Page 85 of The Billionaire Who Hated Me (Until He Loved Me)

“Fine.Just needed to get some air.”

Arlo leans forward on his paper-covered desk and peers at me from under his bushy white eyebrows.His pale blue eyes are cloudy.

“You don’t look fine,” he says.“I’ve known you since you were born, Callum, and I know when something’s up.”

I shrug.“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You can always talk to me.You know that, right?”

“Sure.Thanks.”I do know that.Arlo is one of us.He’s been here forever.His world has always been entwined with ours, in business and in friendship.But I can’t tell him what’s going on because I just promised everyone that I would speak to no one but Victoria.

“Is it Miss Backlund?”He grins at me.“Everyone’s noticed the two of you.I was hoping it might turn into something more—”

“No.”I cut him off and stand.“Sorry, Arlo.I don’t mean to be rude, but I gotta go.I have a roast in the oven.”

“Sure, son.Take care.”

I’m a pressure cooker when I get back to the house, but I can’t stay outside all night.I will do whatever it takes to keep the lid on with Victoria.I just don’t look forward to the conversation about why I won’t want her in my bed tonight.

I open the back door to find Jasmine gone and Victoria in the kitchen.She’s just taken out the roast and is tossing a salad.Her laptop is open on the counter next to her—planning her next sinister move, no doubt.

When she looks up at me, her eyes flash and she smiles.Like she’s the sweet and fun woman she pretends to be instead of the traitor she is.

My chest is tight with sadness.My head swims with regret.

“Where have you been?”She comes toward me.“I was just getting ready to track you down.Are you hungry?”

She reaches up, clasps her hands behind my neck, and rises on her tiptoes to kiss me.That scent, the citrus and flowers, makes me ill.When she doesn’t get the response from me that she expects, she settles back down on her feet.

That little divot appears between her brows.I used to think it was cute.Now I’m just disgusted.

With myself.With everything.

“What’s wrong?”The happiness I saw on her face is gone.She looks serious, and maybe a little scared.She may already know she’s been caught.

“I think I’m tired, Victoria.Maybe not feeling so great.”I’m frozen where I stand.My arms hang limp at my sides.

“Cal?”She reaches out and places her hand in mine.When I don’t curl my fingers in welcome she steps back.“Tell me right now.Is everyone okay?Has something happened?Your dad?Phyllis?One of your brothers?”

The only thing I see is the fucking sparkly necklace at her throat.I want to rip it off and grind it into the wood floor with the heel of my boot.

“You’re scaring me.”She’s breathing hard.I see her pulse pounding in her neck.

I’m an asshole.Because I want her, despite my fury.Or maybe because of it.And I decide to have one for the road.Because I can.

CHAPTER 44

Victoria

I’m confused.Baffled.Cal is standing right in front of me, but he’s not the same man who walked out of this house just over an hour ago.Gone is the generous, funny, and serious lover I’ve come to know.In his place is a man with empty eyes.An unmoving body.And the excuse that he just gave me, that he’s just tired and not feeling well?

That was a lie.

This would be a first.He’s never lied to me.I’ve had so much experience in this area that I can spot a man’s lie from a hundred miles away.And just now, he looked right at me and spoke an untruth.Every fiber in my being wants to run, just pack my shit and get out of here.Once a man starts lying, there’s nothing left to save.

I’ve already told my father the deal is off.He’s already screamed and cussed and threatened to fire me.Which means the only reason I’m still here is for Cal.The man who’s looking at me like he despises me.

For some reason, his angry gaze keeps darting to my necklace.This is weird.My hand instinctively touches the gold at my throat.