Page 97 of Everything She Wanted

“Yes.” A full body fuck-yes, I say in my head as Rachel would.

Eshaan tells the decorators to change the flowers, and we have one final look around. Rachel takes a few photos of us together and sends them to Eshaan to post. Then we walk out together and say our goodbyes.

“Shaan’s going to drive me home,” I say casually to Rachel with his parents in earshot, even though we’re both almost thirty years old. It’s so comical. It makes me laugh, but—I play the charade.

“Okay, I’ll see you at home then.” She winks at me.

We jump into Eshaan’s Maserati, and I sink back, letting the luxurious leather engulf me as he flicks on the seat warmers. He knows how much I love them any time of year. He knows me.

He looks over at me with hunger in his eyes and places his hand on my thigh as he revs the engine and we pull out onto the street. “You’re so fucking beautiful, you know that?”

I don’t feel beautiful, not now, after everything I’ve done, but for a moment, I forget the guilt and shame, and remember why I fell for him.

My alarm goes off at 6 a.m. I turn it off and snuggle into Eshaan. His arm is resting over me, and I don’t want to leave and face everything, but I have to. I start to get up.

“Stay,” he whispers groggily. “Call in sick.”

I’m tempted. It’s been non-stop at work for weeks, but after winning this big pitch, we’ll need to debrief and see if we can replicate the strategy to approach new investors and those who bailed before.

“I have to go. I landed that big deal for them, remember?”

“And are they even giving you a raise?”

“They better be,” I joke, trying to avoid the question.

“Nish.” He starts getting up, looking at me with sleepy, sexy eyes. “Did you think about what I’ve said to you? You’re wasting your time there.”

Here we go again.

“They aren’t going to give you a raise, no matter how hard you work for them.”

“Shaan, please, not today.”

“Fine. After we’re engaged, we’ll figure things out. You don’t need to work anyway.”

He brushes it off like my whole career is a bit of dust on his shoulder, not something I’ve been working so hard for, for years. I ignore it, like I always do.

“I’m sorry about last night,” I say as I look down at my hands. I pretended I had a headache, but the truth is I just couldn’t let him touch me like that. Nick has ruined me for anyone else. I can’t even think of sleeping with my soon-to-be fiancé. And the worst part: I don’t want to.

He kisses my forehead.

“Don’t even worry about it.”

He throws the sheets off and gets up.

“Besides, I booked a week at the Empress for us in Victoria. You can make it up to me then.” He gives me a wink then leaves the room to use the main bathroom like he always does when I’m here. I brush my teeth in the ensuite and jump in the shower. My neck is stiff, and my chest is tight even though I should feel relieved. Things with Nick are over and Eshaan doesn’t have to know about any of it.

I start getting dressed, grateful I keep some of my work clothes at his place, when Eshaan’s phone pings with a couple of texts. Without thinking I grab it from where it’s lying on his nightstand.

When do I get to see your sexy face?

You’ve been keeping me waiting too long already...

What the actual fuck?

I can’t see who it’s from, but I know already.

I thought he stopped texting his ex, but apparently not. I try to get into his phone, but he changed his password, and my mind tingles with suspicion.