Page 65 of Rival to the Billionaire

But I can't deny the fact that I hate how she makes me feel more than I'm able to even say.

I hate how she plays on my stupid emotions.

I hate how we butt heads all the time.

I hate how even though she has made it clear she has no intention of starting a relationship with me—professional or otherwise, I'm not in any way capable of keeping myself from falling for her.

I hate how she goes out of her way to lecture me.

I can't stand how no matter what I do, I'm not able to make her want me.

I hate how I can't get her out of my head and how I want her more and more as we spend time together. I hate how she's always in the back of my mind.

I circle around the Vegas strip until I reach the Fountain Springs. I pull up to the valet, breathing in and out deeply, trying to clear my mind of all the doubt and uncertainty that Jenny brings into my life. I can still hear her voice in my head as I hop off the bike.

"Wait! Ryder, you’re not…?"

I close my eyes, wishing she had ended it with…"Staying?" I shake the thought from my head. I don't need someone like her in my life.

I know what I need to do. What the old Ryder did.

What I need to do to keep her away.

I open my eyes and dismount the bike, walking up to the front desk. I'm greeted within seconds by a young, fairly attractive girl with long dark hair, very dark eyes, and a perfect smile.

"Good evening, sir. I hope your stay with us has been good so far?" she asks, her voice smooth and seductive.

"Very good, thank you," I say with a smile. I lay five bills on the counter and she eyes it quickly. "It'll be even better if you could refresh my memory for me. I need the room number of a friend. A guest." I blink. "The name is Chastity Sanders. And I believe she is expecting me any minute now…”

ChapterNineteen

JENNY

It's been five hours since Ryder left me in the desert.

Five hours since I've talked to him and tried to figure out why he hasn't called. Why he didn't stop at the hotel to pick up his things.

Five hours since I gave up on him, deciding that I might as well get a full night's sleep.

Only problem is…that isn't exactly true.

I haven't given up on him. And I'm more worried than I care to confess.

After a few hours of room service dinner and finishing up some work, I'd expected him to walk into the hotel door any minute. When he hadn't by one, I turned my phone on to call him, but it told me it couldn't connect to the network. We were in an antenna dead zone. So…I waited.

I took a shower. And waited.

Changed into a new pair of cotton shorts and a tank. And waited.

Drank two mini bottles of white wine from the minibar. And waited.

I've already missed the five o’clock meeting I was supposed to have with Julian Sabado about replacing Ryder as CTO. I was supposed to leave privately to go over some details today with him, but I don’t know what I'm going to say to him now.

Now that I've seen what Ryder's app can really do. Now that I've seen why he doesn't want to give it up to me or anyone else. Now that I've seen how even though he acts like he doesn’t want to care, he worships the Hare & Holeton brand.

I glance down at the multiple messages from Julian that have gone unanswered, a rush of emotions surging through me.

Confidence.

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