I arrived at the hotel and noticed there was some activity around the place. Unlike last time, it wasn’t empty today, and as I walked around the lobby, I heard the voices coming from the hallway leading to the restaurant. I noticed there were some contractors, wearing their khakis and hard hats. At first I thought to ignore them, but then I caught some snippets of their conversation, and I froze in place.
“Tearing this place down?” one of the contractors said. I took several steps closer to them and hid behind the corner, paying attention not to get caught eavesdropping.
“Yes. I heard they will tear the place down. It’s just too much of a hassle for the new owner. It’s worth is nothing compared to the value of the purchase! They figured out that it’s useless to spend their resources and money on this place, so this is the best solution at the moment,” the other contractor said.
No. No, this couldn’t be true! I couldn’t believe this. Charles wouldn’t do this.
“Well, this isn’t a surprise, to tell you the truth,” the first one remarked flatly. “I mean, I heard some rumors about that company. They are all talk and no action. Besides, this place isn’t really that special. I have no idea what’s all the fuss about it.”
“Well, it really is nothing special. It’s no wonder this hotel went bankrupt in the first place. Maybe it’s haunted?” The both of them laughed at his joke. “I don’t know, man, but that new owner is a fool for buying this building in the first place. I mean, come on, it’s obvious you’ll lose more than you’ll ever gain from this place. It’s completely useless. A waste of space.”
“You’re right. Maybe the new owner has some other use of this land?”
“Nah. There is no way. It’s useless, I tell you. That whole project is useless.”
Oh my God. As I stood listening to them, I began trembling. My limbs were cold and my knees threatened to give out on me. I had to get out of here before I made a fool of myself.
I moved slowly so I wouldn’t get caught and got out of the hotel. I stopped on the sidewalk and looked at the clear sky, feeling completely devastated.
I couldn’t believe this place would get torn down! No. This beautiful hotel where I’d made so many precious memories—a place I held dear in my heart—was going to be demolished. It wouldn’t even exist.
This was definitely my most important project so far, and I’d put so many emotions and hours of work into it. It meant a lot to me. I kept passing by it for years on my way around the city, hoping one day I would be the one who would transform it into something beautiful again.
I’d fantasized so many times about its redecorated rooms and hallways, and then people’s expressions of awe when they saw how beautiful it was. I was already so proud of my design, even though it was just a pure wish.
It broke my heart to hear this, but what hurt me more—what really made me sad, disappointed, and angry—was Charles’s betrayal.
He’d lied to me.
He’d lied to me from the start—promising me so much, when in fact he didn’t even want to do anything with that building. It was all a lie. He’d never thought to redecorate it. He’d never believed in its value. He’d wanted to destroy it from the start—probably planning to build something that would bring him much more money.
I should have known better. After all, he was completely rude toward me at the beginning, insulting me like I was a cheap slut, and I should have never believed he was any better than that.
My tears welled up in my eyes and I pressed my hand against my chest to ease the painful throbbing of my heart. It was pointless, though, because it only started hurting more, and despite being in a public place, I started crying, unable to hold my emotions inside.
Charles was lying to me the whole time just to get me in bed.
To take my virginity.
When did he plan to tell me the truth? Did he ever plan to tell me the truth, actually? He probably didn’t even want to bother with telling me such a thing, planning to fuck me a few more times and ditch me when he got bored.
I sniffed, wiping off my tears, but they kept coming back. I sat down on the bench, hoping I would manage to calm down somehow.
All my memories with Charles came crashing back to me and I realized the full extent of what I’d heard today. Nothing was real. He’d acted like he would be okay with anything I might come up with, promising to provide me with money I would need for my design, when in fact all he’d been thinking about was getting laid. He was a liar, a manipulator and a playboy, inconsiderate of others and their feelings.
Oh, I even told him how I felt about the whole project! I’d told him how important it was with me, sharing my most precious memories as I thought he would understand me and appreciate my story. I could only imagine now how ridiculous I’d sounded to him. All he’d ever been interested about was my body and nothing else.
I was completely embarrassed that I’d let him do all those things to me—controlling me and “punishing” me—falling for him all too easily. I sobbed, clutching onto my chest harder.
Oh no. There was no escaping it. I had to admit it to myself...
I was actually in love with him.
I shook my head, not believing how stupid I was. I had guarded myself heavily my whole life, always focused on the work because I’d known better. I’d been smarter than this. Now, I’d made the biggest mistake of my life, and this was the price—my shattered heart.
I got up from the bench, feeling worse than ever. I was such a fool for actually falling for him. I didn’t know anything about him, yet I’d let my stupid heart get the best of me. I’d let my emotions overrule my reason, and this was what I got. Nothing.
They would tear down this building and with it my dreams and my heart.
I couldn’t go back to the office now. I couldn’t stand to see Charles again. If I did, I would break completely, and I wouldn’t let that happen. I didn’t want to listen to his lies anymore, and I certainly didn’t want to let him use me for his pleasure only.
