Page 55 of Stick to the Plan
Silence prevails as she processes my revelation. “Ok, you finish packing. I’ll book you a flight and come pick you and Riley up. I’ll take you to the airport and then drop him off with Anna so you don’t lose time.”
I squeal. Nic is the tough one, and her support fills me with confidence. “Thank you, Nic. You’re the best.”
“Yea, I know. Oh, and Bree?”
“Yea?” I hold my breath, waiting for a warning or dose of reality.
“There’s no such thing as too much lingerie. I’ll be there in twenty minutes and I’ll fill Anna in on the way. Love you.”
The last six hours were a whirlwind of travel. I finally arrive at the conference center at ten pm local time. Thankfully, I still have my work ID on me and sweet-talked the front desk into confirming Colin’s room number.
As the elevator ascends to the 20th floor, I rehearse the speech I prepared on the flight. Butterflies dance in my stomach. For once, it feels like excitement and not fear. I bounce on my toes, practically vibrating the last five floors. I’m eager to see Colin and tell him how I felt.
When the doors finally opened, I dart down the hallway to room 2013. Smoothing my off-the-shoulder sweater and leggings one last time, I knock on the door. My face splits into a grin as I see a flash of familiar maroon in the opening. A second later, my face falls as the door opens further.
In the doorway stands a woman wearing a maroon button-down shirt and nothing else. My eyes widen as I take in her bare feet, shapely legs, and the impressive cleavage where she clutches the shirt closed. When I get to the satisfied smirk on Rachel’s swollen lips, I stumble back as if slapped.
A jolt of pain shoots through my stomach as it clutches. Desperate, I glance at the room number again, double-checking this is the right room. The number 2013 laughs at me.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise? Moonlighting as room service, Brianna?” Her eyes burn with triumph. Without breaking eye contact, she adjusts theshirt, bringing my attention to the bite mark on her neck right next to the embroidered collar. C.A.M.
I gulp back bile as I try to make sense of this nightmare. The door widens, revealing a rumpled bed behind her and a trail of discarded clothes. My nose is assaulted with the musty smell of sex and the sounds of a shower and masculine humming filter through the silence.
“Aw, sweetie, you feeling ok?” Her lips tilt down in mock concern, but her eyes remain cruel. “You should know by now, you’re just a tool to them. A walking spreadsheet and a bottom line. They don’t see you as a woman. You emasculate them with your intelligence. In the end... Chris, Colin, anyone... I’m what they really want. They’ll always turn to me when they want to feel like a man.”
Say something, Brianna!
My mind is blank - just a swirling void of chaos. I always suspected Rachel, but I never had the proof Chris’s affair was with her. In the end, there was no dramatic show down. I just handed him my engagement ring and told him I was done. Blinking my stinging eyes, the words just won’t come.
The sound of the shower shutting off shocks me into action. There’s no way I’m giving them the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. I turn on my heel and sprint back to the elevator. My shaking hand mashes the down arrow as I try to slow my stuttering breaths. Fisting my sleeve, I wipe harshly at my nose, willing the elevator to move faster.
Ding. The doors open and I stumble into the back of the car to brace myself against the railing. My breaths come in gasping spurts. The mirrored walls show red-rimmed eyes and nose. Two trails of black tears smear down my pallid cheeks. If I close my eyes, the image of Rachel in Colin’s shirt haunts me.
My stomach lurches as the elevator reaches the lobby. I stumble to the nearby ladies’ room, falling to my knees in a stall moments before losingwhat little I’d eaten on the flight. I can hear a group of women laughing by the sinks. Let them assume I’m some drunken tourist. What do I care about anymore?
Minutes pass. When I’m sure my stomach is done, I hobble to the sinks to clean my hands and mouth. I splash cold water on my face and dry it on a towel, spreading another trail of black mascara. I’m sure I looked like a raccoon. Who the fuck cares?
Numb, I trudge to the entrance, hailing a taxi back to the airport. The trip is a complete blur of light and sound. As I approach the ticket counter, the teller’s eyes widen at my bedraggled appearance.
“You ok, honey?” She has a friendly face, her eyes concerned.
“No.”
As I admit it out loud, the dam breaks. My breath catches on the sob I’ve been holding in. Eyes widening, she reaches out with a tissue box. Thanking her, I take one and blow my running nose. “I flew out to surprise my boyfriend and found his secretary in his room instead. Naked. I need to change my return ticket to the first available flight back to Orlando. Can you help me,” I check her name tag, “Mary? Please.” I sniffle again as I look into her eyes, holding out my ID.
Mary gasps and snatches my ID; her fingers fly as she types it into the computer. “Oh my, men can be fucking pigs. Ugh, don’t they know what happens in Vegas doesn’t really stay in Vegas? Honestly.” A few more violent clicks on the keyboard, and a new boarding ticket prints beside her. She grabs my hand as she hands me my ticket and ID, squeezing it slightly so I meet her eyes. “I upgraded you to first class, honey. Be sure to drink all the champagne they offer. You’re on the next flight - just go on through security and it’ll be boarding in less than an hour. You give him hell when he getsback, alright?”
Despite still feeling like the ground is crumbling beneath me, my lips twitch in a slight smile. This woman is a guardian angel. Thanking her, I rush off to catch my flight.
Chapter thirty-seven
The Calvary Arrives
Brianna
Hours later, I bang on another door. Nic answers her apartment door in yoga pants and a hoodie. It’s barely eight AM in Florida. “Brianna? What in the world?”
She barely gets out my name as I collapse at her feet, great racking sobs shaking my body. I’d kept a tight rain on my emotions on the way here, but as soon as I see Nic, the dam bursts free.
