Dirty Rogue: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance(114)

“I know, I know. I didn’t plan it, I just—.”

“You just got swept up on a romantic escapade with the hottest man you ever laid eyes on.”

One last sip, and I’d drained my wine glass.

“Well, like I said, I’m done with all that. I just need to find another gig. Speaking of which…” I fluttered my eyelashes at her as she leaned forward to pour herself another glass.

“You know perfectly well that I’ll get you an interview someplace. I can’t promise you’ll like it more than Colton-Hayes, though.” Carolyn listened to me vent about my job at least once weekly. Now that I don’t work there anymore, everything I had complained about all of a sudden didn’t seem so bad after all. And yet…

“I’m sure it’ll be just fine. I’ll be committed this time. I’ll do my best damn job ever.”

Carolyn leans over and pats my leg. “I’m sure you will.”

She didn’t waste any time making right on her promise, which is why less than three days later, I’m sitting in the lobby of Heights Marketing, Inc. wearing a designer skirt suit I borrowed from Carolyn just this morning. It’s perfect attire for my interview, but I’m going to need to invest some of my savings into freshening up my own wardrobe. If I’m going to make it in this city, I need to rely less on my friends and more on myself.

The large picture window in the lobby looks out over the bustling New York streets, and as the seconds tick by, I watch people come and go. Something slowly occurs to me.

I can’t stay here.

“Oh, stop it,” I think to myself. “This kind of bullshit is exactly what started the whole series of events that got your heart broken in the first place.”

But I can’t stop thinking about it. The truth is, I’m never going to feel the same way about this city again.

Because this city was where I met Alec.

Even this morning, as I was walking to the subway, I found myself looking at the faces of the people I passed by on the sidewalk just in case one of them was Alec, and that he’d come back here, looking for me.

He’s not going to come back here.

I just know that if I stay, I’ll always be looking for him.

He’s the one that got away, never mind that I was the one who actually left.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m walking over to speak to the receptionist sitting behind the desk.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize, and she looks up from her computer, reaching one hand up to click the mute button on her headset.

“What can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry,” I repeat, my voice more confident this time. “I need to cancel my interview with Mr. Bolt.”

“He’ll be with you in just a moment—.”

“It’s not that. And please pass along that I was very thankful for the opportunity to meet with him.” I take a deep breath. “Unfortunately, today’s not going to work out.” I smile at her, and then turn to head for the door.

Just then, the door to an office located across the lobby opens behind me, and a man calls, “Ms. Reeves?”

“I’m sorry,” I say over my shoulder in passing, giving a wave. As I step into the waiting elevator and press the down button, I see the receptionist standing, saying something to the man who must be Mr. Bolt.

This is going to be my last life shake-up, but I’m not going to rush it.

I know exactly what I’m going to do.





Chapter 42

Alec





It’s been a week since Jessica left.

Seven interminable, agonizing days.

I didn’t realize how much having her here in Saintland meant to me—until she was gone. I don’t know how many times I’ve headed for the queen’s rooms without thinking, only to stop halfway there when I remember that no one is there. They’ve been cleared of everything…all the clothing I had sent there for her, the sheets and bedding, and even the paintings I hand-picked from the royal collection especially for her have been taken back to storage. There’s no longer a single trace that Jessica was ever here.

Every day, I wait for the gnawing pain from her absence to subside. But every day, the pain only gets stronger and stronger until it affects every part of me. My muscles ache, my head aches, my entire body hurts. I’m in agony.

For lack of anything better to do, I throw myself into my work as the crown prince, more determined than ever with a dogged insistence on doing everything my father suggests to the letter. I schedule more media appearances—the summer festival starts in two weeks, and we’ll be welcoming tourists from all over Europe.

I wish I could say that I cared about the goddamn festival.

I care about it in that it’s always a boost for the Saintlandian economy and without a doubt our nation’s biggest event of the year, for tourists and citizens alike. But mostly, I’m only putting so much energy into the minute details of my appearances, into the plans for Sainthall Palace, into other random aspects of it because I have to focus on something other than the fact that Jessica isn’t here.

I’m sure everyone notices my joyless participation, but I only realize how obvious it is during a meeting with my father at which he brings up something entirely unrelated to the summer festival.