I rolled my eyes, only imagining what Drea was about to say. “Oh my god. I’m not bringing a hooker to your wedding, will you relax? But thank you for your support on that front. It’s… new. I met her a while ago. Listen, sweetie, I’m sorry to cut this short, I’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes. We’ll talk later, okay? I love you, doll.” I hung up without giving her time to respond.
That whole conversation was a mistake. I had a date? It was new? That’s an understatement. It was so new, it didn’t exist. And now I had to avoid my best friend until I could come up with something to say when she inevitably asked me about it. Luckily I actually had a meeting, so I didn't lie to her on that part. I’d use this meeting to get my mind off the wedding and my lack of a date.
I had just locked my computer a few hours later, getting ready to head out for the night when a soft knock sounded on my door. “Come in!” I shouted, expecting it to be Eloise.
I stood up with a smile, walking to the door when it opened all the way and Vera came into view. I froze and dropped my smile so fast. It wasn’t that I was unhappy to see her, but I was shocked, to say the least. How did she even get past security, and how did she know where my office was?
“How’d you get past security, and how did you know where my office was?” I asked, apparently letting my thoughts have free rein of my vocal chords.
She still had the same free-spirited smile she did from that night and I had to shake away all of the memories. “Hello to you, too. If you must know, my team and I are starting the renovations on this floor in a few weeks. That’s how I got past security. I wanted to scope it out.”
“Team?” I asked, confusion creasing my features.
“Yeah, my team. I own a construction company.”
I raised my brows in surprise. Sheownedthe company? That was the last thing I expected her to say.
“And as for where to find you… your assistant is very helpful.”
“Don’t tell me you hit on her to get information.” I scoffed. “Why?”
She frowned and closed the door behind her. Why did she close the door? She didn’t think she was staying, did she?
“No, Princesa. I did not hit on your assistant. I wouldn’t do that, just so you know. I just asked her where to find you, and she pointed to your office. She warned me against coming in here, by the way. Any idea why?”
I shook my head. “None. Now, if there wasn’t anything specific you needed, I need to get going.” I turned around andheaded back to my desk to get my bag and prepare to leave, clearly indicating I didn’t want to talk.
“Why would your assistant warn me against coming to talk to you? Are you upset with me or something?”
I groaned. She wasn’t going to leave, was she? “Because she knows about how we met. She knows I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Interesting. And, just out of curiosity, why don’t you want to talk about it?”
“Because you left!” The words tumbled out of my mouth in irritation before I could stop them.
I didn’t know why I was so upset about it. That’s what you were supposed to do after hooking up with a stranger at a hotel. You were supposed to leave and never see them again. So knowing that, why did it upset me? Why did I care so much?
Her shoulders dropped and she frowned. “What?”
“Nothing. I’ve got to go. Can you see yourself out?”
“No. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.” She took a step closer, and I instinctively took one back.
I didn’t want to have this conversation in my office. Frankly, I didn’t want to have it at all. But with the way she was standing, with her arms crossed and that sexy commanding look on her face, it had me opening my mouth to tell her the truth.
I sighed. “I woke up the next morning, and you were just gone. You left. And I know that’s typically how it goes with a one-night hook-up, but to not even say goodbye? It stung, that’s all.”
I shrugged like it was no big deal because it shouldn’t have been. She wasn’t even my type. I mean, we had already slept together, so did that even matter anymore? I was getting all twisted in my head and I needed her to leave!
She took another step closer and looked like she wanted to reach out, but thought better of it. “Cara, I didn’t leave. I wasn’tjust going to leave without a word. I went to get us breakfast. I’m not a one-night stand type of person.”
I covered my mouth at the scoff that escaped it. She narrowed her brows. “I’m sorry, that was rude, but you can’t honestly expect me to believe that you,” I gestured to her entire body, “aren’t the type to prefer hook-ups over relationships.”
“I know I may look like someone who just goes out and finds women to fuck and then move on, but I’m not that type of person. You were my first one, and that’s only because you were the one who left without so much as a goodbye. And just because you were there, I didn’t judge you and assume you only wanted an easy night. Everyone has their own stories and reasons for doing something, Cara.”
Well, shit. I felt about three inches tall. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling the weight of her words. I took one look at her and thought I knew all about her. The truth was, I didn’t know anything at all. What a shitty thing to do.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have assumed. That was a shitty thing to do. That’s not my thing either.”
