Page 279 of Billionaire Temptations

“Listen, Emily. I don’t know how to say this.”

The feeling I got in the pit of my stomach was unsettling.

“Say what?” I asked.

“I know we were supposed to spend the day together today, but I have to go into the office and prepare for a huge presentation tomorrow for a failing casino I want to invest in. I didn’t realize it was tomorrow until I looked at my calendar last night. I thought it was next week.”

“Oh. Okay. I understand.”

But I didn’t. Why didn’t he tell me this last night? Why wait until this morning to spring it on me? Maybe I wouldn’t have come back to his place after the wedding and just went home.

“Are you sure you understand?” he asked.

“Of course.” I made a face at him for even questioning me. “Why would you think I wouldn’t?”

“I don’t know.” He finished off his eggs and took his plate to the sink.

He walked over to me and kissed the top of my head. “I have to go shower.”

“Okay. I’m just going to get going,” I said as I stood up.

“You don’t have to. I can drive you home.”

“It’s fine. I’ll catch a cab. Plus, I want to stop at the shop on the way home.”

“But you’re closed today.”

“Doesn’t matter. I still have some work to do. Just like you do. You know the work never stops when you’re your own boss.”

“True.” He smiled.

He went back upstairs, and I cleaned up the kitchen before I headed up, changed, and attempted to get the hell out. I hurried and threw on my jeans and a crème-colored sweater. I didn’t care that I still had on last night’s makeup, and my hair was a mess.

“I’m leaving,” I shouted so he could hear me from the shower.

“Can you wait until I’m finished?” he shouted back.

“No. I want to do what I have to do and get home,” I lied.

“Okay. I’ll be in touch.”

“Yeah. Okay.” I rolled my eyes, grabbed my purse and bag, and headed towards the elevator.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Jackson

She really made me angry that she couldn’t even wait until I got out of the shower. She was mad. I could tell. Even though she said she understood, I knew she didn’t. She was different last night. But it wasn’t only last night. It had been over the course of a couple of weeks. Between her acting strange and the debacle with my parents, I needed some time. I wasn’t lying about tomorrow's presentation, and I had some work to do. Work that could have been done in the morning, but I—I didn’t know. I just wanted to be by myself.

As I was sitting at my desk, enjoying the peace and quiet, my phone rang, and Jules was calling.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Hey, Jackson. Are you and Emily home?”

“No. I’m not seeing Emily today, and I’m at the office.”

“Oh. I just got off my shift and was going to stop by for a visit.”

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