The Tycoon's Seduction Plan Page 0,33

wrong, something that didn’t fit. But no one seemed out of place and she didn’t see any malicious expressions directed her way. Of course, serial killers and rapists rarely had a sign advertising their intentions, did they? She almost laughed at the way her mind had drifted into one scenario after another, ending at looking up and seeing a horrible person glaring at her with malicious intent.

Then her gaze swerved to the back of the store, where the clerks were making coffee for the newest patrons and there she saw him as he stared across the store at her. Drew.

In an odd way, she viewed the last few moments objectively and thought how ironic it was that the man who had shared her life for so many years had created such a bizarre reaction in her subconscious mind. It was just like in those mysteries, but, with relief, she knew that she didn’t consider Drew to be the villain in her life anymore. He was just…the past, she thought analytically. Not a good part of her past, but at least it was over, thanks to Victor’s help.

Drew was standing in line for a cup of coffee, his eyes staring right at her with his arms crossed over his chest in the aggressive way she remembered so well. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. She waited, watching him and wondering, where was the anger? Where was the resentment she’d felt so strongly after he left her for his mistress? Why wasn’t she breaking down in tears and sobbing out her frustration and anger over his betrayal?

There was nothing. Looking at the handsome man with classic blond hair and blue eyes, she wondered what it was she’d seen in him all those years ago. He was goodlooking, there was no way to deny that. But now, knowing Victor and all of his strengths as well as the hard, external ruggedness of his features, she wondered what it was about Drew that made him look so…unappealing, she finally defined. He had a weak chin and pointed nose, his shoulders were droopy and he didn’t dress nearly as nicely as she’d remembered. Drew wasn’t even in very good shape, she thought, noticing the slight paunch that was starting to hang over his belt.

Victor worked out hard each day, brutally pushing his body to the next level of fitness. He worked out during the afternoons when he said his mind was dullest and the workout gave him the ability to concentrate further into the evening.

Drew hadn’t ever worked out that she could remember although she knew that he complained an awful lot about his boring job.

Come to think of it, she thought as she sipped her latte slowly, Victor never complained. She’d seen him irritated by people at work but when he talked about the situations, he was always working out how to resolve the problem.

Other differences she could think of between Victor and Drew popped into her mind, one rapidly after the other. Victor constantly told her how pretty she was, how sexy and desirable. No matter how much she’d tried to look nice for Drew, he’d never been very complimentary. The man had always found something to make her feel bad about. Her hair wasn’t fluffy enough, or it was too fluffy; her lipstick didn’t match her sweater or a wrinkle marred her outfit. She hadn’t realized how demoralized she was until Victor had entered her life and told her how lovely she looked or what a nice color a particular sweater was with her skin or hair.

Overall, Victor was so much more of a man than Drew could even dream of being. With a secret smile, she realized that Drew walking out on her had been the best thing that ever happened to her. With that realization came freedom. Freedom from the past, freedom from all of her old insecurities although she knew that Victor had already gotten her most of that way with his “lessons” and his praise, both verbal as well as the admiration and desire that showed in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

The feeling of freedom was so wondrous, so liberating that she felt as if a bubble were growing inside her, about to burst in a happy cloud of fairy dust or something else just as ridiculous sounding.

Turning back to her computer with a smile, she quickly logged off, closing down. She wasn’t running from him she thought happily. She was just leaving an area that