The Ex Games (7 page)

“Class, I want to introduce you to multi-billionaire Brandon Hastings. Mr. Hastings, meet the freshmen business students of Columbia University.” Brandon smiled at the crowd and nodded, but his eyes sought mine. They looked shocked and angry, and I felt deeply ashamed of myself. I wanted to scream at Professor Wright for telling him we were all freshmen. I wasn’t even going to be able to pretend that I was a senior. I felt immediately angry at myself for even thinking of replacing one lie with another. The talk seemed to pass by like a flash of lightning. I was surprised because I had thought it would drag on. But somehow, hearing Brandon’s voice soothed me. He sounded normal, happy even, and I was able to convince myself that everything was going to be okay. But then the class ended and he walked out with the professor without even giving me a second glance. I sat at the back of the room for about five minutes, unsure of what to say and do. I felt frozen to my seat. I was scared to leave the room and face what was to come. I didn’t want to go to my study group and I didn’t want to go home. I felt a tear sliding down my face as I sat there. I wanted my mom. I wanted to go home and hide in my bed and forget everything. I wanted to pretend like none of this had happened. I wanted to pretend I hadn’t seen the look of anger and distrust in Brandon’s eyes. I wanted to pretend that my heart didn’t feel like it was cracking.

I stood up slowly and walked to the door with my heart in my mouth. I felt like my world was about to end and I didn’t know how to stop it.

“Hey,” Brandon was standing outside the door as I walked out.

“Hey.” I smiled at him, happy to see him. For a moment I thought that everything was okay. I reached over to kiss him and he pulled away in disgust.

“No.” He shook his head. “We need to talk.”

“I’m sorry, Brandon.” I rushed out. “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how.”

“How old are you?” He looked at me and studied my face and body as if seeing me for the first time.

“18.” I mumbled.

“What?”

“I’m 18.”

“Not 22?”

“No, I’m not 22.”

“Jesus Christ.” He exclaimed and then swore.

“It doesn’t change how I feel about you.” I reached out to touch his face and he recoiled away from me.

“It changes everything, Katie.” His voice was loud. “You’re a fucking freshman in college.”

“I still love you.”

“You don’t even know what love is.” He spat out the words and looked at me in disgust. “I can’t believe you lied to me! You’ve been lying to me, all this time. How could you?”

“I didn’t mean to lie.” I felt my eyelids getting heavy. “It’s not something I intended to do.”

“What was the text message all about?” He pulled out his phone. “I was going to buy you fucking flowers, Katie. I was going to buy you flowers and take you to dinner to congratulate you.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked down ashamed.

“So where did the promotion come from? Is it because I told you I wanted to have kids with you? Did you need to figure out a reason to get out of committing to me?”

“No, that’s not it.” I cried out. “That’s not why. I have to go home for Christmas.” I said slowly. “My parents expect me to come home over Christmas break.”

“Oh my god, your parents.” His eyes looked glazed. “That’s why you’ve never told them about me, and why I’ve never met your friends. They don’t know about me, do they?”

“They do, at least my friends do.” I bit my lower lip. “I was scared for you to meet them, they all look their age.”

“You mean you were worried that I would wonder why all my girlfriend’s friends were 18 and in college?” He laughed bitterly. “Or were you going to ask them to lie to me as well?”

“No, of course not.” I reached for his hand. “Please, Brandon. Don’t be like this. I love you.”

“You love me?” He laughed a deep sorrowful sound. “You love me, huh?”

“Yes,” I nodded bleakly. “I really do love you.”

“Then prove it to me.”

“How?”

“Fuck me.”

“Huh?” I looked at him confused.

“Let’s go outside and find somewhere to fuck.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you love me, you will do anything I want to make me happy, right?”

“Yes, of course.” I swallowed and followed him out of the building.

“Follow me.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me besides him. We walked to the front of the library and then to the side of the building by the trash bins. “Pull your skirt up and bend over.”

“What?” I frowned as he pushed me forward and lifted my skirt up before pulling my panties down.

“I want to fuck you.”

“Here?” I looked at him like he was crazy. Anyone could walk around the corner and see us.

