Wilson's POVI blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened. The contract was over? Just like that? Why had Georgia snapped like that? I couldn't let it end-not if it was because of me. Arian poked his head out of the dressing room door, mouth slightly agape. "Is everything...okay?""Yes. I'm just an idiot, Arian.""You are not. And you are not worthless either," he replied firmly."I didn't mean to listen in and I don't know what has been going on, but please don't think like that. It hurts to hear you say that. I'm sure Georgia feels the same way.""Maybe this is a good thing. She deserves someone better. I'm so immature.""Everyone is a little immature, Wilson. Especially when it comes to our feelings."I smiled wryly. "I can't even deal with being told I'm not good enough for someone.""Who doesn't get hurt by that?" he shot back."But..."He closed the door to the fitting room a little more roughly than he should have. "Wilson, what are you doing? You're not the type
"This is the way you wanted it to be too, isn't it? Your mother knows of me now and I take it she doesn't really like me. So after this whole thing is over and done with she'll probably be more than happy that we broke up and give you all the time you need to find someone you actually care about," I tried, trying to put a cheerful note in my tone. "It actually works out perfectly, huh?"Her expression didn't change. "I said I would cancel the contract."My heart fell a little. "Why? Because of me? I don't want that, Georgia.""You don't want us to cancel the contract?""No," I told her, shaking my head."I'm not going to let this happen again. I was just frustrated. Remember what I said earlier? Next time your mother sees me I'll make sure there's nothing for her to nitpick at me about."She pulled a hand through her hair, sighing. "That's exactly it, Wilson. I don't want you to feel you have to pretend you're someone you're not anymore.""It's part of our contract," I pointed out. "Y
Georgia's POVOver the years, I'd been with a handful of guys presented to me by my mother. They usually had one thing in common: greed. Greedy for the highest fashions, greedy for attention, greedy for the wealth of the heir of a great hotel. I'd cared for them about as much as they'd cared for me. But we also had one thing in common: trying to appease my mother.That's how I lived my life. I was so scared of losing everything, I could give up anything. Money was more important to me than cherished relationships. I didn't care what I did, who I hurt, what I ruined provided that at the end of the day I'd come out on top.But suddenly everything was different. Wilson was someone I didn't want to hurt. He was someone I didn't want to ruin. He suddenly because someone I didn't want my mother to ever touch. I didn't know when it'd happened. At first, he was simply an impecunious young woman I needed in order to complete my ruse. I could've cared less about how he felt. But now...Now I ca
Wilson's POVFor the next week, I felt Georgia tip-toeing around me. She woke up in the moring before me and rushed off to work before I could greet her and she came home later than me, heading straight into her room before I could even speak her name. Even when we finally made it back to my old apartment so we could clean up, she stood aside by the door and watched silently as Solene, Arian, and I packed my things into boxes and trash bags.I shivered just thinking about my apartment. It didn't feel right anymore. It didn't feel like home anymore. Which was all the more reason to be grateful to Georgia for letting me stay here. Which was all the more reason for me to find an apartment quickly and get out if I was making her uncomfortable.Annoyed, I slammed a coffee cup into the sink a little harder than I'd meant to. Arian jumped from beside me, letting out a startled squeak."Sorry," I apologized sheepishly."Things still awkward between you and Georgia?" he guessed."I don't know.
Suddenly the door to the bar burst open and an employee with an ashen face stuck his head in. "Sorry for interrupting, Sir, but some dude flipped over the pool table."Walter groaned. "Again?""Again?" I said. Now even more than before, I couldn't imagine tiny little Arian hanging out in a place like this. But definitely my brother."Sorry guys, I have to get out there. If anything new develops, I'll let you know," he said, standing up from his chair.Arian and I followed suit, saying our goodbyes. As we were headed back to my car, my phone started ringing. Georgia's name flashed on the screen."Hello?""Are you home?""I'm not at your place yet, no. Why?""Please head back now. Henry will be there shortly and one of us needs to be there.""And you can't?""I'm busier than you."I pursed my lips. "Oh, are you?""Please just meet him here. I have to go.""Wait a second! Who's Henry? Georgia? Georgia!" I pulled my phone away from my face, seeing she'd disconnected the call. I ground m
Georgia's POV"Ms. Calloway, wake up. Your mother would like to speak to you."I lifted my head up from my desk and stared blearily at Henry, who was standing in front of my desk, his cell phone in hand. My mother? Suddenly more alert, I straightened and cleared my throat. "Why didn't she call me first?"He quickly muted his phone. "I think she knows you wouldn't answer.""Is she back?""No. She says she has something to tell you."I hesitated. Had she already found out I'd changed the locks? Or maybe the security cameras were finally shut off and she'd found out about it?Begrudgingly, I took the phone from Henry and unmuted it. "Yes, Mother?""Were you sleeping?""No," I lied."Did you finish your work for the day?" I glanced at the pile of paperwork on my desk: plans for new locations, ideas for new promotions, severance plans for the one employee that got fired in California, a paper requesting an updated oSHA certification, a payroll incident our accountant wanted me to double-
