Page 105 of False Promises

And here I was, having obtained everything I dreamed of, but now standing at the precipice of losing it all. Carter should have landed by now. Los Angeles was his home. And his vanishing act had lasted long enough. These two months, since he kicked me out of his hotel, seemed like forever. When I called him yesterday, two days after my interview at the celebrity talk show, he said he was on his way. This little stunt he pulled would have consequences. The deal was one month in New York City. Not two months away with a cryptic agenda. I surfed the web, trying to find out where in the world his stupid manager had sent him, but I could find no trace of my man anywhere. Since our fight when I visited him in New York, things were tense between us.

Poor Carter. He didn’t get that everything I did was for his own good. Seeing he was about to come home, I had to put all my charms on display to bring back the peace between us.

Often, I congratulated myself for finding the perfect man to date. His broken heart over his stupid childhood friend was all it took for me to swoop right in and make him forget about her not reciprocating his feelings. And his poor mommy who ditched him without a look back after his brother died. Those two women gave me all the ammunition I needed to make him believe I was here to salvage his heart. And his trust in women. To save him from a life of loneliness.

Carter Hills couldn’t resist me, and I intended to use it to my advantage.

Always.

When he reached home, I would up my game. I was done being kept at arm’s length.

Sex usually helped me get what I desired. It’d been too long since I used my most precious talent with Carter. Now that I had resolved to earn back his trust, I would use every skill I possessed. And I possessed many to lure him back.

Lately, a part of me started believing he had figured out I had tricked him into this relationship. Like the good student I was, over the length of our time together, I had learned all about his weaknesses. Carter Hills was sweet, caring, and loyal to a fault. And I took advantage of his vulnerabilities to fulfill my own ambitions. Perhaps I overdid it a little because now I could sense him drifting away. I would have to dial down my needs for luxury for a while. Until things between us were back to normal.

Humming a song, I used my key and opened the door to our apartment, my gym bag hanging from my fingers.

The sight before me froze me on the spot and made me drop the bag at my feet.

What was going on?

Not breaking character, I fixed the widest smile on my lips and stepped inside.

26

CARTER

“This is it. I’m done.”

Savannah walked through the front door as I dropped two suitcases in the entryway. Surprise flashed in her eyes as she stood there, blinking. For once, I was the one shocking her with events she hadn’t anticipated.

I breathed out. The ball was in my court right now, and I relished the feeling I was the one in control of the situation. Today, this nightmare would end once and for all. After everything I learned from Taylor last week, I was ready to put the plan we came up with into action. All the time I was away, I told Savannah I had engagements overseas and that I’d be back soon. The days spent at Stud’s fishing cabin in the wilderness had been the perfect refuge to think. With no distractions, I had all the time to assess my past, present, and future.

Goosebumps bloomed on my arms as I recalled the nauseating truths concerning the woman I was sharing my life with in the last two years. Like a movie in slow motion, I replayed all the scenes we lived through, analyzing our interactions.

Savannah squinted, standing tall before me, clearly unaware of my intentions. She schooled her features, erasing the shock that had marred her face seconds ago, and sent a blinding smile my way. “I’m so excited to have you home. You were gone much longer than you said you would be.” She sidestepped to come closer, raised her arms to hug me, but stopped the action in mid-course. Her full lips transformed into a pout. “Why aren’t you happy to see me?”

Our upcoming face-off would close this chapter of my life. Finally. I sucked in some air and courage. I hated confrontations. Always had. Yeah, I much preferred peace to war. But this had lasted long enough, and I was here to take my power back. Every single piece of it.

The woman I used to consider my girlfriend glared at me. “Carter, what is happening?”

“What I should have done a long time ago. In fact, I should’ve never offered for us to move in together. I don’t know what your deal is, and at this point, I don’t care. I tried. Fuck, I’ve tried again and again. More than I should. But something is wrong with you.”

Tears filled her eyes. She blinked them away with her dark mascara-coated eyelashes. Her hand reached for my chest, but I stepped back. “But-but…you don’t mean it.” A look of hurt flashed in her eyes.

I wouldn’t fall for her lies and acting skills this time. I knew better. “Don’t try to seduce me, Savannah. Or should I call you, Savannah Carpenter?”

Her eyes widened, and all traces of moisture vanished. Her lips firmed into a thin line.

“That’s right. I know all about your little games. The sick attempts you used to ruin people’s lives over the years. That poor Jerry. All along, I believed you when you said he abused you. That you were a victim. Fun fact. He’s the one who suffered from your wicked ways. The man is smart. He kept the footage of that night. The one where you tried to seduce him, dressed in a skimpy outfit, in the kitchen.”

Savannah’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. Guess, for once, she had nothing to say.

“I saw the video. All seventeen minutes and eleven seconds of it. How pathetic. You tried to frame a man who loved you like a daughter. You destroyed him. He’s been waiting for years to see if you’d try to ruin his life again.”

She fisted her hands on her hips and glared at me, the coldness of her gaze rivaling an iceberg. “Stop spreading the lies of a child molester.”

I lifted a finger to shut her up. “For once, stop talking. I don’t feel sorry for you. And I hate myself for ever caring.”