Chapter One
Becca
I just stood there stunned. It was so surreal. Heat spread up into my head, causing my face to burn. Wordlessly I walked inside, past Melissa, and sat down on the couch. My eyes burned furiously as I fought back the tears. When Melissa wrapped her arm gently around my shoulders, I let out a sob. My body trembled as the tears blinded me.
I couldn’t believe how angry Chris had been. I had never seen him like that. He was always so nice to me, so kind and thoughtful. I understood why he was mad. He must have seen me kiss Chance. But I never would have thought he would have ever yelled at me like that, for any reason. How could someone switch like that so drastically? I knew I was partially at fault. We might not have been boyfriend and girlfriend, but we had been dating. I should have told him about the job offer, that I was considering taking it. I had just been so unsure.
“I’ve never seen him like that,” Melissa rubbed my back softly, “I’m sorry, Becca,”
“I really messed up,” I sobbed, my face fell into my hands.
“Don’t beat yourself up,” Melissa said as she gave me a comforting squeeze. “It’s not like you guys were exclusive. Truthfully, he had no right to yell at you like that.”
“B-but it seems like I really hurt him,” I stuttered into my palms, “I didn’t want to do that. I did sort of like him. I just didn’t know what I wanted to do… with the job... with Chance.” I wiped the tears away as they clouded my eyes.
“I know you didn’t, sweetie,” Melissa said soothingly, “look, I’m sure he’ll go back to his apartment, play some videogames or whatever it is nerdy guys do, and get over it. At least you don’t have to see him at work tomorrow,”
“I’m really sorry about that Melissa.” I looked up at her as she smiled sadly at me, then reached over and grabbed me a tissue. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward between you two. I know you’re friendly.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Melissa shook her head, “After seeing that temper of his, I don’t think I want to be friends with him anymore. Talk about overreacting! Dating for a few weeks does not make it okay to threaten someone like that. God, I need a drink!”
Melissa made her way over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. I wiped my eyes and tried to get myself together. I needed a drink too. I couldn’t help but feel horrible for hurting Chris. We hadn’t been exclusive…but we were very much headed that way. I shouldn’t have kissed Chance. Not before I had properly ended things with Chris. It totally made sense that Chris thought I had been sleeping with Chance and that I had been lying to him. And I hated that he thought that. Melissa sat back down and handed me a full glass of wine.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled, after I took a swig of wine. My tears had finally started to dissipate. My thoughts were finally collected, “I kind of understand how he felt. When I thought Chance had a fiancé, I was really hurt. Sure I didn’t yell at Chance, but part of me really wanted to.”
“So, now you think Chance isn’t engaged?” Melissa sipped her wine as she watched me with her left brow cocked, “What happened that changed your mind?”
“Chance explained everything to me,” I replied, happy for the slight change in conversation. I felt really guilty, and didn’t know if I should try to talk to Chris and apologize. But I didn’t want to talk to Melissa about that. After all, he was her coworker, and I didn’t want to make things more awkward between them. I’d have to decide what to do about Chris on my own. Later, when I was calmer. “He said Sara was always really controlling. That he always thought she was only with him because of his family’s business. That she wouldn’t accept the breakup and came to Vegas to try to get him back.”
“Hmm,” Melissa sipped her wine and looked off into the distance. “I suppose that’s possible. So…you finally found out what the mysterious Chance does for a living? He works in his family’s company? What company is it?”
“Well, that’s kind of the crazy part.” I shifted in my seat. I wasn’t really sure how to tell Melissa the truth. That Chance was practically a billionaire. It still didn’t even feel real to me. “Chance’s father is Howard Vaughn.”
Melissa shrugged her shoulders as she looked at me. “Who?”
“Howard Vaughn. As in the hotel mogul, hotels and casinos…”
“What?” Melissa’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide.
“Yes, the very same.” I said slowly, I felt heat rise in my face. It was so awkward. We had all figured Chance was rich, but not that he was the heir to a hotel empire. It just didn’t seem real.
“So… by taking this job,” Melissa looked at me with serious eyes. “You’ll technically be working for Chance and his family in his hotel empire? I guess that makes sense now, given how they’re paying you.”
“I suppose,” I sipped my wine as I leaned back against the couch. My body had finally begun to relax. “Though, it seems like this project is completely under Chance’s control. He heads the company in NYC, apparently.”
“So he’s more than just a spoiled brat riding on his parent’s coat tails?” she smirked, then her face fell slightly, “Because honestly, when we were in Vegas, he seemed to be a bit of a party boy.”
“He definitely has connections,” I mumbled softly, “But I think you naturally would when you own hotels and casinos in Vegas.”
“I guess so,” Melissa leaned her arm on the couch, using her hand to support her head as she looked at me dead on. “Be careful, okay? I don’t want you to end up getting hurt by this guy again.”
“I know,” I frowned, “I’m going to be careful. I’m not going to rush into anything. For now, we will just work together, I want to see if I can truly trust him.”
“You say that. But you kissed him tonight.”
“I did,” I admitted sheepishly. “But it was a mistake, one I won’t make again.”
“Alright,” Melissa said as she polished off her wine, “I hope you do, because this guy seems too good to be true.”
With that, she wished me a good night and headed into her room, leaving me alone on the couch with my guilt and uncertainty.