Page 94 of Uprising

“Katie wants to come round tomorrow, to discuss the details, and I thought we could share some wedding photos seeing as we got them back.” I state.

Darius’s lips curl. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“Perfect.” Katie says beaming. “I’ll get onto our editor now. He’s been bugging me for weeks and he’ll be just as excited as I am about this.”

I smile before sipping more of my champagne. I can do a fake article. If anything I hope it will convince Darius that I’m giving in.

He leads me away, introduces me to the commissioner and some other leads for the charity Darius and Carter selected as this week’s bit of good news to cover the nearly daily shit storm. I fight the feeling of disgust as they touch me, as they lean in and kiss my cheek, while their hands feel like they linger for far too long.

And I laugh too. At all the jokes Darius makes.

He catches my eye as we find ourselves alone for a brief moment and I can see he’s trying to figure this out in his head.

“Rose…” He murmurs.

I blink back, my lips curled in expectation, as if I hang on every word he utters. As if I’m so in love with this man that only he matters.

And then his phone buzzes. Everyone’s phone buzzes. He pulls it out glancing at the screen and I dare to steal a glance.

My heart freezes. I can see it, the news alert. Someone has breached whatever embargo Darius put in place. It’s out. It’s official. Everyone now knows my mother is MIA.

His face turns into something deadly. I’m quick to drop my eyes, to not let him know that I know.

“We’re done here.” He says, taking my wrist, making for the exit.

“Governor?” Someone asks holding their phone out for us to see. “What is this?”

Darius stops, a big smile on his face. “I’d say it’s exactly what it looks like. Somebody’s idea of a joke.”

The man nods glancing at me and then back at Darius.

“I’m afraid we have another appointment to get to.” Darius says smoothly before continuing on.

When we get to the car I climb in quickly. Darius slams the door shut, barks at the driver to go and then turns his full attention on me.

“What was that?” He half growls.

“What was what?” I reply.

He runs his eyes over me. “You seem far more compliant today.”

I wince, glancing at the window, playing this carefully because I can’t simply act like I suddenly want him and expect him to believe it. “Maybe I’m too tired now.” I half whisper.

“Too tired of what?”

“Fighting.” I say looking back at him. “Besides you’ve made it clear what happens when I do.”

He smiles leaning in and I put my hand on his chest, acting like I need to say my piece first.

“I don’t want you to do to me what Otto is doing to Sofia.” I state.

He tilts his head at that, scrutinising my face. And internally I fight my guilt. I’m using her situation to my advantage, acting like seeing that, witnessing that has put the fear of god into me, when in truth it’s just spurred me on, made me more furious, more determined than before.

“Maybe I should have done that to start with then.” He murmurs. “Maybe I should have taken you there, let you see how much worse you could have it…”

I gulp, nodding, shutting my eyes as another horrific image flashes before me.

He grabs me pulling me into his lap and his hands grab my hips. “If this is you submitting I want you to do it fully.”