The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,323

the loudspeaker. It sounds vaguely familiar and it sends my panic into overdrive.

“Oh my God, this is a disaster,” I cry and start wiping my mouth and fixing my hair and straightening my clothes.

“It’s just security.” I snap a glance at him in the mirror and see the irritation in his voice furrowing his brow.

“I think I know that voice, “I whisper urgently, cursing my stupidity and swearing to be good if I get out of this.

“So? We’re in an elevator both fully clothed, it’s hardly suspicious,” he says, and his calm voice annoys me. The elevator whines and my heart hammers against my breastbone.

“Let’s just get off like we’re strangers, you go first, and I’ll call you when I get to my room, okay?” I mutter and then put my game face on.

The man on the other side isn’t anyone I've ever seen before and the rush of relief I feel almost makes me nauseous.

Stone thanks the man for his help, bids me a civil good evening and strolls away. I walk with the maintenance man back to the lobby and make small talk until we part ways at the huge fountain that sits at the center of it.

I walk on trembling legs to the nearest bench and sit. The fear I’d felt in that elevator, when I thought I knew that voice had been unreal. What would I have done if it had been someone I know?

I’ve held on to my marriage by Faustian bargain. Marcel has broken faith with me more times than I can count, and I don’t owe him my fidelity or discretion.

But there are more than just our reputations at stake.

Buried somewhere in our prenup there are all sorts of morality clauses tied to alimony and more importantly, custody.

Charlie was right, what we have isn’t a marriage. We’ll never be intimate again. But, Marcel has made it clear that leaving him would be nothing short of a battle. If I’m going to do it, I don’t need to give him any ammunition.

Cursing my choices and my husband, I start for my room. I was lucky just now, but this is a popular and public place. I was crazy to think I could have an affair with him here. I’m not going to call Stone when I get back to my room. And since I have no idea when he’s leaving, I’ll be spending the rest of my time there. It sucks, but I always eat my vegetables. Even when they’re covered in shit.

Last night will have to be enough.

My stomach tightens and disappointment lodges in my throat.

Discipline, Regan.

I am the most disciplined person I know. I don’t say that as a point of pride but as a matter of fact. It’s what has pulled me back up every time life has forced me to my knees.

It’s my superpower.

And that makes Stone Rivers… what? My kryptonite? Because the minute I breathe the same air as him, I find myself confronting bullies, breaking decades of family code, fornicating in public, and shattering rules that I have never even been tempted to bend.

He knows where my room is, but certainly he can’t come in unless I open that door.

And tomorrow, I’ll request a room change.

And I won’t leave my room until it’s time for me to go home early next week. I have my books, my laptop, my phone and a killer view. I could go home early, but...I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to be alone like this again.

The steady stream of room service will be a boon for the staff - they’ll get tips each time they bring me something – so that’s a silver lining.

God only knows what kinds of germs I’m avoiding by not using any of the six pools on site. I have a hot tub on my balcony, and that’s going to be amazing.

By the time I’m stepping off the elevator, my resolve is firm and I’m feeling like maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

Until I see Matty sitting on the floor outside my room.

Chapter 16

Breaking

Regan

“Hey,” I call as I approach.

Matty looks up and gives me an awkward smile. “You’re alone?” She lifts up to standing in front of my door and crosses her arms tightly over her chest as if she’s warding off the cold. She smiles, but the tense set of her jaw puts me on edge.

I mimic her stance and don’t return her smile. “Yeah, we had to go our separate ways”

“So…are you going