Page 15 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

I truly hated it when people disturbed my privacy and meddled with my private life. I’ll have to teach those women a lesson.

Chapter 7

LEIGH

“Imustsay…yourlinens are top quality and quite durable,” the housekeeping director of The Haven was saying.

I smiled with pride and joy. “Of course,” I answered. “We only provide the best.”

It’s been a productive day for me, going around our client hotels and making sure that we maintained a good relationship with them.

The Haven was actually one of my favorites. It was an elegant yet homey place. It was also affordable and not too luxurious to the point that some people felt uncomfortable already.

As we ended the meeting and parted ways, I walked toward the exit, admiring the paintings on the walls of the lobby.

“Okay, look at each other and smile,” I heard someone say. “Hold it, hold it…”

When I turned toward the sound, I saw that it was a photographer directing a bride and groom in their photo shoot.

Instantly, I felt my heartbeat quicken. I shuddered, feeling sorry for the woman.You think you’re entering the happiest phase of your life, but the reality is that it’s actually going to be the worst.

I felt the bitterness rising in my chest as I remembered how happy and hopeful I had also been when I thought I was about to get married. I had been so much in love and eager to start a new life with the man I thought was my best match.

Thinking back now, I realize we actually were not that compatible. What he did to me was a blessing in disguise. It would have been the worst mistake of my life if the wedding had pushed through.

But he could have gotten cold feet earlier,a voice inside me whispered.He could have chosen to spare you the embarrassment and the expenses by canceling before the day of the wedding.

I was reminded of the intense pain then. I could picture myself bursting into tears when I realized he wasn’t coming. I wanted the floor to swallow me up as I ran from the church and never wanted to show my face to anyone again after that. I locked myself in my room for days and didn’t want to talk to anyone. Luckily I’d been on leave, so my job wasn’t affected.

My phone rang, waking me up from the harsh memories. But when I looked down at it and saw who it was, my heart seemed to stop beating. I felt a knot starting in my stomach.

The caller ID showed Drake’s name, which I had not been able to delete yet after all the pain he’d caused me.

Shit, he must be in Las Vegas already,I thought. I had managed to make myself so busy the past few days that I forgot all about his message informing me of his arrival here.

I rejected the call and found myself so weak in the knees that I plopped on the nearest chair in the lobby of The Haven. I was just staring into nothingness, feeling confused and rattled, when I heard the dreaded voice.

“Hello, Leigh.”

Did I accidentally accept the call? Was I imagining it--- the same voice that had told me several times that I was the love of his life and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, only to leave me at the altar on the day of our wedding?

“Hey,” he repeated.

I was so shocked that it took me some time to turn my head and face the owner of the very familiar voice.

And just as I dreaded, it was Drake--- live in the flesh.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, sitting on the chair beside me.

I could smell his aftershave, reminding me of the many times I’d inhaled it and felt intoxicated by his scent.

And I can’t believe you’re here,I replied in my mind. Out loud, I said, “Oh, it’s you. What are you doing here?”

“Just met with an old friend,” he said. “But actually, I really came here to Las Vegas to see you again, Leigh.”

I had no answer for that. I came here to start a new life without him in it. I came here to forget about how cruel he’d been to me and how much he’d destroyed me.

“Are you busy?” he asked, his eyes gazing into mine. I looked down and stared at a point beyond his ear. I did not want to meet his eyes or glance at his lips.

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