Chapter 6
Liam Olsen had a lot of explaining to do. That was if he everresurfaced from the rock he’d crawled under after leaving me in the lurch.
Even though four months had passed since I’d learned of hisbetrayal, I still had moments when I couldn’t believe he would ever do something like this.
We met in kindergarten and became instant friends, and when wegrew up, our friendship blossomed into something more. We had our whole future planned out; traveling, marriage, kids...grandkids.
He’d enrolled to go to school at the New York University so we couldbe in New York together, but when my mom got ill and I decided to postpone going, he changed his enrollment to the University of Portland.
It was still some distance away from San Fran, but at least he wasn’ton the other side of the country.
Don’t get me wrong, the distance was still tough, but we got throughit. After all, love conquers all. At least, that’s what he used to tell me when I’d cry down the phone and tell him how much I missed him.
When my mom passed away a year and a half ago, Liam was myrock. He helped arrange the funeral, held my hand during the service, and then when I had the painful task of going through her belongings, Liam was right by my side.
When I was at a loss as to what to do with my life in the weeks thatfollowed, Liam convinced me to move to Portland with him. He’d graduated from college by then and had managed to get an incredible job with a marketing company.
Liam helped me sell my childhood home, and two months after mymom passed, I left the city where I’d lived all my life to move into his condo. Several weeks later, I started my first year at the Portland School of Art Design, finally taking a step in the direction of becoming a fashion designer.
Despite my protests, Liam refused to let me pay a cent towards thecondo. After paying off medical bills and funeral expenses, I had some inheritance left over, and I was more than happy to pay my way. But Liam assured me he was earning enough money to support us both.
He convinced me to invest my inheritance for our future, whichseemed like a sensible idea. We’d often spoken about marriage, and the money I had left over from the sale of the house would have gone a long way to pay for the perfect wedding.
I didn’t know the first thing about investing, but I didn’t need to. Liamassured me he knew what he was talking about, and like the fool I was, I handed over nearly every cent to my name. The small pot I kept back, I put in a savings account so I didn’t have to rely on Liam for everything.
If only I knew the headache waiting for me, I might not havebeen stupid and put all my trust in Liam.
Trust that he betrayed and stomped all over, leading to this verymoment of me sitting in my crappy, freezing apartment with my head in my hands, and staring at the letter from my landlord telling me I needed to find an additional $400 a month.
If I hadn’t trusted Liam, maybe I’d still be able to afford rent andcould have carried on with my education. As it was, I had nothing left. Liam had made sure of that.
While I’d been putting all my efforts into getting a career off theground, Liam had slowly been draining my savings. To add insult to injury, he’d been faking my signature on loan and credit card agreements, making sure the money went into his account.
I didn’t notice my savings dwindling, just like I didn’t notice the letterscoming through telling me I was behind on payments I never even knew about. Liam was too clever for me to find out, telling me constantly that I didn’t need to worry about our finances, and that I should focus on getting through college.
And why wouldn’t I have believed him? The man I’d trusted sinceI was five years old.
The first time I knew about the debt was four months ago when onemorning, I woke to find Liam missing, and bailiffs practically knocking down the door.
I didn’t believe them at first, but when they shoved paperwork undermy nose which had my signature on, I had no choice but to accept it.
Liam had somehow managed to put the condo in my name, so thatwas the first thing the bailiffs repossessed, followed by the convertible Audi Liam had ‘bought’ me. Except, he hadn’t bought it. It was in my name, paid for by money Liam had borrowed from the bank.
With Liam missing, I went to the police and explained everything, andthat’s when I discovered my savings account had been emptied with the exception of a few hundred dollars he hadn’t quite gotten around to stealing.
As for the money he’d invested, there was no such thing. Liam neverinvested a single cent.
Well, I guess he did. Just into his own account.
If I had any hope the police were going to help me though, I wassadly mistaken. They told me they’d look into his disappearance, but as for him stealing my money, they didn’t give a damn.
I didn’t have any evidence that he’d forged my signature, and the officer I reported it to said that for all he knew, I was a disgruntled ex trying to land my boyfriend in hot water.
When I became angry at the cop and lost my temper, he threatenedto arrest me if I didn’t calm down, and that was the last thing I needed. But I refused to accept his answer, it didn’t seem fair.
A few days after reporting Liam missing, I contacted a privateinvestigator to see if they could help. Of course, my plan fell flat at the first hurdle. To hire the investigator, I would need to spend thousands of dollars for his services.
With no other options, I accepted that until Liam was found, I’d haveto pay back the debt.
And so started my life of hell.
