Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

RYLEE

I was so pissed I was shaking. I walked out of the bedroom and turned, ready to deliver one last sharp barb when I saw Simon stumble out of bed. He got tangled up in the blankets and fell face-first onto the floor. If I weren't so mad, I might have laughed. But I was furious. Here I was, thinking he wanted me there because he needed me, valued my company, and wanted to get closer to me. But in reality, he just wanted to get laid so he could think straight again. I was his therapy. And he called me because he didn't want anyone to know where he was.

I was mad at myself for believing this could be anything more. Life didn't have happy endings. I had let him trick me with the fancy liquor and the private ride to his luxury suite.

What a joke.

I stared at him scrambling to his feet. What was worse, I was staring at him, angry and turned on at the same time. He was gorgeous. I could see the tan lines on his thighs, telling me he probably spent a lot of time on the beach or probably a yacht—shirtless. He was tall and sexy as sin.

And an asshole.

I spun around and stomped toward the door. I had no idea where I was going, but I had to get away from him. He followed me to the door. "Rylee, stop, please."

"No."

"Rylee, you misunderstood me," he said. "Just give me a minute to explain. Please, don't run out of here in the middle of the night."

I rounded on him, fire in my eyes. "Fine. Explain."

He stood there, blinking. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, struggling to find the right words. "I?—"

"Exactly," I said sharply. "You don't even know why this would piss me off because you can't see past the end of your own nose. Good luck with everything, Simon. Really. I mean that. I don't think you're a bad guy. But I do think you're terrible with people, and you only think about yourself. I guess that's the only way to be as successful as you are. But there's a cost." I wrenched open the door and stepped out into the hall, pausing to look back at him. "Maybe one day you'll realize you paid too much to get to where you are."

I left, hating myself for breaking down as soon as I got in the elevator. Embarrassment, humiliation, anger at myself, and anger at him all washed over me. Disappointed that he turned out to be exactly what Karen warned me about, I leaned against the elevator wall, feeling a mix of rage and sadness.

By the time I hit the lobby, I realized I was in Houston. Home was three and a half hours away. I had no car. Grumbling and annoyed that I had to spend the tips I just made that brought me to my goal, I called an Uber and booked a ride home that ended up costing me about three hundred and twenty-five bucks.

The ride in the tiny little four-door was cramped and uncomfortable. It was nothing like the ride to Houston. That was all about luxury and comfort.

"Looks like you had a rough night," my driver said, trying to start a conversation.

"You could say that," I muttered.

"Boy trouble?" he asked.

I looked at him in the rearview mirror. The guy was older, probably had daughters my age. He wasn't being nosy. He was trying to talk. "Isn't it always?" I smiled.

He laughed. "I raised two girls, both now off in college and causing their own kinds of trouble," he shared. "I'll tell you the same thing I tell them. Don't let any boy make you feel less than what you are."

"Thanks," I responded, a small smile playing on my lips. I appreciated his kind words. "I think we all need to hear that time and again. It's too easy to get caught up in the idea of romance."

He glanced at me in the rearview mirror again, his eyes reflecting wisdom gained from countless years of experiences. "True, true. Love is a beautiful thing, but it should never define who you are. It's better to be single and happy than being with someone who doesn't respect you."

I nodded, feeling tears prick my eyes at his words. It was like he had known just what I needed to hear.

"Anyway, you seem like a smart girl. You'll figure it out."

With that, he fell silent, focusing on the road ahead. The quiet hum of the engine filled the car, and the darkness outside seemed comforting in a way. I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes, letting his words sink in. I was usually smarter than that. I never fell for the stupid bullshit guys liked to shovel. I didn't swoon. I certainly never let myself fall for a man that was such an asshole.

As the miles of open highway stretched out before us, with Houston far behind, I tried to shake off the feeling of ick. I felt gross. I was a booty call. He dragged me all the way to Houston to have sex—to take the edge off. That was it.

"Miss, we're here."

I woke up and looked around. We were back at the bar. I rubbed my eyes. "Thank you."

"Take care of yourself," he said.

