Page 54 of Contract of a Billionaire

Her humorless laugh was a stab into my heart, but she didn’t answer.

“I need to see you,” I said, desperation lacing my voice. A strange sensation burned in my chest and behind my eyes.

“And I don’t need to seeyou.” Her words pierced me straight through my chest. A knife in the heart would hurt less.

My heart shattered around me and this time, there’d be no Autumn to mend the pieces.

“Please, Autumn.” My voice was twisted with the rawness of my emotions.

“After what happened, I never want to see you again, Alessio.” My heart cracked at her words. The knife in my chest twisted deeper and deeper. I thought a small sob sounded over the line but I must have misheard it because her next words were calm. “Don’t call me. Don’t text me. Don’t follow me on social media.”

The line went dead right along with my heart.

I was alone until her. Now I’d be alone for the rest of my life.

Chapter19

Alessio

Istared at the message.

Three months of nothing and now this.Shewanted to see me.

*Can we meet please? It’s important. I’m in Europe for a week. Just let me know where.*

Three fucking months of nothing. Dead silence. Then she fucking sends me this message.

And like a love-struck puppy I was ready to run to her. It fucking killed me not to respond. I’d been staring at the message for the past two hours.

Pathetic.

I glanced at my calendar. I had somebusiness, more like a hunt, in London in two days’ time. I could fool myself into thinking I wouldn’t see her, but if she’d ask me to go to a goddamn war zone today, I’d drop it all and run.

I shot off a reply with the address of my place in London.

Leaving my home office, I went in search of a drink. I needed a stiff one. My footsteps echoed against the black marble floors that reflected my soul and my mood. I hated my bedroom. There were still a few things that sat on the nightstand from the last time she spent the night at my penthouse - a hair tie, her ring, and a travel size perfume.

“Maybe she wants that girl shit back,” I muttered to the empty glass. I had no fucking idea when I poured the drink. I watched the brownish liquid swish around the ice. It reminded me of her eyes when she was sad or scared. That fucking color. I’d have to switch to another poison. Maybe some fucking pink girly drink.

I downed the drink, the liquid bitter in my throat. Or maybe that was just me. Bitterness and numbness swallowed me whole.

It was ironic what a few months could do to a man. She brought a light to my life and then extinguished it, taking my heart and soul with her.

“A little thief,” I grumbled. She couldn’t have left it at that fucking five million dollar tab she left behind. She had to take my heart along too. Little Autumn Corbin left me a surprise as I checked out of the hotel in Abu Dhabi. Apparently, she convinced the staff I insisted on paying everyone’s fucking bill.

As a thank you because the staff has been so accommodating to your needs,the receptionist beamed but a flicker of worry resided in her eyes. I could have so fucked them all up, but I was too goddamn tired. So I paid the bill.

Five million dollars for fuckers I had never met.

And still I couldn’t be mad at Autumn.

My bedroom door opened soundlessly and I sank into the same chair I used to watch her sleep our first night together. The room was dark, her soft scent still lingered in the air. Or maybe it was just my fucking imagination playing tricks on me.

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes.

I could force her to marry me. I had that contract with her grandparents. I could enforce it and she’d be mine. Why hadn’t I used it? The only answer I could come up with was that I had turned into some sappy, pathetic loser who wanted to do right by her.

I wanted her tochooseme. Fuck!