“Give him time.He’s angry and embarrassed,” Mason says, his arm resting on his knee.
I give him a soft nod.
“I don’t have the code to get in,” I say after another minute.
Mason gives me a cheeky smile.“I got you.Best friend privileges.”
“Oh.”I nod, feeling numb.
AN HOUR LATER, Masonstands outside my apartment door carrying my bag—he refused to stay downstairs—as I shove my key in the lock.
“Here’s my card.I want you to come in for an interview.Don’t let this derail your life,” he says, and I almost hug—
I plant my face in his chest.
“Shit,” he curses, wrapping his arms around me.
“Don’t tell him.I don’t want him to know I was upset.”I sniff, pretending his strong muscular chest and arms are Sebastian’s.Just for a second.
Because I know I’ll never feel him again.
What we had is over, and it wasn’t real to begin with.
“It’s our secret.I’ll tell him we were doing car karaoke on the way home,” he says.
I smile sadly, then straighten.“Thanks, Mason.”
“Promise to come in next week?”He rubs my arm like I’m his little sister, and I nod.
“Good.”
Then he pushes open the door, drops my bag inside, and gives me one last smile before leaving.The click of the door is like a full stop after a life that could’ve been.
And never will.
Goodbye Sebastian.
I never got to say those words, but I need to.
Glancing around my small, quiet, and cold apartment, I feel the void in front of me.I have no idea who I am anymore or where I’m headed.
Alone in New York City with no job, no prospects—for all I know, Mason was just being nice—and a father waiting for me to fail.
Which I have.
“Goodbye Sebastian,” I whisper as tears fall down my face.
I stare at my bare finger that only wore the engagement ring for four days, and yet, it feels empty and sad.
Angrily brushing my tears away with the back of my hand, I carry my bag into my bedroom and stare in the mirror.
The red Chanel couture gown sits on my shoulders, hugging my breasts, and then flares around my hips.I look like a movie star.Inside a little silk bag that accompanied it, there were a pair of diamond studs and a tennis bracelet.
It was a surprise when I was dressing and felt like a gift from my lover.
Staring at myself in the mirror, I see someone I don’t recognize.Someone I was pretending to be.This woman is someone who would marry the powerful and influential Sebastian Remington.
But it was smoke and mirrors.
