Chapter 6

Escape

Grant

“All right, all right. I’ll leave.”

The woman with the black hair and red lipstick whose name I can no longer remember zips up her blouse, grabs the cash I’ve thrown on the bed and leaves, her black boots stomping out of the hotel room and down the corridor.

I close the door then slump in an oversized armchair, letting out an exasperated breath. Moments later, Roger enters.

“I must say, I think you’re losing it,” Roger says, sitting in the other oversized armchair. “That’s the second woman you’ve slept with who isn’t happy about it.”

I frown. “I didn’t sleep with her.”

“Oh.”

Not that I didn’t think of it. I planned on it, in fact. That’s why I picked her up at a bar in downtown Los Angeles and brought her here to my hotel room. We were about to do it, too. Heaven knows she was wanting and ready.

The problem was me. Even though I was with another woman, I couldn’t stop thinking of the one I had left back at home – Abby.

And I thought I could. I picked a woman with the same black hair she had, the same heart-shaped face. But no. She still wasn’t Abby. Not even close.

And all I want is Abby.

Just the thought of Abby is enough to make my cock hard whereas the sight of that woman’s bare breasts couldn’t even cause the slightest buzz in my crotch.

It’s strange, really. In the past, I’ve always been able to move on from one woman to another without ever looking back. It’s usually as easy to me as going from one pair of shoes to the next. And yet, I can’t seem to do that now. I can’t seem to shake off Abby even though I’ve already slept with her, even though she was the one who asked me to forget her.

Or maybe that’s why. No woman has ever asked me to forget her before. On the contrary, they’ve begged me to call them, to remember them. They always beg for more. But Abby just slammed the door in my face, saying she doesn’t want anything more to do with me on a personal level.

For once in my life, I’ve been rejected.

And it feels like fucking shit.

“Abby is something else, isn’t she?” Roger says, pouring himself some whiskey. “I knew she was a strong woman but I didn’t think she’d actually push you away. And right after you fucked her, too.”

“And to think she was the one who asked me to.” I run my fingers through my hair. “She teased me. She reeled me in. She let me in. And then she threw me out.”

Roger chuckles, lifting his glass. “Sounds to me like she beat you at your own game.”

Frowning, I swipe the glass away from him.

“Hey!”

I ignore him as I bring the glass to my lips and gulp down its contents, hoping for the warm liquid to wash away some of my frustration but to no avail.

I set down the empty glass. “And here I thought everything was going according to plan.”

“Oh, is that what you’re frustrated about?” Roger pours himself another glass.

“What did you think it was?” I ask him.

“Nothing.” He shrugs. “Maybe it’s just my imagination.”

I say nothing as he drinks.

“Well, if that’s the case, I can’t say I’m sorry she dumped you,” he says after. “She just hurt you before you could hurt her.”

“I’m not hurt,” I tell him, rubbing my temple. “I’m just frustrated.”

“Right.”

“I need her for my plan to work and you–” I point at Roger, “—are not helping.”

“Well, if you want my advice, I’d say all you have to do is try harder.”

“You mean seduce her so she’ll sleep with me another time?” I let out a sigh. “She doesn’t want me anymore, remember? And all because I’m her boss. I can’t believe she wants me to be like Nathan. Nathan doesn’t give a fuck about his employees.”

“At least he didn’t fuck them,” Roger points out.

I glare at him. “Whose side are you on again?”

He pours me another drink. “Anyway, what I’m saying isn’t about fucking or wanting to. That’s the problem with you, you see – either you’re fucking a woman or you want to.”

“It’s never been a problem.”

Roger shakes his head. “Well, clearly, fucking isn’t all Abby wants or thinks about. So you should act the same.”

I’m feeling more confused. “You’re telling me not to want her.”

“I’m telling you there should be more than just sexual attraction.” He hands me the glass. “I’m telling you to try harder in a non-sexual way. Open up. Let her in.”

I grimace as I drink, the words even more bitter than the alcohol.

There’s a reason why I seduce women physically – I know I’m good at it. What Roger is suggesting is untried strategy, uncharted territory.

“I’ve never done that before.”

“Ah, but you almost did,” Roger reminds me.

I know exactly who he’s referring to – Lindsey, the very woman who is the root of my current problems.

“If you had only allowed her to get close to you instead of just dropping her like a hot potato, I bet you wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble now just to get her name on those apps,” Roger goes on.

I gulp down the rest of my drink. I hate to admit it, but he’s right – well, not the part where I should have allowed Lindsey to come close but the part where I got myself into this shit. Not too many of my mistakes have come back to bite me, but this one surely has. Who would have thought that shy Lindsey would end up becoming such a successful psychologist, author, and businesswoman – a role model and inspiration for all women, the very kind of woman whose app other women would like to buy?

“I can’t turn back time.” I hand the glass back to Roger.

“I’m not asking you to.” Roger puts the glass on the table. “What I’m saying is that you have a chance to learn from your mistake with an equally beautiful, strong woman. So, learn. Do better. Do what you didn’t do last time. After all, isn’t that what Lindsey wants? To know you’ve changed?”

I don’t answer.

“Listen, Grant. Abby won’t let you in unless you let her in. You say she backed down because you’re her boss. Then make her see you as a man. And no, taking off your clothes won’t achieve that.”

“And you’re sure that if I open up to her, she’ll fall for me completely?”

“No.” Roger sits back, putting his feet up on a stool as he places his arms behind his head. “But that’s a risk you’ll have to take if you want her, Lindsey Holland, and the success of your company. Either that, or just give everything up.”

I frown. So it’s all or nothing, huh? I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all, maybe as much as I don’t like the idea of baring my soul to a woman I hardly know.

True, I want Abby and I need her so that I can get Lindsey’s signature and all the profits that come with it, but am I willing to sacrifice my personal beliefs for that? Am I willing to risk losing myself?

It’s the toughest choice I’ve ever had to make.

Still frowning, I get out of the chair and walk to the closet, taking out my backpack.

“What are you doing?” Roger asks, sitting up. “Where are you going?”

I put my backpack on. “Where I usually go to think.”