Addicted (A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance)(31)

I should've known he was no good. He just saw me as an interesting conquest. After he got what he wanted from me, I was no longer a priority. All that talk that he would fight our parents on my behalf? Obviously bullshit. He’s just a stubborn asshole that wants to defy authority. That, and he just wanted to make a point to his father that he can do what he wants.

The worst part of it all was that I’d totally humiliated myself and nearly destroyed my career, all on the basis of Tyler’s false promises.

I’m lucky to still be working, I thought angrily. Thankfully, Christine’s ever-present need to torture me was the only reason I still had a job. I’d come so close to losing everything, all because I lost all rational thought when I was around Tyler. The image in my mind absolutely frightened me.

I definitely dodged a bullet with that one.

A ringing sound caused me to jump. My desk phone.

It's him! I thought angrily, nearly choking on a mouthful of jelly donut. It's that womanizing jerk.

Really, I had no clue if it was him calling, but I convinced myself that it was.

Don’t answer it.

I knew I shouldn't have. I'd ignored his calls to my cell all day. But for some reason, I couldn't help myself. I wanted to let him know that I was pissed off.

I quickly swallowed the rest of my donut, and after a deep breath, I snatched the phone.

I filled my voice with the nastiest venom I could muster. "I don't want to speak to you ever again!"

"Victoria!" my mother's voice snapped.

"Mom," I breathed in shock. At this time in my life, my mother was the last person on earth I wanted to have a conversation with. “What do you want, Mother?”

Her voice rose several octaves. “What do I want? What do I want?! Do you have any idea how much shame you’ve put on this family or how much trouble you’ve caused for me?”

“Seriously, Mom? We haven’t spoken in ages, and this is what you choose to call me about? Like, how was I supposed to know that you were married to Tyler’s father? We don’t even talk!”

She acted as if she didn’t even hear me. “You’ve caused me so much embarrassment, Victoria.”

“You’ll be happy to know that Tyler and I are finished,” I cut in, not willing to listen to any more of my mother’s crap. “He’s a womanizing asshole, so you’d better watch out for James. It probably runs in the family.”

I slammed down the phone.

“The nerve of that woman,” I muttered angrily. How she got a billionaire to ever marry her, I would never know.

“Victoria!” Christine called from her office. “Get in here. NOW.” There was no doubt about it, the witch meant business.

I held in a sigh as I quickly brushed the donut crumbs off of my desk and prepared to go face Christine and muttered, “my life is over.”



Tyler





I should call it off, I thought to myself as I was riding home from work. End it right now and cut my losses.

The way Victoria left the restaurant and had been ignoring my calls said that she was probably considering the same thing.

It’d be for the best, I tried to tell myself. I can’t even think around her. She drives me crazy with lust. I can’t have that. Since Candice, I’ve always been in control.

The fact that I’d sacrifice my position at my own company for a girl I’d only known for a short while? It was insane. My pride was one thing. I hated being told what to do by anyone. It’d always been one of my faults and I’d learned to accept that. But knowing you were fighting a losing battle and continuing to fight anyway—that was plain stupid.

It appeared that Brad wasn’t too keen on any legal battle, and if I put my pride aside, neither was I.

I thought about Brad and the options he laid out for me. Maybe I should just cave in to my dad’s demands, I thought. Let Victoria go and pretend to be what my father wants me to be.

The thought hurt as a sharp pain lanced through my chest. Even the thought of leaving Victoria hurt. I hated it. Fucking hated it. She made me feel weak.

I suddenly had the overpowering urge to see her, to make things right. Feeling that I was making a big mistake, I dug out my cell and speed-dialed her number.

No answer.

It had been the same thing all day.

If I wanted to get a hold of her, I was going to have to be a bit more direct.

"Jonathan," I called to the front of the limo.

"Yes, Master Locklin?"

I ignored his mistake of calling me master again, my mind on Victoria.

"Turn this thing around and take me downtown. There's someone I need to see."



Victoria





"Finally the day is over," I muttered in relief as I grabbed my things. I couldn't wait to go home to my rat hole of an apartment and kick back. My feet were killing me. Walking around in 3-inch heels all day will do that to you.