One day, I’m sure she will know what really happened, but hopefully not anytime soon. Because Callum needs to move on. He needs to find someone who deserves him, who deserves his love.
Not me, anybody but me.
The only way I’ve been able to keep him at bay is by fighting with him any chance I get, but at this point, I think he’s starting to like it.
The emotion in his eyes when I flirted with Trent was not anger; it was raging jealousy, possession, and if I’m not mistaken, maybe he was a little turned on. I could see his body quivering to reach out and come between Trent and me.
I want to be able to give in, but I can’t.
I’ll admit, I was lapping it up. I wanted him to grab me, lift me up, and crash his lips into mine.
But then Trent’s eyes scanned my body, and the ice of his gaze quickly put out my burning desire for Callum.
Goddammit.
Now, I’m stuck going to a stupid dinner with him. But I may have an ulterior motive that came to mind when I accepted his offer. I was so close to getting out of there without almost losing it.
And, holy shit, when his fingers wrapped around my waist, I almost spilled the real story to him right there. Then, his lips and hot breath played with my ear, and I thought I was going to implode.
“This is a dangerous game, love. But if you want to play, I’m in. I’m always in when it comes to you. One. Hundred. Percent.”
I had to clench my fists and dig my fingernails into my skin to remain in control.
I’m doing this for him, not for me. One day, he will wake up and give up this game and forget about me. He has to. I will not give him any other choice. No matter how hard it is.
Because I don’t deserve him. I don’t belong with him. I belong alone, so no one can hurt me and I can’t hurt them.
“Becca?” Sophie’s voice is soft and cautious.
Pushing all ofthatout of my mind, I focus on her. “Yeah? Sorry. Um, where were we?”
I look up to see we have aimlessly wandered to the largest ballroom in this location.
My mind kicks into boss mode, and all the right words fall out of my mouth. “This is the Jacobsen room. Often used for big galas, events, fundraisers, et cetera.”
I turn to Sophie, but she’s not there. She’s ten steps behind me with a look in her eyes that is dangerous—for her, not for me. It’s a look I have seen before—when someone thinks they know me.
“What?” I ask her, although it might have come out as more of a snap.
“If you ever want to talk about anything, I’m always here for you.”
My chest tightens and I hate it. “Why do you think I would ever talk to you about anything that doesn’t concern you?”
She slowly walks up to me, like she’s approaching a lion, her hands slightly out in front of her. “Becca?”
With a quick shake of my head, I repeat myself, “What?”
As she takes the last step up to me, the concern in her eyes settles as sunshine seems to ooze from her pores. “Just stop with the facade, please. I have those moments too—the ones where you’re staring at something, anything really, and the thoughts block out the present. Then, all of a sudden, an hour has gone by, and you’re still looking at the same thing. I get it. You don’t always have to pretend nothing’s wrong. You did it in high school, and you’re doing it right now. We can do this tour later if you need.”
Wondering where she just got the audacity to talk to her new boss like that, I push down the urge to tell her off.
My mouth disobeys, opening anyway. But before I can get a single word out, she cuts me off.
“Just don’t with the act, okay? Look, I know you’re a big shot now, just like you were in high school. I know that you have these two guards following you around everywhere, and my guess is, it isn’t because of you being abig shot. It’s because of Brady. It’s the same reason I carry a gun with me everywhere I go—legally, of course.”
Keanu takes a step closer to her.
“But nonetheless, I carry a gun because I am so terrified that John Doe on the street will attack me or rape me, just like Brady did. Okay? I get it. Aside from Brooke, I’m the only one who knowsexactlyhow you feel. So, you don’t get to give me this bullshit act. Just be real with me, or this is never going to work.”
