Page 10 of Damaged Billionaire Daddy (The Lanes Series #1)

Chapter ten

Richie

Why is she looking at me like that?

Kandis was staring at me hard as if she could see something in me that nobody else could. Her lips parted, and I noticed how close we were, so much so that we were breathing the same air.

Briefly I thought about the night that we shared together in the back of my car when I took her virginity, but the second that the thoughts fly into my mind, I was eagerly pushing them out because I didn’t need to be reminded of a past that wasn’t going to happen again even if I desperately want it to.

“When is your grandfather going to return?” I asked her, needing to talk about something else before I did something I’d regret, like throwing her up against the wall and reminding her what it would be like if she didn’t insist on hating me.

Then again, I doubted that was something either of us would regret.

She didn’t respond, looking like she was in her own little world, which was weird for her, considering she always had some smart-ass remark to make where I was concerned. I gripped her wrist a bit harder, not enough to hurt her, just to gain her attention. “Kandis.”

Her eyes darted up towards mine, and something flashed in them quickly that I didn’t get the chance to discern. “I looked you up.”

The words shouldn’t surprise me as much as they do, considering if the roles had been reversed, I would have looked her up a long time ago.

My mind flashed through every magazine article that’d been about me or that I’d been on the cover of, and frustration filled throughout my body. There were things I would have liked for her to not know, but it was clearly far too late for that now.

“What about it?” Was she telling me this in an attempt to have the upper hand? If that’s what she thought was going to happen, then she was sadly mistaken.

I was famous by all means of the word which meant that my public life was out there whether I wanted it to be or not. There was nothing new that she could learn that a hundred thousand already hadn’t.

Her bottom lip disappeared beneath her teeth, and she swallowed, like a little kid that’s about to tell a huge secret. “That changes things.”

“What? You think you’re in charge now?” I laughed, but it lacked any amount of humor because nothing about this situation was funny to me.

Maybe it was because I’m so used to being in control that when something happened outside of my reach, it frustrated me.

“I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but it doesn’t change anything. ”

She eyed me a bit cautiously. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

I released her wrist, starting to feel sick at this conversation. “Is this some kind of twisted game to you?” My voice was rising even as I was desperately attempting to keep my cool. “You think this is all funny because you can torture me with information that everyone already knows?”

“If you would let me talk then maybe you would know exactly what I think.” She took a step towards me, keeping eye contact the entire time and making one thing clear. She wasn’t afraid nor intimidated by me.

That’s a first.

And I didn’t know how I feel about it.

“If you want to talk so badly, talk.”

Kandis waited a moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her head before she let out a breath.

“Don’t mistake what I say as some kind of forgiveness for what you’re doing and what you plan to do.

Because if there’s one thing you should believe, it’s that I will take you down without a second thought, Richie. ”

For some reason, maybe because she didn’t say my name often, whenever she did, it sent chills down my spine. I liked the way that it rolled off of her tongue and the almost forbidden way she said it.

“You’re wasting time.”

She swallowed. “I’m sorry for what happened to you. Nobody, despite how much of a jackass that they may be, deserves that.”

She reminded me of everyone else when they found out that I’d been cheated on and left at the altar by a woman who preferred the company of my best friend. Everyone said the same thing over and over again.

It’s not your fault.

She’s going to realize what a mistake she’s made and come crawling back.

You’re clearly the better option.

She’ll regret it.

I would’ve picked you.

What’s wrong with her?

But at the end of the day, even though I knew that they were just trying to make me feel better, it didn’t change the simple truth. She’d left me and had no plans of coming back. And still hadn’t.

“I don’t need you to apologize to me.”

“I was just…

“I don’t care,” I snapped, my eyes full of fire while I stared at her. “It happened months ago.”

“That doesn’t mean that it still doesn’t hurt.”

What was the worst part of Kandis’s words? Maybe that she was right. Even though it’d been months, it did still frustrate me, but I didn’t miss nor love Kayla anymore. Nor did I sit up all night and think about the things that I could’ve changed to make her stay with me.

