The Billionaire's Challenge - Final Google

Selena stared at Gianna, stunned at the woman’s ability to really see a person. “You’re scary,” Selena whispered reverently.

Gianna laughed, delighted. “That is not the first time I’ve heard that! Now speak. Tell me why you feel your man is hurt.”

“Not hurt. I think he’s angry about something. I’m not sure what’s going on.”

“Not with you,” Gianna announced.

Selena wasn’t sure. The look Reid had given her before they’d left had seemed personal. But perhaps she’d just caught his eye at the wrong moment and his anger had nothing to do with her. Selena knew that she had a tendency to internalize issues. It was both a strength and a weakness, and was a constant struggle for her.

For the rest of the meal, they talked about business and work stresses. Thankfully, their conversation steered clear of romantic topics.

When they returned to the office, Gianna went back up to the executive floor where her office was located and Selena moved down the quiet hallway to her own. But she couldn’t seem to get Reid’s angry scowl out of her mind.

Later that evening, she waited for him to come by her office and take her home. But darkness fell and he didn’t come to her office. Since he’d driven her to work that day, she called a cab to get home, wondering what was going on. As soon as the cab pulled up to Reid’s gorgeous house, her anxiety doubled. The lights weren’t on. He wasn’t home?

She paid the driver and walked around to the back, wondering what was going on.

“Meow!”

Selena felt Cat rub against her legs.

“I don’t know where he is, honey,” she bent down to scratch Cat behind his ears. “He didn’t tell me anything.”

“Meow!” he insisted, leaning into her legs and hand. “I know, little guy. It’s confusing to me too.”

Selena knew that the cat had food and an accessible pet door that allowed him to get into Reid’s house. So Cat would be fine without Reid for the night. But Selena didn’t like leaving the poor fellow alone. Cats weren’t the solitary creatures everyone thought they were. Cats actually needed just as much attention as dogs.

“Okay. Why don’t you come into my place?” she suggested.

Cat agreed and raced towards the door to her house, then looked back over his shoulder. “I’m coming!” Selena giggled.

Selena flipped off her shoes, sighing with relief as she dumped her bag and purse on the chair right inside the door. “Are you hungry?” she asked the cat, heading towards the kitchen.

She pulled out a can of tuna and gave some to Cat, then dumped the rest onto a plate for herself, adding lettuce, spinach, and some cottage cheese. Selena carried her plate over to the front window overlooking the pool. Reid’s house was still dark. Where was he? Why hadn’t he called?

Not that they’d discussed their relationship, she thought. What were they to each other? At first, she’d tried to keep their relationship friendly. He was her boss, after all. But he didn’t want that. And in truth, she didn’t either. Never had she felt such an intense connection with a man.

So, what were they to each other? As she stared out at the darkened house, she suspected that their relationship meant a whole lot more to her than it did to him.

And that hurt!

Selena tried to tell herself that this wasn’t a repeat of the past. It wasn’t high school or college and Reid wasn’t one of those insecure, horrible teenagers that needed to humiliate someone to make them feel strong. Reid was strong, powerful, and confident. He was…

Not here and she didn’t know what to think.

She looked at her purse where her cell phone hid, thinking to send him a text message asking if he was okay. Or if she’d done something to annoy him. Besides that look right before lunch, she hadn’t seen him since they’d driven in to the office earlier this morning, so how could she have done something wrong? Unless…had she messed up on the marketing campaign somehow? Had she…?

Selena stopped herself before she went down that rabbit hole. She’d done that too often in the past. Straightening her spine, she remembered her therapist’s advice to not internalize everyone’s problems as her fault.