Chapter Three: The Breakup

Ruby’s POV

The next morning, I woke up with an ache all over my body. That man had been wild. If I hadn’t blacked out last night, I honestly don’t think he would have stopped.

I turned my head and looked at him. He was still asleep, looking almost unreal. Handsome wasn’t the right word. He was too beautiful for it.

I carefully got out of bed so I wouldn’t wake him and quietly got dressed. When I checked my phone, I saw twenty missed calls from Ethan.

What did that bastard want now?

I pulled five hundred dollars from my purse and left it on the nightstand.

“You performed well,” I whispered to his sleeping form, then walked out of the bedroom.

As I moved through the house—no, the mansion, I was stunned. How could a male model afford a place like this? Maybe because he looked the way he did. People would pay anything for him.

I needed to get out of here.

I hurried toward the exit and almost crashed into a young man coming the other way.

“Sorry,” I muttered, then kept going without looking back.

Outside, I flagged down a taxi and went straight home.

When the car stopped in front of my apartment building, Ethan was already waiting.

I tried to walk past him, but he stepped in front of me.

“Babe, I can explain. You don’t have to be like this.”

I stared at him. I wanted to slap him so hard my palm would sting, but I was too exhausted. That stranger had drained every last bit of energy from me.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” I said flatly.

“Come on, don’t be dramatic.”

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Wow. Really?”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said quickly. “Ruby, I’m a guy. We get horny. You never let me touch you, and I needed someone. Lisa was just… there.”

His words were shameless. Completely shameless.

“Thanks for the explanation,” I said, already done with the conversation. “Can I leave now?”

“We can fix this.”

“No, Ethan.” I looked him straight in the eyes. “We’re done.”

I walked past him and into my apartment, shutting the door in his face before he could follow.

The second the door closed, the tears came. I hadn’t even realized I was holding them back. I slid down to the floor with my back against the door and started sobbing.

I had really loved him.

And now I regret everything. He cheated, and I used my body for revenge with a complete stranger. So why did my heart hurt even more?

Zane’s POV

I woke up to an empty bed and a stack of bills on the nightstand.

Five hundred dollars.

How dare she?

She slept with me and then left money like I was some cheap escort. Who the hell did she think I was?

A one-night stand she could just pay and discard?

James, my assistant and so-called best friend, walked in. His eyes landed on the money, and his eyebrows shot up.

“Who the hell leaves the CEO of Blackwood Holdings five hundred dollars after sleeping with him?” he said, clearly enjoying himself.

“Shut the fuck up before I cut your salary for the entire year,” I warned.

“Relax, boss.”

“Find the girl from last night.”

James’s grin widened. “You mean the one who was literally running out of here like the place was on fire? What exactly did you do to make her leave that fast?”

I gave him a cold look. “How about you write your resignation letter, and I’ll help you edit it? Sounds good?”

He immediately stopped laughing and put on an innocent face.

“Stop it. I’m not into men,” I said flatly.

“Already know that, boss.” He gave a mock salute.

God, why did I make my best friend my assistant?

“Be serious, James. I want everything on that girl before nightfall.”

“Noted.” He turned and left the room.

I stared at the five hundred dollars again and felt my jaw tighten.

“We’ll see if I’m only worth five hundred,” I muttered. “And when I find you… you’re going to pay for this.”