Broken Ever After (30 page)

I quickly dialled Austin
’s number to find out where Logan was. He said he’d send him over to me so he could take me to my parents to collect some things and to see Jamie.

Picking the nicest set of underwear that Jamie had bought for me I quickly changed in to them. I slipped on some shorts
, a cute white sleeveless shirt that I tied low at the front and slipped my Converse on. Logan messaged me to say that he was outside. I gingerly left my room keeping my head down and my eyes firmly fixed on my phone as I headed for the door. Riley stepped in my way blocking what I’d hoped was an unnoticeable exit.

“
Going somewhere?”

“
Out.” I said as I kept staring at my phone, opening up a game for something to keep my eyes away from his.

“
Let me grab my jacket and I’ll be right with you.”

“
Logan is waiting for me, you don’t need to come.”

“
It’s my job to escort you when you leave the apartment.”

“
I just need to grab some things from my parents if I’m staying here. It won’t take long and like I said, Logan will be with me.” He raised his eyebrow at me as he pulled his phone from his pocket, dialling a number.

“
Miss Stevens informs me that you are escorting her to collect some belongings from her parent’s house is that right?” He listened to Logan on the other end. His jaw tightened. “Ok. Aye, see ya later.” He stuck his phone back in his trouser pocket and turned, heading for the door, swiping his jacket from a chair on his way.

“
You’re not coming.”

“
I know. I’m just making sure you get to the car ok.” I rolled my eyes and followed him. He called the lift then stood close to me as we waited, watching each other in the mirrored doors. I lowered my head, my hair falling down in a veil attempting to shield me from his stare. I risked another glance back up, to find his eyes doing a slow rake over my body. What the hell is he playing at? The edge of his lip quirked up in a smirk, with his eyes filled with pure lust. I knew from the lump forming in his trousers which he made no effort to hide, that in his mind he was doing obscenely hot things to me.

A shiver ran through my body
, as his eyes landed on my chest. His tongue flicked out over his lips, moistening them. I could feel my nipples tighten, budding up for him as he continued to ogle me. His lips twisted into
that
smirk again as he took in my chest’s obvious reaction to him.

The lift pinged to signal its arrival
and the doors parted to let us enter. Riley offered his hand forward, gesturing that I enter first. I considered making a break for the stairs but stepped in and turned around to face the doors. Riley’s tall frame stepped in, in front of me; he pressed the button for the lobby before turning to face me with his intense stare. I took an involuntary step back; a smirk appeared on his lips as he stepped forward placing his palms on the wall, his forearms brushing my shoulders, trapping me in.

“
I haven’t seen you all morning. Have you been avoiding me?” I shook my head but inside I was screaming yes.
Of course
I was avoiding him, I was humiliated.

I kept my gaze fixed on the knot of his tie rather than look up at his face; it was easier to be near him if I didn’t look directly at him. He swallowed hard, drawing my attention to his throat; my mind automatically going to that dark place where my lips where running up his throat, my tongue flicking over his skin to taste him as I sat atop of h
im.

“
Last night-”

“
Won’t. Happen. Again.” I cut him off, assuring him firmly. The corner of his mouth twitched to smile subtly again as he towered over me, backing me further into the corner.

“
It won’t happen again or I won’t catch you again?” I nodded my head. “Which one?” His left eyebrow rose slightly with the question.

“
The first one.”

“
Really? You won’t
ever
do that again?” I shook my head at him. “You’re telling me that after I just visually fucked you up there, you’re not dying to lock yourself away back in your bedroom and feel what I’ve done to you? You don’t want to do it over and over again?” He moved his hand from the wall to my face, his index finger stroked over my burning hot cheek down to lift my chin. I tried to look away from him but he gripped me with his finger and thumb, holding me in place before he stooped down to whisper in my ear. “Because I’d really love it if you did.” His hot breath fanning over my ear made a shiver ripple through my body.

The lift glided to a standstill as it reached the lobby
, the ping echoing through my ears. Riley dropped his hand, quickly buttoned his jacket and turned leaving me behind. I dived through the closing doors, following Riley out to the car sat by the curb.

Putting his hand on the door handle
, he turned back to me. “Have you changed your mind yet?” I shook my head as he opened up the car for me. “You will.” He stated confidently before closing the door on me.

“
Urgh he’s obnoxious.” I muttered to myself as I fastened my seatbelt. Logan’s laughter from the driver’s seat broke through my thoughts.

“
That’s what all the girls say.” Logan quipped.

“
Huh?”

“
Girls are usually falling over themselves to hire him.” He shook his head and turned around to face me. “Austin tells me we need to collect some things from your parents then you’d like to visit your boyfriend’s house?” I nodded.

***

Mum and dad were nowhere to be seen. I found a note pinned to the kitchen board telling me they were called to hospital for an accident and they would come to Austin’s when they could. I quickly packed a few things before running back out to Logan.

When we arrived at Jamie
’s I noticed one of his cars out in the driveway which was odd. He said he never left them out unless he was using them, so he must have been awake. Was he avoiding me? I knocked on the door but he never answered. I chanced the handle to find the door unlocked.

Stepping inside I
called out to Jamie and Anna to see if they were around, but no one replied. I popped my head into the lounge, noticing the table covered in beer bottles. In two places. I turned back to head for the stairs when I noticed a pair of shoes, beautiful black stilettoes, laid askew by the bottom step. I quickly ran up with a tight knot forming in my stomach.

