Page 12 of Billionaire's Second Chance

A mirror hung just above the desk. Sometimes, I would pick up one of the scripts and pretend I was an A-list actress performing a blockbuster movie.

Fuckin' Damon.

The one loose piece of my past that wouldn’t go away. He didn’t even recognize me. After hearing my name, he just stared blankly through me.

I resented him even more now. I had faltered at the end of my verse because his probing blue eyes had undressed me to the core. I had been a fool to think I could pull this off.

A burning knot formed in my stomach at the thought of Damon and Lily Rae. I was supposed to be in her place—both as Rose and on Damon's arm.

I had never been with anyone of his stature before. His bad-boy Billionaire aura had intoxicated me and numbed my senses until he was the only one I could see in that packed New York bar.

"Ava, I like the way you think. Will you enlighten me with your presence a little longer?" Damon had asked me at the end of the night after having talked with me for over an hour, and the bar's clientele had thinned out.

Of course, I agreed. We had walked around the city until my feet started hurting, and then he had graciously invited me to the Waldorf for a nightcap.

Laying on my bed now, I could still feel his veiny, stern hands on my waist as I glided on top of him that night at the Waldorf. His eyes had flashed with awe and excitement while grabbing onto my breasts for dear life.

"You're gorgeous, Ava," he had grunted before climaxing, letting out a loud yell at the end.

The vivid memories of our night that, until this day, made my groins moist were the same ones he probably didn't even remember.

I shook my head and felt around the bed for my phone. A few swipes later, I was on Instagram, thumbing through pictures and watching video snippets. Lily Rae’s verified tick popped on my screen next. The post had just one tag on it. Damon Alexander.

Something must really be up with these two. He had dated three of his movie stars in the past two years, and those were the ones that went public. I couldn’t imagine what happened between him and those he chose to keep under wraps. Yet, everyone acted blind to it.

Flustered by the memories of Damon and his new love affair, I dropped my phone on the bed with more force than necessary.

“It’s all your fault, Ava,” I yelled. “You just keep on hoping.”

The fluffy white pillows stifled my screams as I beat against the bed.

“You—just—kept—hoping.”

My phone rang, spiraling me back to reality.

“Hey, you care for a drink? I'm bored.” Greg asked.

This should have been our celebratory drink to mark my first big contract. Instead, Lily was now having the time of her life with Damon.

The clock on the wall read 7:34 pm.I could still catch them at the Bon restaurant if I left immediately.

“Ava?”

“I really wish I could, Greg. I just don’t feel like leaving the house,” I rushed him off.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, let’s just meet tomorrow, okay? Bye.” I hung up.

A sexy silver gown and pumps were all I needed to look the part. I grabbed a shiny black purse and zapped out of my apartment.

I jumped in my beat-up Toyota Prius and stepped on the gas.

Deep breaths, Ava Sage. Deep breaths.

I was calmer by the time I arrived at the restaurant. My eyes darted around, not sure what I hoped to find. The monochrome-themed restaurant was as pretty from the outside as it was when I stepped in. Candlelight chandeliers hung from the roof, bright lights reflecting in Lily’s shiny gold dress.

They weren’t so difficult to find after all. There was only one problem. They sat in the VIP corner, leaning toward each other. Damon's muscular arms and chest filled out his blazer, his striped white shirt barely visible from where I sat.

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