“What?” I said, giving him my attention again.
He was standing in the middle of the room, the messed-up bed beside him, like a huge fucking statement. I glanced down at my necklace, which I’d taken off the night before. Jasper’s ring was swinging from the chain, clutched in one of Reed’s strong hands. Those same hands that had touched every inch of my body: ones that used to soothe away all my troubles when we were stupid, love-sick teenagers.
Shaking back my hair, I held my hand out as he walked towards me. My whole world felt like it was about to end as he dropped the chain into my open palm and then used his fingers to close my hands around it. I could feel Jasper’s ring digging into my skin. “Wouldn’t want you to lose it. Not along with everything else you’ve lost today.”
I didn’t need to ask what he meant by those dark, hurtful words as my chest caved in on itself.
As I left and allowed the door to click shut, I heard a muffled curse, followed by a loud thud. Probably Reed punching the wall, something he’d done a few times after a fight. I left that room, literally running down the corridor with tears streaming down my face. Jasper’s ring was shoved in my pocket, like an unwanted gift.
When I arrived in reception, I was carrying the weight of betrayal on my shoulders, but who had I let down, Jasper or Reed? Then I realized, it was neither. The only person I had disappointed was myself.
The truth of Reed’s parting words hit me like a baseball bat.
I had lost him for good this time: the only boy I had ever and would ever love.
*****
Reed didn’t come after me, not that I expected him to. The Receptionist booked me an Uber, and I was dropped off at the Ritz in good time before driving back home. My eyes narrowed as I pulled up the driveway; thankfully, Jasper’s car wasn’t there yet.
I ignored the judgmental look from the waiting staff as I let myself in and rushed up the stairs to my room.
After showering and washing Reed off every inch of my body, I changed into a pale blue sundress and slipped on my mules. I only had time to part-dry my hair, so I pulled it back into a ponytail, which fell down my back in damp tendrils.
Checking my face in the mirror, I grimaced. Was I usually that red? I blotted my cheeks with a face sponge to try to take out some of the color. I so hoped Jasper didn’t notice I’d been crying.
When I got to the breakfast room and turned the corner, there he was, the pompous dick who was blackmailing me into marrying him. Jasper Dean Remmington the Third, sitting there, reading the paper, the quiff in his hair looking twice its usual size. A picture I would be greeted with for the rest of my life when I was his wife. I remember when I’d first met him and learned his full name, I hadn’t been able to say it with a straight face.
Jasper Dean Remmington the Third.He’d gotten the name from his great-grandfather and Theo’s dad, who were both named Jasper. Personally, I would have broken the cycle with Theo.
And I would soon be Mrs. Storm Remmington. The name didn’t even sound right. Storm Prescott. Not that, worked. I swallowed, trying to ease that tight feeling in my throat.
And then it hit me like a fucking bullet.
I couldn’t go through with it!Not now.
I was in love with another man. Business arrangement be damned.
The realization of what I would be giving up crashed into my thoughts, and everything in my head went into overdrive. My eyes frantically scanned Jasper’s face, searching for a sign of weakness: a kink beneath his perfectly reserved features.
Surely, I could make him see sense. He wasn’t an overly cruel man. Yes, he’d thrown some threats around in the past, but maybe that was just hot air?
Maybe if I told him what had happened with Reed the previous night, he would be the one to call it off?
My left eye started to water. Generally, people didn’t die from verbal confrontations. Cry in the bathroom afterwards or indulge themselves with an ice cream-fueled sugar coma, but not death. So why did I feel so terrified?
Straightening my shoulders, I walked into that room with as much poise as I could muster. I didn’t miss the grin two of the maids gave each other as I passed by. One of them had seen me arrive back in yesterday’s clothes at the end of the day. I hated it when the staff gossiped.
“Morning, sorry I’m late,” I huffed, out of breath from rushing. I dropped a quick peck on Jasper’s cold cheek. Trying not to act weird. His skin was cold and smelled like lavender face cream. The opposite of masculine. “Daddy not joining us?”
My unwanted fiancé shook his newspaper out and then folded it. “No, he was called away to the office.”
I watched the way he carefully laid the paper next to his plate as I unfolded my napkin. Another one of our maids appeared at my side; she was one of the younger ones and always looked terrified.
“Can I get you some bacon and eggs, Miss?” Fuck that sounded good. I could have done with a round of bacon. Didn’t they say that carbs heal shame?
I smiled and opened my mouth to reply, but was cut short. “No. Miss Summers will have coffee, no cream, and avocado toast, thanks, Judy.” I bit my lip and allowed him to order for me. I wasn’t stupid; I knew I needed to pick my battles, considering what I wanted to say.
Are you really going to do it?