My phone buzzed and I looked at it, a message from my mother glowing on the screen. After opening it, I let out a scoff. There was no doubt that it was an image of the guy I was being set up with. Short, coffee-colored hair framed his pointy face, his eyes sharp and challenging. I recognized that look. It was the same one I used when I looked down upon someone.Another text buzzed.Carlo Eliseo, 25. Get his orchids, not roses. Went to Harvard. Do not wear jeans.I locked my phone and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I didn't need Spark Notes for a date. Especially considering I didn't care for said date. Then an idea hit me. "Henry," I called.Five seconds later he popped his head in, glasses sitting crookedly on his face."Yes, Ma'am?""Prepare a dozen roses for me tomorrow, by five o'clock."He gave me a confused look. "Your mother requested a dozen orchids already."I felt the corner of my lip rise. If I was the one dumped, my mother couldn't complain. "She made a mistake. I'll
Wilson's POV"Holly, when are you coming back to work?"I pulled back my phone a little bit, giving it an are-you-shitting-me look. It'd been, what? How long since I'd been away from Michelangelo's? A couple weeks? And this was the first thing out of my manager's mouth when he finally spoke to me again?"It's Wilson." I replied flatly."Wilson yes, yes. Sorry about that."My fingers twitched and I resisted the urge to throw the phone."Anyway, is your availability the same as before? I'd like you back on the schedule as soon as possible.""It's the same," I said begrudgingly. I really, really didn't want to go back to work there. But after thinking things through, it was probably for the best. I had the money Georgia had given me, but with the sudden change in the situation with my brother, I figured it'd be best to keep extra money aside. Lawyers weren't cheap and as far as I. I knew my brother wasn't making any money in jail. And on top of that, I had to leave Georgia's house at so
Georgia's Pov"Be there at six o' clock sharp, no later. I've already ordered the flowers, as you apparently couldn't handle that task last time, so you simply have to pick them up. Be polite and courteous. Next week I want to set up dinner with Cecil and his wife, so you better leave a good impression. Carlo picked the restaurant so let him suggest what the best meal is and take his advice."It was hard to focus on my mother's words as I stood in front of my bathroom sink, trying to keep my stomach from twisting and crling and its contents from coming out. My mouth was dry and tasted like old leather, no matter how much water I sucked down. And then there was the headache. I didn't know how I was handling her shrill voice when it felt like Muhammad Ali was having a boxing match with my brain. I couldn't remember the last time I had a hangover this bad.I never wanted to drink again."Are you listening?""Yes.""Why do you sound like that? Did you go drinking?"How did she know these
No, not something. Their mother. She Uses one to control the other. I guess I found my first question. "Why do you let your mother control your life so much?"Lee's response was simple. "She's my mother.""But you're a grown adult.""You've met my mother. There's not much you can say against her. She's cruel, but she is caring. Even if she doesn't show it.""Is she the one who sent you away?"He nodded."Where did you go?" I asked slowly, unsure if my question crossed the line or not."An inpatient rehabilitation center in California. I've been there ever since the accident."I tried my best to swallow inaudibly."Your accident?"He tilted his head to the side and grimaced. "Well, I'm sure you know. An intended accident. I barely remember it, to be honest. I know I purposely wrecked the car, but after that, I don't know. I had a pretty bad concussion so they said there would be some memory loss. I was in the hospital and then shipped across the country to recuperate. And I haven't bee
Wilson's POVWhat. The. Hell.I stared out the window of the car, my heart racing. Georgia's words rang in my ears-I love you, I love you, I love you. Why did she say that? How could she say she loved me when she was the one who broke up with me?Why ask me to stay when a few hours earlier she'd told me to leave? Was I just supposed to go along with her mood swings? Whether it was her mother's doing or not, why did I have to be dragged along?My hands balled into fists. It wasn't fair to me. Bennett had said he made his choice. He made it pretty dang clear. I was confused enough as it was. I kept telling myself to pin it off as drunken babbling, but there was that part of me that wanted it to be true. A very stupid, pitiable part of me."Are you okay, Henley?" Henry asked quietly."I don't know," I said honestly. "I'm not sure if you've noticed but I'm not good at, you know, emotions.""Do you want to talk about it?"My lip twitched, breaking my temper. Henry was too good of a person.
