Chapter 16
Marissa had felt sick to her stomach from the time they’d left the restaurant, to the moment they finally stepped into the charter plane. It was shocking how painful it had been having the bubble of her fantasy weekend burst. One moment she’d been eating breakfast at the Waldorf freaking Astoria; the next she’d gone into a panic knowing a picture of her and Vince could end up in the tabloids.
It was weird how knowing something like this could happen to her, and actually going through the experience were two completely different things. Sure, it was to be expected that someone would snap a picture of them—she’d read too many tabloids over the years not to realize that—and yet, there was somehow a part of her that had assumed it would never happen.
The problem wasn’t the picture itself, but who might see it. What the hell would her mom think about her being with a millionaire in New York? Shit, what would her creditors think? If anyone thought for a moment that she had access to unlimited wealth, they’d never stop harassing her. And when they realized that she didn’t have any money to pay them back, she could only imagine that some of the less than scrupulous ones would start harassing Vince. That alone would be reason enough for him to kick her to the curb.
And while the thought of him no longer being in her life bothered her, it was really the only logical conclusion to all of this. The wrong people would see her, want money, and he’d feel obligated to pay, no doubt assuming she wouldn’t have been in that position if not for him. She really should have had a plan to keep from having her face in the media.
Vince had kept his distance since the photo incident as well. He’d been surprisingly calm about the entire matter, which was weird to her. How could it not bother him to have someone jump up and snap a picture of you without your permission? Yes, everyone had a camera on them, and yes, she’d seen him and his women in tabloids over the years.
Yes, this would no doubt end up being yet another one of her spectacular screw ups. Another case of Marissa trying to do the right thing and making matters worse. It wasn’t supposed to go this way. Wasn’t supposed to be a problem having a little fun with a hot rich man in a big city. Naomi had even told her as much.
She closed her eyes and let gravity pull her head back against the seat. The plane was taxiing and soon she’d be back home to her tiny little basement apartment, her normal class schedule, and her boring life. Because there was no way she’d be able to do something like this again. She’d take the money Vince had offered—mostly because she’d taken him seriously that her time was worth something and that she shouldn’t be taken advantage of—pay off what debts she could, and would put an end to this relationship.
No, not a relationship. Arrangement.
Vince snapped his seatbelt together, before taking a sip of wine. “Do you have anything that you have to prepare for class tomorrow?”
Her courses had been the last thing on her mind, but like everything else that had happened, reality had a way of rearing its ugly head to demand her attention. “I have some readings. I put the files on my phone. I’ll probably read them once we’re in the air.” Yes, she had them, but given how distracted she currently was, she doubted she’d get very far. “Do you have something you need to work on?”
Vince pulled out a tablet that had been tucked beside him in his seat. “I have some financials to review.”
It was weird, no longer having the warmth coming from him. It was completely her fault, of course, seeing as every time he got too close to her, she did her best to move away. It was going to be hard enough to say goodbye to him without having the constant physical reminder of what she was going to miss. “That’s good.”
The plane came to a stop, before the pilot’s voice filled the cabin. “We’re taking off momentarily. Please ensure your seatbelts are on.” The roar of engines blasted and within minutes they were in the air.
She carried with her such mixed feelings about her time in New York. Someday, she’d have to go back, see the rest on her own, with no worries of someone making her private adventures public.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked up at him. “Pardon?”
He didn’t meet her gaze, instead he continued to review whatever was on his tablet. “I’m sorry our weekend was ruined by one fool. But you don’t have to worry about those pictures getting out.”
“Why not?”
He reached beside him and pulled a phone from his pocket. He’d wrapped her panties around it. “I got his information from the hotel and had a friend track him down. I paid him enough money to make up for the lack of his prize, and so he could get himself a new phone.” He held it out for her to take.
Marissa hesitated, but claimed the prize. Her panties were…well, she didn’t exactly want them anymore, but she appreciated the sentiment. “That’s, unexpected. Thank you.”
“No part of the arrangement was for your privacy to be invaded. I wanted to make things right.”
