Page 48 of Secret Admirer
“What?” He took a step toward her.
Her heart was breaking into a million pieces and she wanted nothing more than to go home,herhome, and cry her eyes out. “I love you. You've made it clear you don’t love me, that you can't, and right now I don't think you’re the man I thought you were.”
He stopped six inches away from her but knew better than to touch her. “What?”
She'd moved too fast with everything--from chasing him, to falling in love--but this was too much. He didn’t love her. He didn’t trust her. And he clearly didn’t respect her. With a ragged sigh she said, “I can’t live here. I’m going to finish school--we shouldn't see each other again.”
She flew out of the office but dashed into the bedroom to get her pocketbook.
The dove necklace he’d given her was on the dresser. She picked it up and stared at it. The small diamonds encrusted in it made the gift expensive, but she couldn’t accept it now.
He’d never trust her.
The bedroom door smacked open and her heart raced when she met Bart's angry gaze. She dropped the necklace on the bureau like she’d been caught, and her palms perspired though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“That’s it?”
The pounding in her veins reminded her that he hadn’t trusted her. He didn’t care. And she needed to somehow be smarter. Her chin trembled, and her insides were like butterflies all wanting to escape at once. “Yes. We’re done now.” She made sure she had her phone, not packing any of the gifts he'd bought her. They could stay for the next girl.
He stepped out of her way to let her pass. “And you can so easily walk out the door?”
Did he expect nothing else? He clearly didn’t care about her and he might never trust her. It wasn’t just his upbringing that made him so distant. It was him--his father had damaged him and only Bart could heal that wound. She lifted her chin and walked forward. “I don’t want anything from you. I pay my own way in life, without taking anyone’s money.”
“Rebecca, wait.” He gently grabbed her arm.
A spark raced through her from his touch. Part of her turned into jelly. If he loved her, then she would do anything for them and their relationship. “Why?”
He crossed the room for her purse and returned with it. “You’ll want your pocketbook.”
No. No. No. She couldn't cry. Her body trembled as she asked, “That’sit?”
He handed it to her and nodded. “Yes.”
“Guess I was wrong about you entirely.” She wiped her tears before he saw her cry and turned to go.
He followed her into the hall. “What do you mean?”
This was the end. She could be honest and not hold her tongue. She swallowed back her tears for later. “I thought… I thought you’d say that you were sorry for insulting me.”
His eyes blazed but she couldn’t interpret his thoughts as he asked, “Is that what you want?”
“Not if you don’t mean it.” She again had to wipe her eyes.
He came toward her but didn’t touch her at all though he was so close that her body reacted to him. “Rebecca, I have never apologized for anything in my life.”
She knew this about him. He didn’t apologize. He didn’t take no for an answer. He was a billionaire philanthropist and a Morgan. She should have known better. Her shoulders dropped. “You are right, and we were raised very differently. I was taught that when you are wrong you apologize.”
He reached for her but she stepped out of his way. He took his hand back and said, “I was taught people like you were beneath me," he winced but continued, "and to never trust anyone without money.”
She sighed. There was nothing she could do. She turned her face away and hoped she wouldn't cry. She needed to get out of the house while she still could. “I see. Well you were wrong about me.”
Behind her he said, “I’m sorry, Rebecca.”
She stilled and hoped against hope that he’d realized he loved her and would tell her so, but silence clung in the air after the words. She let out a sigh and said, “Thank you.”
He took a step to follow her. “You’re still going?”
If he asked her to stay because he cared, she’d stop. She would try and find common ground. She turned but saw how tall and straight he was, how unbending. Her fantasies were just that. “Yes. This is the end.”
