Page 35 of The CEO's Revenge

As for that, he had continued to deny any knowledge of any other woman. But photos do not lie. And I still had one of those as proof. I realized I should have confronted him with the photo, but I had been too emotional to think clearly.

Memories of how it had felt to have him inside me once more filled my mind. We had always been dynamic in bed, and last night proved on that point, at least, we were still in sync. Why did it have to feel so good to feel him inside me? I could still feel the ghost of his tongue eating me out last night and my nipples tightened painfully.

“No. No. No. You can’t be having these thoughts,” I scolded myself, as I felt the wetness grow between my legs.

I jumped up from the couch and walked to the bathroom. Getting into the shower, I turned it on as cold as I could stand and stepped underneath the icy spray. I allowed it to beat me until all traces of desire left me. I was not really into torture so I ran it hot again, before I soaped my body and stepped out.

Somehow, I managed to resist the urge to bring the sheets to my face to see if I could catch the last lingering scent of him as I hastily stuffed them into the washer. I thought, instead, about the insulting offer he put on the table. Money in exchange for sex. How dare he? As if I was some cheap prostitute he picked up off the street, and his parting words were like rubbing salt into an open wound.

True there was no way I could deny I’d not been turned on last night. My body had betrayed me and he knew I wanted him, but there was no way I was going to let him think that. I hated being in the position of feeling as though I was on a rollercoaster. I hated having my emotions toyed with and that was exactly what Max was doing. But I would show him!

There was a way around my problem.

Robert.

Outside of his company, Robert was a wealthy man. His family was one of the wealthiest in the city and he had a hefty trust fund. I frowned when I remembered Max’s insinuation that Robert thought I was a gold digger. If I were truly a gold digger as Max imagined, I would have chosen Robert over him. And in the years I’d known Robert, I’d never once asked him for anything. Apart from birthday gifts, I’d never taken anything from him either. Maybe Max was trying to lay the blame for his perceptions of me on someone else.

Robert had always been kind to me and always told me to come to him if ever I needed help. I would give him the chance to help, not just me, but the school, that he had always said he felt great gratitude for, to come up with any small shortfall in the budget.

Taking a deep breath I sent Robert a text. I was deliberately vague, saying only that I needed to talk to him soon. His reply was instantaneous.

Robert: Saw your message, hon. What’s up?

Me: I’m in a bit of a bind. Can we meet up sometime? I need to talk to you. I need a favor.

Robert: Sure. What kind of favor? :)

I pondered if I should have this discussion via text message. I typed back.

Me: I’d rather not discuss it via text. This needs a sit-down conversation.

Robert: Sounds like a lunch date to me. lol.

I scrunched up my face. I really would have preferred just going to his office, but beggars could not be choosers. I sighed and bit the bullet.

Me: Sure. No problem.

Robert: Great. I’m out of town right now. Be back sometime on Wednesday. Thursday okay with you?

School would be out for the summer after Wednesday. Thursday was perfect.

Me: That’s fine with me.

Robert: Excellent. See you Thursday. Btw, I’m at a vineyard, would you like white or red?

I was taken aback by the question.

Me: Ummm. Neither. I’m good. Thanks.

Robert: Okay. I’m leaving on Wednesday if you change your mind.

Me: Okay. Thanks

Robert: See you Thursday.

Me: Fine.

I stared at the phone. I hoped I was not making a mistake. Robert’s interest in me was not lost on me, but unfortunately, I just could not wrap my head around being in a relationship with him. He simply did not elicit those kinds of feelings in me.

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