Page 88 of The Rented Bride

Chapter Seventeen

Cassie rushed down the corridor headed for the elevator. She swiped at tears that she couldn’t control. Trent had given her the ring meant for Lindsey Fremont. What had she expected him to do, pick out a ring just for her? Only men in love did that. Two people came into view up ahead. Her heart pounded. She couldn’t let them see her cry.

Up ahead the exit sign glowed green. She hurried through the door, pushed into the stairwell and kept going down the stairs. The muffled click of the door shutting sounded above her. How had things gotten so tangled up? Because she’d fallen in love with him, that’s how. If this had been nothing more than an attraction, she might be angry, but she would have gotten over it, and they probably would have remained friends. As it was now, she didn’t know how she could possibly see him again, much less carry on their deception.

James…. What would happen to James? His heart couldn’t take the shock of his new granddaughter-in-law divorcing his grandson a week after they’d married. She descended two flights before she finally sat down on a step. She stared through tear-blurred vision at the ring Trent had put on her finger. It hadn’t been a real promise to love, honor and cherish, but to give her a ring he’d intended to give another woman the day before was damned cold. It hadn’t occurred to her, but now she understood why he’d so conveniently had the ring in his pocket when James told him to put it on her finger at the party.

When Trent made his business proposal, it hadn’t been necessary for him to tell her about Lindsey. But his obligation had changed when she’d invited him into her bed. Or had it? What would his confession have sounded like?

“Excuse me, Cassie, before I fuck you, I want you to know that the day I proposed our business arrangement I broke up with the woman I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with. But don’t be hurt, I don’t know that I actually loved her.”

She’d told Trent she could do complicated, but she’d had no idea what complicated really meant. That he could jump from one woman to another in the same day hurt.

Why the hell had he come to Miami? He’d said he’d had business, but he’d openly pursued her, the woman he’d contractually agreed not to sleep with. Yet last night was no one’s fault but hers. She’d called him.

Cassie pushed to her feet and started down the stairs. She had to get through this brunch, then she would go home and deal with her emotions. She would send Tent home and call James and tell him she’d been delayed for a day. Surely she could pull herself together by then.

Cassie entered the hallway at the next level, located the elevator, and pressed the button for the lobby. The small ballroom they were going to use for the brunch could be accessed only from the East corridor off the lobby.

She reached the lobby and hurried from the elevator. A group of people stood on the far side of the lobby near the main door. Cassie slowed. Several people carried cameras. One gentleman in cargo shorts and a teal polo shirt set up a tripod. Realization of what was happening hit her like a freight train. Reporters. No worse. Paparazzi. By all that was unholy, they were looking for Trent. How did they know he was at the hotel? A horrific thought caused her chest to tighten. What if they weren’t there for Trent? What if they were there for her?

Her head spun. She had to get away before they spotted her. She would never reach the East corridor without being seen. She spun and forced herself to walk casually back toward the elevator.

An older couple approached. Cassie neared them, and the woman said, “Oh my, it’s her, the billionaire’s playgirl.”

Commotion broke out behind her.

“It’s her!” someone shouted.

“Cassandra Adams,” another called.

“Is Trent Weston here with you?”

Boisterous voices broke out in a chorus. Cassie sprinted toward the elevator. Her pulse jolted and adrenaline fired through her system. Oh my god, they were going to catch up to her. The floor numbers above the elevator door descend from three…two…one. The paparazzi closed in on her. She reached the elevator as the doors slid open. Three people exited and Cassie darted past the last person and slapped the sixth floor button. Her hands shook as she hit the door close button half a dozen times. The door started its slow slide closed and she pressed herself against the back wall when the man at the head of the pack lunged and tried to stick his hand between the closing doors. A thud hit the door as the elevator dinged and began its ride up. Too bad the asshole didn’t lose a finger. Cassie sagged against the wall, releasing a slow exhale. Her life had just become a nightmare.

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor and she waited while a man got on. He punched the button for the seventh floor. At the sixth floor, Cassie got off. She found a chair and sat down next to a window overlooking the street. Traffic was light but…Her heart pounded. On the hotel breezeway and valet parking, a crowd gathered. At least two dozen reporters and paparazzi packed the area. Obviously, Trent Weston and his women were big news.

She covered her mouth with a hand. How was she going to get out of the hotel? Was she supposed to hide in her room until they left? How long would that take? And what about the brunch?

Cassie pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed Maryanne’s number. The phone rang four times and she began to panic. Come on Maryanne, pick up. What would she do if she couldn’t get her?

The line connected and Maryanne said, “Hey, Cassie, what’s up?”

“We have a problem,” Cassie said. “Paparazzi are all over the hotel. I barely made it out of the lobby with my skin attached to my bones. Can you get over here and manage the brunch? You’d have to make it fast.”

“You’d think those vultures would have better things to do,” she muttered. “I’m on my way.”

“Thank you. I’m going to sneak out a side entrance. After the brunch, will you pack up my room and check me out of the hotel?”

“Dammit, is it really that bad? Why don’t you just wait it out in your hotel room?”

Because Trent might still be there. Because if they catch me I’ll fall apart. Because I never thought I’d marry a man and be the other woman at the same time. “I just need to leave.” She needed to get away from the paparazzi and Trent. “Do you still have the key card I gave you?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “I’d forgotten I had it.”

“I owe you big for this,” Cassie said. “Just throw everything into my suitcase. And be prepared when you get here. I’m not kidding when I say they’re everywhere. The parking lot, the lobby, hell they might be waiting outside my hotel room door.”

“Where are you?”