“Yes, here.” He unzipped his pants and pulled his cock out, before rubbing the tip of his cock against my opening. “Shit, you’re wet already.” He groaned as he slowly entered me.

“Oh, Brandon.” I groaned as he filled me up.

“I love you, you know that, right, Katie?” He grunted as he pushed me towards the garbage cans. “Hold on tight, this is going to be hard and fast.”

“I love you too, Brandon.” I moaned, not caring in that moment if anyone heard or saw me. “Please forgive me.”

“Shh.” He moved faster and faster and I gripped onto the garbage cans tightly as he pummeled into me, letting all of his emotions out. He came hard and fast and his sperm ran down my leg as he pulled out mid orgasm. “Oh, sorry.” He looked down at the line of semen that cascaded down my leg.

“It’s okay.” I nodded and quickly pulled my panties up and my skirt down. “Can we talk?”

“I don’t think so.” He zipped his pants up. “I’ve got to get back to the office.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip. “We can do lunch if you want, like you said earlier.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh, maybe I can cook you dinner tonight?”

“No.” He shook his head and looked at me with a blank stare. “I won’t be there tonight.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll give you time to pack up your stuff.”

“Pack up my stuff?” I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I want you out by this weekend.” He shrugged. “I’m sure it won’t take long to pack up. You didn’t bring much. I know why now.”

“I don’t want to move out.” I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying. “I love you.”

“It’s over, Katie.”

“But I love you and you love me.” I protested, trying to grab his arm and make him look at me.

“I don’t date high school girls.”

“I’m not in high school.”

“Close enough. What difference does a couple of months really make?” He looked up at me then and stared into my eyes. “Thanks for the last fuck, though, it’s a better memory for me to keep than in the classroom.” And then he turned around and walked away. I stood there for about 30 minutes, stunned and dazed at what had happened. Tears streamed down my face and I sat on the ground, crying as my heart broke.

Chapter 4

“I still have some of your things,” Brandon continued as we walked into the large conference room.

“Oh, you could have flung them out.” I gave him a weak smile. “I’m sure none of those clothes fit me anymore.”

“Yeah, perhaps not.” He shrugged and looked at my figure. I felt slightly self—conscious as he looked me over. I had definitely filled out since I was 18. Bigger breasts, curvier figure, bigger ass. “But I didn’t know if there was anything you would have wanted to keep.”

“Oh, well, thanks.” I glanced at his face again, unable to stop myself from studying his features. I wanted to reach over and trace the lines of his face. It felt surreal to be standing here with him. This was the first time I’d seen him since we had broken up. I’d never gone back to the apartment after he had broken up with me. I’d gone to my dorm room and cried and cried and Meg had comforted me when she came back after her classes. I’d felt humiliated and used. Abandoned and abused, and I hated him and myself. If only I hadn’t lied. Things would have been different then. That’s all I could tell myself. Every day seemed the same and I waited by the phone anxiously, willing it to ring and for it to be him, begging me to forgive him and take him back. Only he never called. And I never called him. I was too scared that he wouldn’t pick up, or that he would tell me that he hated me. I held out hope for two months and then I saw a photograph of him in the
New York Post
at some function with some blonde. They were kissing, and the caption said something like
Eligible bachelor Brandon Hastings off the market
. My heart broke and I lost all hope of reconciliation. He was done with me. Forever. And there was nothing that I could do.

“It is good seeing you again.” He nodded. “Welcome to Marathon Corp.”

“Thank you, you too.” I nodded politely, as if he wasn’t the guy who bent me over a garbage can, fucked me, and then dumped me.

“Try to keep telling the truth.” His eyes flashed at me and he walked away. I found a seat at the table and made sure to sit away from where he was standing. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. I wanted to avoid him as much as possible. I didn’t want to hear his voice or look into his eyes. I wanted to pretend that this moment wasn’t happening. If I could just pretend it wasn’t happening, then maybe I could ignore the stirrings of emotion in my stomach. I sat down and leafed through the folder eagerly, pretending that it was the most interesting thing I had seen in years. I didn’t make small talk with anyone and I didn’t look up. Finally, a lady announced that we were all to sit down. I stayed where I was. I felt safe here. And then
he
sat next to me.

