Page 16 of Kinks of a Billionaire
Three hours and five hundred euros later, I found myself standing in front of Willow’s hotel room. She ghosted me and her friends. Again.
I called her, texted her, tried her hotel room—nothing. Knowing Willow and her Catholic traditions, she would have insisted on spending the evening before the wedding separate from her husband.
It was the perfect opportunity to get her alone.
I took a calming breath, then knocked. A soft shuffle sounded behind the door, then nothing but silence. After another three knocks came up empty, I pounded on the door.
“Willow, I know you’re in there,” I whisper-yelled, not wanting to alert Stuart if the fucker was on the same floor.Another faint noise. “I’m not going anywhere, so you better open this door.”
I raised my hand again, but the door opened before I could make contact again, and an unfamiliar face appeared. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Definitely not Willow.
“Who the fuck are you?”
The woman’s cheeks flushed. “This is my room.”
I shook my head. “Impossible, the front desk told me this is my”—the wordwomanwas on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it—“friend’s room.”
The woman shrugged. “Well, it’s my room, and I’m certainly not your friend.” Her eyes roamed over my body as she licked her lips. “But if you want?—”
“No,” I cut her off, turning on my heel.
Nothing had gone my way ever since I learned of these fucking nuptials.
Chapter 7
Willow
Regret was heavy as I sat in Stuart’s hotel room, watching him pace like a caged animal.
“Listen, Stuart,” I started when it was obvious he wouldn’t initiate this conversation. “It’s obvious we’re incompatible. The fact that you brought that woman to my room and expected a threesome the night before our wedding only proves it.”
He came to an abrupt stop before me, glaring at me.
“It was for you,” he bellowed.
I gritted my teeth. The last thing I wanted was to start a fight. I’d seen Stuart lose his temper once. It wasn’t directed at me, but at my boss. It cost me my job and, most likely, my career. Showbiz didn’t put up with hotheaded, arrogant assholes like Stuart. Nonetheless, it wasn’t pretty, and I wasn’t sticking around to witness it again.
“No, Stuart,” I said firmly. “Threesomes aren’t my thing, and I have never given you any indication that they are.And,in case you’ve forgotten, I’m pregnant.”
The moment the words left my lips, I silently kicked myself. I lowered my gaze down to the beautiful dress I was wearing,focusing on the orchid motif. It was mymãe’s dress, and before that, mygrandmère’s. Feeling foolish and superstitious, I chose it in hopes that it would bring me good luck on the eve of our wedding. Like I said—foolish.
I’d known all along it was wrong to accept Stuart’s proposal. It was the reason behind the countless restless nights I’d tossed and turned this last month. Ever since Royce visited me at my parents’, I hadn’t been able to shake the nervous energy coursing through my veins.
My body tingled every time he’d brushed against me. That alone should have been the sign that Stuart wasn’t meant for me. I believed myself to be a loyal woman—having more-than-platonic feelings for my long-time friend wasn’t something a soon-to-be bride should have to grapple with.
As much as I liked to think I was over him and that his charms didn’t affect me, my heart sped up whenever I recalled that kiss. And lately, it had been a lot. Too much.
I mean… ten fucking years. It shouldn’t still be on my mind.
Why did Royce affect me so?
I was deep in my head, ruminating on the hopelessness of this whole thing, when a sudden rustle had me whirling around.
A thud pierced the air and pain exploded in my head. I lost my balance, sliding off the chair as the room spun around me. My eyes burned, and when I finally came to my senses, I was on my knees with a terrible rug burn.
Before I could look up, another slap followed and my head lolled to the side.
“You can’t leave me.” I looked at Stuart’s bloodred face, veins bulging out the side of his neck. His voice sounded distant, but I realized he had to be yelling.