That was finished. No more.
After everything, I lost my motivation and will to make this place better, and I felt unusually empty. I didn’t know what I was going to do from now on. I would have to quit, but I was too broken now to do that. I would have to calm down and resign when I became able to think about everything more clearly.
I decided to go back to my apartment and stay there for the rest of the day. Fighting with my tears, I got in my car and drove off from the place that would soon disappear—like it had never been there.
Chapter Seventeen
Charles
Where the hell was she?
I held onto my head as I felt some unusual anxiety fill my chest. I’d never felt like this before—not even during the most stressful projects. I had some sick feeling that something bad happened, but I had no idea what that could be.
I couldn’t find Rebecca anywhere. I called her phone multiple times, but she didn’t answer it. She wasn’t at the office. My secretary told me Rebecca had arrived to her office this morning, and then she left a few hours later, but she never came back.
Lunch time had already passed and she was still absent. I was already hung up on her and so worried. Did something happen to her? There must be a reason for her sudden absence.
“Shit,” I hissed and hit my fist against my desk.
Where was she?
This was bad. I knew I’d already fallen hard for her. I still couldn’t quite believe it, but it was true—I cared about her and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I was seriously going crazy. I couldn’t remember the last time I cared about a woman this much—if ever.
Even though I’d told myself to let it go and wait for her to come on her own, I couldn’t do that. This was stronger than me. I needed to see her. I didn’t know where she lived, so I had to do a search and find out her address. I was sick with worry and desperate to see her as soon as possible.
I logged into the company’s files and searched through our emp
loyees’ directory. After several tense minutes, I found her name and her address.
I got up, picking up my jacket, and rushed out of my office. I couldn’t wait until I finished with work. I had to see her right away. Hopefully, she would be at home and nothing was wrong.
I left the office and went to her apartment. Then again, if she was at home, why did she leave her work? Why didn’t she come back?
“Ugh,” I grunted and exhaled, feeling frustrated beyond words. I drove fast, speeding through the city as the rising anxiety got the best of me.
I parked my car on the nearby parking lot and got out, looking around the area. I quickly found her building, which was a brown brick façade that consisted of five floors only, and climbed up the stairs until I reached her floor.
My heart was beating fast when I arrived in front of her door, and it had nothing to do with me running to come here. I was so nervous, and when I knocked on the door, I even gave myself a small pep talk that everything was going to be alright.
I waited for several moments, but there was no answer. I knocked on her door again, fighting against the negative thoughts.
“Come on, open the door. I need to see you,” I muttered, tapping my foot.
A few seconds later, she opened the door, and my heart felt like it was going to burst when I finally saw her. Relief filled me when I saw she was alright and in one piece, but then I frowned when I noticed the way she looked. The first thing I saw were her bloodshot, puffy eyes and extremely pale face. She looked like she’d been crying. She was dressed in her pajamas, and for a moment I thought she got sick with the flu or something like that.
Her face changed from the initial surprise to anger, and my heart missed a bit. What had happened?
“Rebecca, angel, are you alright? Are you sick?” I took a step toward her, but she sent me a glare that froze me in place.
“Don’t you dare take another step,” she hissed. “I don’t want to see you ever again.”
I felt like she’d slapped me. What the hell? “Rebecca? What happened? Talk to me.”
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she exploded, her face twisting in fury. She was trembling hard, and I felt so fucking confused because I had no idea what could have happened that made her this angry. “You are the most despicable person I’ve ever met. You are a liar! So, go away and don’t come near me ever again.”
The next moment she slammed the door in my face, and all I could do was look at it, feeling completely flabbergasted.
What kind of shit was this now? I couldn’t believe she was so angry!
The worst part of this was that she didn’t even want to talk to me. She was clearly mad at me for something I wasn’t even aware of.
I clenched my fists, willing myself to calm down my breathing, and took a step backward.
I didn’t understand. The last time we were together had been so hot and had blown my mind. Everything had been perfect so far. We got along great and the project was also going well.
So what had happened?
She’d called me a liar, and I had no idea what she was talking about. I’d never lied to her, so now I was more confused than ever.
“Shit,” I hissed and finally moved, looking one last time at the door she’d slammed in my face. She really wouldn’t open it and talk with me, huh?
I shook my head and rushed down the stairs. I was feeling bitter and hurt, but what bothered me the most was the feeling of emptiness that was spreading through me. It was something I’d never experienced before. I was shocked, because I’d never thought I would ever feel like this, but now that I fell for her so hard, I needed her more than ever, and this situation was making me feel like shit.
I needed her back, but I had no idea how to do that.
Chapter Eighteen
Rebecca
I’d thought the next day would be better. I’d thought the hurt would pass and I would be able to think more clearly after I took some rest.
I was so wrong. The next day had come, and I felt worse than before.
