Page 30 of Triplet Babies for the Billionaire
Noah stiffens beside me, his fingers brushing the back of my hand. “Zack? Who’s Zack?”
I swallow hard. “He’s...my ex. We met when I was younger, in my hometown of Carteret in North Jersey. He was older, and I thought—at first—that he’d get his life together, that he’d grow up, you know? But he never did. He kept...falling back into bad habits, getting stuck in the same cycle.”
I pause, trying to steady my breathing. The memories of that relationship are a blur of emotions—anger, love, confusion, but most of all, regret.
“I broke up with him right before Amy and I moved to New York,” I continue, my voice trembling. “I needed a fresh start, something new, but...Zack didn’t take it well. And now...he’s been texting me nonstop. And calling the hotel.”
Noah’s face darkens at the mention of the hotel, his hand tightening around mine. “The hotel? You mean he’s been calling my hotel?”
I nod, feeling the weight of the situation settle deeper into my chest. “Yeah, he’s persistent, Noah. It’s starting to feel like I can’t escape him.”
Noah sits up in bed now, his jaw set, a flicker of anger crossing his face. “He’s callingthe hotel?” His voice is low, dangerous. “That’s crossing a line, Blossom. You’re my employee. He has no business doing that.”
I shake my head, trying to calm him down. “It’s fine, really. It’s just Zack. He’s stubborn, but he’ll get over it.”
He leans toward me, his expression softening but still tense. “Just say the word, and I’ll ban him from the hotel. I’ll ban him from every hotel I own if I have to. No one gets to harass you like that.”
I feel a flutter of relief at his words, but I try to ease his frustration. “No, Noah, it’s fine. I don’t want to cause trouble. I’ve been dealing with him for years. He’ll eventually get the message.”
But Noah doesn’t seem convinced. His brow furrows as he pulls me closer to him. “You don’t have to handle this on your own, Blossom. I won’t let him hurt you. You don’t have to put up with this.”
I rest my head against his chest, feeling comforted by his words but still uncertain.
“Do you think he’ll ever let me go?” I ask softly, my voice barely above a whisper. The thought of him continuing to intrude on my life scares me more than I’m willing to admit.
Noah presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “We’ll figure it out, Blossom. Together.”
For the first time in a while, I feel like maybe—just maybe—I’m not alone in this.
Chapter Ten
Blossom
It’s midday, and the hotel bar is surprisingly busy.
I’m behind the counter, wiping down glasses and trying to keep up with the constant flow of orders. Amy’s off today, and I’m working with Courtney, who’s as cold as always.
She doesn’t say much, just stands there, shuffling bottles around, acting like she’s too good to engage in any conversation.
It’s hard to work with someone who refuses to communicate. Behind a bar, space is limited, and we need to work in sync.
But every time I ask her a question or make a comment, it’s like I’m talking to a brick wall.
I try to focus on the customers, but the tension is starting to get to me. Courtney’s icy demeanor makes everything feel more uncomfortable than it needs to be. I feel a wave of nausea hit me,a familiar sensation that I’ve been trying to ignore for a while now.
Great, I’m probably coming down with something.
I quickly excuse myself, not wanting to make a scene in front of the guests. “I’ll be right back,” I say to Courtney, but she doesn’t respond. I don’t even think she heard me.
I make my way to the bathroom, my stomach turning as I walk through the lobby, and I barely make it to the bathroom stall in time. I lean over the toilet, the nausea hitting me full force.
The moment my stomach empties, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Getting sick is disgusting, but at least I feel better.
The sound of the bathroom door opening and closing catches my attention, and I freeze. Someone else is in here. I lift my head and try to steady my breathing, feeling embarrassed that someone might have heard me.
But I push the thought away.
I need to get it together.