“
Jamie?” I called once more as I pushed open his bedroom door.

He stood beside his bed
, hopping into his jeans with a t-shirt around his neck, half pulled on.

“
Baby it’s not what it looks like, I promise! I swear it, Liv.” My eyebrows furrowed not following what he meant until I looked to the other side of the bed to see a girl with long blonde hair stood in her bra and panties shimmying back into her very short denim skirt and equally revealing top laid out on the bed.

My hand flew up to my mouth to hold in the sob threatening to break through my lips. No. No. This isn
’t happening. This is so not happening. I took an involuntary step back.

“
No, Liv don’t go. Let me explain.” I took another step back. “No! Olivia wait!”

“
Oh just let her go.” my head snapped back to the girl, stood smiling at me as she pulled her top down. I couldn’t stand to listen to any more of his pleas. I turned and ran as fast as my legs could carry me down the stairs.

“
Olivia! Don’t go!” Jamie chased me, but stopped as he reached the gravel driveway with his bare feet. Logan saw me running towards him and started the car. As soon as I shut the door he hit the accelerator heading for the gates. I felt like I was having a Cinderella moment as they began to close but Logan made it through with an inch to spare. I looked behind to see Jamie run back out of the house pulling his fingers through his hair while he yelled after me.

I threw myself down over the seat
, taking my mind to that safe place where nothing bad ever happened. I imagined sitting in the long grass by an easy river, birds humming in the trees, leaves rustling in the summer breeze as I made daisy chains. I hadn’t made daisy chains since I was six. I looked up from my pile of flowers to see that the weather had changed. It was cloudy and cold, the river ran noisily over the rocks and I shivered. I could hear my name being called but looking around I couldn’t see who was looking for me.

Don
’t find me. Please don’t find me
. A rustling in the trees startled me enough that it sent me right back out of my… sleep? I fell asleep? It was just a dream.

I looked around to find that I was on my bed
, safe. A hand trailed down my back over my hair. I became aware that I was leaning on someone and sat bolt upright.

“
Hey… Are you ok?” I was totally disorientated, being in the car one minute and waking up on Riley’s lap. I pulled away from him slightly, his hand slipped from my hair to rest on my lower back. “Wanna tell me what happened?” I furrowed my eyebrows at him for a second before realisation hit me.
Jamie. Her.
I shook my head as tears welled up in my eyes.

“
He was- there was- they were-”

“
Heeyy, easy, just breathe ok? Just breathe.” He pulled me back to his chest, cradling my head as I cried; I nodded and tried to breathe through my sobs. Once I managed to calm down I was able to tell him what had happened.

“
Want me to go beat him up for you?” I feigned a smile and shook my head. “You sure? I could probably twist him like a pretzel and you wouldn’t even recognise him.” I shook my head again and wiped my eyes, attempting to pull myself together.

“
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be crying to you.” I pulled myself up again and moved from his lap, desperately needing away from his gorgeous aftershave.

“
I don’t mind. It’s my job to make sure you’re ok.”

“
It’s your job to make sure I’m safe, not that my mental stability is intact. Which right now, I’m not so sure that it is.” I could feel tears threatening to fall again.

“
So let’s pretend that I’ve not been hired by your uncle, let’s pretend I’m just your friend. What would you say?”

“
I’d ask if you were gay.” He guffawed, almost falling from my bed with his laughter.

“
What- where- where the hell did that come from?” I smiled watching him try to control his laughter.

“
Because you’re too hot for girls to just be friends with.” That stopped him laughing. He was watching me intently, like he was waiting to make a move. His lips parted as his breath hitched, his fingers twitched on his knee. I stood from the bed quickly and began pacing the length of my room. “In all seriousness, I never thought he’d be like that. After everything he said. After what we-” did, I added silently. He was my first. My first for a lot of things and I now hated myself for giving them to him so willingly. “Remind me to steer clear of seemingly shy and charming millionaires. Apparently they are a bunch of dirt bags like the rest of them. I should have realised he’d be hiding more than just money.” I pulled at my hair. “God I’m so stupid! How could I have been so bloody stupid?”

“
He deceived you; you can’t blame yourself for that.” He winced with his words; I did too.

“
I should be used to that, people have a habit of it. I just didn’t think he’d…” I sighed, pulling at my hair again. Anger took over me instead of grief as my footsteps became quicker and heavier. “I told him everything.
Everything
.” I felt like hitting something. I needed to work out my frustration on something. I turned, my gaze landing back on Riley. He had lost the lustful look that he’d had earlier, but as I stood staring at him it soon came back. Could I really use him as a distraction and get back at Jamie at the same time? The doorbell ringing broke me out of those thoughts.

“
I’ll go see who it is. You stay in here, ok?” I nodded and followed him to the door. “If it’s him, do you want me to get rid of him?” I nodded again.

“
I don’t want to see him. Ever.” Riley left my room calling building security as he walked to answer the door, I could tell from the frantic thumping on it that it was Jamie. I kept my door open just an inch so that I could listen to them.

“
Where is she?” Jamie yelled at Riley.

“
She doesn’t want to see you.”

“
Olivia!” Jamie called out for me. “Get your hands off me!
Olivia!
” I stepped out of my room against better judgement and walked towards the door. Riley had Jamie pinned against the wall, trapping his hands behind his back.

“
I’ve asked you nicely to leave, but you’ve given me no choice but to forcibly remove you. She doesn’t-”

“
Why are you here, Jamie?” Riley looked round to me, glaring at me.