The Billionaire's Favourite Mistake(45)

Greer raised a hand into the air when Donna's gaze moved over her again  without recognition. Yes, apparently, she was that forgettable.

"Greer?" Donna sauntered forward and extended her arms. "Oh, my  goodness. When you said you and Asher had been dating, I thought you  were the blonde one, not-" she paused.

Not the brown one? "Please sit," Greer said, determined to keep the  conversation aboveboard. She needed Donna's help, like it or not. "Thank  you for meeting me."

"I have to admit that I have an ulterior motive," Donna said with a  swing of her big, bouncy red hair. "I've been trying to contact Asher  for a few weeks and I can't get ahold of him."

"You have?" She kept her voice mild, even though her hands clenched on  her cup. He's mine, she wanted to growl. You had him and you fucked away  your chances.

Donna gave an aggrieved little grimace. "I just moved back to the city  and can't connect with him. Do you know if he's lost his phone?"

"He didn't lose it. He's been in Vegas with me." Okay, so she felt a  little catty pointing that out. She also wanted to point out that she  was having the man's baby, but that would probably make Donna turn and  run and again, and she needed Donna. She just had to keep reminding  herself of that.

"Oh." Donna tilted her head. "So what's this about, then?"

"I want you to help me see if Asher's feelings for me are legitimate."

Donna's eyes widened. "I . . . don't understand."

"I love Asher. And I thought he loved me, but now I'm not sure." She  swallowed hard, taking a moment to compose herself. It was difficult to  lay herself bare like this, when everything inside her screamed for her  to protect herself, protect the baby, not to let anyone know how she was  feeling. She cleared her throat and continued. "Asher says he cares for  me. I don't know if I can trust him. I want you to meet with him and  ask him to reconcile with you. I want to see his reaction."

Donna's jaw dropped. "You want to see if he'll try to get back together with me?"

Greer nodded. Throwing Donna-his first love-in his face would prove to  her if he truly wanted Greer or if it was just an act to get to the  baby. It was underhanded and wrong and she didn't know what else to do.

"How . . . how will this work?" Instead of calling her a dirty rat or  threatening to call the cops on her like Greer had envisioned, Donna  looked intrigued.

"I thought you might record him, or wear a microphone or a baby  monitor. Something. I don't know. Something where I could hear your  conversation." Greer twisted her hands in her lap. "I know it sounds  crazy, but I just have to be sure."

"And what do I tell him? Hi, Asher, I know I fucked things up between us two years ago but I've turned over a new leaf?"
         

     



 
Actually, that didn't sound too bad to Greer. "Whatever you need to tell him. Just make it believable."

"It should be believable," Donna said with a sniff. "Like I said, I've  been trying to get in touch with him for the last week. It's funny that  you should ask me to do this . . ." She let her words trail off  delicately and a tiny smile played on her mouth.

Oh no. Greer's heart sank. "You want him back?"

"I do," Donna said and crossed her legs delicately, adjusting her  skirts. "Honestly, that's why I'm entertaining this. If he's with you,  then I guess we're done." She shrugged. "But if he has feelings for me,  I'd like to know. I'd like a second chance."

"Because of his money or because of who he is?" Greer asked flatly.

Donna tilted her head and frowned at Greer. "That's a crass question."

It was a truthful one. Did it even matter, though? If she threw Donna  at him and he chose her over Greer, then what did it matter if Donna  wanted him for his money? Wouldn't he deserve that after how he'd  treated Greer?

But it hurt, because she still loved him despite everything.

"I'm sorry," Greer said, even though it galled her to apologize. "I'm  just . . . touchy at the moment. It sounds like we both want the man.  This is the only way to see which one of us he truly wants. Do you  agree?"

"I do." Donna gave another toss of her glorious hair. Jeez. The woman  shook her mane more than a show pony. How had Greer not remembered that?  "And whoever he wants is whoever he gets."

Provided he apologizes and gets his head out of his ass, yes. "All right. And the other will give him up, no questions asked."

Donna's smug little smile told Greer that she wasn't too worried about  losing. "So how should we do this? Can I compare phone numbers with you?  Like I said, I can't seem to get ahold of him lately."

