CHAPTER THREE
Nova stepped out of the coffee shop just down the street from Rick’s building.
The warmth of her chai tea seeped through the paper cup and into her fingers as the crisp spring air brushed her cheeks.
The city was quiet, with just a low hum of traffic and the occasional chatter of early holiday risers, yet her mind was still tangled in the conversation she’d had with Joaquin after their workout.
Her muscles felt loose and strong, the endorphins leaving a lingering glow of accomplishment, but beneath that surface calm, questions lingered. Joaquin’s words about direction and purpose had settled deep, nudging her to consider the path she was on.
As for her relationship with Rick, she knew that Joaquin was right. She deserved someone who would cherish her, who would see her as more than a pawn in some career game. Someone loyal, respectful, and compassionate.
She bit down hard on her bottom lip, pushing away the ugly thought clawing at her chest. Deep down, she knew Rick wasn’t with her because he loved her.
For one, he had never even said those words to her.
But in his defense, she hadn’t either. She cared for him, but there was no love.
And lately, they had been drifting apart, only spending time together in public when there were cameras around.
She had her own dreams. The ones she never even got to chase. Every time she worked another late night drafting contracts or battling mergers that she didn’t give a damn about, she felt a little piece of herself die.
Even if she found the courage to leave, she felt her parents would find a way to pull her back in. Disappointment from them would be inevitable. But honestly, she didn’t even understand why they were so dead set against her following her own path.
Each step toward the gleaming tower where Rick’s penthouse sat seemed heavier. Too many questions and not enough answers swirled through her mind, and the decisions looming ahead felt impossible to ignore any longer.
She exhaled sharply as she pushed through the sleek glass doors of Rick’s building.
“Good morning, Miss Hart,” the doorman said as she walked into the lobby.
“Morning, Benji! Happy Easter,” she replied with a smile.
“Likewise, Ma’am.”
The lobby gleamed with marble floors, modern furniture, and expensive, gaudy accents. It was a little obnoxious in her opinion.
She snorted a laugh, thinking that it was just like Rick.
Rick was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Hell, his whole life was handed to him on a silver platter. His parents had paved every step of his path, from elite prep schools to a fully funded ride through Harvard Law. He never worked a day in his life until he was hired at her father’s firm.
His parents purchased his penthouse outright in the most exclusive high-rise in Salt Lake, complete with a concierge, valet, and a rooftop spa.
He had a maid who came in three times a week to clean.
Everything had to be top-of-the-line, like designer suits, imported wine, and custom furniture.
Rick didn’t just like luxury. He breathed it.
And worst of all, he acted as if it were normal. As if everyone lived that way.
Nova jabbed the elevator button and rode up to the twenty-second floor. She leaned against the wall with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She stared at her reflection in the mirrored walls. Despite the turmoil going through her mind, she looked alive, probably from the earlier workout.
The elevator beeped, signaling it had reached the floor. She dug her key out of her gym bag as she stepped into the hallway and headed to Rick’s door.
She inserted the key, and when the lock clicked open, she slipped inside.
She barely glanced around as she headed straight for the dining room table, where a manila envelope sat, just like her father said it would.
Nova grabbed the envelope and turned to leave, not wanting to be there longer than she had to. She had taken two steps when she heard a low, masculine voice, followed by a feminine giggle. Then a loud moan.
Nova froze. The envelope slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a soft thud.
There was no mistaking what that sound was.
No. No. Rick wouldn’t do that. Or would he? After all, half the men at the firm cheated on their wives and girlfriends. She had just been stupid enough to think Rick was different.
Nova clenched her fists as she moved toward the bedroom.
The door was closed, but the voices were clearer now.
She recognized Rick’s smooth, smug tone and Piper’s breathy giggle.
Piper was the firm’s receptionist and had a reputation for ending up in bed with just about every willing man who walked through the office doors.
Nova stood there, burning with betrayal, as Piper’s giggles and moans floated through the door.
“Are you sure Nova won’t find out?” Piper asked, low and playful.
“Relax, she thinks I’m out of town,” Rick answered. “Plus, she’s too naive to suspect anything.”
Hearing those words come out of Rick’s mouth made something inside Nova snap.
With shaky hands, she pulled out her phone and flipped it to video mode. If they wanted to betray her, fine. But they weren’t getting away with it.
