by Dania Voss
Abbey nodded. “Yes, I had to so I’d get my six months’ severance and three months of paid health insurance.”
“So Tom, you tell Tim, Jim, John, Clark or whoever else thinks they can intimidate Abbey, that if they even consider withholding Abbey’s severance or any other benefits she’s entitled to, by the time my legal team is through with Office Supply Galaxy, she’ll own the damn company. Now get the hell out of here and don’t ever bother her again. Understand?”
Luke motioned to Rocco and his security detail. Rocco grabbed Tom by the arm, flanked by the others on the security team, and led Tom around the corner to the hotel exit.
Luke and everyone else sighed in relief. Abbey kissed Darren on the cheek and immediately returned to Luke’s side, lacing her fingers through his. Her beautiful smile lit up her face. Luke was more than capable of defending his woman, but he knew his uncle was protective of their family. He hadn’t had the heart to ask his uncle to step aside.
Abbey’s father Phil held out his hand and Darren shook it. “Thank you, Darren.”
Darren clapped Phil on the shoulder. “My pleasure, Phil. No one screws with this family if I have anything to say about it.”
Some onlookers applauded and snapped photos of Darren and Phil. “Don’t you all have someplace else to be?” Luke barked.
His gut clenched. Who knew how much longer they’d all have Darren in their lives? Before Luke could contemplate his uncle’s future, two of his security detail ran toward them from around the corner.
“Everyone needs to get back to their rooms, immediately.”
“What’s going on?” Abbey asked him, concern in her lovely gaze.
Luke wasn’t sure. Did Tom do something? Then he saw the press descending, video cameras in hand, cameras flashing, and Brenna Sinclair heading toward them, larger than life, like the movie star she was. She wore a form-fitting, white, knee-length knit dress and high-heeled white pumps, a stark contrast to her silky dark-brown tresses. Brenna Sinclair was the epitome of Hollywood royalty—and she looked pissed. Damn. What the fuck, Brenna?
Abbey let go of his hand and stepped away. Why was Brenna doing things this way?
“There you are, Luke! I should have known. I’ve been waiting for you in our hotel room all weekend but you kept putting me off. Because of her, I bet?” Brenna flicked her dark-brown locks over her shoulder with dramatic flair. The paparazzi ate it up, the camera flashes nearly blinding.
Abbey looked him with watery eyes, betrayal etched in her delicate features. “Luke?”
“Now I know why you insisted I not attend your friend’s wedding as your guest. You said it was because you didn’t want to draw attention away from the bride and the groom. But now I know that was a lie. You wanted to spend time with her. Don’t even bother trying to deny it. Your escapades are all over social media. What a fool I was. I thought you were going to propose this weekend.”
“Luke, what’s the blonde’s name?”
“How long have you been cheating on Brenna, Luke?”
“Did you think you could have them both? Got a redhead somewhere too?”
Luke was going to kill Brenna for doing this. He thought she would mention they’d stopped seeing other this weekend with TMZ or Access Hollywood. Not create this unnecessary drama that he would have to untangle with Abbey. Actors.
“I can’t believe you did this to me again. I could be…” Abbey whispered as she tried to push her way through the crowd of press and onlookers.
Luke reached for her arm, but she pulled away as if she was repulsed at the thought of touching him. “Princess, it’s not what it seems.” Christ, did I just say that? Because it’s not what it seems.
Brenna gasped melodramatically. “You call her princess too?”
Fuck. This was getting worse by the second. Luke was relieved hotel security and the local police arrived. It’s about time. Before they could wrangle the press away, Abbey made a break for it and some paparazzi started after her.
“Rocco,” Luke shouted over the roar of commotion.
Rocco ushered Abbey away with the rest of his security detail as some the hotel’s security guards fended off the press.
His heart sank as his family stood around him with confused expressions on their faces. It was time for him to make everything right. Once and for all. He hoped it wasn’t too late.
Chapter Eleven
“Hey blondie, what’s your name?”
“Who colors your hair?”
