Page 123 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

Adam raised an eyebrow.

My father turned red.

I knew Matthew would be at the garden party tonight, and I had a hunch he would corner me or my father to try to speed this up in some way. I stood and offered the man my hand. “Please let us know.”

If Adam was surprised, he didn’t show it. Instead, he gathered his things and got to his feet.

My father didn’t look like he was going to comply, but he’d been around long enough to know when to take a break.

A few minutes later, we were all stepping out of the lobby and onto the sidewalk.

Where I saw Carlotta.

I’d been avoiding her, mostly because I didn’t have anything to say to her, but this time I had no choice but to face her. As always, she looked as if she’d stepped out of a fashion magazine. Her long blond hair cascaded almost to her waist, and her floral jumpsuit paired with heels was the height of fashion. A man dressed in an orange leisure suit, which looked like it belonged in a safety video, held a camera out filming her.

“William.” I could hear the pout in her voice.

“I’ll get your father out of here,” Adam muttered as he grabbed the man and steered him toward the nearby car.

I took a breath and steeled myself. Carlotta was a petty, jealous, greedy woman who hadn’t cared a whit about me. I remembered the girls in the park in Whitehill and how much they idolized Carlotta. I wouldn’t demean her in any way, even if I wanted to.

“William,” Carlotta said again, “Why did you leave me?” She walked toward me, and I could see that tears had smeared her eye makeup.

Or, more likely, she’d put it on that way. Her cosmetics guaranteed they wouldn’t run even after being submerged.

“Carlotta.” I stood my ground and kept a pleasant expression on my face. “How are you?”

“How am I?” She sniffed. “I’m heartbroken.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.

She ignored my words and pointed an accusatory finger at me. “I’m heartbroken because of you!”

This was nothing like dealing with Brooke. I cared about Brooke’s feelings. To me, Carlotta was a business matter. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt you.”

“Wasn’t it?” Now she stopped in front of me, and the first level of a shriek entered her voice.

“No,” I said.

“You didn’t even give me a chance.” She glared. “I liked you!”

She had liked my money and the perks of dating a billionaire.

Brooke had looked downright uncomfortable this morning at breakfast. I was certain that she would have rather found the nearest diner to eat at.

Carlotta would have demanded two hours at the restaurant and a sample of every dish so she could film them for her followers.

How had I ever thought Carlotta could be the woman for me?

“You’re doing it again. You’re not even listening to me.” I had to keep the wince off my face, because Carlotta sounded like a yowling cat.

Unfortunately, this time she was correct. I had stopped listening.

“He’s ignoring you because you’re being a brat,” a familiar voice said.

I didn’t have to turn to know Courtney was coming up behind me; I could tell by the click of her heels on the concrete.

“Don’t defend him. He hurt me!”

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