Sitting down in the restaurant, I took in the general splendor for dim lighting and warm colors. The entire air of the place was rather romantic, and the way James looked at me made me feel as if I was the only woman in the room he had eyes for, and perhaps that was true, but I had to keep my head straight."This place is really nice," I said as I continued to admire the room before letting my eyes fall upon him. The lust filled gaze he was giving me made my stomach knot with anticipation."I figured you would like it," he replied, lifting his wineglass to his lips with a smirk upon his face.To think, just days ago, I was considering letting go of everything I had with James, and now I was sitting here across from him trying to decide if the situation was real or just an elaborate dream I had come up with."I suppose we should discuss some things…"Hesitation filled my words, but my thoughts kept swirling over the possibility he had been pining for me day and night since we
"Give me a moment, and I'll grab my things," I called out to James as I made my way through the living room toward my bedroom. Neal wasn't home right now, but that was fine. He texted me to let me know he was heading up towards the university to sign off on the properties he purchased.I wasn't sure how he could make things happen so quickly, but I knew, in the society of the rich, there were no timelines to getting what you wanted. Packing my clothes into my suitcase, I moved around the room and stopped when I felt someone behind me. Turning, I spotted James leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest and an unsettling look on his face."What's wrong?"Taking a moment, he shook his head and pushed a smile onto his face. "Nothing. Almost done?"I knew there was more to what he wasn't saying, but I chose not to press him for the information. If he really wanted me to know, he would tell me, and right now wasn't the place for it.Zipping up the last o
Becca.The tension was high when we met Neal to look at the apartment. I had suddenly regretted the idea of letting something like that happen because the entire time James looked like he was going to kill Neal. Which wasn't good.Every moment Neal made regarding me, I felt as if James was pulling me back. Every word Neal would say, I heard the scoff of disapproval leave James' throat.He wasn't pleased with Neal being there, and I wasn't quite sure why.Never once had I honestly seen James act truly jealous, but right now, I found it all more than amusing. "Well, that was fun."As soon as Neal left, and James and I were left alone, I tried to find a way to approach the conversation. James paced around the living room of my new apartment, glancing out the large bay windows as he watched Neal walk to his car."What are you doing?" I finally asked him, causing him to look over his shoulder at me."Why didn't you tell me?" he replied with irritation in his tone.Furrowi
Becca.If I had to describe how the current set of events were going with James, I would have to describe them as odd. Two days had passed with flying colors, and James and I did the things normal couples would do. Shopping, sex, and so on.Yet, it was different from how it was before. It didn't feel the same, and I wasn't sure why.Standing in my kitchen, I looked around at my new apartment. Furniture deliveries came late yesterday, and boxes from the movers still lined the walkways. I had a lot to do to get set up, but I was missing one very important aspect.James Valentino.Twenty minutes ago, I was shedding tears because he was telling me he had to leave. Twenty minutes ago, I was going through a rush of emotions, trying to reassure myself we could make this work and that everything was going to be okay. Twenty minutes ago, everything changed. The moment he walked out of my front door after kissing me goodbye, I burst into tears, wanting to run after him, telling h
James.The moment I landed in Miami, I was bombarded with messages from Allison, Tally, and even Becca. Even others messaged me, questioning me about a mystery woman I had been seen with. Of course, Alison pointed out that it was clearly Becca.I was confused about what they were talking about, but as soon as I opened my phone, I saw the picture of Becca and I at the Convention in New York. We weren't alone, of course, we were with Neal and two other people that were in the background.The photo wasn't intimate, but we were very close, and we were talking. The photo must have been taken right after I had kissed her, but it was still enough to make people question who she was and if we were more.That wasn't what mattered, though. Allison had assumed that Becca had not heeded her warning, and it didn't matter how many times that I told her to back off and leave Becca alone. She refused.This was the last thing I needed right now while I was trying to fix my relationship
Becca With James being gone, I had to keep myself preoccupied, which meant diving into my studies and pretending to be the A plus student I had always been. While the other seniors were enjoying spending time with their loved ones and friends, I hid away in the library when needed and then rushed through the halls to my next class, learning as much as I could before heading home.There wasn't much I honestly wanted to do. The one person who I wanted to spend my time with wasn't here, and as much as I missed him, I understood the importance of making sure business was taken care of.Walking from one of my math classes and heading towards the library, I ended up bumping into a familiar face in the hallway I hadn't seen in almost two years."Becca?" Tyson asked as he looked down at me with a large grin across his face. His dark, shaggy hair hanging just below his eyes before he quickly whipped his head to the side, moving his hair from his eyes."Tyson, I didn't think tha
James.The short conversation I had with Becca the night before had been playing on my mind all day. She seemed down and worn out over all the issues with the people talking about what was going on with her and me.It didn't matter how much my PR team tried to make things go away, Allison was very determined to make sure that Becca paid for even thinking that she could have me. Never in my life had I thought Allison was going to be like this.After all these years of us being divorced, she was the pettiest woman I've ever met, and I had regretted ever spending part of my life with her.Trying to keep myself preoccupied, I made plans to take Becca to Europe during Christmas break. I wanted to show her how much she meant to me and that things were going to get better. She deserved it, after all."Mr. Valentino, there is a man here to see you," Evette said from my office door. She seemed on edge, and her nervousness didn't sit well with me. However, I nodded and gestured with
AllisonHanging up the phone with James, I couldn't stop the anger coursing through me. For him to honestly think he could just speak to me however he wanted to was beyond insane. I was, once upon a time, the only woman he loved, and since the moment that little whore Becca stepped into our lives, I had completely lost control of him.Pacing around my living room, I took in the fading decor and the unfortunate end to the lavish lifestyle I had once lived. I had lost so much over the past few years and all because James didn't understand the needs I had.He had been gone all the time traveling overseas, and with the many photos I constantly had seen of him with other women, it was hard for me to believe he wasn't cheating on me. So, in a moment of weakness, I had slept with somebody else. It wasn't anything serious. It was a one time thing, and yet, James never forgave me for what I had done.Even though I had forgiven him so many times over the transgressions against me he h