CHAPTER 18
Gwyn went straight to the castle, telling Amber she had something she urgently needed to discuss with Marcus when she got there. Amber let her in and told Gwyn to go up to Marcus’ suite and knock on the door; she was still bitter about having to take orders from him, so she was damned if she was going to go and ask him if this was a call he wanted to take.
Gwyn climbed the stairs and knocked on his door, Marcus surprised to see her when he answered. ‘Gwyn?’ he said hesitantly. ‘What’s up?’
She hadn’t stayed long, just long enough to tell him what she’d seen, twisting the knife a bit by adding an embellishment here and there. Marcus had remained composed, which had surprised her; she’d expected a jealous rage. He thanked her and showed her out, not quite sure of the best way to handle the information. He tried to stay calm, however, couldn’t think of a single legitimate reason for them to be at the pool together, especially not holding hands. He decided the best thing to do would be to talk to Anita about it, so he barked for Amber to get him his driver – bossing her around was never going to get old – and headed to Cordelia’s to see what she had to say.
Anita had just got home, still on a high from what had happened with Alexander. They hadn’t kissed when they’d said goodbye, respecting Anita’s wishes to tell Marcus first, and this had only served to add to the tension. She was replaying their most recent meditation kiss in her mind when Marcus’ voice pierced her daydream, his footsteps following his call.
‘Anita? Are you here?’
‘Hi,’ she said, a little off balance. Why was he here? ‘Good day?’ she asked, trying to buy herself a bit of time to get back on kilter.
‘There’s something I need to discuss with you,’ he said tersely, trying to keep his tone as even as he could, but irritation plain to read on his face.
‘What is it?’ she asked, concerned. The only saving grace was that this couldn’t be about what had just happened with Alexander.
‘Tell me,’ he said abruptly, ‘how is Alexander?’
Shit. ‘He’s very well, I’ve just seen him in fact,’ she replied rigidly, trying hard not to escalate the situation.
‘Really?’ he said, feigning innocence. ‘Why did you see him?’
‘We’re friends, it was good to catch up, we meditated together. As you know, I’ve found meditation very helpful recently.’
‘I think it would be best if you don’t see Alexander any longer,’ said Marcus, as though this were a perfectly normal thing to drop into conversation.
‘I’m sorry, what?’ Anita spluttered in shock, half laughing. They’d had an unspoken understanding that Anita would stay away from Alexander before, but the words had never actually been said, and she’d only obliged as she’d been working for Helena and hadn’t wanted to do anything to piss him off.
‘I think it would be best if you don’t see Alexander any longer,’ he repeated, condescendingly.
‘Yes, I heard what you said; I’m just in shock that you think you can dictate who I’m allowed to see.’
Marcus was a little taken aback; he’d expected her to reluctantly agree with him, seeing the logic behind what he was saying. ‘But I think it’s for the best, don’t you?’
‘What does that even mean? Why would it be for the best for me not to see one of my friends?’
‘Because I’m uncomfortable with you holding hands with your male friends,’ he said venomously. Anita went cold. How could he possibly know that? ‘It’s not like this is the first time you’ve been caught holding Alexander’s hand in public.’
By the Gods, how had he found out? Surely not from Alexander? ‘Marcus, I hope you realise what you sound like. You sound exactly like your father. You can’t order me around, or force me to do things I don’t want to do, whether you think it’s for the best or not. I’m an adult, quite capable of making my own choices and I choose to spend time with Alexander.’ She paused, steeling herself for what she was going to say next. ‘And, in fact, I choose not to spend time with you anymore.’
The colour drained from his face. ‘What?’ he whispered, looking lost. ‘You can’t break up with me. I love you.’
Tears pricked at Anita’s eyes. She didn’t want to hurt him, but there was no other way. ‘Marcus, since,’ she paused, taking a deep breath, ‘since you convinced your father to set me free, you’ve changed. Austin has let you into his inner circle and you’re obviously happy about that, but I don’t like the person he’s turning you into. He’s closing your eyes to what’s really going on in the world, he’s making you kick people when they’re down, and above all, he’s turning you into someone like him.’
Marcus didn’t know what to say. Anita was wrong, he was nothing like Austin, he was doing what he was doing to put himself in a position of strength, so he could protect them both from Austin in the future. ‘You’re wrong,’ he stuttered, ‘I’m not turning into him, I’m making sure I can protect us.’
‘You think Austin isn’t cleaver enough to see through that? He’s immersing you in his shady world so that one day you’ll be so far in that you can’t get out. I don’t want to be a part of that,’ she said, the tears overflowing, ‘and I don’t want you to either. You are an amazing, genuine person Marcus. You take life at face value and that suits you, it makes you fun and daring and carefree, it’s what drew me to you when I first met you, but I can’t be part of this any longer; you need to work out who you want to be on your own. If you want to be like Austin, then carry on as you are, if not, then you need to get out before you’re so far in that your trapped forever.’
