Page 43 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

“What’s this?” he demanded, looking at me then at Carter. “Now you want to have my girl too?”

I moved toward him, suddenly feeling enraged. “I am no one’s girl, Drake,” I told him curtly. “Carter was showing me around so I could check what linens would go best in the villas and other areas. He’s the one doing it because you weren’t here.” I made sure to emphasize that last part.

Drake looked as if he’d been slapped. Suddenly, he was apologetic once again. “I’m really sorry, Leigh. I lost track of time and…”

He actually reeked of alcohol. He’d probably partied all night until the morning. “Even though we have a history together, it doesn’t give you the right to stand me up today and to come here looking so unprofessional. I am the CEO of Luxe Linen. Why would I want to do business with someone like you?”

My words were harsh, but he deserved it. Perhaps my anger mostly stemmed from what he did to me in the past. There was maybe a blend of personal angst.

Carter stayed quiet.

“I think you should just leave, Drake,” I told him straight to his face. “Take a shower, drink coffee, sober up. Then perhaps we can talk again.”

“I’m so sorry, Leigh…” he said, his tone begging.

But then, out of the blue, I heard someone giggling in the distance. When I turned to the sound, a skinny girl in a leather mini-skirt came out from behind some trees and headed toward us. She looked tipsy too, and her makeup was a little smudged. Up close, I could see that her hair was messy and smelled of alcohol.

“Oh, Drakey!” she swooned, throwing her arms around his neck and giggling. “I told you we shouldn’t have come here!”

Drake turned to her in shock. It was as if it was only beginning to sink in now that he’d done something truly messed up. He had the nerve to bring this girl too!

Carter looked surprised, but he did not say anything.

“I think someone’s waiting for you to continue the party,” I said coldly. In my mind, vivid memories of Drake’s late nights out and partying episodes were flashing back. There were times when I couldn’t reach him and I wondered if he was with other women. I never really caught him cheating on me, but it surely suited his lifestyle.

“Rachel,” he hissed. “Just go already.”

“No!” the girl protested. “We should go together!”

Before he could respond, she started dragging him away. “And my name’s not Rachel, you moron. It’s Cheryl!” But then she began laughing like a hyena.

I sighed and looked on in disbelief. I felt like I was trapped in this cruel circus.

Carter was the one who finally stepped forward. “I think you and this woman should just go now,” he told Drake. “Come back when you’re ready to really change for the better.”

“Hah!” Drake shouted. “You think you’re better than me now? Just because you have money now? You are nothing, Carter!”

Carter remained silent. I saw him clench his fists.

“I don’t need your stupid job! I quit!” Drake yelled as the woman named Cheryl tried to pull him away and convince him to just go. “And I don’t need your fucking car and apartment!”

He actually took out some keys from his wallet and threw them at Drake’s feet.

“You can stay with me all you want, honey…” Cheryl said with a grin. “These people are sooo boring!”

“You just want me to leave because you want to fuck my ex-fiancé!” Drake spat out angrily. “You want her for yourself!”

I could feel my blood boiling. He was really getting out of hand. There was a part of me that pitied him, but a bigger part was now realizing that I really, truly wanted him out of my life forever.

“Leave,” Carter said through gritted teeth.

“Admit it, asshole!” Drake kept on shouting even as Cheryl pulled him. “You want Leigh for yourself! You’re a fucking traitor!”

I could feel my chest heaving. My heart felt like it was about to burst from all the intense emotions.

Carter’s eyes were flashing with fury, but he did not say anything anymore.

When Drake and the girl were led out by the security, I was relieved. I stepped forward to Carter’s side and took his clenched fist in my hand. It seemed to calm him down as he slowly stretched out his fingers from the clenched position and took my hand gently.

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