“Are you sleeping with Brenna Sinclair, too? Are you into threesomes?”
“Who’s better in bed, Luke or Brenna?”
As quickly as he could, Rocco led Abbey away from the horde of press that had upended her life, but not before the vile reporters fired off disgusting questions at her left and right. Did they really think she’d answer any of their repulsive questions? What was wrong with them?
Abbey squeezed her eyes shut and let Rocco guide her down a hallway to what she hoped were the elevators. At least Luke’s security detail and the local police had finally caught up to them and had dragged the press away before they hurled any more obnoxious questions at her.
Her stomach roiled and her body shook. She’d been utterly humiliated—again. Her heart ripped right out of her chest—again. But unlike the first time Luke had betrayed her, or she believed he had, this time though, he’d truly betrayed her in front of the press. If not for Rocco nearly carrying her, she would have collapsed into a heap on the hotel floor. Wouldn’t that have made for some entertaining pictures. Damn paparazzi.
She heard an elevator ding and the doors open. Rocco gently guided her inside. Abbey opened her eyes and pushed away from him as soon as the elevator doors closed.
“Did you know Luke was still with Brenna?” Abbey whispered to Rocco, her mind numb, her heart shredded, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. Then she thought better of it and put her hand up to stop Rocco from replying. “It doesn’t matter, does it? You’re his friend, his employee. It’s your job to protect him, right?”
Rocco sighed and blew out a breath as the elevator ascended to the tenth floor. “I am his friend and employee. You’re right. It’s my job to protect him from crazy fans, from people who might want to hurt him, not from being an asshole and treating people like shit. That’s on him.”
Rocco’s response stunned her. He wasn’t defending Luke’s awful behavior like she thought he would have. That was a surprise. Just like the surprise that Luke hit her over the head with on the first floor.
Abbey had to know though. How deep did Luke’s lies and deception go? “So, you didn’t know about Brenna? Has she been staying here at the Fairchild all weekend?”
Rocco shook his head. “I’m not sure. We haven’t seen her on the property until she showed up a little while ago. Luke had me, Jake, and Heath convinced he intended on using this weekend to win you back for good.” He shrugged and frowned at her.
Abbey snorted. He’d fooled them all. Bravo. Brenna and her acting coaches had trained him well. “Luke’s turned into quite an actor, huh? It looks like we can’t trust a word he says.”
“I don’t know what to say, Abbey, other than I’m sorry.”
She nodded sadly, not crying at least. The elevator stopped on the tenth floor and the doors opened. Rocco stepped in front of the doors, blocking her. Three hotel guards were on the other side of the elevator doors.
“It’s all clear, Mr. Moretti. The rest of Mr. Stryker’s security detail is in the hallway and we have hotel guards stationed at both stairwells,” one of the hotel guards said.
Rocco nodded and took her hand. Abbey saw six of Luke’s security detail stationed along the otherwise empty hallway near their family’s block of rooms. She dug her suite key card out of her purse and inserted it. When the door clicked, and the light flashed green, Rocco pushed the door open for her.
Abbey walked inside, turned, and gave Rocco a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”
Rocco kissed her gently on
the forehead. She was touched. Rocco was a good man. She hoped he and Hannah Hailey got together. They looked like they’d make a good couple. But what did Abbey know? She had stupidly thought she and Luke did too. Clearly she’d been wrong about that.
“Do you want me to come inside and stay with you for a little while? I don’t mind,” Rocco compassionately offered.
What a nice guy. Unlike Luke. Lying. Cheating. Asshole Luke. “No, I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll just pack my things and someone can give me a ride home?” There was no reason for her to stay at the Fairchild. Not now. It would be better for her to be at her place.
Rocco smiled sympathetically at her and nodded. “Of course. Take all the time you need. We’ll get you home safely and discreetly. Don’t worry about that.”
Abbey nodded sorrowfully and closed the door. After it clicked into place, she slid down the door, drained of all emotion. Slumped on the floor with her back against the door, she silently let her tears flow. She vowed they would be the last she would shed over Luke. She was done. It was over. Abbey swiped at her face as tears continued to fall. Come on, Abbey. He’s not worth it.