With the few hundred dollars still in my account, I paid for a shittyroom in a shitty motel where every night, I went to bed fearing that someone would break down the door and murder me. I stayed there for a few weeks while I searched for a job, eventually landing the waitressing gig at Bean and Gone.
It was thanks to Michelle that I managed to find the crappy apartmentwhich I moved into a week after starting at the diner. Her cousin’s, husband’s, friend was the landlord, and agreed to rent the apartment to me without paying a deposit on the basis that if I trashed the place, Michelle would cover the damages.
Obviously, I wasn’t going to wreck the joint, and Michelle had kindlyagreed to the deal. But there was no way she was going to be able to help me out of the latest mess, not that I had any intention of asking her.
Sighing heavily, I pushed the offending letter away and went to mykitchen. At the back of the freezer was a bottle of vodka, a ‘welcome to the complex’ gift left by the landlord. I’d suspected he’d given it to me in hopes I’d drink it, and fall into bed with him, but sadly for him, it went straight into my freezer, opting to keep it for a rainy day.
And right now, it was fucking pouring.
Forgoing a glass, I unscrewed the cap and gulped down a mouthful, wincing as the liquid burned my throat. I knew I needed to find a job stat, but for one night, I was going to let myself have a pity party. I was fed up with the uphill battle I was constantly facing. It was exhausting.
Tomorrow was a new day, and I could start again, but tonight, I wasgoing to try and find some answers at the bottom of the vodka bottle.
When a quarter of the bottle was gone, and a pleasant buzz wasworking its way through my body, I was feeling reckless.
And bored.
Bored of drinking alone. Bored of staring at the same four walls.Bored of being responsible for a fucking problem that wasn’t my problem to begin with.
Liam had been on my mind all evening. Part of me missed himdesperately, part of me wanted to ring his neck. Craving a reminder of him, I fished out my purse from my bag and pulled out the photo of us that I had carried with me since we’d had it taken at our junior prom.
As I pulled it out though, the $100 bill that Nash Carson had tippedme the day before fell out, fluttering down and landing on the table next to the cursed letter.
A mischievous smile broke out on my face as my eyes landed on thenote. It was stupid to spend the only money I had by drowning my sorrows, but fuck it. It wasn’t like a $100 was going to get me out of the shit.
Stumbling to my bedroom, I threw on a pair of jeans, an off-the-shoulderblack jumper I made years ago, and some ankle boots. I fluffed up my hair, thankful that I had washed it earlier over the sink, and applied a light layer of lip gloss from an almost empty tube.
Taking one last look at the letter sitting on the coffee table, a scowlpulled on my face, and it was all I needed to give me the last push out the door.
Grabbing the $100 bill and wrapping my coat around me, I left myapartment, determined to get wasted, and forget all about my shitty life for one night.
Bar Horizon was the first place I came across as I reached theoutskirts of town. It was a swanky wine bar, and one I’d never set foot in before.
It seemed as good as any bar to start my night of drinking.
Pushing the door open, a few people turned in my direction butdismissed me when they realized I was neither a regular nor a date they were waiting for.
Making my way to the bar to an empty stool, I plonked my ass downand smiled at the handsome bartender while rubbing my hands together to get warmth in them.
“What can I get you?” he asked, giving me a sultry smile. His gazedropped to my breasts as I unbuttoned my coat, and I knew my nipples were hard, thanks to the bitterly cold weather outside.
“Old Fashioned please,” I said, picking out the first cocktail on themenu in front of me, fully intending to make my way through as many of them.
Or at least, as many as $100 could get me.
“Sav?” A familiar voice drawled from next to me.
“Trent,” I replied, surprise in my tone. A smile tugged at my lips atthe realization that I wouldn’t be drinking on my own. The smile vanished though when I took in the state of his face.
Ugly purple bruises lay under his eyes. His nose was swollen with anasty scab straight down the middle of it, and his lip was split. “What happened to you?”
Trent’s body stiffened, and a darkness I’d never seen before flashedin his eyes before he quickly composed himself. “I had a run in with a wall. What are you doing here?”
“Drink.” I held up the Old Fashioned the bartender placed in frontof me, and taking a sip, I relished at the heat of the whiskey.
“I should go,” Trent said, shocking the shit out of me.
“Erm, okay?” I replied, confused. Not blowing my own horn, but Trenthad been pestering me for months to go out for a drink, and now, here I was, but he wanted to leave? Yeah, color me confused.
Trent turned on his stool, his eyes darting around the bar as if he waslooking for someone before he leaned in closer to me.
“You don’t know, do you?” he whispered.
“Know what?” My brows rose as my confusion grew. I mean, I knowI’d had a drink, but I didn’t think I was missing anything.
