11. CHRIS
11
CHRIS
L ayla stood in front of me, her arms crossed, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in that perfect, effortless way. She wore a designer sundress that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salaries, and her expression was cool, her eyes searching mine. We were in the main living area of the yacht, the sunlight streaming in through the panoramic windows, lighting up everything.
Layla had arrived some time I’d been out, and she’d already settled into one of the suites.
When I’d arrived back on the yacht, I’d heard her shouting at one of the staff members, already unhappy about something. Or everything.
Something inside me had snapped. A whole week of this? How had I held out before? When I heard her voice, shouting, demanding, it had turned me off and I wanted her gone.
“I don’t get it,” she said, frustrated. “I thought we had plans to stay for the entire week.”
“Yeah, I know. Things changed, unfortunately. I can’t do that anymore.” I didn’t want to spend a whole week with her. It felt like a waste of time now, where before it had been different. A lot of what I’d done before suddenly seemed different.
She tilted her head slightly, her lips pressing together. “Can’t or won’t?” Her words had an edge and she narrowed her eyes.
I shrugged. “It’s just not going to work out this week.”
Layla’s eyes flickered, and she let out a small, disbelieving laugh, shaking her head. “You know, you used to do whatever you could to make sure things were perfect.”
Perfect for her.
“Now, it feels like you barely care.”
I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the subtle pout, the slight shift of her weight. She was used to getting her way, and for a long time, I’d let her. It had been easy, comfortable. She wanted things a certain way, and I didn’t have a reason to say no.
I sighed, shaking my head. “I have a few things to take care of and I can’t juggle it all at the same time. It’s not fair to you that you only get a fraction of my attention.”
“I’ll agree to that,” she said.
“Things are different now,” I added.
Her eyes hardened just a fraction, her tone still deceptively sweet. “Different how? I mean, I know you have a lot on your plate, but it almost feels like you’re pushing me away.”
I was pushing her away.
“I’m just trying to focus on what I need to do,” I said, keeping my gaze steady. “I can’t always be available anymore. This arrangement we have isn’t working out.”
Layla’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing just slightly, and she let out a small sigh, her voice dropping to something almost vulnerable. “Our arrangement? ”
I nodded. She knew what I was talking about. Layla was a very expensive, very well-camouflaged booty call.
“I guess I thought we had something more than just convenience. ” Her voice was shaky, like she was going to cry.
I looked away, my jaw tightening. There it was, that subtle dig that made it seem like I was the one failing her, like I was the one who wasn’t good enough and she’d believed that there was more. Even when I hadn’t ever let her believe it—we’d known from the start exactly what we were, and together wasn’t it. Sure, I had been that guy before, the one who catered to her every whim because, well, why the fuck not? She’d known this wasn’t going anywhere prolific—this had always been a game. But now, I needed more.
I just didn’t want more from her.
“I think we both know this isn’t working anymore,” I finally said.
She blinked, her eyes widening slightly. But then she straightened, her chin lifting, her expression hardening just enough to hide whatever vulnerability had been there for a split-second. “So that’s it? You’re just… done?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I think it’s better if we both move on. We knew this wasn’t going to last forever.”
“Did we?” she asked in a small voice. Again, she was trying to make me feel guilty. I wasn’t going to let it work—she knew who I was and where I stood on love.
“I’ll make sure you have a hotel room, and I’ll cover your trip back.”
Layla stared at me for a long moment, her lips pressing together. Her eyes shimmered, but she blinked quickly, hiding it behind a mask of indifference. “No, Chris. This isn’t fair,” she whined. “You can’t just decide this on a whim. We had plans. I deserve more than this.”
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Layla, I’m not doing this on a whim. It’s not working. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head, her voice growing more insistent. “I left everything to be here, for you. You can’t just throw me out like this. What am I supposed to do?”
I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension build. “I’ll take care of everything you need, I told you. Book a stay, send me the bill. But you can’t stay here. I’m leaving now, and when I get back, I need you to be gone.”
