The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(44)

"What the hell were you thinking leaving with Cordelia? That woman is a snake. I can't believe you would be so stupid as to fall for her again," Stella hissed. "And Emilia--"

"Don't lecture me about it," I said holding my hand to halt her tirade. "Emilia wasn't exactly innocent either."

"Are you talking about Peter Stanwick? Because last I heard, he tried to force himself on her and she kneed him in the groin. He left about an hour ago."

"What?" I said jerking my head to look at her. If I was angry before, I was feeling murderous now. I could kill Peter. In fact, I wanted to hunt him down and rip him in two. I made to move out of the study again but Stella caught hold of my arm.

"Hold your horses, Rambo," Stella said mockingly. "You going after Peter isn't going to do anyone any favors. I still can't believe you left with Cordelia!"

I narrowed my eyes and turned my full glare onto my mother. "What were you about inviting her here tonight anyway?" I asked.

My mother had the grace to blush and she answered haltingly. "I told you I saw her the other night at the Forrester's, and I couldn't leave her out when everyone else was going. It would be rude. Anyway, I didn't think you'd be so foolish as to flirt with her so openly with your fiancée standing not five feet away," she said sounding scandalized. "Everyone saw it and it wouldn't surprise me if it was the talk of the town."

"If it were only the town," I scoffed.

"What are you going to do now?" Stella asked.

Before I could answer, Roman and Lily had joined our little party in the study and I nearly groaned. This was just what I needed. I could tell by the disapproving looks on their faces they had nothing good to say.

"You're a real prick," Roman said, proving me right. "I didn't think you had it in you, but color me disappointed."

"Please save your little lecture for another time. I don't need to hear it from you either. I've gotten it enough from these two," I said, pointing at Stella and my mother.

"You never answered my question, Rob. What are you going to do now?" Stella repeated.

I looked at her, then slowly looked at the faces surrounding me, a mixture of censure, disappointment, and curiosity, and was momentarily speechless. Emilia was probably on a plane right now headed back to America. I wanted to catch up with her and apologize. I'd been a jerk and the guilt was tearing away at me. But then what? What else could I offer her besides an apology, and would it even be enough?

I shrugged in answer to Stella's question. It seemed the safest response. She screwed up her face in frustration. "Ugh! she said, sounding disgusted. "You're the worst. Don't you know that girl is in love with you," she said, punctuating each word with a poke in my chest. "How can you be so blind?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked. It didn't escape me that my mother was still standing here and she had no idea about our arrangement. Still Stella's revelation shook me to my core.

"Give it up, Robert. I know about the little game you tried to play on me. Emilia as good as confessed it to me this morning. And Stella's right. She really does--or at least did--love you."

I felt like I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. My head was reeling from all of these bombshells and I had to steady myself, sitting down on a bench by the windows. I'd had an inkling that Emilia's feelings for me weren't strictly business, but to have it confirmed by both Stella and my mother took me by surprise. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I warmed up to the idea. But was I now too late?




"I've got to go," I said, suddenly standing up. "I have to see her."

"Wait, you're drunk," Lily said.

"I don't care. I--I think I might love her too," I confessed.

"You think?" Roman asked mockingly.

"Don't tease him," I heard Lily whisper.

"Yeah, listen to your wife. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," I said before taking off.

Now that I'd admitted it, it felt right. I did love Emilia. I loved her for months, but was too much of a coward to admit it to myself. Now she was gone, and it was all because I'd been so stubborn. I just hoped it wasn't too late.





Chapter 20: Emilia



The buzzing of my phone on the night stand slowly penetrated my consciousness. I cracked an eye open and stared at the clock. It was already 1 pm. I'd arrived early this morning in New York, and had promptly fallen in a heap of exhaustion on my bed. Thankfully, I had a dreamless sleep, and had been out for a good seven hours.

The phone continued to buzz and I reluctantly picked it up and looked at the screen to see who was calling. A part of me had hoped it was Rob, but then I scowled at my traitorous thoughts. I wouldn't think about him.

"Hello, Charlotte," I answered, my voice still hoarse with sleep.

"Damn it, Em, where have you been? The shit's hit the fan!" she said.

I sat up in bed and brushed my hair out of my face. "What are you talking about?" I asked, slight panic and alarm wiping any trace of sleep from me.

"The engagement--it's all over the news that it was fake and you and Rob were never really together," she explained.