She should have known better. She shouldn’t have let Luke convince her into more than just a fun weekend. How could she have been so stupid to believe all Luke’s bullshit? His so-called plans for the future? His two boys then a girl crap? She had to give him credit. He sure had her fooled. She fell for his shit hook, line and sinker.
Abbey would have spent the weekend with Luke without all the false promises. It would have been a part of the original plan for her reboot weekend. There was no reason for Luke to take things to another level with false promises of a future together. They could have had some fun and gone their separate ways on Monday, like she had intended.
But that didn’t explain Brenna Sinclair. Luke had obviously lied about not being with her. But why? Just to get Abbey into bed this weekend? That was low, even for him. Or maybe not. Luke had changed since that night ten years ago. And not in a good way.
Obviously Brenna believed they were still together. She had made that painfully clear on the first floor. In a way, Abbey felt sorry for her. To be an A-list actress like Brenna Sinclair and to find out your man was unfaithful on social media like that. Brenna had a right to be upset. She couldn’t blame her for going off the way she had.
Abbey lightly banged her head against the suite door and blew out a breath. Shit. Unbeknownst to her, Abbey was now the other woman. Damn Luke. This was all his fault. She hoped the press skewered him over this. He deserved it. Asshole.
Was Luke lying about his shoulder and career coming to an end too? What about his Uncle Darren, did he really have cancer, or what that all part of Luke’s act to garner sympathy so she’d sleep with him? Abbey shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had to worry about herself now.
Reluctantly, she stood up and took a couple deep breaths. She needed to get her things together, go home, and regroup. The faster she got out of the Fairchild, the better.
Abbey retrieved her carry-on bag from the bedroom closet and proceeded to the en suite bathroom to quickly toss her toiletries inside her bag. She wasn’t concerned with being organized. She needed to get a move on.
Someone pounded on the door just as she had finished packing up all her things. “What now?” she muttered to herself. Did the paparazzi get past the hotel security guards and Luke’s security detail? She waited silently in the suite’s living room.
“Abbey! I know you’re in there,” Luke shouted.
Her stomach twisted. What the hell was wrong with him? Did he think she would ever want to speak to him again? After what just happened? He’s lost his mind.
He pounded on the door again. “Abbey let me in. Let me explain what’s going on. Come on, princess.”
She fisted her hands, her anger building. “Don’t call me princess. Save that for Brenna, asshole.”
“Calm down and open the door,” he pleaded.
“Fuck you, Luke. Don’t tell me what to do. I have nothing to say to you. Not anymore,” she shot back.
Why couldn’t he leave her alone? Why did he insist on trying to feed her more lies? Did he think she’d believe him now, after being caught in a lie? He had to be crazy. There was no other explanation.
“That’s enough, Abbey. I’m not playing around. Open the damned door. Now,” Luke insisted.
She growled. The nerve! Ordering her around like she was his flunky. “And I told you, I have nothing to say, asshole. You’ve had your fun. Go back to Brenna and leave me alone.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you open this door. Either you open the door, or I’ll get someone from the hotel staff to open it. Your choice,” Luke threatened.
Choices. Yeah, right. Her choices had been taken away from her when Luke had decided to lie to her all weekend.
Abbey was too emotionally drained to continue arguing. Maybe if she allowed Luke to “explain” then she could leave and get on with her life. Letting Luke in her suite might be the fastest way to get back home.
She opened the door and Luke stormed in. She couldn’t look him in the eye. Why was he holding a bag from the Fairchild spa? She sighed. What did it matter? It was probably spa products for Brenna. How insulting that he brought them with him. Was he going to “explain” that away too?
He put his hand under her chin and she backed away. “Abbey, come on, please look at me,” he begged, his voice barely a whisper.
Fine. Maybe it would speed things along so she could go home. She looked at him. She tried not to feel sorry for him. He looked haggard. His hair was sticking up all over as if he’d been running his fingers through it.
