Page 61 of Falling for Them

“Thank you,” I whisper, just as the door closes.

I’m still naked, holding my dress.Get the damned thing on, Ella.The fabric tangles around my hands every time I try to find a way to put it on.It wasn’t this hard when I was at Mrs.Dali’s apartment.

Loud gasping sounds fill the elevator and it takes me a long moment to realize they’re coming fromme.I can’t suck in enough air.Pressing a hand to my chest, I force in a long breath, and then I blow it out slowly.Worst-case, I end up in the parking garage in my underwear.At midnight, there probably won’t be anyone around to see me, anyway.It’ll be fine.

Another breath, and then one more, and my pounding heart settles somewhat.

I can handle this.I’ve handled so much.A walk of shame from a billionaire’s penthouse is nothing to me.

I find the biggest opening on the gown and slip it on, then do up the zipper as best I can.My reflection in the gleaming elevator walls shows a woman with sex hair and smudged mascara.

Yeah, Mr.Tyler and Sebastian fucked my brains out.

Sometime later, when the end isn’t so raw and painful, I’ll pull the memory of this night from the recesses of my mind and really consider it.Relive it.Over and over and over.

The bedroom scene from tonight is going to be the one positive thing I can come back to when things get shitty.I can remember the night I wore a beautiful dress and went to the Tyler Gala and danced with billionaires and then went home with them for the most incredible sex I ever had or ever will have.

And my helpful mind will gloss over the messy aftermath.Because nobody wants to think about that.

It’s only when I reach the parking garage that I realize I left my shoes behind.

Great, I’m going to be walking home barefoot.I wonder which will hurt worse—my feet or my heart.

My heart.Definitely my heart.

Kingston

My son looks like he wants to throw a punch.I wouldn’t mind letting him, because I feel like absolute shit for not immediately racing down the stairs to see if I could catch Ella before the elevator spits her out.

Looking disgusted, Sebastian throws up his hands and marches back to the bedroom.He’s muttering to himself, probably getting dressed.

I face Joel.

“So you had her, too, huh?”he says, a weird smile on his face.“Decent pussy, am I right?”

I rock back on my heels.Those ugly words coming from Joel’s mouth are worse than a sucker punch.I don’t know how to respond at first, I’m so shocked.

I shouldn’t be.He really is his mother’s son.

Finally, I’m able to speak.“If I ever hear you talk about her that way again,” I say, my voice so low it’s almost a whisper, “I’ll take you off the payroll and remove your access to every company perk imaginable.”

“The fuck?”he says.

“Stop acting like a little shit, and be a man.Ella is a wonderful person.”

“Yeah, she was my girlfriend.And you fucked her.You and Sebastian, both.I mean, wow.Mom said you were weirdly kinky, but that just…I don’t know what to say, Dad.”

“Then maybe you should shut your goddamn mouth,” Sebastian says from the bedroom doorway while he buttons up his shirt.

Joel snorts.“Sure, whatever.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a massive headache coming on.“Did you need something?”

He holds up a heavy glass statue, a weird pyramid shape with a ball balancing on top.“Yeah.I was just bringing this stupid award they gave you at the gala.You left before the speeches, and everyone was wondering why.Well, mystery solved.”

“Thanks for bringing it by.”I take the statue from him.I want to break it over his head, but I’ve never hit my son, and I don’t plan on starting tonight.

Tempting as the thought of hitting him is, every time he opens that fucking mouth.