"Sure. He's been texting me constantly for the last week." And oh, it  felt good to pull out her phone and scroll through the list of endless  text messages she'd gotten from Asher recently, if only to see the smug  perfection on Donna's face fade a little.

They set up their plan. Donna would text Asher and tell him it was  regarding Greer and ask him to meet her in a public place. She'd place  her phone on speakerphone so Greer could hear everything that Asher  said. That was all. It seemed ridiculously simple, and outrageously  sneaky, and by the time Donna left, Greer was upset and unhappy and  ready to throw up all the hot chai tea she'd drank at the cafe.

She opted for a cab home instead of the subway, and laid down in the  backseat the entire time, sick to her stomach and worried about what  she'd just done. Over and over, her phone buzzed with texts and each one  was like a little mental shake.

What have you done?

What makes you think Asher will understand what you just did?

Won't he be mad? What if he hates you?

What if he does want Donna back just because you shoved her in his face and he realized how beautiful she is?

Logic told her that if Asher cared for her, it wouldn't matter. Logic  told her that Asher could be mad about her being sneaky, but it was just  payback for him being sneaky. Logic told her a lot of things that made  sense, but it didn't stop the nervous pounding in her heart or the worry  that she'd somehow fucked everything up.

Was she going to end up like her mother, unloved and alone and  miserable while trying to raise a child? Watching the man she loved move  on to someone else? God, now she was just making herself crazy.

"Here you go," the cabdriver said.

"Thank you," she murmured and paid him, and went into her building. It  wasn't until she got into her apartment and kicked her flats off that  she dared to look at her phone.

No texts from Asher.

***

Gretchen: I'm looping all my bridesmaids in on this text conversation  because I feel we should all be on the same page. And that page is the  Cabbage Soup Diet.         

     



 

Taylor: The cabbage soup diet?

Brontë: Shakespeare says "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" Gretchen. It doesn't matter what you look like.

Gretchen: I'm hearing blah blah blah from all you normal-sized girls.

Chelsea: Wait, are you telling me to diet? Seriously?

Gretchen: You guys, I'm on day three and I've already lost four pounds.  This is great! And no, you skinny bitches can suck it. I need to diet.  I'm just sharing my joy.

Audrey: Can you guys take me off this loop? I'm at work and I don't  need my phone going off constantly. Will email u later sis. Kisses.

Gretchen: Fine. I took her off. Doesn't anyone want to hear about the miracle of this diet?

Chelsea: I assume it involves cabbage and soup? Sebastian just told me  I'm not allowed. And I have a bout on Friday and need my protein. So I'm  out.

Gretchen: Only one day is cabbage soup! The first day is all fruit and the second is vegetables!

Taylor: So why can't this be called the fruit, vegetable, and soup diet?

Chelsea: More like cabbage poop diet.

Taylor: Ha!

Taylor: And are you really going to stay on nothing but fruits and vegetables until your wedding?

Gretchen: I don't know! Greer's the bridal expert. Greer, where are  you? Do you know of any good crash diets for pre-wedding bloat?

Oh god, right now she did not want to be talking about food or diets or  even weddings. She curled up miserably on her couch and texted them  back.

Greer: Guys can you take me off the loop, too? I'm sorry. I'm just struggling right now.

Gretchen: Oh no, what's wrong?

Taylor: Do you need a drive-by delivery of pizza and/or chocolate?

Chelsea: :( Do you need me to elbow-check someone?

Brontë: The antidote for 50 enemies is one friend.

Gretchen: Seriously do you have a book of these, Bron?

Brontë: I'm good at memorizing. :)

Gretchen: Anyhow, spill it, Greer, or you're going to have a bunch of women show up on your doorstep.

Taylor: OMG we can be her squad.

Chelsea: Yes! Squad goals!

Greer laughed despite herself. Her friends were insane, but it felt  better knowing she had a posse of people she could pour her heart out to  at any time. She thought for a moment, and then texted back.

Greer: You know how the whole two wrongs don't make a right thing  exists? I just did wrong number two and I'm feeling terrible about it.