“Fine, go ahead and explain,” she relented, defeated.
“Luke? Did she let you in her room?” Who was that? Was someone outside?
“Yes, Brenna. I’m in her room,” Luke said as he took his cell phone out of his back pocket.
What kind of game were Luke and Brenna playing? Was that paparazzo right? Were they into threesomes?
Abbey wanted none of this. She opened her suite door. “I don’t know what you two are doing or what you’re into, but I’m not interested. Luke, please leave. Find someone else to play your kinky games with. I’m not the one.”
“Abbey, please hear us out. Nothing kinky is going on, I swear.” This came from Luke’s cell phone. Brenna, she assumed. “Please, Abbey.”
Abbey slid down the suite door onto her ass, cushioned by the room’s plush carpeting. She crossed her legs and crossed her arms under her chest. “Fine. Go ahead. Let’s get this over with.”
Luke sat down on the floor cross-legged, directly in front of Abbey, and held his cell phone out toward her. “Go ahead, Brenna.”
“First, I want to say how sorry I am,” Brenna began.
For what? Luke was the one who should be sorry. “What for? Luke is the one who created this mess. He had me convinced you two weren’t together. I’m not some skank, like the paparazzi were trying to insinuate.” Abbey glared at Luke. He had the decency to look apologetic. It didn’t matter.
“I know that. And Luke wasn’t lying. We’re not together. We never were,” Brenna continued.
“See? I told you,” Luke whined.
Abbey wasn’t sure what to believe. This conversation could be a part of game Luke and Brenna were playing. Abbey didn’t dare to hope what Brenna was saying was the truth.
“Be quiet, Luke,” Brenna scolded. “I know you’ve probably read and heard the hurtful things my father has said to and about me. He’s made no secret of how little he thinks of me because of my chosen profession.”
In that regard, Abbey knew Brenna was telling the truth. Mr. Sinclair, a southern Baptist Minister, had been brutal in his criticism of his oldest child and of the acting community as a whole. Abbey had found his remarks way out of line. Brenna’s reputation was impeccable, considering how scandalously many others in Hollywood behaved.
Brenna was known as a consummate professional, dram
a averse and a humanitarian. She had helped to bring a lot of attention to the Cobras’ Children’s Foundation and many other charitable organizations. From all accounts, Brenna Sinclair was the real deal. Her father’s behavior toward his oldest child was unfair and unwarranted.
“Because of my father’s disdain for me, I talked Luke into being my cover so I didn’t have to endure even more public scorn from my father for my choice of romantic partners.”
Hope bloomed in Abbey’s chest. Was it possible Luke had been telling the truth? Was what happened at the hotel’s restaurant entrance all an act? Why hadn’t Luke warned her so she could have avoided the pain and anguish of believing he was a lying, cheating asshole?
“So you’re really a lesbian? Not that it matters.” Abbey had no issue with homosexuals. It wasn’t for her to judge or make issue with who people chose to be with, love, or marry.
Brenna laughed through Luke’s cell phone speaker. “Not exactly. I’ve been dating women for the last few years, but I’ve had serious relationships with men too. If I had to put a label on myself, which I hate to do, I suppose I consider myself a bisexual.”
Was Luke frowning? He looked disappointed. “So you weren’t attracted to me at all then?” Luke asked with amusement in his voice.
“Sorry, pretty boy, but no,” Brenna replied with a smile in her voice.
“Have you been staying here at the Fairchild this weekend?” Abbey needed to know. She wanted to fully understand what was going on before deciding about her and Luke. She still had doubts.
Abbey heard shuffling and a clicking sound.
“No, I’m not at the Fairchild. Luke, I just texted you a picture,” Brenna said.
After a couple of swipes, Luke held his phone up so Abbey could see. The photo showed Brenna holding up the room service menu and room key card from the Drake Hotel there in Oak Brook, near the Fairchild Hotel.
Abbey felt herself relax a little, but she was still hesitant to fully believe.