saying, Mia?’

They were pulling up outside the salon. Mia put her hand on the door handle. ‘I think it’s best if we divorce. I’ll obviously wait until you and Devilliers deem it a good time. But I want a divorce, Daniel. I want to have a chance at finding happiness, even if you don’t. As you said yourself, I’m no pushover and I’m not swayed by money. So I’m not going to change my mind.’

Daniel watched Mia get out of the car and walk into the apartment. He couldn’t move. He felt numb. He couldn’t believe what she’d just said. She didn’t mean it. She couldn’t.

Love.

Having that responsibility for someone else’s happiness made Daniel feel a blackness descending over him. The only person he’d ever loved had died. And that grief and toxicity had spread outwards, infecting everything. Love only brought pain, grief, abandonment.

They didn’t need love. And after the launch tonight he would show Mia—convince her that what they had was enough.

A few hours later Mia was ready for the launch party. She hadn’t even been aware of being got ready. She’d stood still as the team had worked around her, allowing her to feel hollowed out, which suited her fine. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She’d done enough talking today.

She was made up to resemble the way she looked in the campaign. Her hair was smoothed and slicked back, caught in a low ponytail. Her dress was strapless and black, down to her knee, with a slit up one thigh. So far, so simple—except that it was leather.

When Mia saw herself in it, her eyes almost fell out of her head. ‘I can’t wear this,’ she whispered in shock. It clung to her body like an indecent second skin. It was pure...sex.

‘Madame, it is...sublime.’

Mia shivered in spite of herself as a purely feminine thrill went through her.

The woman in charge of the jewellery brought over the necklace Mia was to wear tonight—a very stark and bold piece. A huge ruby set into a gold neckpiece that coiled around her neck and trailed down to sit just above her cleavage. It was eye-catching.

Mia took off her other jewellery: her engagement ring and wedding ring. She felt a pang, because she’d worn them for such a short time, and probably wouldn’t be wearing them for much longer.

At that moment Daniel appeared in the doorway, in a black tuxedo. Every inch the sexy, suave billionaire. The shocked expression from earlier was gone. Now he looked impassive.

Her silly heart clenched. Had what she’d said made any impact or had her words almost literally rolled off his back?

The moment Daniel looked at Mia in that dress, the numbness encasing him since she’d stepped out of the car earlier was obliterated by pure electricity.

She looked like a sultry siren from a film noir. All sleek golden limbs, with her body shrink-wrapped into a dress that was pure sin. He wanted to tell the stylist to change the dress immediately—in this she would cause accidents, heart attacks. But they didn’t have time. And he had approved the dress after all. Except in the picture on the mannequin it had looked positively benign.

He looked at Mia’s face. She was watching him warily. What she’d said earlier had been so outrageous that he still wasn’t entirely sure that she’d actually said it.

Paul the butler appeared. ‘The car is ready downstairs.’

Daniel forced himself to focus. What Mia had said earlier was nonsense. They just needed to talk about it.

He led her out of the apartment. Her scent was fresh and light—at odds with the outfit—reminding him of who she really was. Of her contradictions.

Odile and Lexi were waiting to say goodbye in the foyer and Odile said, ‘Wow, Mia...you look amazing.’

Lexi copied Odile. ‘Wow... Mama...’mazing.’

Mia laughed and hugged Odile and Lexi. Then Lexi put her arms out towards Daniel. He lifted her up, inhaling her sweet scent. She planted a kiss on his cheek.

His chest felt tight. ‘Merci, mignonne.’

He handed her back to Odile, and they left.

There was silence in the car as it wound its way from Place Vendôme to the venue. Daniel could see the toned length of Mia’s thigh. She was looking away, out of the window. He wanted to turn her face to him, make her look at him. Cover her mouth with his.

It suddenly occurred to him, then, that in the past week, in spite of the intensity of their lovemaking, she hadn’t kissed him on the mouth once. Everywhere but the mouth. As if she was denying him something that some considered more intimate than actual intercourse. In fact she hadn’t even kissed him on the mouth on their wedding night.

No. Not possible. He was losing it. Imagining it.

What she’d said earlier...it was scrambling his brain.

An ache built in his chest, but he ignored it. They pulled up outside the venue and Daniel got out and went around to help Mia out of the car. He had to clench his jaw to keep his body under control as she uncoiled her tall body in that dress.

As soon as they saw her, the paparazzi went wild.

Now they knew her name.

‘Mia, Mia! Over here! Mia!’

Daniel stood to the side, for once out of the limelight and not minding it one bit. Mia posed with professional ease, but he could see that she was trembling lightly.

He went over and took her hand, saying to the photographers, ‘Ça suffit.’ Enough.

He led her to the entrance. Her hand was tight around his.

He looked down at her. ‘Okay?’

She looked up and nodded. ‘I’m just not used to this level of attention.’

Daniel put his thumb and forefinger to her chin and tipped it up. He bent down to press his mouth against hers, but at the last second she turned her head, denying him her lips.

Something dark spiralled in Daniel’s gut as his kiss landed on her cheek.

He hadn’t been imagining it.

As soon as they walked into the venue a hush fell over the crowd. Daniel felt a surge of protectiveness. He kept hold of Mia’s hand, but after a while her death grip loosened and she let go. And at one point she turned to him and said, ‘I’m okay now. You can do whatever you have to do.’

Daniel saw that she was with Adele, the photographer. He said, ‘I have to make a speech, but we can go after that.’

Mia nodded and her gaze slid away from his.

They got separated by the crowd.

He kept looking for her over the heads of everyone else, but only caught glimpses here and there. This was a pinnacle moment for him and the business, and yet he couldn’t focus on it.

Someone touched his arm and he almost snarled at them to leave him alone. It was his chief assistant.

‘Okay, boss?’

Daniel forced himself to relax. ‘Fine.’

‘It’s time for your speech.’

His speech. Damn. It was the last thing he felt like doing now.

He said to Pascal, ‘Can you find Mia and stay with her? Make sure she’s okay?’

‘Of course.’

Daniel made his way to the dais and was introduced by one of France’s best-loved actresses, who had been a brand ambassador for Devilliers for a long time. She graciously mentioned that Mia was part of a new generation of ambassadors and wished her well.

Daniel still couldn’t see Mia in the crowd, but finally caught sight of her. She was standing with Pascal and Adele. Relief flooded his belly. He launched into his speech, not having to check his notes because he’d been preparing for this a long time.

He mentioned Mia too, and thanked her for elevating the campaign beyond the ordinary and into something extraordinary. He could see her blush from where he stood, as everyone clapped and congratulated her.

That ache resurfaced, and absently he put a hand to his chest as he made his closing remarks. When he looked to where Mia had been standing just moments ago, though, she was no longer there. He kept speaking on autopilot as he searched for her. And then he saw her, slipping out of an exit, shoulders bare.

He stumbled over his words. Had to stop, look at his notes.

Where was she going?

Eventually he finished his speech and there was deafening applause, but all Daniel cared about was finding Mia. He kept getting stopped by people. And she was nowhere to be seen. The pictures from the campaign were on the walls all around the room, like a gallery exhibit, and everywhere he looked, Mia’s face stared back seductively. Mockingly.

‘I want a divorce, Daniel. I want to have a chance at finding happiness...’

Finally, finally, he got to the exit and saw his driver. He went over. ‘Have you seen Mia?’

‘I just dropped her home, sir, and came back to wait for you.’

Daniel looked behind him and saw the glittering crowd. He knew he had to go back. Should go back.

But he got into the car instead.