Even though I’d been trying to fall asleep the whole night, tossing and turning in my bed again and again, I finally gave up and spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling and feeling more miserable.
At six in the morning I got out of my bed, dragged myself to my kitchen, and sat down on the chair, contemplating whether to drink coffee or not. I was exhausted and I needed something to give me energy badly, but I never drank coffee since I hated it.
I got up and choose to make some tea instead. Maybe it would calm my horrible nerves.
I couldn’t believe I fell for Charles’s lies. When he appeared on my doorstep yesterday, I thought I was delusional. I didn’t expect him at all, especially since I’d been ignoring all his calls, and he’d called me a bunch of times.
How did he know where I lived?
I rolled my eyes. “You work for him, Rebecca,” I muttered sarcastically to myself. “He is the owner, and it’s not that difficult for him to find your address in the company’s files.”
I poured my tea in the cup and went to the living room.
I felt angry at myself, because the moment I saw him yesterday, looking all worried for me, I actually wanted to fall into his embrace. I wanted him to tell me I’d misunderstood everything and he never lied to me. Then I remembered he was a liar and a manipulator, and he would definitely feed me with more lies. There was no justification or other explanation—Charles Talon had lied to me from the beginning and he didn’t feel even a flicker of warm emotions toward me. He’d just used me.
I started crying again. I didn’t remember when the last time I cried this was much. I’d cried the whole day yesterday, but apparently that wasn’t enough for my tear ducts. I was supposed to be stronger than this, but the truth was I didn’t know what to do now. This project was obviously a failure, so I had to think about something else...
I turned on my TV and switched the channels until I saw a familiar building on the screen. I increased the volume, realizing this was a news story about the hotel. There was the reporter who interviewed the guy I’d overheard at the hotel saying it would be torn down.
“Can you tell us more about the future of this building?” the reporter asked him.
“There is actually no future for it. It will be demolished soon.”
“Why would it be demolished?”
“It was certain from the start that this project was a failure. Its value is nothing compared to the price of purchase. It was only a matter of time when the owner would officially announce their decision to tear it down.”
“Thank you for your time today,” the reporter thanked him and turned to face the camera. “That would be all. As soon as we have more information about this case, we will report about it.”
I stared at the screen, feeling my heart beating so fast that it was making me sick. I turned it off, the sudden silence making me feel even emptier.
If there was any doubt that I’d heard or understood anything wrong, this was my proof that it was real. I was convinced now that it was going to be torn down, and there was nothing I could do. Such a perfect place would definitely be destroyed, and nobody even cared.
Charles didn’t care.
He’d lied to me from the start, and now I didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly, my phone rang and I yelped in surprise. I looked at the screen. I felt a pang in my chest when I saw it was Charles.
No. I wouldn’t answer. He was an asshole and he didn’t deserve even a minute of my time.
I waited for the ringing to stop and exhaled when it finally did. I felt my tears welling up in my eyes again, and just as I was about to burst into crying again, my phone rang once more.
“I can’t believe him!” It was Charles again, and this time it rang for too long. No. I couldn’t answer him. He was calling me to spread more lies. He didn’t respect me or care about me. “No. I won’t answer you, so you can give up.”
The ringing stopped, and I s
till stared at the screen, a little disappointed that this was it. Even after everything, I missed him and I wanted to hear his voice.
I closed my eyes. I was really screwed. I knew he was bad, yet I wanted to see him again.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
I looked at my phone in surprise. He was calling me again?
Sighing heavily, I grabbed the phone and finally answered the call. To hell with everything! “What do you want, Charles?”
“Rebecca, finally,” he sounded so relieved that I felt guilt rising from deep within me. No, this wasn’t good. I wasn’t supposed to feel like this about him. “Please, I need to talk to you. Now I understand what the problem is here, and I want to explain some things to you. That place is not going to be torn down. Those are lies. Please, I beg you, meet me at the hotel.”
I gnawed at my lip. My heart accelerated in anticipation, a feeling of hope spreading through me. He’d just said it wouldn’t be demolished, and I was so conflicted. I didn’t know if I could trust him. What if this was just another one of his manipulations?
“I don’t know, Charles—”
“Please, angel. Just listen to me. I want to explain everything to you. Nothing else. If you still think you won’t be able to trust me in the end... Then I will understand that, but please, just give me one chance. Meet me at the hotel and let’s talk about this.”
He sounded so desperate and for a few moments I didn’t know what was right or wrong anymore. I couldn’t be sure about anything. If what he’d just said was right, then why did that contractor say those things?
A part of me—the one that wanted me to believe Charles—was urging me to give him a chance. It was telling me that there was a possibility he wasn’t a liar. It was reminding me that I loved him.
Oh my God, I loved him, and if there was even a tiny possibility that he was speaking the truth...
I took a deep breath. “Okay, Charles. I will meet you at the hotel.”
Her Pleasure Warrior_A Military Romance Page 31