The Billionaire’s Betrothed(28)

I all but wanted to dance right there on the spot.

“Caroline?”

Whipping around, I took in the sight of my old friend.

Eric tentatively smiled at me, his eyes pitying and sad. The urge to dance vanished from inside of me like a candle blown out. I couldn’t take the sorrow, the displeasure that people gazed at me with. It sucked even the smallest shred of happiness that I had found right out of me.

“It’s good to see you.” He continued, setting down the clipboard he carried as he walked up to me, “How are you doing?”

Eric rest a hand on my shoulder before pulling me into a too tight hug.

“I’m alright.” I murmured, taking a step back from him, “I’m really alright.”

He beamed at me, white teeth glowing in his dark face, “That’s great to hear.” He replied, “So how did the interview go?”

“I got it!” I gasped, heart thundering in my chest at the realization.

I’d actually gotten the job. I couldn’t believe it.

“And it was all thanks to you!” I laughed, a fake and foreign sound scraping my throat, “Will you let me take you out for a beer or something? Anything? I’ll pay!”

Eric chuckled, leading me down the hallway away from Jake’s office. He wouldn’t take too kindly to two of his employees goofing off right in front of his door.

“That sounds great.” Jake replied, “I get off at four. I can meet you at the bar across the street?”

With a cheerful nod, I left my friend, heading out of the building and back into the blustery air.

For the first time in weeks, I was actually feeling as though I had regained a shred of control over my life. I felt as though I could finally take a deep breath of air.

The pain was still there, throbbing behind my ribs, but at least now I didn’t have to worry about unemployment on top of everything else.

Little did I know just how much this single job was going to alter the path of my world forever.

Little did I know that this simple taste of happiness was only the beginning of a long road of both torment and ecstasy.





Chapter Three





There wasn't much for me to do while Eric was finishing up his shift except go wait at the bar across the street.

Sure, I could have walked around and explored the city more. Perhaps there would have been a quaint, local gallery or a coffee shop with fantastic flavors...but I wasn't interested in that. Not now. Not when I could have a double shot of whiskey.

That was what Lucas and I always did when we wanted to celebrate something, even if it was only celebrating successfully making it through another dull Monday. Now that he was gone, I was so glad we celebrated the simple things like that.

Then again, with Lucas, things were never dull. Even just sitting on the couch watching a movie was fun when I had him at my side.

I stared down at the shot in front of me, admiring its golden sheen. Funny, wasn't it, how one tiny little thing could throw you painfully down the road of memory. It wasn't funny, actually, it was rather depressing.

Taking a deep breath, I threw my head back and took a giant swig of my shot. I closed my eyes, reveling at the burn of its trek down my throat, warming my belly like a tiny explosion of heat. It was as close to feeling anything as I got these days.

Quietly, I glanced around the bar, watching as the female bartender inspected and polished glasses. It was almost empty today, only a few regulars sparsely populating the tables. A game was playing on one of the TVs, and though the sound was muted, I could almost hear the idle chat of the hosts as another point was made.

"Can I get you another one, sweetheart?" The girl asked, smiling at me politely.

Her almond shaped eyes traveled back past me towards the table in the corner where a handsome young man sat. No doubt that was who she truly wanted to be serving.

"No." I responded, "Just the one for now."

She nodded, sliding past me towards the table, tugging her shorts just a bit lower down her hips.

I chuckled, watching her over my shoulder before turning forward again.

Is that how a girl's supposed to catch a man these days? If so, I was out of luck. I didn't have the body for that kind of thing. I was too old for that now.

Or at least, my soul was. I felt so much older than I was even a few months ago.

Carefully, I glanced over my shoulder again, watching as the bartender returned to the bar. I was ready for that second shot now.

"I'll have another." I said, lifting my shot glass towards the girl as she nodded, another courteous smile on her lips.

She looked about my age, though I would guess younger. Her makeup was dark and her lips were red. I wished, for a moment, that I was bold enough to pull off a look like that. I wondered how long she stared in the mirror, trying to get the sharp crimson lines just right, not a single smudge out of place.