Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Nearly.”
“Well, hurry up.” I sigh. “And stop nagging me.”
“You stop being a grumpy ass.” She neatens the magazines.
I smirk. She’s got me. I am a grumpy ass. “How do you put up with me, Maria?” I ask.
“It is not without difficulty, sir.”
I chuckle.
She keeps fussing about. “Eliza is doing well in New York.”
I sit up. “What? How do you know?”
“I called her today. I needed her help with a program she installed for us on the computer.”
“Well,… w-wh… what did she say?” I stammer.
“That she is enjoying New York.” She keeps wiping my desk. “She asked how you were.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her that you were miserable.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you are. Only you are too stupid to see it.”
“Get out of the way.” I swat her away from my desk. “I’m not paying you to give out your opinion, Maria, especially when it’s deluded. Stay out of my business.” She stops and puts her hands on her hips. “Look me in the eye and tell me you aren’t miserable, Nathan.”
“You know, some employers fire staff who overstep the line.” I huff.
She smirks and puts her hand on my shoulder as she walks past me. “Yes, sir.”
“Get out and stop patronising me.” I turn back to my computer.
Maria gets to the door and turns back. “Oh… and Dr. Mercer?”
“For God’s sake, woman, what is it?” I growl.
“Eliza is still single.”
My eyes hold hers, and I clench my jaw. “And why would I need to know that piece of information, Maria?”
She shrugs casually. “Just an observation, sir.”
I roll my eyes. “Unfucking-believable,” I mutter under my breath.
“Yes, I thought so, too. A woman as beautiful as Eliza? I was positive that she would have been snapped up by one of those hot businessmen by now.”
I point to the door. “Out! Or so help me God, woman.”
The door closes, and then she pokes her head back around. “Eat your cake.”
“Get out!”
She smiles and goes to say something else. I stand and storm to the door to close it on her face.
Fuck me. That woman is annoying.
* * *
It’s 1:00 a.m., and I find myself here again.
The Escape Club.
The place full of beautiful women where anything goes.
Even my memories disappear, if only for a short time. At least it’s a reprieve.
“Hello, sir.” The beautiful brunette smiles.
My eyes drop down her almost naked body and back up to her face. I feel the pulse in my cock as it comes alive with hunger.
“I’m Mahalia. How can we help you tonight?”
“I’d like a private room, please.” I hand over my membership card.
“Of course.” She smiles. “You know where to go?”
“Up the stairs and to the left.”
“Yes.” She rises up on her toes and kisses my ear. My hand goes to her behind, and I drag her over my cock.
“It’s good to see you again, sir,” she whispers.
I smirk as her hot breath dusts the skin on my neck.
There’s something so refreshingly freeing about fucking for fun.
I turn to walk up the stairs before I turn back to her. “Oh, and Mahalia?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I’d like two girls tonight. Brunettes.”
She smiles darkly. “Of course, sir.” She types something into her computer and then her eyes come back to mine. “Enjoy.”
The air buzzes between us.
“I always do.”
* * *
I stand under the shower with the hot water running over my head.
I exhale heavily and close my eyes in regret as I drag my hands down my face.
Here we go again.
The comedown after the high.
No matter when I fuck, who I fuck, or how hard I fuck, it always comes to a crashing halt.
I feel like shit for days.
Because it wasn’t her, and I cheated again.
Only I didn’t cheat because we aren’t together.
I just don’t know how to get my heart to understand that.
I rest my forehead against the hard, cold tiles. Regret runs through my soul.
Let me go, Eliza. Let me go.
25
Eliza
December
The table is full of laughter and chatter. I watch on as April talks to our grandfather. I’m so happy she could come home for the holidays. It’s Christmas day, and I am back in Florida. I should have really been working, but the thought of spending the holiday on my own was all too much.
This is my first Christmas alone. Normally, Nathan has come to my house or I have gone to his family’s.
This year, it’s different.
Nathan’s parents called me this morning to say Merry Christmas. They said they wished I was there. I wonder if they even know that we were together.
I never told them, and Nathan’s mom has visited me in New York twice for lunch and never once has Nathan been mentioned. I had to bite my tongue the entire time so I didn’t blurt out and tell her what a jackass her beloved son is.
Well, that’s not true. He’s not a jackass… just to me.