“This was a warning,” Trent said, waving a hand over his face. “Tostay away from you.”
I gaped back at him as his words sunk in before a smile broke out onmy face. “Ha. Good one, Trent.”
“No, seriously, Sav. Someone jumped me and told me to stay awayfrom you.” His tone was serious, and a hint of wariness shone in his eyes as they scanned the bar again.
Realizing he wasn’t joking, my smile dropped. “You’re serious, aren’tyou?” He nodded, and once again I took in the injuries to his face. “Who? Who did it?”
Guilt flooded me. Not that I had the first clue why someone wouldwant to hurt Trent and warn him to stay away from me, but his injuries looked pretty nasty.
“I don’t know, I had my back to him, and after he threatened me, heknocked me out,” Trent replied, flagging down the bartender and ordering a beer for himself and another Old Fashioned for me.
“Shit, Trent. I’m so sorry. I don’t know who would do that.”
For some reason, the image of Nash popped into my head and thelook of anger that crossed his face when Trent called me his girl, but that was stupid. Nash ‘the-billionaire-who-could-get-any-woman-he-wanted’ Carson wasn’t going to go around threatening men and knocking them out over a waitress.
“You really didn’t know?” Trent asked, giving me a skeptical look.
“Scout’s honor,” I said, holding two fingers up to my forehead.
He must have believed me as his shoulder sagged. “Well, there issomeone out there who is mighty protective over you,” he chuckled but there wasn’t an ounce of humor in it.
His words sent a chill down my spine. I wasn’t sure if I liked the ideaof a complete stranger thinking he was protecting me. At the thought, my mind went to the mystery of my missing underwear.
Another pair had disappeared, and I now had no panties to wear. Iwas going to have to buy some eventually, but I was holding off in case they suddenly appeared and I realized I’d just been a massive idiot and put them somewhere before forgetting where I’d put them.
“You okay?” Trent said, noticing my sudden quietness.
“Yeah. Maybe it isn’t safe for you to be seen with me.” Like Trent’s,my gaze roamed around the bar. Looking for who though, I didn’t know.
“Fuck it,” Trent replied, flashing me a salacious grin. “I never was oneto follow rules.”
As the drinks flowed, Trent grew flirtier with every passing minute.Innocent brushes to my lower back or hand turned into lingering touches. Harmless comments turned into sexually charged innuendos, and the tension between us was electric.
Even though I’d had four or five drinks, I didn’t feel drunk, and Icertainly wasn’t discouraging Trent’s behavior. For once, I was actually enjoying myself.
It felt good to switch off from all the shit I’d had thrown at me, and forthe first time in months, I had a genuine smile on my face.
Trent made me laugh with his corny lines, and with the alcohol swimming nicely in my veins, I felt relaxed for the first time since I opened the door to find the bailiffs standing there four months ago.
When the bartender told us it was closing time, Trent paid our tab,refusing to take my $100. I didn’t tell him it was the only money I had in the world; I didn’t want his pity.
Leaving the bar, Trent held my hand and insisted on walking mehome. The flirting continued along the way, and before we turned the last corner that led to my apartment complex, Trent tugged my hand, making me twist to face him. Before I had time to ask what was up, his mouth was on mine.
I didn’t protest. Instead, I opened my mouth to give him access whenhis tongue prodded against my lips, seeking entrance.
Trent grabbed my ass and gave it a firm squeeze. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck, not giving a fuck that we were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and ignoring the catcalls from a passing car.
Trent devoured my mouth, but he was a sloppy kisser. Kissing wasthe one thing Liam excelled at, but Trent, he was too fast, and far too much tongue for my liking. Still, I didn’t pull away, it was nice to have his attention, even if it came with saliva.
“Fuck, Sav. You’ve no idea how bad I want to fuck you,” Trent saidagainst my lips, his words going straight to my bare pussy which was rubbing against my jeans.
Right then, I couldn’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t let Trentspend the night pounding me. It had been too long since someone had made me feel good, and giving myself an orgasm wasn’t the same as when someone else gave me one.
Not that I knew what it was like for someone to give me anorgasm, Liam never succeeded, and he was the only man I’d been with.
Hopefully tonight, my luck would change.
“My place is down the road,” I replied, my voice husky.
Trent’s lips curled into a wicked smile as he grabbed my hand andstarted walking again. “Lead the way.”
We barely made it through the front door before our clothes werecoming off. Trent’s mouth was back on mine, his tongue plunging into my mouth before he moved his lips to my neck.
When my jumper came off, swiftly followed by my bra, Trent’s lipsmoved to my breasts, where he took a nipple into his mouth. I groaned, enjoying the feeling of his wet tongue flicking against the taut bud.
