The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet - Leslie North Page 0,47

floor. She wanted to get back to those types of moments, those types of special nights, just the two of them. She couldn’t wait for her and Blake to get back to focusing on each other.

She tugged open the door. A cool waft of air billowed out, the low thump of electronic music greeting her. Straightening her spine, Michelle stepped inside.

Her gaze swept through the expansive nightclub. People had gathered in clusters, sipping at martini glasses, pointing at the artwork. Pride vibrated through her. This, right here—this was proof that all of Blake’s distance and distraction had been because of something. He was working toward his dreams. Expanding his empire.

And that was the type of endeavor that Michelle wanted to support.

She spotted the back of Grayson’s head near the front vestibule that would serve as the coat check. Michelle headed that way, certain that even if Blake wasn’t with him, Grayson would know where Blake could be found. Sure enough, as she stepped closer, she saw that the three friends were standing together.

“I don’t know,” Grayson was saying to Daniel and Blake as she approached. None of them had a clear view of Michelle approaching, which made her mission of surprising Blake even easier.

“You did win the bet after all,” Daniel added.

Michelle bit at her bottom lip, curious to overhear what they might be talking about. Blake had told her that he and his friends were intensely competitive and would bet on practically anything they could, from the absurd to the absolutely impossible. She decided not to speak just yet—to eavesdrop for a little longer. This felt like a secret portal into the world he and his friends inhabited.

“I know I did,” Blake conceded. “But I don’t—”

“You went on five dates with Michelle,” Daniel said. “That was the criteria. It would be unethical of me not to reward you with your prize.”

Blake said something, but Michelle couldn’t even focus on his words. Not when a roar of noise had started between her ears, drowning out everything that wasn’t the replay of what she’d overheard.

Five dates with Michelle.

Her brows drew together as she struggled to understand this information. They’d been talking about a bet. Five dates was the criteria. Five dates with her.

Which meant that Blake had only gone out with her because of a bet.

Michelle felt woozy for a moment, and stumbled, knocking into a chair beside a cocktail table, jarring it enough to make it rattle.

“Oh, Michelle! Hey there!” Grayson’s jovial voice broke through the fog. The scraping sound from the chair must have alerted him that she was there. Grayson stepped out of the vestibule, Daniel and Blake following behind him.

Blake had a strained look on his face, somewhere between shock and horror.

“Michelle. I thought you were coming later. What are you doing here?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t even remember what she wanted to say. What could she say? Everything had turned into a confusing riot of questions and disappointment.

She’d thought that Blake was different.

She’d thought that what they had between them was real.

But now, it was clear. She’d been a bet. Their whole relationship had been a bet. Was it any wonder why he wasn’t reaching out to spend more time with her anymore?

He’d achieved the necessary five dates with her.

And that look on his face had shown just how little he really wanted her to be there.

Michelle spun on her heels, heading straight for the exit, hoping she wouldn’t accidentally slam into anyone as she powered toward the door, her eyes blinded with tears.

“Michelle!” Blake’s gruff voice cut through the low tones of the music, and a moment later his hand was on her shoulder.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped.

“Michelle, where are you going?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, something wild and pained thumping inside her. Because after all this time being careful and being smart, she’d still been wrong about Blake. “Back to my house, where I don’t have to worry about anyone faking a relationship with me just to win a stupid bet.”

His jaw flexed and he held her arm in place when she tried to stomp away.

“That’s not how it went.”

“I don’t care. I need to go. I need to not be anywhere near you—ever again.”

“Michelle.” Blake’s voice had a raw, fierce edge to it. Something she’d never heard before. She yanked her eyes up to his, finding so much intensity in his gaze she had to look away. “We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t. There’s nothing to say.”

“There’s a