Page 24 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
A chill rolled down her spine and into her stomach. Spending time with him would remind her of how stupid she’d been to trust a man again. What an idiot she’d been. She’d trusted her hormones and not common sense. She’d told him about her life, details she had never shared with another soul. Why? For him to use it for his own gain. Sorrow filled her heart, squeezing it again. All those years she’d avoided relationships, thinking she didn’t have anything to add to them. But now, the truth made her head dizzy—relationships could also take away everything she’d built.
He texted someone, quickly, then raised his eyes to hers. “No. I’m coming. Let’s get our things together, and we should be good to leave in an hour.”
She nodded.
He took one step in her direction, an emotion she couldn’t detect flashing in his eyes. “Listen, I know how this all seems. Sleeping with you wasn’t my goal. I’m not going to deny I took advantage of our crazy chemistry to get close to you, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy every minute of it.”
“So you enjoy betrayal and lies.”
“I enjoy being with you,” he drawled. “I’m apologetic about the circumstances.”
Words. She swallowed the knot in her throat. Her stepfather had always apologized after abusing her, saying he couldn’t possibly resist her. Sorrow welled up inside, pressuring behind her eyelids, and she felt hot tears coming. Tears she didn’t want him to see. She walked toward the door, blood thickening in her veins. “Let me know when it’s time to leave.”
He outmaneuvered her and blocked her way. “Alexa, don’t do this—”
“Out of my way,” she shouted, searching for the vase to throw at him. Maybe then he’d understand.
He lifted his hands in surrender, and with a sigh, moved aside. “All right. As you wish.”
This is not over, said a voice inside her. She slammed the door behind her and entered her room, where she’d hole up until it was time to go. Brooks had betrayed her trust, and in such a short amount of time, it already cut too deep. It has to be over.
