feeling like a spoiled brat, actually.”
Candy laughed. “Why’s that?”
“Up until five minutes ago, I kind of felt sorry for myself. I come from a long line of crazy-successful overachievers and haven’t really done anything with my life.” Yet, she’d been given every opportunity—a safe home, a demanding but loving father, three brothers who looked after her in their own way, a good education, and some wonderful friends. But somehow she’d always felt lacking—maybe because she had grown up without her mother—when all along she’d had the building blocks to make something of herself. Instead of using them, she just…settled.
Dammit. Bennett had read her like an open book when he’d said that she was the sort of person who always settled. It was true; she needed to stop lying to herself. And I need to get on with my life and turn things around, not waste my time with some childish scheme to destroy this man. Whoever he really was, he wasn’t evil.
Flawed? Maybe.
Domineering? Absolutely.
Sexy? Yes, ma’am.
But she’d stepped into a situation she’d felt was crystal clear and now treaded in muddy waters.
“You okay, sweetie?” Candy asked.
Taylor waved her hand. “I’m fine. And thank you for sharing your story.”
“No problem. I just wish it could help you get over your little issue.”
“My issue?” Taylor asked.
“You’re not the first woman to have a thing for Mr. Wade.”
“I don’t have ‘a thing.’ I just…it’s complicated.”
Candy raised her glass. “Well, it’s none of my business. So here’s to complicated.”
An hour and two more cocktails later, Taylor made her way upstairs. Candy had gone to the spa, but Taylor was ready to find Bennett and have that talk. She’d start by asking him about the bet and why he’d lied about Lady Mary. He never had explained that to her, and before Taylor admitted what she’d done—or had planned to do—she wanted to hear what Bennett’s story was.
She exited the elevator and immediately heard Bennett yelling at someone out in the hallway, around the corner. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” he roared.
Oh crap. Who was he talking to?
“I trusted you,” Bennett ranted, “I put my goddamned faith in you, and you repay me by going behind my back and sabotaging my deal?”
Taylor had expected a man to respond, but instead heard a Japanese-sounding woman with a soft voice. “Mr. Wade, sir. I am so sorry. Please forgive me.”
“I give people one chance. One. You’re fired. So get the hell out of my face. And you better believe I’m going to make sure everyone, and I mean everyone, knows what sort of crap you pulled.”
“I’ll be ruined,” she sobbed quietly.
“You should’ve fucking thought of that before you screwed me.”
Taylor covered her mouth. Oh no. If this was how Bennett reacted with this woman, she could only imagine how he’d respond to her confession. He’ll kill me. Then he’ll ruin me. Or the other way around.
Taylor heard the tapping sound of footsteps approaching right before the woman appeared, almost crashing into her. Without stopping to say a word, she hurried on toward the stairwell, tears in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Taylor turned the corner. Bennett was there, his face bright red with anger. From the look of his well-tailored, immaculate black suit, perfectly combed hair, and navy blue tie with spatters of gray, he’d just come from his business meeting. Aside from his purple eye, he looked like he’d walked right out of a fashion magazine.
“Bad date?” Taylor asked.
“I wish.” He looked at her intensely. “You’re coming with me.”
“Wh-where?”
“You look like you’ve already been drinking, so you can keep me company while I catch up.”
“Oh. No, I really should get some rest.” And think about how to tell you I’m not going to train you.
“You slept for eight hours on the plane. And I had to listen to you snore, so you owe me.”
I snored? In front of him? Oh the shame…On the other hand, he yelled at people in his sleep. How weird was that?
Bennett grabbed her hand and dragged her to the elevator, his square jaw flexing and pulsing the entire way down to the lobby.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Taylor asked.
“No.”
“Okay.” She leaned against the wall of the elevator.
He sighed. “That looked pretty bad, didn’t it?”
Yes. But not for the reason you think. Now she felt stuck between wanting to get everything out in the open, and being frightened by how he might react if she told him the real reason she’d come along on the trip.
“I