CHAPTER TWO-- The Invasion of two exes

Lexi

“Gorgeous,” I whispered in awe as our luxurious car pulled up in front of the breathtaking hotel.

The building was even more stunning in person than in the photos I’d seen online. I had always dreamed of coming here, but the cost had kept me far away plus this was new and had barely been open for a week. The fact that the girls had pooled their efforts to make this happen for me made me feel special. Even though I was still mad at them for trying to set me up on another silly blind date.

“Yes, absolutely,” Richard murmured beside me.

When I turned to glance at him, I found his gaze fixed on me, dark and intense. The weight of his stare sent a shiver coursing through me. I quickly looked away, my pulse racing. He was so hot and intense, I had no idea how he was single or working a job like this when he could easily be a model or an actor.

Maybe he was a model. I had heard that most models didn't get paid much.

“Shall we?” I asked, forcing a smile to mask the flutter of nerves in my stomach.

“Of course, love,” He smiled politely and placed his hands at the small of my back.

His touch sent a shiver down my spine.

‘Get a grip, Lexi,’

I scolded myself but it was impossible to ignore the raw masculinity he exuded. The way he carried himself, his deep voice, and the way he looked at me, it all felt like too much. I knew it wasn't real. He was doing his job but God damn.

He led me into the grand hotel lobby, his hand never leaving my back, guiding me toward the restaurant.

“This is incredible,” I murmured, taking in the ambiance of the place. A grand dinner hall with toke of Valentine arranged everywhere. Surprisingly I didn't find it revolting to look at quite the opposite.

“You seem to be in awe of the place, have you never been here before?” he asked.

“Nope,” I shook my head. “I've always wanted to. My ex and I were supposed to go to the one in LA last year but he cheated on me so…”

“Oh, I'm sorry,” Richard said, a dark cloud glazing his green eyes.

“It's not your problem. He was a loser anyway.” I said remembering how I had caught him in bed with the girl I thought was my best friend.

“That he was. Anyone who would cheat on you is definitely not very bright. I'd even say stupid,”

I chuckled, feeling just a tad vindicated.

“You know you don't have to say these things, right? You don't have to pretend you are in love with me. I'm just happy to be in one of my favorite places of all time.”

“Understood…”

He nodded but the glint in his eyes told me something else.

“You know you are the first client I've had to tell me outright not to do my job, it's odd.”

“I thought you were new and I was your first client ever?” I asked, my gaze narrowed at him.

“i am new but you aren't my first client, my fourth client, actually.” He said, spreading his napkin he took from the table on his lap.

He was so elegant yet so rugged. It was hot. If I was going to break my celibacy streak, It would be him but I wasn't going to do that no matter how raw and sexually appealing he looked.

“I see… Tell me about your job..what do you actually do?”

I asked, curiosity taking over.

“Are you sure you want to talk about that?” He asked with raised brows.

“Yes, I am. We aren't truly a couple and we probably have nothing in common, plus I would like to know how a hot man like you ended up being a gigolo.”

He threw his head back and laughed heartily. It was a rich sound that sent bolts of sparks down certain parts of my body. For a moment I imagined what that mouth would feel like eating me out. I shook my head at the thought. I was not going to fuck a complete stranger!

Get it together, Lex!

“A gigolo. I never thought I'd be described as that,” he finally said, his eyes dancing with amusement.

“But that's what you are,” I said bluntly.

“Has anyone ever told you that you are incredibly blunt?.” He asked in amusement.

“Yeah, I've been told that. I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm prying.” I said after a pause.

“It's okay, I like women who pry. Makes for interesting conversations in and out of the bedroom,” He smirked, his gaze intense.

I flushed.

“Um, how about we order some food now?” I said, trying to change the subject. I didn't like what he was making my body feel plus I was a little loopy. I had an entire bottle of wine today and didn't trust myself around him but I wasn't about to miss out on my favorite restaurant.

“Of course.” He said and waved the waitress over.

“Lexi?* I heard a familiar voice call my name and I froze, my head turning slowly to confirm my suspicion.

I found Diane, my ex best friend, staring down at me with a smug smile on her face.

“Diane.” I choked out with a curt nod, trying my best to look neutral and nonchalant but the image of her sucking my exes cock was still ingrained in me.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I'm on a date with my boyfriend,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

“Him?” She asked and I nodded, afraid to look over at Richard.

“Oh, Hello,” she glanced over at him with a seductive smile.

“Hi,” 

“So, you are he boyfriend. She is a little out of your league, don't you think? 

Then again, she's always had the ability to pull really hot men like her ex boyfriend, was way hotter than her, I never understood what I saw in her. Some people are just attracted to brains, I guess” she said, her hands strategically placed on his shoulders.