I got in my car and drove home through the city streets that were already busy with people rushing off to work. I got home at seven, exhausted and emotionally spent. As I headed upstairs, Karen came out of the bathroom, her towel wrapped up on her head. She greeted me with a smile. "I thought you were in Houston."

"I was. Now I'm not."

"Is everything okay?"

"I don't want to talk about it," I muttered, heading to my room. "I need to sleep. We'll talk later."

I stripped down to my panties and climbed into bed, but despite being exhausted, I couldn't fall asleep. My mind spun, and thoughts of Simon kept resurfacing. I replayed the entire night in my head. How good he looked when I walked into the hotel room, the way he lit something inside me at Connor's birthday party. Why did he have to go and ruin it?

I sighed and turned over, staring at the ceiling. How had I let myself fall for his charm so easily? I had always prided myself on being level-headed, but with Simon, I had let my guard down. And now, I was paying the price.

I couldn't get the image of him standing in that suite out of my head. The city lights behind him, his silhouette, the vulnerability in his eyes when he turned to me. I wanted to believe he cared, that he wasn't just using me to blow off steam. But his actions spoke louder than words. He had called me down there, thinking only of himself, not considering the impact it had on me. He just assumed I was going to have sex with him.

I guess I couldn't blame him for thinking that. Like I told myself earlier, I got into that car knowing I was going to end up in bed with him. Although I thought it was going to be a little more romantic. I thought we would spend time together and he would talk to me. I didn't think it was going to be a hit-it and quit-it thing.

Why did I let him have such an effect on me? I had dealt with difficult people before, but Simon was different. He was infuriatingly charming, maddeningly arrogant, and yet, there was something about him that drew me in. Maybe it was the way he carried himself or the glimpses of vulnerability he showed. I didn't know, but it frustrated me to no end. I let myself think I was so special. I was the woman that could get through to him and change things around. It was stupid. It wasn't like I was the first woman that had tried to get in close with Simon. Although it wasn't like I chased him. He chased me. Was I something to conquer? I was very aware of the thrill of the chase, but after the birthday party, I thought there was more.

As the hours passed, my anger slowly turned into a dull ache. I felt like an idiot for letting myself get so involved, for thinking there could be something more. Maybe Karen was right all along. Maybe Simon was just another rich guy who thought he could buy his way into people's lives. People were disposable to him.

The morning sun filtered through my blinds, and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. I had too much on my mind. I got up and took a shower to wash away the scent of him. My body was still tingling after what he had done, which only pissed me off more. I threw on some clothes and headed to the kitchen. Karen was there, eating a sandwich with her laptop open.

"I thought you had to work?" I said.

"Not until later." She took another bite and then closed her laptop. "Rylee, are you okay?"

I shook my head, fighting back tears. "No, Karen, I'm not. You were right about Simon. He's exactly what you said he was."

She put her sandwich down and came over to me, wrapping me in a hug. "I'm sorry, Rylee. I didn't want to be right. I just didn't want you to get hurt."

"I know," I whispered, clinging to her. "I thought he was different. Well, I don't know what I thought. I thought he actually liked me, I guess. Like he wanted to have an actual relationship. Now, I realize I was a booty call. He caught the mouse and tossed me away."

"Men like Simon don't change easily," she said gently. "But that doesn't mean you're not worth more. You deserve someone who sees you, who values you for who you are."

"I guess I just wanted to believe in him," I said, pulling away and wiping my eyes. "But it's over now. I need to move on."

Karen nodded. "And you will. You're strong, Rylee. Don't let this break you."

"It won't." I sighed and went back to making my coffee. "I can't wait to get off the same continent as him. I'm going to Europe and I'm not going to think about him again. He can kiss my ass."

Karen laughed. "That's my girl."

I managed a small smile. "Thanks. I can't believe I let myself get caught up in the idea of a romance with a billionaire. I blame Jenny, Lauren, and Mary Ellen. I think they got the last good ones. I thought maybe I was going to be swept away by my own billionaire."

"You will be swept away by a good one," she said. "It doesn't have to be a billionaire, just someone that treats you right."

My phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, making me jump. It was Simon. I immediately hit the decline button.

"Good girl." Karen smiled. "You don't need that in your life."