Rock Star Billionaire

"That's not being a boyfriend, and that's not taking care of someone. Call me when you see the truth; anytime, anywhere, I'll be there for you."

Ethan pulled a card from the inside pocket of his suit jacket, scribbled his personal cell number on the back, and handed it to me. Then he exited the room with a swift bow, leaving me standing there, wrapped in nothing but a towel and feeling stunned.

I put on my clothes mechanically and took the long bus ride home, but I was still in a daze as I walked up the steps to our apartment.

Ethan was so sexy, intelligent, and interesting. I felt a real connection when I was with him, and that afternoon we sat talking under the oak tree was the first time I'd really felt happy in a long time. He had listened to what I had to say, and I could tell he really wanted to get know me as a person. He made me feel beautiful, not as a sex object to be used, but as a human being. I wanted more of it. Plus, he cared enough about me to want to protect me and take care of me.

Mick had never made me feel that way. All he made me feel was like he wanted to get everything from me that he could, even if that meant compromising who I was as a person. I was an object to be used by him and nothing more.

I knew it was time for Mick and me to have a long talk, but as I walked through our apartment door, what I saw changed everything in an instant and broke me from my dazed trance.

"Samantha? Mick? What's going on?" They weren't in the act of making love, but it was clear they had been. Mick was pulling up his jeans and closing the zipper, his shirt still off. My best friend was dressed in nothing but her panties and bra as she pulled her black mini-dress over her head.

"This isn't what it looks like," Mick cried out lamely, while Samantha broke into sobs.

"I'm so sorry, Kayla. It just happened," she wept. "We were celebrating his new job at the club. We had a few drinks and one thing led to another. We didn't mean for it to happen."

"Just get out," I glared at my former best friend with eyes like blades of ice. Samantha picked up her shoes and ran out the door, not yet even fully dressed as I threw her jacket (the one I'd given her for her birthday) out onto the sidewalk.

Then, I turned my anguish on Mick. "How could you do this to me? I get plenty of offers to cheat on you. In fact, I had one just today, but I turned it down out of loyalty to you."

"This was nothing more than a stupid mistake. I love you, baby. I'm really sorry. It will never happen again." He was chasing me around the living room on his knees as I tried to keep a distance between us. I didn't want the disgusting asshole anywhere near me.

"How many times?"

"None. I love you, and I can't wait to marry you. Hey, did you get paid for that modeling job? Let me have the money. We'll go down to the courthouse first thing and get married."

Instinctively, I reached for my purse, ready to hand over my hard-earned money to him just like I'd done these past three years we'd been living in L.A., but my fingers landed on the card from Ethan first and it stopped me.

What was I doing? Mick was cheater and a liar. Now he wanted the money that I had earned, and I was about to give it to him. I had been supporting him all these years while he did nothing but drink, watch television, and cheat on me. Thank God we weren't actually married yet, and thank God I'd finally seen the truth about him.

"Goodbye, Mick," I stated simply, then I turned on my heel and walked out the door. He called after me, but he couldn't be bothered to actually come running after me, and by the time I'd rounded the block, I couldn't hear him anymore. I got on my cell phone and heard Ethan's voice pick up on the other end.

"Can you come get me?" I asked meekly. Just like I knew he would, he answered me with one simple word.

"Yes."

Chapter Nine: Ethan

"Fucking idiot," I berated myself as I drove down the L.A. streets in my Lamborghini.

I had obsessing over Karly Brandt since the moment I first set eyes on her during her audition. I'd fought Keith and the board on the decision to hire such an inexperienced model, but I was so passionate she was the one I wanted they had to relent. I had called her personally to come to my office, and when she accepted the job, I had Angela cancel all my appointments for the day so I could teach her how to ride myself.

It had been a magical day, and even though we hadn't had sex or even kissed, I felt a connection with her that was so strong, it was almost physical. She understood the real me and I could open up to her in ways I'd never done with any other woman. When she told me about her life, I was mesmerized. I wanted to know every detail and could listen to talk for hours and still want to learn more.

Plus, she was sexy as hell. The beauty of her face, the sparkle of her eyes, the way her tiny, narrow waist curved into a perfectly round buttocks, and most all, those incredible tits.

She worked for me as a contracted model. It wasn't even permanent employment, just a one-time job. I couldn't even say we were friends or that she even liked me. Chances were I would never see her again.

So what did I do? I took the last moment I would

ever see her to completely alienate her. I'd barely gotten over the hump of having punched out her boyfriend and gotten her to at least talk to me again. Then, I turned right around and insult him again so she loyally takes his side and once again wants nothing to do with me. Stupid fucking idiot: that's what I was.

I could have played nice, pretended like I wanted to take the two of them out for dinner to apologize, and gotten to get to know her more over time. I could have offered to take her out to celebrate as platonic friends. I could have even offered her another modeling job. I could have done anything but I what I did.

Now, she was certain to throw away my number the moment I got home and that would be the end of anything that may have developed between us. Seeing her image on the cover and pages of my magazine as the only way I would ever see Kayla again.

I gripped the wheel of my car hard as I steered through the hills, wishing I could escape my own stupidity. When my phone rang through my Bluetooth, I almost ignored it, but then my sense of responsibility won out and I answered it.