She cracked open the door just enough to get a shot of them moaning and groaning as they screwed each other. Nova was disgusted knowing she had slept in that bed. Not that she and Rick had a very active, adventurous sex life.
She took a deep breath, then kicked the door open so hard it slammed against the wall and rattled the pictures.
“What the fuck—” Rick started to say, but his words died on his lips when he saw her standing there, phone raised, and capturing every moment.
Nova’s mouth twisted into a bitter smirk as she stared at the scene. Piper was straddling Rick, both of them stark naked, their bodies flushed.
“Well,” Nova said in a sharp tone, as she tilted her phone for a better angle. “Don’t mind me. Just catching the two of you in all your professional glory.”
Piper let out a shriek and dove off Rick, grabbing for the sheets to cover herself. Rick sat up fast. His face was white as a ghost as he tried to shield himself with a pillow.
“Shit! Nova! I swear it’s not what it looks like!” Rick blurted out, his voice sounding desperate.
Nova barked out a humorless laugh. “Oh, really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re screwing the firm’s receptionist.”
Rick stumbled to his feet, nearly tripping over his and Piper’s clothes on the floor.
Nova lowered her phone and stopped recording. She slipped it back into her bag.
“You know,” Nova said coldly, folding her arms across her chest, “I should have listened to people months ago and gotten rid of your sorry ass. But at least I saw the real you before I made the biggest mistake of my life.”
Rick paled even more as Nova took a step closer and jabbed her finger in his direction.
“Congratulations, you just flushed two and a half years down the toilet.”
“Nova, please, just listen,” Rick pleaded.
Nova shook her head in disgust. “I think I heard enough.”
“Look, I’m sorry. I’ve just been stressed.”
Nova’s eyes widened. “You were stressed? Damn. I usually eat a pint of ice cream or scream into a pillow when I’m stressed. Maybe next time I’m feeling stressed, I’ll just hop on the first dick I see.”
She wrinkled her nose up. “I can’t decide what smells worse in here, the sex or the bullshit.”
“Come on, Nova. You’re overreacting. It was just sex. It meant nothing.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you honestly think that makes a difference? You fucked another woman while in a committed relationship with me. Do you honestly think I’ll ever be able to trust you again?”
“Nova, please. Let’s just talk.”
Nova laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think so. The only thing left to talk about is making plans for you to get your shit out of my apartment.”
Nova’s gaze flicked to Piper, who stood on the other side of the bed, clutching the sheet to her chest, looking like a kicked puppy.
“And you,” Nova said with a hard stare. “Do you have any self-respect at all?”
Piper flinched, her grip tightening on the sheet as color flooded her face. She opened her mouth like she might argue, but whatever she had been about to say died when Rick shot her a glare.
Nova turned to leave but stopped and threw one last grenade over her shoulder at Rick.
“If you’re smart, I wouldn’t show your face at my parents’ house today.”
Rick’s face drained of color. He looked like he might puke right there. Then, without another word, Nova spun on her heel and strode toward the front door, only stopping to pick up the envelope she had dropped.
As she reached for the doorknob, Rick ran from the bedroom and grabbed her arm.
“Nova, please!” he pleaded with desperation etched into his face. “Don’t do this. We can work it out—”
Nova was done. She was so pissed off. Without thinking, she twisted her body, brought up her fist, and punched him in the nose with a satisfying crack.
Rick howled in pain as he clutched his face. “You broke my fucking nose!” he whined.
Nova smirked coldly as the adrenaline flowed through her.
“Good,” she said sweetly. “Consider it a parting gift.”
Without another word, she yanked the door open and slammed it behind her. The echo ricocheted off the sleek walls as if mocking the pristine life she’d been forced into.
She could hear Rick’s frantic shouting fading behind her as she stormed down the hall toward the elevator.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long before the elevator dinged. She stepped inside, and as soon as the doors closed, she sagged against the wall. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, but this time it wasn’t just from anger. It was betrayal.
The image of him tangled up with another woman was so disgusting.
But instead of tears, all she saw was clarity.
Rick had his faults, but seeing it laid bare like that had ripped away the last veil of denial she had been holding onto.
As much as it stung, she was actually glad to have caught him in the act.
It was better to have it ripped away than to keep living in the lie.
She refused to give him the satisfaction of breaking her. She vowed that she would not shed one goddamn tear over him.
But if he thought he could betray her and get away with it? He was about to learn just how wrong he was.