Page 29 of The Billionaire's Housekeeper

Just then the door to the woman's cabin was knocked on. Meanwhile, Abbi felt as if she were going to have a heart attack.

The door had been partially opened since Abbi was there providing service. Another model strolled in. "You ready to go to the main lodge? I heard they’re having a killer dance party over there," the woman said to Chad’s lady friend.

Abbi couldn’t breathe for a moment. She felt her whole body go numb. She was in a state of shock. Chad was still seeing her? Chad owned the place? No way. Well, it certainly would explain why he would be with somebody like that supermodel. Heaviness centered in her chest. She had to fight off a hot tear from rolling down her cheek.

Deception.

Chad was still involved with another woman—and he was someone else? That two-timer. Chad was no better than Eduardo! Or her own father who led a double life on her mother! Arrgh. Men were all the same. Deceivers!

Ay Mios Dios!

Abbi could not believe this!

But what about what Mrs. Martin told her?

Was everybody in on this joke except Abbi?

Her emotion seemed out of control at the moment. Abbi walked away from the woman promptly, after she’d finished up. She couldn't even think straight.

When she arrived at the housekeeping station, she parked her maid cart then pulled out her phone to send a quick text to the housekeeping manager that she was taking a brief break so that the other girl could cover any emergency calls. She just had to get her bearings.

Abbi then walked briskly to her own cabin. Later, she was going to have it out with Chad. Or, Chase, whatever his real name was. That fake! He’d used her. He deceived her.

She felt shattered inside. She felt he’d used and abused her—toyed with her emotions. She could not believe it. But then it all made sense, didn't it? He was so knowledgeable about certain topics that most ordinary people would not be knowledgeable about.

Her body ached and her mind was dazed. Abbi felt her heart burn inside her.

Then she saw Eduardo nearby. Could this night get any worse?

She opened the door to her cabin. Eduardo walked in behind her. Right now, she didn’t mind him coming inside because she didn’t want to cause a scene on the front porch of her log cabin.

“What are you doing here?” she asked sharply. “You’re supposed to stay away from me. You’ll get your money soon.”

“Oh, I’m not here about that, dear Abbi,” he said, noting her expression. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied sharply. She then wiped her face.

“Look what my detectives pulled up about your fancy maintenance guy.”

Eduardo knew about Chad, too?

Chapter 18

Abbi couldn’t breathe. She was stunned beyond belief. This wasn’t happening. This could not be happening. How could it be? She stood dazed and confused.

What? Chad’s real name is Chase? Chase Belmont? The evidence was before her as clear as day, yet her brain wasn’t processing the truth. It was far too painful to believe.

Chad lied to me.

He lied about everything.

Mios Dios, she felt like such a fool.

“Well?” Eduardo said, a cocky grin spread across his face.

Tears welled up in Abbi’s eyes. She turned away so Eduardo wouldn’t see the shame and humiliation she felt.

“At least I told you up front who I am. Well, sort of. All guys are the same, baby. You had it good with me.”

Abbi could not speak. She looked at the sheet of paper and collapsed on the chair. “I…I…can’t believe…” her whispered voice broke off with emotion.

“You can’t believe what? That I was telling the truth all along?” Eduardo sat by the window sill. He seemed to be enjoying the drama. “Seems like the guy’s quite a player too,” he said, lighting a cigarette. He blew out a puff. “Oops, sorry. I forgot. You don’t like smoke. Well, I know this stuff will kill me but…I digress.” He snuffed out his cigarette.

Abbi glared at him, her heartbeat pounding in her chest, her breath shallow from emotion. “What do you want?”

“For you to keep your focus,” Eduardo said.

“Keep my focus?”

“Yes.”

“No. I…I can’t…”

“What do you mean no, you can’t?” Eduardo’s voice raised a fraction. “Abbi, the guy used you. God knows if he was secretly filming you like he did his supermodel bitch. He goes around pretending he’s someone else then he nails ‘em and leaves.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, it isn’t? Did you read the rest of the article or read the girl’s tell-all book. She said, too, she didn’t know he was a Belmont heir at first.” Eduardo laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. Him. Imagine the irony. You came here to clean out his hotel sheets while he pulls the wool over your eyes. Too funny.”

“No, it’s not, Eduardo.”

“Where are you going?”

“To talk to Chad…or Chase. Whatever his name is.” She held on tightly to the papers Eduardo had given her and left the room.

* * *

“Hey, beautiful,” Chase said when Abbi walked into his guest cabin. His smile faded when he saw her expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.”

“Everything?”

“You lied to me, Chad.”

Chase’s body stiffened. He realized she must have found out about his deception.

“If you’re talking about my identity, Abbi, I was going to explain everything to you.”

“Really? When?”

He sighed. “Not soon enough apparently.”

“And what about your girlfriend? You’re still with her.”

“No. I’m not with Giline,” he said firmly. “I swear to you. I would never be seeing two women at the same time. I don’t know what she told you but she and I are through. Have been through.”

As much as Abbi was furious with him, she believed him about the girlfriend part. She folded her arms across her chest, heated anger seething through her body. She felt her nerve endings fire up. “Chad. Chase. Or, whoever you are…I…I can’t believe you deceived me like this, knowing what I’ve been through with my father’s deception living a double life and knowing what I’ve been through with my ex. How could you? I thought you were different. I told you about my upbringing and the messy divorce between my parents. My father had led a double life. Meanwhile, here you led me on. Making me believe you were someone else.”

“I did it for a good reason, Abbi.”

“A good reason? What good reason is there for lying about your identity to me?”

“I didn’t want…you to be with me because of my background.”

“Oh, well that makes me feel a lot better. You thought I was a gold digger because I’m a blue collar worker?”

“No. Nothing like that.” His voice was stern. “I am different, Abbi. Okay, so I wasn’t up front about who I am but everything I said to you, I meant. Everything.”

“How can I believe that, Chad…Chase? Ugh!”

“You’ll just have to trust me.” His voice was low and silky, yet she fought hard to resist his charm. The man lied to her about everything.

“Trust you? You expect me to trust you now?”

“I know it’s a lot to ask, Abbi. But, I’ve fallen for you. I really have.”

She turned away, facing the oceanic view outside the window. She wished her head was a clear as the sky outside, but it was nothing but a stormy mess brewing inside her. Her eyes began to sting.

“I can’t trust you, Chase,” she said, bitterness spilling over in her voice. “I…I feel duped. You didn’t trust me enough to tell me about your…background.”

“I didn’t want you to…”

“What? Go after your money? So you think I’m a gold digger?”

“If I thought you were, I wouldn’t have gotten that close to you, Abbi. I’ve been through a lot. It’s not easy being a man in my position. Having women around you for what you have or what name you’ve got. I wanted someone to like me for who I am. Besides, the real reason I came out here undercover was because of information I’m trying to find out about possible corporate sabotage, but that’s another matter I don’t want to get into right now…”

“I see,” Abbi said, but that didn’t make her feel any better. Abbi was torn. Her mind was spinning. She loved Chase. She really did. But she didn’t know what to believe. He’d lied to her. Deceived her. And he deceived her real good. “Here I was thinking you were just an ordinary blue-collar worker, like me. You really led me on. God, you’re such a good liar. I would have never suspected.” Her voice was choked with emotion.

“I’m so sorry, Abbi. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?” he said, sounding surprised.

“Leave me the hell alone. I don’t want to ever see you again, Chase. There is nothing in this world that you can say to me to make me feel I can ever trust you again. You really let me down. I…I…I’m sorry. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow and let the agency know to replace me,” she said, as she commenced to leave.

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