Marcus felt like she’d ripped a hole in his chest; he’d never loved anyone like he loved Anita. ‘I thought you loved me?’ he choked, thinking maybe this would remind her that she really did want to be with him.
‘I do Marcus, but I don’t want to be under your control. If the way you try to show me you love me is by trying to stop me from seeing my friends, then it’s not a relationship I can be in with all my heart. It may just be Alexander now, but what if you decide you don’t like Cleo, or Bas, or you think that someone looks at me the wrong way? I can’t live like that. I don’t want to live like that. I’m sorry Marcus, but it’s over.’ She said it as gently as she could whilst conveying the finality of her decision, wiping away the tears still trickling down her face.
Marcus couldn’t believe this was happening. He kept hoping he was about to wake up from a bad dream, Anita lying by his side, but he didn’t. He turned to leave; there was no reason for him to stay any longer, his mind racing as he left the room.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Anita said softly as he left, sinking to the sofa and pulling a cushion towards her, unable to stop the tears that just kept coming. She’d known it wouldn’t be easy, but that had been a lot harder then she’d expected. She felt horrible and hated to think what Marcus might do now. She just hoped it didn’t push him further towards his father, that some of what she’d said had gone in.
‘Hello?’ called a voice from the corridor, Cleo appearing at the door and rushing over to her best friend when she saw her tears. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, her concern palpable as she put her arms around Anita and pulled her in. ‘What happened?’
‘I just broke up with Marcus,’ she sobbed, ‘and he didn’t take it very well.’
Cleo pushed Anita away so she could look at her face. ‘You did what? Doesn’t that put you in a bit of a dangerous predicament?’
‘I don’t care about that. If Austin wants to come after me then he’ll come after me, but he was just so hurt, I feel horrible.’
‘Why did you do it?’ Anita had never acted like this before; she’d always been so tough. Cleo wasn’t sure how to handle a teary Anita.
‘Because I realised that I love Alexander.’
‘I see,’ said Cleo, her tone turning firm. ‘So, you’re sitting here, sobbing into a cushion like some silly girl, when you broke up with Marcus because some other man wants
to be with you? Please get it together.’
Anita looked at Cleo, shocked at her lack of compassion. ‘I feel like a total bitch for hurting him,’ she said defensively.
‘Well I’m sure you’ll get over that as soon as you’re back looking longingly into Alexander’s beautiful eyes. Bloody hell, some people,’ said Cleo cattily, getting up and pacing across the room.
Cleo’s reaction had a sobering effect on Anita. Maybe she was being a little melodramatic; it wasn’t like her to let things get to her like this. ‘Is everything ok Cleo?’ Anita asked, wiping away the last of her tears and putting aside the offending cushion.
‘No, everything is not bloody well ok. It’s alright for you, Miss ‘I’ve got two men chasing after me, but boo hoo I’ve just had to tell one of the Descendants I’m not interested because I’d rather shag the other one,’ but for those of us living in the real world, men are total shits who don’t turn up for dates when they said they were going to.’
Anita realised that because of all the drama going on in her own life, she’d been totally neglecting her best friend and everything going on with her. ‘Sorry Cleo, I’ve been horrible recently, what’s going on?’
Cleo looked relieved she had a chance to get her story off her chest and sat back down on the sofa. ‘Well, you know I’ve been seeing that Councillor’s son off and on, the one I went to the ball with?’
Anita nodded. ‘Of course, Henry.’
‘Yes, Henry. Well, we’ve been seeing quite a lot of each other recently and it’s been going really well, but he was supposed to be taking me to Bas’ concert tonight…you’re coming too, right?’
Shit, she had forgotten all about it. She needed to pull it together on the friend front and stop being so self-obsessed, she thought, nodding to Cleo. ‘Of course.’
‘Anyway, Henry was supposed to pick me up earlier. We were going to go for dinner and then go on to the concert, but he stood me up. I walked into town, thinking he must have just lost track of time or something, but as I walked past Temple Mews, I saw him all over some other girl outside the flower shop. I went over to him and tapped him on the shoulder and when he saw it was me he turned away dismissively and said he would see me later. I slapped him, obviously, a little melodramatic perhaps, but it made me feel better, and then I stormed off; I didn’t want to make a proper scene. Stupid arrogant arsehole,’ she said, feeling much happier just to be replaying the story to someone else.
‘What an idiot,’ said Anita, ‘the Councillors’ children always seem to think they’re something special and they’re really not.’
‘Well anyway, I won’t be seeing him again. Pity, the sex was good.’
Anita smiled indulgently. ‘Come on, we’ll be late for Bas’ concert, and you never know, you might find some fresh meat.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ she said frivolously.
‘Cleo,’ Anita said, stopping before they left the house.
‘Uh huh?’
‘I’m really sorry I’ve been so self-absorbed for the last few weeks. I promise not to be from now on.’
‘Don’t be silly, you’ve had a lot going on. I forgive you, just don’t do it again. That includes the getting kidnapped bit as well.’
Anita laughed. ‘I’ll do my best. Nice touch with the slap by the way.’
‘Thanks, I thought so.’