Page 28 of Tempting the Billionaire
“Good.” I back up, throwing him one last dirty look before turning and exiting the apartment, slamming the door on my way out.
I sit in my car in the dark for what feels like hours, a million thoughts running through my mind. Diane, her new lover, Justin, Bishop Jewelers, Emma, everything. A twinge of guilt runs through me, thinking about what I’m about to do.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize that, in all honesty, Diane had it coming. There was no way we’d be able to keep the story of her cheating quiet forever. I hoped we could get away with it, but I know now that that was naïve. And why do I keep feeling the need to protect her? She broke my heart. She left me. And cruelly, too.
No. I don’t wish her the worst, but I also can’t protect her from the consequences of her own actions. And it’s time I start acting in my own interests. I’ll make sure she gets her fair share in the divorce, but I’m not going to lie about why that divorce came about.
Besides, doing this will save Emma from the humiliation and possible ruin of having intimate videos of her leaked online. As much as I want to hate her for what she’s done, I can’t ignore the fact that she was desperate, forced into a corner.
I shake my head, pulling up my phone.
It’s well past working hours, but I pay my lawyer enough that he’ll answer my calls no matter the hour. I click his contact and wait for him to answer.
Chapter 15
Emma
After leaving Ezra’s apartment, I go home and cry myself to sleep, filled with guilt and self-loathing. When he doesn’t come to the office the next day—his normal day in—the guilt continues to grow. After two days of no contact, I send him a text.
No answer.
By Thursday, the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach is becoming a familiar presence.
I can only assume that whatever relationship we’d had is over. I’d partially assumed my job was as well, but when Ezra didn’t come in Monday to fire me, I’m beginning to wonder if maybe he won’t. I think back toour earlier conversation—how he’d said my job was safe no matter what happened. But he can’t include my literal betrayal in that, can he? If so, it would be beyond any mercy I deserve.
I’m also dying to know what happened after he’d stormed out of his apartment Monday night. Surely he’d gone to see Justin, right? And now that I think about it, I haven’t heard from Justin either. No texts asking how the plan is going, no pushing to institute our deal. It makes me nervous. Is he going to leak that video after all?
I push the door open, stepping into Bishop Jewelers, the bell above me dinging softly. Rachel looks up when she sees me and immediately purses her lips. “You sure you’re not coming down with something? I swear you’ve seemed ill all week.”
I shake my head. “Allergies,” I lie. That would explain the eyes puffy from crying all night.
She shakes her head like she doesn’t believe me, looking back down at her phone. “Did you hear the news?” she says without looking up.
“What news?” I ask, not really caring. I tuck my purse into the back room and come out to join her by the front counter.
She turns to me, eyes wide. “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
She turns her phone toward me, and I lean in. On it is a display from a Boston local news site. All I catch is the name “Ezra,” and I immediately grab the phone from her.
Engagement Ring Mogul Dethroned in Cheating Scandal.
I widen my eyes. “Shit,” I breathe, skimming the article.
“Yeah,” Rachel agrees. “Can you believe she cheated on him?”
My mouth opens wide in shock as I continue the article. Cheating scandal. But they’re talking aboutDiane, not me. Ezra’s wife. Well, ex-wife, I suppose.
“It’s awful,” Rachel continues. “He’s such a sweet guy.”
I look through the rest of the article. Apparently, he served her papers on Tuesday. She didn’t see it coming, despite already living with her lover. It goes on to rehash Ezra and Diane’s fairytale love story from a decade ago, tearing it apart bit by bit, calling it a sham to sell more engagement rings. Because how could a real true love end like this?
I hand the phone back to Rachel, unable to read more. Suddenly, a thought occurs to me. “Will this affect business, you think?” I ask her.
Rachel scoffs. “No. If anything, it’s publicity. And you know what they say—all press is good press.”She chuckles, then becomes serious again. “No, Bishop Jewelers is fine. It just kinda sucks for Ezra, I imagine.” She scrunches up her face, turning to begin unpacking a new delivery.
I remain standing where I am, still shell shocked. And through the haze, another thought hits me. With Diane’s cheating hitting the news, soiling the Bishop name … does that mean I’m off the hook with Justin? Surely any scandal I could drum up would pale in comparison to this. There’s no more harm to be done.
