Page 37 of The Bachelor Auction

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“Going somewhere?”

I turn slowly at the sound of the deep voice, realizing I should have left straight away rather than bother organizing my folders—in case the next person Tyler hires needs them. But hey, that’s me—the most conscientious yet naïve person I’ve ever met. I just couldn’t possibly leave havoc behind, and now I’m paying the price because Tyler’s standing in the doorway, his smile slowly fading into the scowl he’s usually sporting.

“What’s wrong? Something happen?” He makes sure to closeandlock the door behind him before he reaches me, doing all the wrong things by wrapping his arms around my waist to draw me closer.

“Don’t.” I swat at his hand and shoot him a venomous look. “Why are you here? I thought you were meeting a client.”

“I am. He’s actually waiting in my office right now. But I couldn’t find my phone and figured you might have taken it.” His tone is nonchalant, but there’s an impatient glint in his eyes.

“I found it and left it in your conference room.”

“Great. I’ll ask Scarlet to get it for me.”

I gawk at him. There’s not a single line of worry on his face. He thinks that I haven’t checked his messages, that his secret’s safe.

If I was angry before, I realize I’m seething now.

“We’ll grab lunch later and then we can talk about whatever’s bothering you,” Tyler says.

I know I should just keep my mouth shut and leave, but I just can’t. I need to see his face when I confront him with the truth.

“I’ve read through your messages.”

For a brief second, he looks at me confused, and then the message seems to seep through and his beautiful eyes get all panicky.

“You went through my phone?” His tone is disbelieving with a hint of angry undertones.

I nod and cross my arms over my chest. “I did. Do you want to know what I found, Lucky?”

He clenches his jaw. I can almost see his brain working, sifting through possible excuses and discarding them as he goes along. Suddenly, I don’t want to know his excuses or lies. All I want is to be alone.

I wish I were back home, where his voice can’t reach me, where his glance can’t make me feel as though I’m melting inside.

“I’m going home.” I try to squeeze past him but he blocks my way.

“Emily, listen.”

I shake my head. “No, I won’t listen, Tyler or do you prefer me calling you Lucky? During all those months we were chatting, you had plenty of opportunities to tell me that you knew who I was. But you didn’t. Instead, you figured out where I lived, what I was trying to do with my life, and you turned it all into a big joke at my expense. I told you that I didn’t want to meet you, but you didn’t respect my wish. Given that the website is yours and you had access to my private information, you betrayed my trust by accessing it to arrange for us to meet. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t respect my wishes or lies to me.”

“I never did that.”

“You never accessed my private information?” I narrow my eyes at him.

He hesitates, and in that instance I know he’s trying to bend the truth to suit him. Catching my smirk, he lets out a heavy sigh.

I shake my head. “I’m done with you.”

“No, listen. I really didn’t access your private information, initially.” He pauses, and our eyes connect again. If it only were the truth. I want to believe him, I really do, but I can’t because I’m too angry.

“I figured out who you were,” Tyler says.

His words make no sense. “What?”

“You told me about the charity auction and the guy you and your friend wanted to meet.”

“She isn’t just my friend. She’s my business partner,” I correct him, annoyed.

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