Page 52 of The Billionaire's Redemption

God knows I have plenty of them.

CHAPTER 9

NATALIE

We still havethree days in Chicago, but after the events of last night, I don’t want to face Ethan.

Why did he have to go and ruin a perfectly good night? We were having fun—maybe a little too much fun. I had begun to relax around him, which was clearly a mistake. I should never have agreed to go to the fair. Should’ve just been professional, had a meal, and come back to the hotel.

My phone rings, cutting through the morning silence, and I reach for it while still buried under the soft hotel covers.

It’s Sarah.

“So, how is Chicago treating you?”

“I hate it.” I turn on my side, folding my arm under my head while gazing out at the city skyline.

“Really?” My friend’s voice is dry. “You hate Chicago or your CEO?”

I sigh, watching the morning light filter through the curtains. “Sarah, do you think people can change?”

“I think you mean to ask whether I think Ethan Wilder can change.” I can hear her chuckle on the other end of the line.

“You just know everything, don’t you?” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me.

She sounds pleased with herself. “No, I don’t. But I do know you. And yes, I do think people can change. Five years is a long time. A lot of things can happen in five years. You were right the other day when you said there is nothing he can possibly wantfromyou. But did you think perhaps he just wantsyou?”

Frustrated, I roll onto my back, gazing at the pristine white ceiling. “But why? He doesn’t even know me. I’m so fucking boring. I don’t have a life. I watch the same movie on repeat when I am tired on the weekend. I rewatch the same TV shows. Name one interesting thing about me.”

The sound of something clattering reaches me through the phone. “You’re right. You are absolutely boring. In fact, you are so boring you should die alone and single.”

“Thank you.” I find myself cracking a grin despite the sarcasm. “Was that so hard to admit?”

“Honey, you need therapy. A lot of it. Maybe a splash of institutionalization to fix that brain of yours. So you don’t go out and party in clubs—you don’t have the time. You like traveling, and you like collecting all that weird-ass art.”

“Name one time I’ve traveled,” I demand, sitting up slightly.

“You went to Hawaii, touched it, and came back,” Sarah points out with characteristic bluntness. “In my opinion, that counts.”

“I don’t even think I touched it,” I say regretfully. “If I had known it was Ethan over here, I would have stayed on vacation.”

“Never say never,” Sarah says in a sing-song voice, and I hear something sizzling in the background. My stomach grumbles in response.

“What are you cooking? I’m so hungry.”

“Eggs and bacon,” she replies. “Look, life has not been easyfor you. I know that. But there are times when the universe decides to be nice to you. I don’t fuck around with the universe, okay? Neither should you. I don’t think Ethan coming back was a coincidence. I think he realized what he lost. Instead of running away from him, give him a chance. If nothing else, you get a good lay out of it.”

“He’s my boss.”

“Oh, no,” Sarah says sarcastically. “Not your boss. Surely not.”

Rolling my eyes again, I shake my head. “I shouldn’t have answered the phone.”

“Stop closing every door before it’s even opened, Natalie. You can’t live like that.” My friend’s voice turns serious, cutting through her usual playfulness. “And you cannot heal till you let yourself heal. You like him. It’s obvious to me, or you wouldn’t be so conflicted. If you didn’t give a damn about Ethan Wilder, you would not care what he does. He could stand naked in front of you, and you would be completely unaffected. But you clearly feel something. So give it a try, and don’t be a coward.”

“You’re not a good friend,” I mutter petulantly.

“I’m sure I’ll get over it,” she responds without missing a beat.