Heartless (Enemies to Lovers 1)

“Where’s the father?”

Yeah, even after all these years, I’ll kick a guy’s ass if he hurts her.

She just shakes her head. “We’re busy with the lunch rush. Can we meet up later?”

I look around the place and see that it is packed with people. “You work here?”

It’s another surprise. Why would she work in a diner when she has a degree?

“Once a waitress, always a waitress,” she says.

I can see that she’s in a hurry, but I want to make sure we meet up later. “I’m staying at The Falls. Can we meet there?”

“Sure. I’ll come by after we close. It should be around ten.”

“Great.” I watch her walk away before I take my seat again.

CHAPTER 10

DELLA

I keep watching the time. It feels as if I’m on death row.

Sue passed away last year. She left us everything, but it hasn’t helped. At first, I kept breaking even at the end of every month, but things have slowly been getting worse.

At the rate things are going I’m not going to be able to keep this place up and running for much longer. I feel the familiar grip of panic wrap its claws around my heart. How am I going to provide for Danny and Jamie?

I also have Carter to worry about now. Once I’ve told him that Daniele is our daughter, he might try to take her from me. He has money and I don’t.

Fuck.

I rub my temples, trying to get rid of the headache hammering behind my eyes.

Why can’t something go my way for once? Why does life have to be so hard?

Jamie took Danny up to bed after the dinner rush. She said she would watch her while I go talk to Carter.

I lock up and slowly walk up the road. The town is always buzzing with life over the summer holidays but the rest of the year it’s dead. People love the outdoor activities we offer in Saluda. I was hoping the summer wave of visitors would help me save the diner, but it’s going to take a miracle for that to happen.

When I reach the hotel, Carter is staying at I stop to wipe my palms on my shorts.

I feel like crawling into the nearest hole and crying. I never thought I’d see him again. Out of all the holiday destinations, why did he come to this one?

As I step into the foyer, I’m surprised to see Carter sitting on one of the couches near reception. When he sees me, he stands up. His eyes lock on mine and I feel the wave of intensity all the way from across the room. The last four years have shaped him into a determined man. His shoulders are square and strong under the power of wealth that rests on them

Forcing myself to move forward, I meet him in the middle. I’d rather run and hide, but that’s not an option right now.

“I didn’t tell you which room was mine,” he says. “Let’s go up. We’ll have more privacy there.”

Following him, all I can think is that no one will be there to bear witness when he kills me.

We get in the elevator and I watch the numbers flick over as we go higher. Off course he’ll be on the top floor.

I knew he came from a wealthy family before we had sex. Afterwards, I found out just how wealthy he was. When his dad died it was all over the news. Carter is now the CEO of the largest publishing house in America. I used to dream about working at Indie Ink Publishers. That’s why I studied Graphic Design. I would’ve gotten a good job in Raleigh and worked my way to New York.

Would’ve. It was just a pipe dream.

Carter opens the door and waits for me to walk into the suite before he follows. I hear the door click shut while my eyes take in all the wealth around me.