“Do you always talk about your friends like this? With no class whatsoever?”

She looked shocked by his statement.

“Um… I was just complimenting you, Don't tell me Lexi here has you fooled…*

“i think we should leave,” I said, suddenly with a cracked voice,losing my appetite.

I didn't wait to stay here any longer than I had to.

I shouldn't even have come here. Of course, I'd meet trouble. It was Valentine's Day after all. My least favorite holiday. Nothing good ever happens on Valentine's dsy.

I rose from my seat and immediately began to walk out, trying to shake off the memory of Diana and hoe just a year ago,i had 

As I exited the restaurant, I bumped into someone a few feet from the entrance.

I looked up.and froze.

Damon.

“Lexi?” He asked, shocked to see me.

Oh for goodness sake, first Diane and now Damon? Should have known they were here together. After their betrayal, they'd stayed together. Of course.

“What are you doing here?”

He asked.

“You have no right to ask me that,” I spat, regaining control and side stepped him. He was in front of me again.

“Lexi wait…Please, let's talk. I miss you…”

I ignored him, walking faster and faster but he quickly caught up with me, grabbing my wrist.

“Get out of my sight and let go of me, Damon, right now,”

“No, please. Let's talk. I have not been able to breathe without you…”

“I said let go of me,” I sneered but he wouldn't listen.

“Just one drink, let's talk, I promise after one drink I won't…”

“No!” I glared.

“Is there a problem here?” I heard Richard's voice from behind me and for some reason felt relief for a fraction of a second.

“None of your business, man, move along, I'm talking to my girlfriend,” Damon glared.

It was a blur of motion. One minute Damon's hand was around my wrist, pulling me away, the next he was pinned to the ground with Richard on top of him punching the shit out of him.

“Let go of me you fucking asshole,” Damon cursed.

I didn't wait for the issue to escalate before I left.

I quickly found the Uber app on my phone and called for an Uber.

I wanted to be out of here as soon as possible.

I paced the sidewalk, my mind racing.

“Are you okay?” Richard appeared.

“No,” I shook my head. “I just want to go home, please just go.”

“I can't do that, I'll take you home come on,”

“I've already called an Uber.”

“You don't look okay, please let me take you home. I'll feel better knowing you are safe,”

A sigh escaped my lips and I nodded.

“Fine,” I said, trying to prevent the stupid tears from falling from my eyes.

I followed him to the parking lot and he helped me get in before slipping into the driver's seat and driving off.

The car ride was silent with me looking out the window, trying not to think of the disaster of a date. Everything had been going great until those fuckers showed up.

Richard finally pulled up to my apartment building.

I opened the door at the speed of light and ran into the building, feeling completely embarrassed.

I could hear Richard's footsteps as he followed me up, I didn't stop him. I just wanted to get inside and forget about today…

I fished for my keys as soon as I got to my door, groaning in annoyance when I didn't find it.

“Here, I'll help you find it,” Richard's voice said from behind and normally I wouldn't have taken his help but I knew I was too agitated to get anything done so I handed him my bag.

He took it from me and found my keys in seconds.

He insisted on the key and opened the door.

“Thanks,* I whispered and walked in, walking straight to the fridge and plucking a bottle of water from the fridge and gulping it down, then plucking a bottle of wine from the cabinet and pouring myself a drink.

“Want some?” I asked Richard who was staring at me from the living room, his expression impassive.

“Sure…” he nodded and I poured him a glass.

“It's cheap wine.” I warned 

He said nothing and just drank the wine.

I sat in dining table for what felt like an hour, staring out my window.

“You know you don't have to be here, right? I'm fine, you did a good job, I'll give you a five star review,”

“I know, but you, I want to be here.”

I nodded, secretly glad for his company.

“So, you wanna talk about it?”

“No,” I shook my head. There was nothing to talk about.

There was a long silence that stretched for thirty minutes.

Richard finally stood up and grabbed the wine bottle I was pouring for myself from me.

“That's enough drinking…”

He said and I shot up from my seat, annoyed.

“How dare…” 

“How dare me?” he asked,.stepping closer to me to a point where he was barely a breath away. I didn't move away, instead my breath hitched.

“Look,.I don't know who you are but I think I know what's going on… I've been here. Drinking isn't going to solve your problem. You know what will? Talking about it but if you don't want to, maybe sex..the offer is still on the table and I don't mean because of the contract. I know that was your ex that cheated on you, you really want to get over him, then let me help you.”

Without thinking, I kissed him. He kissed me bac

k, and before I could think, he had me on the coffee table, bunching up my gown, his lips dotting kissing down my neck.

I was going to regret this in the morning but tonight, I wanted to forget.