Relief rolled through her and she was finally able to relax. “I don’t know why it should matter. All of my friends would kill to do even a fraction of what I’d done with you here. They’d be excited for me, but probably also jealous. And my mom…I don’t know how she’d feel about everything. And…it’s probably the second most terrifying thing I’ve ever had to deal with.”
“It’s knowing that the flow of information is out of your control. That they could spin it any way they wanted and you’d have no control over the narrative.” He tapped the top of the tablet. “It comes along with the limo and private jet.”
A world so far removed from her own, she couldn’t imagine living in it permanently. “I don’t think I could get used to it.”
“You’d be surprised what you can accept as normal given enough time. Which reminds me.” He made some movements on the tablet. “I’m transferring you what I owe you to your account. Plus, some extra for the disruption. Think of it as a thank you. The password will be panties.”
And he winked at her.
Her unexpected laugh helped ease the tension between them. “Thanks. I won’t forget that one.” Or you. “I’m sorry the deal with Simon didn’t work out.”
“There was always a risk that things would fall through. I wasn’t exactly keen on selling it to him in the first place.”
It was strange that this little company seemed to mean so much to him. “Why sell it at all? I mean, there must be some way you can convince your dad to let you have it. I mean, he’s your dad. He won’t consider selling it to you?”
Vince shrugged, a far too casual move for him. “I’m not the majority owner. Dad wants to sell it to Simon, then that’s what we’ll do. If nothing else, I’ll be done having to dance to his tune.”
And with that their conversation ran dry.
Marissa leaned back and did her best to relax and look at her notes for class. As she’d suspected, her attention span didn’t last more than a few minutes at a time, and she ended up re-reading the same paragraph multiple times. Sleep then won out, and she slept until the plane began its decent to Toronto.
* * * *
Marissa couldn’t understand why she’d grown nervous on the drive back to her house. Maybe because she didn’t want Vince to know exactly how horrid her living arrangements were, especially after where they’d stayed for the last two nights. Maybe she didn’t want to run the risk of him coming back in at some point in the future to convince her to go out with him again.
Perhaps, she simply wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him yet.
“I don’t have your address. We’ll need to let Jason know exactly which one is yours so he can help you with your bags.” Vince had been quiet for most of the drive, and the sudden rumble of his voice startled her.
“It’s fine. He knows basically where to drop me off.” Yeah, it was mostly embarrassment. If he saw the house, he’d think it was cute. Then he’d offer to bring her bags inside for her, being a perfect gentleman, or some crap like that. Then, he’d step one foot inside the house, see the conditions and no doubt go on a tirade.
She most definitely didn’t want to listen to that. Marissa knew he’d mean well, but she also knew their lives were never meant to intersect.
Vince’s body tensed as his gaze snapped from her, to the privacy window, and then back to her. “You’re being stubborn.”
“No, you’re trying to push me into revealing something that I want to keep private. You knowing my address wasn’t part of our arrangement, and I would like to keep it that way.” She took his growl as all the agreement she was likely to get.
The limo came to a lurching halt, and Marissa heard the driver get out and move to the trunk to retrieve her bags. That would only give them another few moments alone, a few more minutes for her to relish the elegance of the past few days. While she knew he was annoyed, she didn’t want to part company with him even a little irate at her. For all she knew, this would be the last time they’d see one another.
Shifting in her seat, she got up onto her knees and cupped his face with her hands. “I will never forget this weekend. Every little thing we did was something I will always cherish. Thank you for this gift.”
“That sounds like you’re saying goodbye.” The muscles in his jaw jumped.
Was she really doing this? Walking away from a man who’d been nothing but amazingly kind to her. She sighed. “I think…I am. I’m…it’s weird, but the photographer made me realize that there are too many things outside of my control. That picture could have ended up in the press, and everyone who wants money from me would have come looking. God, Andrew could have seen it.”
“I would have paid all of it.”
She smiled, letting her thumb rub across his cheek. “I know. And I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. I never intended to take advantage of you, or your money. I…I like you too much for that.”
