Page 94 of Scandalous Secrets

As we laughed together on the couch, it felt like we had been dating for years. I was so comfortable with him, and things felt like they did back in the Bahamas. The Bahamas was when I really saw Troy for who he was, so unserious and charming. Before then, I was lost in the passionate sex and sneaking around. And then after that, things went downhill.

“I missed this,” I said, nuzzling into his shoulder.

“Me too,” he said.

There was a knock at the door. For once, I didn’t feel my stomach leap to my throat wondering who it was. I felt safe with Troy being here.

“I’ll get it,” he said, walking to the door. He paid the delivery guy and carried the bags over to the coffee table. I grabbed some plates from the kitchen and refilled our wine glasses. We served ourselves heaping portions and sat on the floor to eat.

Between bites, Troy said, “This is fucking incredible.”

I laughed. “It’s no fancy upper east side restaurant, but it does the trick.”

He looked thoughtful for a second before swallowing his food.

“Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” he said.

“What isn’t?”

“The upper east side. The penthouse. The job. The money.”

I waited for him to continue, hoping he would.

“I never realized how unhappy I was until I met you, and then lost you.” Troy looked solemn for a moment. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s like I had been living this life that I thought wasitfor me. It’s the life that had always been set out for me, not by me, but my father. I never knew anything different. Never thought about doing anything else because my whole upbringing he talked about how I would be a part of the family business. I did what I thought was expected of me.

“But I never took the time to look at what else was out there. By the time I was in my late twenties, I was already a billionaire. I figured that was the life anyone would want. It would seem ridiculous to want something else.

“Then I met you, and you changed my life. You made me happy. Truly happy. You were the highlight of a job that I realized I hate. You showed me colors that I didn’t know existed in this black and white world I had found myself in. And when you left, I was a shell of myself and I realized I was pretty damn miserable.

“I should never have pushed you away after the Bahamas. I should never have let my father come between us. I was just so scared of losing everything I had ever known because he was threatening to take my company away if I messed up again. I wonder if it would be so bad, though. I don’t even know if I want the company. I’m still trying to figure it all out, but I know I want you.”

I reached up and put my hand to his face. His perfect face. He had finally opened up to me and I didn’t dare interrupt a thing he said because I was beginning to understand who he was. Why he acted the way he did sometimes.

“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that,” I said softly. “I kind of get where you were coming from. Not to the extent of being a billionaire’s son, but I get the pressure from parents.”

“You do?” he asked, surprised.

“Of course. You think it was my parents’ dream for their daughter to become a ‘raunchy’ writer?” I put my fingers in air quotations.

“That’s what they say?” he asked.

“Yes, among other things. We avoid talking about it when I go home, or else it just turns into an argument.”

“But you’re incredible. They should be proud of you. You have an entire shelf at Barnes and Noble.”

I shrugged.

“It’s a big deal, Monica,” he said, narrowing his gaze.

“That book that you so sweetly recited this morning has made me second-guessing myself…”

“Don’t,” he said sternly. “Don’t ever do that. You were born to write.”

I could see he was proud of me and it made my heart swell.

“Well, I just might again. Now that I have inspiration.” I leaned in and pecked him on the cheek.

“Were the reviews really that bad?” he asked warily.

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