Page 8 of Strange Seduction (Strange #2)

Gorgeous. Sexy. Pricey.

Day One.

I woke up to an empty bed.

The sheets were cold where he should’ve been, and the dim light peeking through the curtains told me it was around noon. I stared at the ceiling, trying to swallow down the familiar ache in my chest.

I’ve grown used to waking up alone over the years, but after a disappointing first night and the promise of an explanation that never came in the morning, I was undeniably annoyed.

Was this payback for Eden?

I knew I had a tendency to disappear in the morning back then, but this was a bit petty.

Something was wrong.

I sat up slowly, the covers falling from my bare chest. My body still felt tender, like it had been bracing for something that never came.

Did last night bother him so much that he left before I woke up? Was he that upset with me?

No.

It all started when I took the call.

It had to be that.

Plus the timing of it.

All topped off by the guilt on my face when I turned around and saw Theo standing there.

Of course, he’d heard something out of context.

Of course, he was upset.

You should’ve just stayed at the table.

You shouldn’t have answered the call.

You shouldn’t have taken so long.

Huh?

What—or who was that?

A sharp voice whispered from the back of my mind.

Random Voice: He doesn’t trust you.

Shut up.

Theo and I had always been strong. But something between us had shifted last night. He hadn’t looked at me like I was his after the phone call.

Random Voice: He thinks you’re hiding something.

I said Shut up.

I wasn’t hiding anything. I just planned to tell Theo about what Marcus and I were working on when the timing was right. You can’t just drop that your boss was helping you free your murdering father on your boyfriend at any given moment. These things take time and have to be revealed accordingly.

Like, after said murdering father was already released from prison.

I looked around, my eyes landed on the note, and the black Amex on the nightstand. I picked the note up before reading it aloud.

“I’m sorry about last night and for leaving so early.

I know we were supposed to talk about everything, but I got called into work.

Please , take the car and buy something to cheer yourself up.

The pin is your birthday.

Call downstairs for the driver, and they’ll send him over. I love you.

—Teddy.”

I turned the card in my hand and took a deep breath before tossing it back on the nightstand.

He could’ve woken me up before he left. Knowing him, he didn’t want to risk me demanding that we talk before he left. He doesn’t like conflict being forced on him.

But I would’ve been understanding if he had given me the chance.

Ugh.

I pulled the covers closer, suddenly aware of how naked I felt in every sense of the word.

We needed to talk—face to face.

About everything .

Even though I wasn’t ready to reveal why Marcus kept in contact, I could reassure him that nothing was going on between us. I didn’t come to Italy to tiptoe around feelings or drag out whatever this was for two weeks. And I couldn’t take much more of this avoidant game we were playing.

I came to Italy to get high, eat, drink, and sleep, all with Theo.

That was the plan. And we were already failing miserably.

I exhaled hard, reaching for my phone.

Why the hell was my call log open?

Pushing the thought aside, I dialed his number. To my surprise, it rang once and hung up.

A text followed shortly after:

Teddy: Can I call you back? I’m busy right now.

Tuh!

The man who left board meetings to answer my calls about the raise in grocery prices was suddenly too busy to answer?

This confirmed he’s hiding something. And whatever it was had to be big.

Without answering him, I tapped open FaceTime and plopped onto the edge of the bed. Jayda and Izzy’s faces popped up in split screen—Jayda still in her bonnet, Izzy already sipping an iced coffee like she’d been awake for hours.

Alyssa didn’t pick up, and Mantis was probably still knocked out.

“Okay, so tell us everything,” Jayda said, already grinning. “How was the first night?”

I rolled my eyes and angled the camera toward the empty bed behind me.

Izzy squinted. “Huh, where’s Theo?”

“Gone,” I said flatly. “Out to work before I woke up.”

“Again?!”

They both sounded appalled. I guess they really were living through me.

Izzy winced. “Oof. Okay, not the romantic Italian morning we were looking for.”

I sighed and leaned back. “I waxed every inch of my body, okay? I’ve been on a juice cleanse for the past three weeks to get my stomach flat. I even flew out Elliot fucking Sawyer to do my hair. Do you know how expensive Elliot Sawyer is?”

Jayda blinked. “Girl. Do you know how expensive Elliot Sawyer is?”

Izzy cackled. “Yeah, I thought Theo paid for everything.”

“You’re both missing the goddamn point,” I groaned.

Jayda held up a hand. “We get it, babe. We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on. Did y’all argue?”