Then, she leaned in and kissed him long and hard.
Her tongue flicked across his, teasing and taunting him until the ice that had encased his personality since they’d landed cracked beneath her ministrations. He deepened the kiss, and pulled her fully against him, forcing her to straddle his thigh.
God, she was going to miss this. Miss him.
But even now, her body on fire from the simplest of touches, she knew she could never do something like this again. Her soul would never make it out alive.
As the kiss reached its natural conclusion, Marissa slowly pulled back and opened her eyes. “You make sure to call Simon tomorrow. Tell him he’s not your only option and if he wants a shot to get in on the ground floor, then he better get his ass in gear now.”
Vince blinked at her several times before gracing her with a small smile. “Yes, ma’am.”
She then disengaged from him, taking a moment to straighten her dress before opening the door herself. The driver quickly moved around to hold the door open and helped her out of the back seat. “Careful for the sidewalk. I parked a bit close.”
“No problem. Thanks so much for getting me home safe.”
He smiled at her, and blushed. “No problem at all.”
Marissa turned as she heard Vince get out and come around to her side of the car. “Before you go, I have a small thank you gift.”
After everything he’d done for her, the last thing she needed was another present. “You really don’t have to.”
He went around to the trunk of the limo and retrieved a small, perfectly wrapped present. The paper was silver with little purple stars on it. “I was planning on this being a thank you gift, not a goodbye present. Either way, don’t open it until you’re having a bad day and need a pick-me-up.”
Tears pricked at her eyes and for a moment she thought she was going to lose her shit over a present. “I will.”
Vince looked around as the street light clicked on above them. “At least let me help you with your bags.”
I knew he’d try some chivalrous shit. “That’s okay. They’re not exactly heavy.”
“It’s dark out, and you’re alone.” Vince threw one look at the driver, which sent him scurrying away. “I promise I won’t come inside. I’ll bring them to your back door and leave them there.”
Marissa looked around her little, boring neighborhood and there was no one in sight. She could only imagine what it looked like to him; rundown, perhaps even a bit dangerous. She’d walked these streets many times by herself. She knew the shadows and the places to avoid. And while she might get herself into more than a few messes, Marissa was nothing if not resourceful.
She reached out and took her suit case handle from him. “I really appreciate you wanting to look out for me. Honestly, I’m going to be fine.”
Oh, she could tell from the look on his face that he wanted to argue with her. He wanted to throw his weight around, insist on doing the right thing and ignore her request. She could also tell the moment his brain chastised him for those thoughts. “Fine. Text me so I know that you made in it safe and sound.”
“Absolutely.” It was the least she could do, given everything he’d given her this weekend. “Take care.”
Vince looked down at her bare arms. “You better get in before you freeze.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I had a good weekend, Ms. Roy.”
“Me too, Mr. Taylor.”
She waited for him to climb back into the limo, and for the car to pull slowly ahead before she yanked on her suitcase and trudged across the uneven sidewalk home. A lump built in her throat, squeezed at her chest until her emotions threatened to explode. She knew it was the right thing, to end this before it got too out of control.
Vince didn’t want a relationship. He’d been clear about that from the start. She hadn’t wanted one either, not really. Though, it had been wonderful having someone who genuinely seemed to like spending time with her. Andrew had been hard, untalkative, and not at all the man she’d fallen in love with. Vince, while a no-nonsense kind of man, had shown her more passion and caring than Andrew ever had.
Shit, she was really going to miss him.
Marissa waited for the limo to finally turn the corner of the street, before she picked up her pace and raced up the driveway as quickly as she could. It was freezing out, and all she wanted to do now was slip into her fuzzy pajamas, crawl into bed and go to sleep.
The house was dark, except for the outside light. Shelia knew she was coming home tonight and had left it on for her. As quietly as she could manage, Marissa opened the door and crept down the stairs to her apartment.
There, taped to the middle of her door was a collections notice.
She was too tired to be upset about it, and simply pulled the paper off as she unlocked it and went inside.