Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 131209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 437(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 437(@300wpm)
“Great, how was yours?”
“Sebastian asked me to marry him,” she blurted.
“Wow, Kid, congratulations.”
“I didn’t say yes,” she simply stated.
“Okay… are you alright?”
“I am. We’re still together. We just bought a house.”
“Are you okay?”
There was a long pause. “I don’t know.”
“Kid…”
“I love him. I love him in ways I didn’t even know were possible. I’m not good for him. We want different things… things I don’t think I could ever truly give him.”
“Kid, he’s lucky to have you.”
“Is he?”
“I don’t—”
“Let’s talk about something else. How are you? How are things? Anything new?”
I wanted to tell her, but I couldn’t find the words. I was scared of what she would think… it was too much of a reality to share it with someone else. I wanted to keep it to myself for as long as I could. Hoping that the bubble wouldn’t burst.
“Not much… you know me. Same ole, same ole.”
She laughed. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
“I hope you’re taking care of yourself.”
“I hope you’re taking care of yourself,” I repeated.
“Easier said than done.”
“You always were a trouble maker.”
She laughed. “Yeah… I got to go take care of some things, before Sebastian gets back. Talk later?”
“Of course. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
I hung up. I knew Ysabelle was probably the best person to talk to about Brooke, having gone through similar situations, but I wanted to keep it a secret.
Scared that if I said the words out loud to someone else…
Everything would go to shit.
I didn’t realize until later that everything happens for a reason.
And it was a phrase I would soon live by.
CHAPTER FORTY
<>B<>
“What. The. Fuck. Is. Going. On?” Madam emphasized every word.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to play it cool.
She had called me that morning, saying we needed to have a meeting. I never imagined that we would be discussing this.
She cocked her head to the side and placed her elbows on her desk, hands in a prayer gesture. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Please, Brooke baby, walk me through your thought process, so I can understand how much you’ve royally fucked up.”
I shook my head with a raised eyebrow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Madam,” I replied in a calming tone.
She narrowed her eyes at me and disdainfully smiled. “Really? All right… how about we start with the man’s clothing you have all through your condo. What about the toothbrush and cologne? Not enough? How about the fact that you spend every spare second, with a man that’s not a client? Or we could simply talk about New Year’s Eve… hmmm?”
“Madam—”
She put her finger up in the air, silencing me. “You know what really pisses me off? Not that you’re not charging him, It’s your pussy, darling, you can let anyone stick their dick in there on your time.” She pierced her lips. “No… what really makes me livid, is the fact that you’ve been fucking lying to me for months. That’s a game I don’t play, Brooke.” She rose, pulling down her suit jacket. “Devon Hill,” she proudly stated. “Is the owner of The Cove, a very nice bar on South Beach, he has a child by the name of Ethan and an ex-wife, who decided to fuck his staff.”
My eyes widened.
“Oh, you didn’t know that?” She placed her hand on her chest. “I’m sorry… I thought you and your boyfriend told each other everything.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I justified as if it would matter.
“Really…” She placed her finger on her lips in a sarcastic gesture. “You let him come to your condo, you let him leave his clothes. He comes and goes as he pleases… and you fuck him. You fuck him, and you don’t charge a damn cent. So, you could understand why I would assume that Mr. Hill is indeed your boyfriend.”
“It’s complicated.”
“No shit,” she spewed, rounding the corner of her desk and standing in front of me. “When you involve feelings, everything is fucking complicated. I thought you knew that. I thought I taught you well. I didn’t think I had to worry about you, Brooke. I’m disappointed.”
I closed my eyes and bowed my head. I hated hearing her say those words to me.
“Look at me,” she demanded in a tone I didn’t want to fuck with, and I immediately looked up.
“You don’t cower down to me. You don’t cower down to anyone. I had big plans for you, Brooke; do I need to change my mind? You tell me… is this another Ysabelle situation?”
I vigorously shook my head back and forth, biting my cheek.
“Words. Brooke. Let me hear you say the goddamn words.”
“No, Madam.”
“I’ve told you hundreds of times. You do not fuck with your heart. What part of that did you not understand?”
“I know—”
“No, you don’t. Answer this question, hmmm… VIP. What does it mean to you? Is your boyfriend going to be okay with it?”