Page 69 of The Prince's Game
34
Bedroom Issues
I ran up the path to the hotel and straight to my room, where I opened the door and slammed it in the cameraman’s face. I was in such a daze that I failed to realize I’d lost my shoes somewhere along the way. Fuck them. The show could have them. I threw myself on the bed and screamed into my pillow. It did nothing to soothe the pain in my chest. My entire body ached like I’d ran a marathon, and my heart was beating a mile a minute. This was what dying felt like. I was sure of it. Part of me died on that beach.
“God, that proposal,” I whispered to myself. His words. He threw every little nuance between us back at me. Did he think it was cute? Clever? Because it wasn’t. It hurt like hell. I wanted to hate him for it, but it was my fault for not telling him how I felt. I played it off like I was fine with our temporary relationship—enjoying the moment and forgetting the future. Iwouldtell him tonight. Whenever I stopped crying.
I punched the pillow over and over, willing it to make me feel better. It didn’t. Nothing would help except talking to Evan. I had to know if that look in his eyes was fake or real. Had my rejection hurt him? But he wanted me to say no. His speech was proof of that. All those damn reminders of ourcontract. God, I hated that contract. I would burn it when I got home. It ruined my life. I should have left when I had the chance.
But then you never would have fallen in love with Evan . . .
“Fuck.” I repeated the word with each punch into my pillow. Falling in love with Evan was the best and worst thing to ever happen to me. I was content before I knew how that emotion felt, but now that I knew about it, I couldn’t live without it. Love opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed, one with romance and pleasure beyond my wildest dreams. I couldn’t hate Evan for introducing me to this, not when so much happiness preceded the pain. I had to tell him. Tonight.
I tore off my gown and replaced it with jeans, a tank top, and sandals. If I was going to him, I would at least be comfortable. He texted me his room number last night after telling me he left a copy of the key for me at the reception. I had picked it up with the intention of joining him, but he sent me another text on my way up letting me know that his parents had arrived. An hour later, he told me not to bother because it didn’t look like they were leaving anytime soon. I hoped he was in the same room. He shouldn’t have left for home yet. It was the middle of the night. Surely he stayed.
I got in the elevator and hit the button to his floor, key in hand. If his parents were there, I would ask them to leave. The show didn’t matter anymore and neither did our quiet arrangement. I didn’t care who found out. I stepped into his hallway and stared at his door. It was now or never. I knocked. When no one answered, I used the key. It worked and revealed a massive foyer of a penthouse suite. It was two stories and opened into a living area that overlooked a patio pool.The life of a billionaire.
The darkness revealed no one in the living room, kitchen, or outside. I moved toward the light down the hall, coming from what I assumed was a bedroom. I turned the knob without knocking. A big mistake.
My hand went to my mouth and fluttered uselessly there. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t even breathe. The first thing I saw was Amber’s naked ass and Evan’s hands on her bare shoulders. They were standing beside the unmade bed. His pants were on, thank God, but he was shirtless. Had they just finished fucking?
The asshole met my gaze over the blonde’s head and had the audacity to narrow his eyes. I glowered right back at him. “I guess you really do mean what you say, huh, Evan?” I turned on my heels and stalked out of his suite.Un-fucking-believable. After everything we’d been through, he was fucking Amber behind my back. Or maybe it was new. Now that the show was over, we were free to screw whomever we wanted. Either way, it sucked. And I hated him for it.
“What the fuck, Sarah?” Evan demanded as he followed me into the hallway. “How did you even get into my room? And have you heard of knocking?”
“Are you kidding me right now? You gave me a key, genius. And I did knock, but you were too busy screwing Amber to answer.” I punched the button for the elevator. Ireallywanted to hit something. His face would do.
“What were you doing in my room?”
“I came up to talk to you, something I now see was a huge mistake.”Anytime now would be great, Mister Elevator.
“About what? Your money?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure. That was it.” Like I would admit the real reason after catching him in the act with another woman. I clearly meant nothing to him.
The elevator opened, and I stepped inside. His hand shot out to keep it from closing. “You don’t need to worry, Sarah. You held up your side of the bargain brilliantly, and you’ll get your funding.” His tone was scathing and went straight to my heart. “My finance guy will be in touch. No need to work through me at all. Anything else I can help you with?”
I gaped at him. He was angry with me for, what, following through on the contract? He was the one already rebounding with another woman, or hell, who knew what happened between him and Amber in France? Maybe he was fucking her the entire time.
“Miss Summers,” he prompted, his gaze furious. “Do you require me for anything else, or can I get back to the issue in my bedroom?”
“Yeah, that’s someissueyou’ve got. Go for it, Casanova. My bank account and I are thoroughly satisfied with your services.” I couldn’t believe what I was saying to him. I loved this man up until ten minutes ago when he ripped my heart out of my chest. This hurt worse than the beach. What the hell was wrong with me? I was the even-keeled one, not the hotheaded one.Jesus, Sarah. Get a grip.
“You can’t really be upset with me about Amber, can you? You turned down my proposal just three hours ago. Hell, you wouldn’t even let me finish.”
“Yes, and you were obviously really upset about that. So upset that you’re already entertaining another woman, huh? Or were you fucking her the entire time?”
“The fact that you’re asking me that tells me how very wrong I was about everything between us.” He shook his head. “Good-bye, Sarah.”
He removed his arm from the elevator and allowed it to shut. His words followed me all the way to my floor. They didn’t make any sense, but one thing was very clear. I would not be accepting the money from Evan Mershano. I could not be tied to that man in any way. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
35
Secrets and Chinese Food
6 weeks later . . .
Rachel stormed into her apartment, muttering a colorful litany of curse words. It was impressive, if a little scary.
