Take Three (The Jilted Bride #2)(62)

I looked around the room and noticed that everything was bare—no pictures on the walls, no decorative rugs, nothing remotely extravagant. I looked over at the room to my right and saw tall candles burning amidst a sea of colorful pillows.

“You have pretty interesting taste for a billionaire CEO—the billionaire Autumn Wonder CEO,” I took the Fortune magazine out of my back pocket and threw it at him.

His face went white. “I was going to tell you tonight. I really was. I honestly—”

“The person who has been pushing me to be honest—the most honest I’ve been in my life, was lying to me the entire time! How could you do this? Why did you do this?”

“Selena, I tried to tell you a few times before. I just…I had no idea that—”

“All this time! All. This. Time! I kept telling you how Autumn Wonder was ruining my mom’s life and making her miserable and…It was you. Wasn’t it? You ordered all those pies and sent them to Boston so they could figure out what the ingredients were, didn’t you? Is that how they were able to duplicate them so fast? Is that where all your pies went?”

He avoided looking into my eyes. “Yes…But I didn’t—”

“Do you know how many people lost their jobs, Ethan? Do you realize how many people you hurt? I guess I should’ve known better…I’m used to being in fake relationships, Ethan. I really am. I just like to know when I’m in one.”

“Selena,” he reached for my hand but I moved away. “I’m so sorry. I—”

“You watched me close Sweet Seasons with my mother and you were secretly smiling inside! I was crying to you every night and…Is that why you asked what the recipe for my cherry bourbon pie was? On more than one occasion? Was that the only one your billion dollar corporation couldn’t figure out?”

“I didn’t know it was your mother’s shop at first. Please believe me. When I first found out, you and I weren’t that serious, and by the time I planned to tell you, we were already—”

“Already what? Already what!”

“Selena, I’m sorry you had to find out this way. I meant to tell you a long time ago, I just—”

“The secret ingredients are mission figs and apple cider.”

“Stop. Please listen—”

“I soak the cherries in bourbon overnight, and then I add three cups of apple cider and let them marinate for five more hours. I cut up the mission figs and juice them, and then I bake them into the pie with the cherries. There. You got what you wanted. Happy? My own mother doesn’t know what the secret ingredients are…Hope your billions of customers enjoy it.”

“Selena—”

“I don’t want to hear from you ever again, Ethan Lockwood. Please don’t try to get in contact with me and if you can help it, please don’t run to the press and tell them about whatever the hell this was. I would say I could pay you not to, but I think you have more than enough money.”

“Selena please, let me—”

“I mean it! Stay the hell away from me!” I bolted out of his house and jumped into my car.

I slammed my foot on the gas in reverse and pitched the gift box I’d made for him out my window.

I could literally feel my heart shattering, but I knew the pieces would glue themselves back together once I got back to New York City. Once I was “Selena Ross” again.

Chapter 24

Ethan

I tried running after her, but it was no use. I stooped down and picked up the yellow box she’d thrown. I walked back into my house and slammed the front door shut.

I ripped the tape off the box and pulled out the card that sat on top:

Dear Ethan,

Thank you for being the most understanding guy I’ve ever met. I know I’m not easy to get along with most of the time, but thank you for being so patient.

I made this “compromise box” to show you that I’m willing to be more flexible and accommodating. That said, I won’t watch The Godfather with you…I’ll watch all three of them, this week. I promise. I’ll let you go first in our next game of Confession Uno, and I’ll try to stop questioning you every time you try to surprise me…I’ve enjoyed every single second we’ve spent together over the past few weeks, and I hope that the jet charm on my bracelet will ring true once I return to New York and you go back to Boston.

Your friend forever too,

Selena “Beauregard” Ross

P.S. I love you :-)

She loves me? This soon? Is that possible?

I sank down to the floor and sifted through the box: Uno cards, a picture of us kissing at the state fair, my hundred thousand dollar check with the words “I’ll go out with you for free, forever” scribbled across the front in her elegant handwriting, a slice of cherry bourbon pie, all three Godfather DVDs, and an orange and black pair of lace panties with a card attached to it: “Next time we go trick or treating, it’ll be just you and me :-)”

I drove to Sweet Seasons, but the doors were locked and all the lights were off. I drove to her hotel and rushed up to her room. The door was slightly ajar so I pushed it open.

I walked around her suite, but she was nowhere to be found. There were only suitcases, the bouquets of flowers I’d sent, and trunks of shoes. I walked around to the kitchen and saw her supermodel-looking assistant talking on the phone.