“Seat vacant?” His voice was low as he sat down next to me, and I nodded as I screamed inside. “I hope you don’t mind sitting next to the big boss.”

“Not at all.” I faked a smile and looked away.

“Liar.” He whispered and I looked up at him in surprise. His eyes sparkled as he stared at me. “It’s driving you crazy that I’m sitting here.”

“No, it’s not.” I stuttered and he reached his hand under the table and touched my knee.”

“I can feel your legs shaking.” He leaned towards me and whispered in my ear. “I’m sure if I slipped my fingers under your skirt, your panties would be wet as well.”

My eyes grew wide at his words. “What?” I gasped and pushed his hand away. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think?” He cocked his head and smiled before standing up. “Welcome to the Marathon Corp management orientation, everyone. I’m your new CEO, Brandon Hastings.” He looked around the room and smiled widely. “I’m happy to meet everyone this weekend and tell you the direction I see our company going in. We’re going to start off with some introductions and icebreakers, thanks to Human Resources, and then we’ll take a fifteen-minute break.” Everyone clapped at his words and he laughed. “I don’t want you all to fall in love with me too quickly. I’m a hard man to please, and as your boss I’ll be looking for your best work. I don’t take excuses or lies well, so if you want to continue working here, you will all put in your best effort.” Everyone was nodding in agreement at his words, and I had a worried feeling in my stomach. Was he setting everything up like this so he could fire me?

“So why don’t I start first, and then the lovely lady to my left will continue.” He smiled down at me graciously and I pretended to smile back at him. “My name is Brandon Hastings, and I’m in my early 40s. This is the third company I’ve run and it likely won’t be the last. I enjoy gourmet cooking—I know, I know, it’s not believable, right?” He laughed. “But I took a class with an old girlfriend and I haven’t been able to shake the habit, or her.” He laughed again and I could feel myself blushing. “Let’s see, I currently live by myself in New York City, though that may be changing soon.” He gave me a look and I stared at him, wondering what his last sentence meant. “You’re next.”

“Okay, thanks.” I stood up and took a deep breath. “Hello everyone, my name is Katie, Katie Raymond. I’m 25 and a graduate of Columbia and NYU. I live in New York as well, but I’m from Florida. As chance would have it, I also took a cooking class with an ex-boyfriend, but I rarely find time to cook. I guess he got all the skills.” I made a face and everyone laughed, except for Brandon. “Let’s see.” I said warming up. “I’ve only worked at Marathon Corp for about a month but I love it so far, so I hope that never changes. Oh, I’m in love with French movies, even though I don’t speak French.”

“Maybe that’s something someone taught you to love?” Brandon spoke lightly, and I smiled as I nodded at him.

“Yes, someone I loved introduced me to French movies.” I stared at him as I spoke and sat down. I continued to stare at him even when the man next to me started talking. Brandon’s eyes searched mine for a moment before he sighed and turned away. I felt the resolve building up in my body: I wasn’t going to let him make me feel bad for what had happened. I had been young, I’d made a mistake. He couldn’t hold it against me forever. The introductions seemed to take forever, and I sat back in my chair with a fake smile on my face as I pretended to listen to what everyone was saying. I tried not to notice as Brandon’s chair moved closer to mine, but there was no way to ignore the feel of his fingers as they ran up and down my leg.

“I’ve missed you.” He leaned over and whispered in my ear. I pretended to ignore his touch and his voice and kept my face straight ahead. He pulled away from me, but his fingers continued to draw lines on my leg. I tried to shift them away from him, but my movement gave him more access than I would have liked and his fingers were able to work their way up thigh, higher than I would have liked.

“Stop it.” I finally turned my head and whispered at him.

“Stop what?” He gave me a questioning smile as his finger ran all the way up my thigh and then lightly across my panties.

“You know what.” I gasped and clenched my legs. That was a mistake, because now I had trapped his hand right there. He immediately took it to his advantage and rubbed in between my legs softly. I could feel my panties growing wet and I reached down and pulled his hand out.

“That’s not appropriate.” I hissed at him and he smiled.