Before I knew it I was gasping on the ground, the phone falling out of my hand. I couldn't find the strength to get up. The world was spinning and suddenly I felt nauseous. Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the foot of the stools. "I'm sorry, Wilson. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."Walter forced me off the ground, leading me over to one of the booths."Wait here. I called someone to pick you up.""Not my mother," I said, my blood going cold with dread."No, Georgia. I didn't call your mother."My muscles relaxed slightly. I was afraid if I tried to relax completely my body would slide back onto the floor. It vaguely registered that I was being embarrassing, but I didn't know how to stop. Like everything else in my life. How to stop my mom from controlling me. How to stop Lee from throwing his life away. How to stop Henley from leaving me.I wasn't aware I'd fallen asleep, but I jolted awake when I felt a small pair of hands shaking my shoulder. "Bennett? Wake up. I'm going to take you
Georgia's POVEmpty.That's how the house felt. Maybe it was how I felt too. Rain beat against the windowpanes, blurring my view of the outside world from where I stood in my living room. Droplets of rain fell from my hair and dropped onto the tiled floor, already muddy and marked from my shoes. I realized belatedly I'd forgotten to take them off.The windows reflected my white washed image but I could barely process it. All I could see was the image my mind kept replaying- of Wilson, tears in his eyes, walking away from me. Straight into Lee.I gasped, grabbing my chest as it clenched agonizingly. My body tensed, trying to fight the pain and waiting for it to pass. Spots blurred my vision and I staggered to the stairs, using the railing as support to pull myself up them and into my bathroom. Locating my strongest bottle of pain relievers, I dumped a couple into my hand, swallowing them down dry.What was Lee doing here? How was he here? Why didn't anyone tell me he was coming? Had I
The sound of a ringtone filled the car and Lee picked up an iPhone from the center console. "Hi, Henry. Yes, she's with me now. No, you don't have to come out to meet us- it's raining, stay inside. We'll be there soon.""Uh, where exactly are we going?" I asked when he hung up, feeling it was a question I should of asked before we started driving."To your place. Henry sent me the address."Again, I thought I should be a little dubious about Henry giving out my address to Lee, but Lee seemed like a safe enough person. And I trusted Henry. Lee couldn't be worse than the hobos, anyway. When we pulled up to my house, Henry was waiting outside on the porch, despite Lee saying not to."Are you that excited to see me?" Lee teased as we climbed up the steps together.Henry cleared his throat, turning his chin up. "It's been awhile.""It has," Lee agreed, shaking off his umbrella. "Still alive, I see."The joke fell short as the happy expression on Henry's face slid off, replaced by a serious
Wilson's POVLee Calloway.His form towered above me, a puzzled expression on his well-featured face. Maybe it wasn't right to think this now, but I couldn't believe how handsome he was. He was like some kind of model or Disney prince or something. He shared Bennett's dark hair and green eyes, but Lee's were contrasted by his pale skin. The word angel flitted to mind.This wasn't how I pictured him to look like, mainly because I pictured him in a coffin, but somehow it made sense that he looked like this. It just fit. Lee Calloway, the angel.Who wasn't dead."Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze lingering on my face.His question starled me and I quickly brushed some stray tears away, feeling embarrassed. Crying in front of strangers wasn't my thing. Especially not my whatever's older brother.Well, ex-whatever."Lee," Bennett said again, his voice sounding more frantic. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay? Does Mom know you're here? Are you okay?""One question at a time, Ben,
"How could she do this?" I whispered, staring at it, my heart beating like crazy in my chest. When had she bought this clothes? When had zhe planned on giving it to me?"What's wrong?" Brandon asked.Zipping the dress back up into the garment bag, I tossed off my apron. "I need to see her. I have to go. Arian, can you close up? Please?"She nodded, seeming bewildered. "Of course. Where are you going? To his house?""Yes." My whole body was trembling.This didn't make any sense. If he was going to end things with me, he wouldn't have bought this dress."Are you going to be okay alone?""I'll bring her."My eyes snapped to the door, where Henry stood, hair matted dovwn from the rain that had just started falling. He pushed his glasses up and gave me a nervous smile. "Hey, Henley.""Henry? What are you doing here?""I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to come see you," he apologized. "Mrs. Calloway made Bennett and I go to Hawaii last week. We just got back today.""Wait, what? You guys hav
Wilson's POVTurns out fighting for our relationship was easier said than done. No matter how hard I tried, I could not contact Georgia. She blocked my number. She blocked my work number. She refused to answer any calls from Solene's phone. When I stopped by her house, her car was never there. It was like he hadn't been home once since zhe'd decided to cut me out of her life, She was doing everything she could to avoid me. I had no doubt in my mind his mother was behind this- especially considering the fact Curtis had coincidentally decided to drop his lawsuit the same day Bennett disappeared. But that didn't mean I was only pissed at her. How could Bennett have given up on me so easily? Why didn't he even try to fight?Why couldn't he just tell me what happened? Why couldn't he have at least ended it face-to-face? There was so much I wanted to say to both of them. There was so much I wanted to say to him. but I just couldn't get to him. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. Thi