The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) (21 page)

"That's none of your business."
 
I stand up, looking around the lobby again.
 
"Rex, I think you have a lot of issues to sort through.
 
Number one being with Holly."

"You're turning me down?
 
I haven't even told you the amount I'd be willing to pay."

"I don't need your money," I chuckle.
 
"But Holly does."
 
Rex shakes his head, baffled.
 
"Talk to her Rex.
 
The two of you are actually more perfect for each other than you think."

"She's not you," Rex responds.
 
He stands to see me out, walking close so I could smell the spicy scent of his cologne.
 
He lightly touches my arm, reminding me of all the passionate moments we'd shared.
 
But you'd never see him,
I remind myself.
 
This is all business to him.

"Why'd you do it," I mutter, holding back a tear.
 
The betrayal still stung.
 
It always would, and I didn't know how long it would take me to make amends with Holly.
 
Eventually that day would come, but would our friendship be what it once was?
 
Doubt it.

"Kat," he responds.
 
His mouth moves closer to mine and his eyes study the grooves of my neck.
 
"It was the night we first met.
 
I was tired.
 
I was drunk.
 
I barely remember what happened."
 
I nod, accepting his lame excuse of an explanation.

"And you didn't tell me because?"

"Would
you
have," he argues.
 
"If the situation was reversed?
 
Might I remind you that you saw it fit to lie as well?"

"I guess we just don't trust each other."

"I swear."
 
His hand moves up my arm and to my cheek.
 
"If I was ever given a second chance, I'd do it all differently."
 
His hand pulls me to him in one swift movement.

"Do you say that to
all
the women you let down . . . or just me?"

"Harsh," he responds.
 
"But I deserve that."

"There's a lot you deserve," I say through my teeth.
 
I leave his grasp and jog back into the bust casino.
 
The tears come and I wipe away one that rolls down my cheek.
 
I feel a hand grip my shoulder tight.
 
I stop, looking down.
 
Let him go, Kat.
 
You have to let him go before it ruins you and Jack.

"Rex I told you . . ."
 
I turn around to a familiar face.
 
It wasn't Rex.
 
It was the face of someone I never wanted to see again.
 
My stomach feels sour and all at once I'm too stunned to scream.

"Juggling two men," Dr. Saxten comments.
 
Before I can take a step backward he has my wrist twisted at his side.
 
His other hand points to something shiny in his jacket.
 
"Tisk-tisk."

"You," I manage to force out.
 
"What do you want?"

"I was really unhappy with the way things went between us," he mutters, pulling me closer to the exit.
 
"I think it's time
I
got a second chance too."
 
I jerk away but the shiny thing in his pocket is pulled out and discreetly aimed at my back.
 
The edge of the knife pierces through my shirt and I feel the cool blade resting against my skin.
 
"It'd be best if you didn't try that again."

"There are people that will come looking for me."
 
My head is spinning out of control.
 
I'm distracted by the sharp end of the blade, unable to think clear enough to come up with a plan.

"There's no need to worry if you cooperate," he mutters.
 
I can feel his sweaty palms grip me tighter as he pulls me closer to the night air.
 
At first I'm frozen.
 
How was this happening?
 
How did he find me?

Then my nose gets a whiff of outside.
 
The realization slaps me across the face.
 
If I walked outside with this psycho, I might never come back.
 
How long would I be missing before Jack would come looking for me and I was pretty sure Rex knew I wanted nothing to do with him.
 
Do something!

I push aside my fears of being literally stabbed in the back.
 
I'd already been back stabbed a few times.
 
One more couldn't hurt that bad.
 
I'm pulled closer and closer.
 
The Doc's heavy breathing tells me he's nervous.
 
Had he been watching me this whole time waiting for the perfect moment?
 
I had to do something that would throw off his game.
 
Go contrary to the plan
he
had laid out in his head.

I open my mouth, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach.
 
Do it.
 
Do it now!
 
I let out a shrill scream that fills the lobby.
 
My heart pounds as hundreds of eyes fall on us.
 
I feel the Doc's muscles tense as he panics.
 
I jerk away using all the force my body could provide.
 
I finally escape him and fall to the cold tile floor.

A security guard runs at him, staring at the shiny knife in his hand.
 
I stay on the floor, hearing the doctor's footsteps disappear into the crowd outside.
 
