“I’m so sorry—I really did care about you. It’s just—it won’t work.” I sat down in my car and Bryant grabbed my door before I could slam it.
“Don’t do this, Taylor. I can see it in your eyes—this isn’t what you want. Tell me what’s really going on.” He tightened his grip on my door until his knuckles were white.
“Please…” I started sobbing. “Don’t make this any harder than it is.”
I pulled on my door until Bryant finally released it. He stared at me with a look of pain and disbelief on his face as I cranked up my car and drove away. I didn’t want to go straight home. My mother would be there—and she was dealing with something that would be fixed because I ended things with Bryant. I couldn’t hide my emotions from Bryant—I definitely couldn’t hide them from her. She was always able to read me like an open book—even when her heart was aching after the divorce. I sent her a quick message to let her know that I wasn’t going to be home—I didn’t get a response from her, but a few seconds later, my phone lit up with a message from Anna.
Anna: Mom told me.
Taylor: I’m going to be late; can you take care of her tonight?
Anna: Of course.
Taylor: Thank you.
My little sister would never know how close she came to being Alexis Devereaux’s next victim—I was going to keep that horrifying reality from her. I hoped it would all be over in a few days, regardless. I wanted to avoid telling my mother about the plagiarism allegation if I could avoid it. I drove around for almost an hour before I finally pulled over on the side of the road. I had a dozen message from Bryant and several missed calls that turned into voicemails. I didn’t read or listen to any of them. It was way too hard—I could imagine what they said anyway. I flipped over to the string of messages I had with the unknown number—the one that obviously belonged to Alexis, even if she had never said so.
Taylor: It’s over.
Unknown: Good. You made the right decision.
“No… I made the only one I could.” I squeezed my phone in my hand so tight it felt like it was about to crack. “Now I have to find a way to live with it.”
The decision that will probably become my biggest regret one day—because I lost the man that stole my heart before I even realized he was doing it.
Chapter Eighteen
Bryant
The next day
“Cancel all of my fucking meetings.” I grabbed my cup of coffee from Cassie and immediately threw it in the garbage.
“Mr. Benson, what’s wrong?” Cassie looked at me in confusion.
“Did I stutter?” I growled at her. “Cancel them.”
“Yes sir.” She nodded and ran to her desk.
I was in a foul mood, and I couldn’t help it. I barely got any sleep—I did need coffee, but it would give me a buzz, and the only thing I wanted to feel was the shredded nothingness inside me. I had no idea why Taylor ended our relationship. There were plenty of reasons that made sense, but she didn’t tell me which one caused her to bring an abrupt end to what was blooming into something beautiful between us. All I could do was accept her decision and move on—there were no other choices on the table. She wasn’t returning my calls. She didn’t answer my texts. I couldn’t exactly show up on her doorstep with a bouquet of flowers in my hand and my heart on my sleeve.
“Mr. Benson, I’m sorry…” Cassie pushed my door open and quickly apologized.
“For what?” I stared at her in confusion. “I don’t want to be disturbed.”
“This won’t take long.” A voice echoed behind Cassie—and then I watched Alexis Devereaux shove my secretary out of the way. “Get lost.”
“Mr. Benson, should I call security?” Cassie regained her composure without falling—which was surprising considering how hard Alexis slammed into her.
“No,” I exhaled sharply. “Leave us.”
“You need better help.” Alexis slammed the door as soon as Cassie was gone.
“What the hell do you want Alexis? You’re the last person I want to see right now.” I glared at her.
“Word on the street is that your relationship with your little tramp is over.” She narrowed her eyes at me.
“How the fuck do you know that?” I tensed up.