He didn’t look well, though. His eyes were lacking that shine to them. The ones I had stared into were cold. I wanted to go to him and make things better, but I had only been a ploy to him. I never meant anything. That realization allowed me to keep my distance and anger intact.
It’s a shame the anger never matched the dreams I had at night of him taking me and owning me. Every night, he would come to me and ask me to stay, and I would say yes. Then he would fuck me in such an animalistic way, I would wake up sweating.
Katie told me I could stay on her couch for as long as I needed, but what I needed was to just be done with all this. Take whatever money I could get from the sale and start over. Maybe in the country where there were no beaches, or deceiving prodigies.
When Katie got stuck on a work project, her brother Devin offered to help me. If anything, just to be a shoulder to cry on while I did one of the hardest things: officially say goodbye to Gran. I couldn’t believe when I took off in such a hurry I left the letter.
At least by tomorrow morning this will all be over. No doubt, he picked the early time just to spite me. He knows damn well I’m not a morning person and waking up before nine is against my made-up religion that says I should not wake before nine.
I just need to get through tomorrow.
Then it’s a new start.
In the country.
Far away from the beach.
Chapter Fourteen
Lucy
I walk into Four Fathers, a little star struck. This office is amazing. Top notch, to say the least. I dressed up, though I have no idea why. There was no one I wanted to impress. Or maybe give a final eat shit, you could have had this send off. My black fitted dress hangs just above my knees and accentuates my boobs perfectly.
Devin laughed the entire morning while watching me pace, knowing I was speaking lies when I said this was the only thing I had to wear. But it was. This or the fifteen pairs of shorts and tank tops I brought.
Beside the point.
I walk up to the front desk, but I’m greeted by no one. I ring the bell, but no one comes out. I walk a little farther into the office, and—
“You’re late.” I practically jump out of my panties at his voice. I turn to see him standing a short distance from me, his bulky arms crossed over his chest.
“Yeah, well, I got stuck in bed.” My comment is in regard to my issues with mornings, but the fire in his eyes tell me he took that another way.
God, he looks so good. There’s no doubt I still want him. Like, bad, want him. My heart wants me to just forget why he really showed interest in me and pretend I didn’t figure out his plan. My vagina seconds that plan, because she really, really misses his cock.
But my emotional stability tells me I need to let go. I got played. Again.
I’m going to choose not to ease his mind. He can think whatever he wants. I drop the sly act and put on my game face. “Can we just get this over with? I have things to do.” Like cry.
“Follow me,” he instructs, then turns, walking down a long hallway, leading us into a large conference room. A woman is already sitting at the massive table. She stands, and I recognize her voice as the realtor.
“Hello, you must be Lucy.”
“Hi, that’s me.” I reach over and shake her hand. I go to take the seat next to her, but Trevor stops me.
“No need to sit. This won’t take that long.”
“Seriously?” I stare him down, wanting to punch him. How can someone go from being so amazing to such a prick? “You know what, you’re right. This won’t take long. Where do I sign?” I turn away from him, addressing Clara.
“If you can just sign here on the new contract.”
Bending over, I grab the pen and scribble my signature on each page of a mountain of paperwork. When I scrawl my name on the last page, I slam the pen down. “Great. Now that that’s out of the way…” I stand straight, turning back to Trevor. “Where’s my letter?”
“I’ll hand it over once the paperwork is filed through the courthouse. I have no doubt you may pull another fast one on me. Is that even your real signature?”
My jaw drops. The nerve. “Pull a fast one on you? Are you kidding me?” I’m seeing red. “You mean you using me and pretending you liked me just to get me to sell my grandmother’s house early!” I lift my hands and push at his chest.
“Don’t insult me.” He steps into me, trying to scare me with his dominance, but I’m not afraid of him.
“Oh, come on. We don’t need to play dumb here. Your buddy sold you out. You don’t need to act like you ever cared. Just give me back my let—”
“What do you mean my buddy told you? Making up lies now I see?”
“Oh, I had the pleasure of meeting who I suspect to be your douchebag of a partner. The same time he told me how you were wooing me just to get the closing moved up, you asshole!” I go to push him again, but his hands wrap around my wrist.
“You’re lying.”
“Fuck you! I have no reason to lie.” I fight against his hold, but he only squeezes tighter.
Clara tries to step in. “Um, maybe I should—”
“Clara, leave,” he barks.
“No! Clara stays,” I snap. “What, afraid someone might figure out what a bastard you really are?” I make another effort, tugging at my wrists, to no avail. My chest rises and falls. I may have a heart attack. All the anger that’s been simmering inside is finally getting its stage time.
“Mr. Blackstone, maybe we should take a short—”
“GET OUT, CLARA! GET THE FUCK OUT!” Trevor snaps. Clara jumps out of her chair, stumbling over her own two feet as she tries to get out of the room fast enough.
“What, get rid of any witnesses when you try to strangle—”
My words are cut off as he whips me around, aggressively stepping toward me until my back presses against the wall. “I never said that to Eric.”
“Bullshit. As if I would believe you now.”
“I never spoke to Eric about you. He knew nothing about you.”
Oh, that’s even better. Guess I was nothing to brag about. Not even his best friend knew about me. It all hurts just the same. “Well, great. No need to tell anyone about the poor little dimwit girl you were fucking.”
“Stop.”
“No, I get what I was to you.”
“I said stop! I never said that.”
“Who’s the one lying now? I got it. No need to save face with me—”
He slams his mouth onto mine, shutting me up. I’m stunned. I didn’t see that one coming. I’m stone still, unsure if this is my last kiss before he kills me. “What are you doing?” I ask, kissing him back. Dammit. I can’t resist his mouth.
“I’m proving to you I’m not lying.” He’s doing a good job of it. He kisses me hard, pushing himself into me. My knees tremble, about to buckle. He releases my wrists and grabs my ass, lifting me so my legs wrap around his waist. I should be stopping this—fighting him off and telling him I won’t be made a fool. Instead, I raise my hands and thread my fingers through his thick hair.
“I don’t believe you,” I whisper, increasing our kiss, missing the feel of his tongue overpowering my mouth. He presses his dick into me, and I moan.