She stared at me, her eyes widening, and for a moment, I thought she might argue again. But then she blinked, her expression hardening. “Fine. If that’s what you want, Chris. But you should know, once I walk away, I’m not turning back.” Her voice was cool, controlled.
“I know,” I said.
It wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She wanted to make me beg for her to stay. Surprise flickered across her expression but anger followed it.
“You’ll regret this,” she said. “Men don’t walk away from me and wish they could have another chance. You don’t know what you had, Chris.” She turned away without giving me a chance to respond, her movements deliberate.
I watched her go, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor echoing through the yacht. I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a long breath. It was over, and as much as I hated the confrontation, I knew it had been the right thing to do. I couldn’t keep letting myself be the guy who just went along with everything because it was convenient.
Not when with Bella, everything was real.
Layla would be fine. I wasn’t convinced for one second that she felt anything for me. I had been a means to an end. We’d done this because I’d needed a distraction and she’d needed someone to pay her way.
Now, that had ended. It was like a business agreement, and it had come to an end.
I turned and headed out of the yacht. I needed to get some air, to clear my head, to get away from the aftermath of the conversation with Layla. I felt like shit after a fight, and Layla’s words—even though I knew she’d tried to manipulate me—had still hit a nerve.
I made my way down the dock, the salty breeze cooling my flushed skin. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I just needed to go . To get away from everything for a little while before the event—
Fuck.
I’d just told Layla off and I needed someone to come with me to the gala.
And that’s when I saw her.
She stood near the end of the dock, her gaze focused on something in the distance.
“Bella?”
When she looked up, guilt flashed across her face like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t have.
I frowned and stepped closer to her.
“Were you looking for me?”
Only my whole life, it seems.
She glanced at her watch. “My shift isn’t until a little later.” Her hair was pulled back, the wind catching a few loose strands and blowing them across her face. She looked incredible. Real. Nothing like Layla with her too-perfect makeup and designer clothes.
“I was just getting some air,” I said. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Oh, right,” she said and swallowed. “Me too.” She was nervous. Had I pushed her away that far again, being a dick to her, shutting her down?
But when I didn’t have her, I yearned for her. She was the part of me I couldn’t live without; fuck, I tried and failed again and again.
Whenever I had her, I pushed her away because I knew how it would end.
I hesitated for a moment, the words caught in my throat. I hadn’t planned on saying this, hadn’t even thought it through. But the idea of going to the event alone, of showing up without a plus-one after RSVPing for two, felt like a slap in the face to the hosts.
And having Bella on my arm…
“I want you to come with me,” I blurted out, my voice more forceful than I intended.
Bella blinked, her brow furrowing. “Come with you? Where?”
“To the event,” I said, swallowing hard. “The gala tonight. It’s important. We’ve spent a ton of money setting it up, and it’d be poor form to show up alone after RSVPing for two. Everyone there has a partner and I just… I need a plus-one.”
“What about Miss Talbot?” She tilted her head a little, narrowed her eyes.
I clenched my jaw. “Something came up. She won’t be on the yacht with us anymore.”
“Oh,” Bella said, surprised. “But I have a shift tonight—”
“I’ll give you the night off.”
“I can’t just leave my job—”
“I’m your boss and I say you can,” I said, and Bella finally stopped arguing with me.
She stared at me, her dark eyes searching my face, and for a moment, I thought she was going to say no. That she was going to turn and walk away, tell me that I’d fucked up one too many times.
She had every reason to.
Only, that would hurt like a bitch.
Finally, Bella nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Alright. I’ll come with you.”
Relief washed over me, and I let out a breath. “Thank you.”
She nodded, her eyes still holding that hint of uncertainty. “You’re welcome, Chris. But just so you know… this doesn’t mean anything, okay? It’s just a favor.”
I forced a smile, nodding. “I know. Just a favor.”