“No,” I said, not sure if I should explain it to them. It was tricky being in a friend group where everyone dated each other. When one couple had issues, it magically became the group’s issues. So for now, I’ll keep the details of our issues between us. “Not really. We just… I don’t know.”

Izzy gave me a look. “Carmen. You know Theo. If he’s in his feelings, you gotta talk to him. He’s not gonna magically bring it up.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to fight,” I said, my voice a little smaller. “I came here to have the perfect trip. I want to eat, drink, get dicked down, and take pictures by the water. I want to pretend our life is easy for once. I just… I don’t want to argue.”

“A fantasy,” Jayda snorted. “If he’s anything like his friend, I can tell you they never make it easy.”

I hoped Tyler and Jayda weren’t fighting again.

“It’s not just him,” I said, a little softer now. “We spent so much time apart. Now we’re finally getting time together, and it’s…weird.”

Izzy tilted her head. “You think it’s nerves? Maybe you both are just overthinking it.”

“I don’t know. Maybe. But last night I felt like I was throwing myself at him after dinner, and he just…

pulled away.” I dragged a hand down my face.

“Look, I know I’m not perfect, and I don’t always get it right when it comes to our relationship.

But I love Theo. I love him so much. I just hope we can get our act together. This trip shouldn’t be like this.”

Jayda softened. “I get it. At least you’re trying.”

“I am,” I whispered. “I’m trying so hard .”

“You’re allowed to want this trip to feel good,” Izzy added. “And you’re allowed to feel disappointed when it doesn’t go that way. But it’s been a while since you’ve been in the same room. It will take some getting used to, Carmen. I just hope you two make the best of it.”

Jayda nodded. “And please don’t kill each other.”

There’s a thought. I scoffed, “I’ll try my best.”

“Did he say anything before he left?” Izzy asked.

“Nope,” I looked at the card on the nightstand. “Well, he left me this and a note. Said I should use it to cheer myself up.”

Izzy leaned into the screen as I held the Amex up. “He left you his card?”

I nodded.

Jayda smiled. “Good! After holding out last night, disappearing in the morning and leaving a fucking note, it’s the least he could do.”

Izzy shook her head in agreement. “Exactly! Max that motherfucka out!”

I gave her a look. “The card has no limit.”

Jayda laughed. “Even better!”

I tried to laugh, too, but it didn’t quite land. The more I thought about our situation, the more I realized I needed the retail therapy to take my mind off things.

He said to cheer myself up, right?

“Maybe, I do need cheering up. Something to take my mind off last night.”

Izzy added, “Good. Swipe that card, girl!”

“Let us know how it goes!” Jayda beamed.

I ended the call with a shaky smile, then glanced back at the empty bed. My stomach filled with dread as I hoped this wouldn’t be the norm for this trip. Still, with a deep breath, I collected my thoughts before hitting the shower.

Retail therapy wasn’t the solution to what I was feeling, but it sure as hell is a perfect distraction.

An hour later, I slid into the back seat of the black car the hotel had arranged. I crossed my legs, smoothed the hem of my midi dress over my thighs, and gave the driver a small smile.

“Where to, Miss?” he asked in Italian-accented English.

I gave him the name of the most expensive shopping district I could find on Google Maps. If Theo wanted me to cheer myself up, I was going to do it in YSL .

Charge it to the game, I thought, slipping on my sunglasses.

Ladies, allow me to show you how to properly use your multi-million-dollar boyfriend’s credit card in just five simple stops:

Stop one: Valentino.

The first dress I picked was white silk with a daring low back and a slit that almost showed my panties. The salesgirl kept calling me principessa and brought me champagne.

I liked her.

“Should I wrap this one?” she asked, eyes hopeful for the commission she’d get for this sale.

I nodded. “Wrap it. And the red one in the window.”

The price tags didn’t make me flinch. My boyfriend told me to cheer up.

And what’s more healing than fine Italian silk against skin?

€20,400.

Stop two: Cartier.

The minute I walked in, they offered espresso and asked if I was shopping for a special occasion.

I just smiled and nodded. I walked out with a gold bracelet encrusted with diamonds that was definitely worth celebrating.

€18,250.

Stop Three: Jimmy Choo.

Because no amount of “self-care” was complete without shoes.

The clerk practically melted when I pointed out a pair of white satin stilettos in the display case—minimalist, sharp, and absolutely uncomfortable.

I added a classic pair of black pumps for good measure and, just because I could, an emerald-green pair I knew would match a new purse I hadn’t bought yet.

€27,600.

Stop four: Bottega Veneta.

A new purse.

Not because I needed one.