Page 75 of My Grumpy Billionaire Soccer Star

“Time for what? For me? For us?” I demand, my voice rising. “Do you think I’ll just sit here and watch you drown while you flirt with other women? You’re making it more difficult than it should be!”

“Flirt?” he retorts, his voice sharp. “It was a casual drink! You’re the one who’s reading too much into it, not me.”

“If you weren’t so secretive, I wouldn’t have to read into it!” My anger overflows, and I fire back. “All I’m trying to do is help you!”

His eyes burn with intensity as he steps closer. “I’m not going to let you make me feel guilty for wanting to keep my distance. Let’s deal with this situation without dragging you into it.”

“Drag me into it?” I scoff, my heart pounding. “You already have. Does it mean nothing to you that I’m here because I care about you?”

I see the conflict flicker in his eyes as he opens his mouth to respond, but I’m done dancing around his feelings and letting him push me away while letting someone else in. My voice shakes with emotion. “I can’t keep doing this. Perhaps I don’t belong here if you want to shut me out.”

They’re heavy words. They’re charged. I see a flash of something in his eyes—a little regret, a little frustration. Yet it disappears just as fast in favor of that familiar hardness.

“You don’t understand. You don’t understand what’s at stake,” he says.

“Maybe I don’t understand because you won’t let me!” I can feel the anger spilling over. “I’m not some distraction when I’m here for you!”

Vaughn backs away and puts some distance between us. “Rachel, I need to focus on my career right now. I can’t get caught up in whatever this is. I don’t have the time or money to do that.”

“Whatever this is?” I repeat incredulously. “It’s you who is making this complicated! Now, I’m starting to think I was wrong. I thought we had something real.”

His expression becomes hard. He crosses his arms defensively. “Maybe you should rethink what you’re fighting for. Right now, I can’t promise you anything.”

His words hurt more than I thought. My anger is replaced by hurt, then disappointment. “I’m not going to let you push me away while you have drinks with someone else, Vaughn,” I say. “I deserve better than that.”

I turn to leave, feeling a rush of determination and heartache all at once. He will not dictate my worth. I deserve someone who sees me as something more than just a secretary or an easy convenience.

I stop before I can get to the door, glancing back at him. “I hope you get your act together, Vaughn. I won’t be here waiting for you to decide what you want.”

I step outside, and the cool air slaps me in the face. As I walk away, I feel a mixture of sadness and resolve, and I somehow know that I am going to have to be strong for myself. No more jealousy and frustration ruining my life. I am tired of making excuses for not taking charge of my own life.

Chapter thirty-four

Chapter Thirty-Four

Vaughn

The day after dawns heavy with tension, and I can feel it in the air as I pace about my mansion. I can’t get the confrontation with Rachel from yesterday out of my head. Her words slice deep. I don’t even want to admit it, but that’s what they do, and I’m left battling the chaos of my thoughts. I’ve never been overly self-assured, but lately, it feels like I’m trying to control everything, and everything is slipping away from me.

I hear a knock on the door just as I’m about to pour myself a cup of coffee. My heart sinks. I know exactly who it is before I even opened it. I swing the door open, and there she is—Rachel—with a set expression on her face.

“Rachel,” I say, an edge of annoyance creeping into my voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Surprised to see me?” she snaps, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I wanted to talk.”

I lean against the doorframe and fold my arms. “You only want to talk when it is convenient for you. What do you want, Rachel? Haven’t we already said enough?”

I can see the fire in her eyes, and her expression hardens. “Do you think you can just brush me off like that after everything I’ve done for you?”

I step closer, softly, firmly. “What exactly have you done for me? I see that you’ve been too busy socializing with my teammates to even pay attention to your job.”

Her eyes widened, and for a split second, I see the anger on her face. “Excuse me? I have no right to talk to you like that? I’m not the one out there flirting and pretending to care about my career.”

The accusation stings, and my temper flares. “Rachel, you need to watch your tongue. This isn’t about me. This is about you doing your job.”

“Oh, please,” she retorts, stepping closer until she’s inches from my face, her gaze unyielding. “You think I will let you intimidate me? You’re nothing, but a disappointment as of late. You act like I’m the enemy,” I say. “I’m trying to support you.”

I feel the tension between us building, thick and electric. “Yeah, well, I’m not the one who’s been out flirting instead of working,” I say lowly, dangerously.

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