Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I felt entitled to so much. I thought I could take what I wanted because of my beauty and the circles I fought, schemed, and climbed to run in.
Heck, I continued to think I was owed the world, even after I received the bittersweet pill of reality. When faced with the decision to choose what was more important to me, I made the choice that has led me here.
I often question that choice. I don’t know if I made the right one, but I can’t say that I regret it. My mistake was thinking that I was invincible.
I thought I could wield my feminine power for everything I needed in this life, but life has given me a big slap on the hand. I can’t shake my tits and make this one go away. I’ll have to pay my penance.
I think back to when I first set my sights on Gregor. He’s one of the good ones. I wanted him to fall for me.
I wanted the love I saw in his eyes when he looked at that picture in his desk. The Black girl with the wild red hair and the sparkling eyes. The one in the picture Gregor takes out to stare at when he thinks no one is around to pay attention.
She’s a gorgeous woman. The only thing she and I have in common is the color of our red hair. I don’t know why I thought that was enough for me to replace her.
“Addison.” I turn my sad eyes toward my childhood best friend as she whispers my name.
She’s been here in Dubai for the last few months. When I needed someone, she was the one person I knew would drop everything to help me. She was here two days after I called her.
Now, I look into her eyes and see the concern. I turn away, not wanting to see the reflection of truth in her gaze. There’s no hiding from the facts any longer.
“He’ll be here,” I say.
“Yes, but you should be resting,” Emma says softly.
A tear rolls down my cheek. I don’t want to rest. I need to get my affairs in order. I have to tell the truth, all of the truth. Not that he won’t be able to see it on his own.
“Rest will come soon enough,” I say tiredly. “Where’s Chloe?”
“Resting, like her mother should be,” Emma sighs.
I nod my head, looking down at the locket clutched in my fingertips. I flip it open, running my finger over the tiny picture. Her green eyes stare back at me.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to the picture. “I was so selfish.”
Chapter 12
Truth Be Told
Gregor
As tension tries to coil within me, Chloe’s presence tamps it back down. Just having her in my arms makes all the difference. I haven’t released her since she allowed me to pull her into me.
I held her while she slept on the plane. I’ve had her in my embrace the entire ride to the hotel. Now, my back aches and my arm has gone stiff, but I wouldn’t move for anything.
Chloe is exhausted. She’s been knocked out for hours. Only murmuring for me to put her down when I lifted her from the car to carry her into the hotel.
Guilt burns my chest. I couldn’t just walk into my home, here in Dubai, with Chloe on my arm. We still have much to discuss, but first, I need her to place this ring on her finger. It will be best if I establish who Chloe is in this situation.
I will not hide anything from her. There’s just been too much tension for me to broach the subject. Chloe will be the first in my family to know the secrets I’ve stashed away here in Dubai.
Family.
Yes, I already consider her my family. Chloe is in the core of me. She has influenced so much in my life. Even that which I now hold dear, the reason for all my trips here.
It’s been frustrating not being able to be here for months. I’ve been tied up in deals and acquisitions in the States. Clayton has needed a hand with the growth of our companies in the US.
My overseas team is a well-oiled machine. I’ve been able to let them run things while I handle business back home.
These last three months have been the longest without me making a trip to Dubai. I thought about bringing my worlds together, but that feeling of something being hidden from me has kept me from making that happen. I need the people around me to be people I can trust for many reasons.
I groan as my phone rings on the nightstand. I should have known Addison wouldn’t allow me to rest for long. I can’t for the life of me figure out why she’s been so impatient. Yes, this has been the longest I’ve been away, but she’s never been this needy and demanding.