Billionaire Bad Boys of Romance 2(162)

“I’m losing my patience, Lena,” Nick warned, and heard her yelp in surprise when he took hold of her arm and twisted it round her back, not using enough force to really hurt but letting her know it could get really painful if she pushed him.

“Don’t be such a brute, Nick…ooh!” she cried, and at last agreed to tell him all.

“You haven’t changed, Nick,” Lena said sulkily, rubbing her bruised arm. “Still a bully – alright, alright!” she said quickly when he advanced again.

She sighed deeply. “Like I said, you did a lot to help. When I arrived at the reception and you came over to speak to me, I noticed Keyonna was watching us. I’m woman enough to tell that she was more than suspicious. I wasn’t sure how much you’d told her, but still I hatched this great plan to get you all to myself in some lonely spot. I was banking on the fact that Keyonna would follow and then maybe catch us doing something we shouldn’t.”

Lena paused, smiling thinly at the frozen look on Nick’s face. “You remember, don’t you? Our little head-to-head in the garden? It all went according to plan, as I recall. You came with me and Keyonna followed. She didn’t think I’d seen her, but I had. And you can imagine what she must have derived from our conversation that day.”#p#分页标题#e#

“You bitch!” Nick snarled, fuming as he smashed his fist down on his desk, sending files flying. How could he have been so stupid?

“You caused it all with your own words, Nick,” Lena went on triumphantly. “All those uncaring little things she must have heard you say about her. She looks like the sensitive type. Isn’t she?”

Lena chuckled with deep humor, not waiting for his reply. “I’ll just bet she is. Sensitive, silly, and obviously besotted with you. I worked that all out and used it in my favor. I mean who wouldn’t? I knew she’d feel hurt seeing us together like that. But I never expected her to do what she did – desert you completely, and at the reception! Now that was heartless.”

Nick just stood there, dazed with fury and dismay as Lena let out a hearty, grating laugh.

“Anyway,” Lena went on with a nonchalant shrug, “I soon realized it was a wasted effort. I mean, instead of forgetting all about her when she vanished, you went on a one-man search. I was furious!”

She laughed heartily once more, shaking her head at him. “I really shouldn’t have bothered. If anything, I only managed to have brought you two closer together. I don’t know what lie you must have told her, but it must have been foolproof.”

Nick buried his face in his hand for some moments. He went over the episode in the garden and knew with a sinking feeling how it must have seemed to Keyonna. He hadn’t been ready to admit his feelings for her then, certainly not to Lena. So he’d played tough, and said things he hadn’t really meant. The old Nick might have meant them, but not the same Nick who’d been twisted up in knots over her since that first reckless kiss they’d shared on that balcony.

Finally he looked up at the smirking Lena, his gaze dark slits of calm wrath. “I hope you’re happy now, Lena. Does it feel good to know you almost succeeded in destroying my chance at happiness?”

Lena pouted, tilting her head to the side as she had the grace to look sorry. And then she sighed. “Look, I’m not really proud of what I did. But you know what they say about a woman scorned. I just refused to believe you didn’t want me anymore. Hell, I was ready to settle for being your mistress; to have that affair with you I denied myself all those years ago when I was married to your father. I should have known you’d never want a part in something that would seem aversive. Especially now that you’re older and wiser. Your loss,” she said casually, adding, “And hey, it’s not like there was any harm done. You’ve got your precious Keyonna back, haven’t you?”

Yes, thought Nick bleakly, but for how long? Until her memory returned and she realized what a complete jerk he’d been on his wedding day? Just thinking about how hurt she’d been – hurt enough to up and leave him that first time – made Nick wary that she might still hold a grudge once she remembered what he’d done. No woman would like to feel like some mere object, or that her feelings didn’t count. But Nick could only hope that Keyonna would understand, and see that he’d changed. And that he’d absolutely fall apart if she ever decided to leave him again….



Hours before, Keyonna was ringing the doorbell to the house where Trisha lived with Mark and his aunt.

Keyonna recalled promising herself after the party that she’d never set foot on these grounds again. But ever since her conversation with Natasha all those days ago, Keyonna knew that she just had to see Trisha and maybe some of those missing pieces could start to make sense.