He was gone.
 
My arms and legs feel shaky as I stand up.
 
I hold myself together as best I can.
 
I feel a pressure in head.
 
An overwhelming sense of fear.
 
He'll be back.

"Mam," another security guard rushes to help me stand up.
 
"Are you okay?"

"Kat!"
 
Rex is running with Charles from the V.I.P. section.
 
He studies me, looking for wounds.
 
"What was that about?
 
Charles, find him!"
 
Charles obeys him and runs into the night.

"Mam, is there someone I can call.
 
Are you a guest here?"

"Um yeah," I reply.
 
"I'll be fine."
 
I rub my forehead and try to think straight.

"Who was that?" Rex demands.

"Just a guy."

"It didn't look that way," he scolds.

"A crazy co worker," I mutter.
 
"But that's none of your concern."
 
I take a few breaths, letting the blood return to my limbs.
 
I was still shaking.

"Let me at least walk you to your room," he suggests.
 
I raise my eyebrows.

"Are you serious?"

"You can't go up there alone."

"I said I'll be fine," I shout.
 
I speed walk to the elevators, counting my steps along the way.
 
Keep going.
 
You're almost there.

I take an empty elevator and push the button to my floor.
 
Rex follows, slipping inside just as the doors close.

"Rex," I say stamping my foot.
 
"I told you I'd be fine."

"I had to be sure."
 
His arms are folded as we wait in silence.
 
His cologne fills the elevator and I can see him sneaking glances.
 
He was tempting me.
 
Hoping the reminder of what I was missing would make me crack.
 
Almost there.
 
"I insist on hiring you some security."

"No," I reply.

"At least for the weekend."
 
He rubs the end of his chin.

"I said no."

"Oh stop being so stubborn."
 
The elevator dings and the two of us step off.
 
I walk quickly to my room.
 
He reaches for my hand but I'm walking too fast.
 
"Kat!
 
Come on.
 
A guy just assaulted you in front of loads of people."

"I'm well aware of that!" I yell, turning around to face him.
 
"I can handle it.
 
I don't need favors from you."

"I can't believe you," he responds, shaking his head.
 
His hands slip into the pockets of his gray trousers.
 
"All I want to do is help you.
 
All I've
ever
done is try to help you."
 
My face feels hot.

"Is that what our relationship was?
 
One giant favor?"

"You're making a huge mistake," he quietly answers.

"I can hire my own security guard."

"I'm not talking about that."
 
His expression softens.
 
He looks at me with the same glowing eyes as the night we first met.
 
Things were simple back then.
 
The door creaks as it swings open.
 
Jack is in the doorway looking shocked to see Rex in the hallway.

"Good bye Rex," I loudly respond.
 
He sizes up Jack and his loose jeans and plain t-shirt.
 
Jack is taller, but Rex is leaner.
 
Jack's skin holds the scars and weathering of a laborer.
 
Rex looks as if the only heavy object he can lift is a free weight.

"I see," he nods.
 
Rex turns and passes around the corner.

"What's
he
doing here?" Jack asks.
 
My heart starts to settle as I watch Jack's calm demeanor remain unchanged.

"I don't know," I say, walking past him and collapsing on the bed.
 
Tears roll down my cheeks as my thoughts play over the incident in the lobby.
 
There were a zillion things I should have done differently.
 
Why was I such an idiot?

"Kat."
 
Jack's soothing voice helps me calm down faster.
 
He gently massages my back and waits until I'm ready to talk.

"He was there," I whisper through sniffles.
 
"In the lobby."

"Who?
 
Rex?"

I shake my head.

"Dr. P."
 
Another sob comes flooding out.
 
I feel his chest flex.

"You mean he's here?"
 
Jack watches for a nod then grabs his cell phone.
 
"Listen to me.
 
I'm going to call that Detective and then you and I are going home."
 
I nod in agreement.

"I'm sorry," I cry.

"What for?"

"The wedding."
 
I wipe my face.
 
"I ruined it."

"No."
 
Jack grins as he strokes my shoulder.
 
"You haven't ruined a thing.
 
Besides, you would probably be happier if your family could be there too . . .
 
am I right?"
 
I was a traditional girl at heart and the thought of missing out on planning, the dress, and the cake had crossed my mind.
 
More than once.