“Bedroom?” Trent said, the word muffled against my breast.
“Over there,” I panted, indicating to the door leading to my room as Ipulled Trent’s shirt over his head and flung it onto the couch.
Trent clearly worked out, and as my gaze roamed over his solidchest, he flecked his pecs to show off.
“Like what you see, babe?” He smirked, and if I wasn’t so desperatefor an orgasm, his arrogance would have been a complete turnoff.
“Not bad,” I replied, keeping my voice even.
His eyes narrowed on me. “I’ll show you not bad.”
He lunged for me, and I squealed before taking off around the couch,but Trent caught me with ease, and silenced my laughter by claiming my mouth.
Without breaking our kiss, he flung open my bedroom door, beforegently pushing me down on the bed. Scrambling to get my jeans down, Trent helped to pull them off, throwing me a devious look.
“No panties, Sav? I didn’t know you were such a naughty girl.” Hisvoice was full of promise of all the things he was going to do to me, and I couldn’t fucking wait.
“Would it help you to know that I didn’t wear panties at the diner?” Isaid with a sly grin. It was a teeny tiny lie, I’d only gone commando the one time, but with the heated look in Trent’s eye, I couldn’t help but tease.
My words seemed to snap him out of the trance he’d fallen into as hestared at me in all my naked glory. He reached round to his back pocket and pulled out a foil pack before chucking his wallet on my bedside table.
Trent shoved his pants and briefs down, his erect cockspringing free. Trent was smaller than Liam, but seeing as Liam never made me come, I figured it wasn’t all about size. With the way Trent had been bragging throughout the night, I hoped like hell he knew how to use the size he’d been given.
Not waiting a second longer, Trent tore open the foil package andstarted rolling the condom down over his shaft. Admittedly, I was a little disappointed that he wanted to get straight down to fucking, I’d hoped he was going to spend at least a little time with his head between my legs first.
Trent climbed on the bed, hovering over me as he positioned himselfat my entrance. As he was about to push inside me, a noise that sounded very much like a growl rang out from my closet.
My head whipped to the side and my body froze as a bolt of fear shotdown my spine.
“You okay?” Trent said, noticing my attention wasn’t on him.
“Yeah, I thought I heard something,” I said, my brows knitting togetherin worry.
Trent pinched my chin between his thumb and pointer finger andtugged, making me look back at him. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll protect you from the boogeyman.”
With that, he pushed inside, distracting me from what was probablymy imagination and the paranoia I’d been feeling since Trent mentioned there was someone out there who was protective over me.
Trent thrust hard several times before he let out a groan. “Fuck, Sav!I’m going to come!”
The disappointment I’d been trying to push aside sunk deeper into mybody as Trent cried out, before stilling on top of me. I’d always been someone who needed clit stimulation to orgasm, something Liam failed to remember, and I’d always end up finishing myself off when he went to clean up or fell asleep.
It looked like tonight was going to be no different.
Trent’s head dropped to the crook between my neck and shoulder, hishot breath fanning against my skin. “That was fucking incredible.”
I was glad someone thought so.
“Mmmm,” I replied, not having the heart to tell him the truth, that I’dbeen left completely unsatisfied.
Trent took a few seconds to regain his breath before he slipped out ofme, the condom now hanging off his flaccid cock and filled with his release.
“I’ll just get rid of this,” he said before disappearing out of my room,presumably to the bathroom.
Crestfallen beyond belief, and frustrated, I scrambled across mybed and grabbed my pajamas, throwing them on before Trent strolled back into the room, his shirt in hand.
“I should get going,” he said, pulling the shirt over his headbefore picking up his pants. “I’ve got to get up early for work.”
“Sure, I’m exhausted anyway,” I replied, not in the least bit gutted hewasn’t spending the night.
“Have I worn you out, babe?” He winked at me, and I had the suddenurge to go to the bathroom and scrub my skin clean everywhere he had touched. What the hell had I been thinking bringing him back here?
“Something like that,” I muttered, pulling the covers back andclambering into bed. “Can you see yourself out?”
“Course.” He leaned over to plant a sloppy kiss on my lips, and it tookeverything in me not to push him away. “We should do this again.”
He paused at the door and gave me an expectant look.
“Maybe,” I said through a fake yawn before closing my eyes.
“Night, Sav,” he chuckled.
I kept my eyes closed until I heard the front door shut, and when Iwas sure he was gone, I let out a sigh.
Now the alcohol was starting to wear off, and I’d done somethingstupid, the heavy weight that had wrapped around my body four months ago once again descended, only now it was squeezing harder than ever before.