For whatever reason, I wasn’t enough. At the end of the day, that was the only thing that mattered.

“I don’t need pity from anyone, especially you.” I smiled evilly.

That seemed to rub Kandis the wrong way, as she narrowed her eyes at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Your grandfather said that you came running down here because of a guy,” I commented with a quick shrug of my shoulders.

If she wanted to talk about failed relationships then I was all for it, but I was not the only one with a bad track record.

“And considering you were only too eager to give your virginity to me, I’m guessing that means that he must have really done something to hurt you. ”

Maybe that’s all I was trying to do, hurt Kandis. Or maybe use her as a surrogate for hurting Kayla.

It would be a lie to say that she’s not the most interesting woman that I’ve ever met, despite how much she might get under my skin.

But that didn’t change the fact that we couldn’t be together for more than a handful of minutes before it turned into something like this, tense and argumentative, with both of us fighting to come out on top.

Two competitive people would never be good for anything apart from sharing each other’s beds.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her little hands balling into fists, whether because she was thinking about her ex or because of the fact that I’d just thrown it in her face, I wasn’t sure.

“If there’s anyone that can relate to you, it’s me.

Yes, I ran away. Fucking sue me. I walked in on my boyfriend and best friend in my bed together, so trust me when I say that I understand how it feels. ”

“I never asked you to relate to me.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I snorted. “You are so fucking predictable.” The more that I thought about it, the more that it started to make sense in my head. “You’re just like every other woman, aren’t you?”

My words took her by surprise, and she frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m not giving you what you want, so you’re trying other tactics.” I shook my head. “I’ve got to be honest. You’re good, and I never would have thought.”

“Would have thought what?” She looked confused, but I’d bet that’s a part of this little game that she’s playing.

“You still want me to leave, don’t you?” Or maybe it’s more than that.

“Or would that not be enough? You want to leave with a few extra dollars in your pocket, huh? You didn’t just find out about my ex-fiancé when you looked me up.

You also found out how rich I am, so you think you can apologize, relate to me, and get money out of me, don’t you?

” I laughed. “I have to admit. You’re smart. ”

When women approached me, it was hardly ever for a genuine reason.

It was never because they wanted to get to know me better.

It was because they recognize me and wanted to use me for their own gain.

That’s all I’d ever been good for in their eyes, not that I could really say anything, considering I only used women for one thing.

Kandis’s palm connected with my cheek before I could see her even raising her hand to anticipate what she was about to do. My eyes widened in pure shock from the blow, but that surprise quickly turned into something else when my gaze landed back on hers.

“What is wrong with you?!” I roared, grabbing both of her wrists in my hands and backing her up until her back was against the wall.

“First, you throw alcohol in my face and now you think you have the right to slap me? Obviously, you were never taught about being punished when you’ve done wrong.

Luckily for you, I’m going to teach you. ”

There was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes before I leaned in and kissed her, completely taking her by surprise.

Kandis tried to say something, but my kiss was eating her words up.

I wanted to laugh as she tried to fight against me, pulling her knee up to hurt me.

To stop her, I leaned against her body, leaving virtually no space between us.

If her grandparents were to walk in right now, they’d think this was absolutely scandalous, and they wouldn’t be wrong. But I was sure they’d understand once they realized how much their granddaughter needed this lesson.

Kandis went from fighting against me to trying to pull me closer, getting reeled into the kiss and beginning to ask me for more without saying the words out loud.

For a woman who supposedly hated me, she certainly melted against my body the first chance that she got.

I debated saying this out loud, teasing her, but I knew exactly where it would end up. And right now, there was only one thing on my mind.

My hand dipped into her panties, and she bucked her hips towards me.

I didn’t know what information she planned on using against me, nor did I really care. My head got foggy with want every time that I was around her, but this time I didn’t plan on stopping it.

I pulled away and turned her around so her chest was against the wall while I ran my hand up her ass, focusing on one thing.

Making Kandis mine.