CHAPTER FOUR --- A Fucking Bet?!!

I blinked at him, sure I had heard wrong.

“That's impossible,” I said, confused out of my mind.

“Wait, is this some kind of silly prank? Did Rhea and Evelyn put you up to this?”

I walked towards him, furious. This was not the day to be playing games with me. My job was on the line! But even as I thought about it, I knew it made no sense.

“No,” he shook his head, his expression unreadable.

“Then what's going on? You told me you worked for Valentine inc…” I trailed off, trying to wrap my head around a ridiculous prank like this.

“Yes. I know I did. The thing is that I wasn't entirely honest about who I was,” He said carefully, watching me like a predator trying to cajole its prey by acting like it wasn't dangerous. His deep soothing drawl was helping either 

“You lied…” I responded, still confused. None of this was making any sense 

If he was my boss that would mean he was a billionaire but why would a billionaire need to work for an escort company?

“I'm not sure how to say this. I honestly didn't think I'll ever see you again or at least see you like this but last night was a…bet. My friends and I made a bet, I lost and my punishment was to sign up as a male escort on the Valentine website and that's how I was contacted by your friends and…”

I felt bile rise up to my throat.

“I was some kind of a bet?” I asked, feeling my entire body shake in every emotion known to man but mostly anger.

“Yes, that's what you were…” he nodded.

“I can't believe this…” I whispered, horrified by what I was hearing.

“I'm sorry…I didn't.”

I put my hands up for him to shut up.

“I don't want to fucking hear it. You manipulated me, made me think you needed that job… oh my God, oh my fucking…I'm leaving…” I said abruptly.

“Why?” He asked with wide eyes.

“Why? Are you kidding me? I'm not working under someone I slept with, someone that used me. I quit!” I sneered before grabbing my bag from the couch and storming out, my mind racing.

It was when I was finally downstairs, I realized that I was in an entirely different state with no way home,

“Fuck!”

This was exactly why I hated Valentine's day. I didn't get cheated on this time, no, instead I was used by my fucking boss.

I bet he sent his friends pictures and updates of me. Those times I thought he was talking to his company, it was his friends.

A fucking bet!! Ughh

I stood outside the hotel, trying to ignore my anger but it was impossible.

I felt too humiliated. A bet? I was a bet?

Of course I was. I couldn't have a single Valentine day of peace.

I knew I shouldn't have left the house yesterday.

God, was I supposed to get home now?

I checked my phone, scrolling through the contacts, but who could I call? Rhea and Evelyn were the last people I wanted to talk to. They’d meant well when they hired someone to be my Valentine, but this had spiraled into a nightmare and I was too upset with them to talk to them right now.

I debated calling a cab, but where would I even go? I didn’t have the money for a last-minute flight home, and my hotel reservation had clearly been arranged by the company.

A lump formed in my throat as the reality of the situation hit me. I was stuck here.

Maybe I could find a motel or something.

“Ms. Cameron,” a deep voice interrupted my thoughts and I turned around sharply to find Richard standing a few feet away, his hands in his pockets and an uncharacteristically soft expression on his face.

“What do you want?” I snapped, glaring daggers at his stupidly perfect face.

“You left your work folder,” he said, holding up the manila file I’d left behind in my rush to get out.

I snatched it from him, my fingers brushing against his. The contact sent an uninvited shiver down my spine, and I cursed myself for still being affected by him.

“Thanks. You can leave now,” I said curtly.

He didn’t budge.

“Look, I know you’re furious,” he began.

“Furious?” I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m humiliated. You used me as part of some stupid bet, lied to my face, and now I have to work for you? Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?”

His jaw tightened. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. Last night…”

“Don’t,” I said sharply, holding up a hand to stop him. “Don’t try to justify it. You’ve done enough.”

Silence hung between us, thick and suffocating.

“I’ll figure out how to get home,” I muttered, turning away from him. I began to briskly walk off. I had no idea where I was going. I just wanted to not be around him.

I must have walked at least five blocks before I stopped.

This was completely stupid.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Rhea. It had only rang once when I noticed a couple of guys walking towards me, looking incredibly shady.

Before I could make a beeline for it.

Someone grabbed me from behind.

“Walking along these streets all by yourself?” A mashed man said.

“Let go of me,” I pulled my hands away from him but as I turned, I quickly realized i was surrounded.

My heart raced in absolute fear.

I had no idea where I was.

“Please, let me go, I don't won't trouble,”

“Oh but trouble has found you, honey.”

One of them grinned wide, grabbing my face.

“Take her purse and her phone. We'll have fun with this one tonight.”

One of them said and as soon as he said that somebody grabbed my purse.

He backed me up to a building that I was now realizing was an abandoned building.

“Please, take my phone. You don't have to do this,”

He grinned again, his eyes twinkling with a darkness I couldn't understand.

He was lifting up my skirt and I was trying to pull away from him when I heard the sound of gunshots fired and then Richa

rds voice.

“Get off her,” he growled before punching the man holding me to the wall straight to the ground.