Addicted: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance (11 page)

I
'll just go
up there, grab my purse, and leave.
I'd repeated the litany about twenty times since getting out of the limo and making my way up to Tyler's door.

Don't show any emotion or give him a chance to get you in his bed.

All I had to do was keep telling myself that I was strong and that I could do it. The problem was, I could feel my resolve weakening.

There were too many conflicting emotions going through me.

On one hand, I wanted to believe Tyler. I wanted to believe he would be faithful with me and that we could somehow make our relationship work, even with our disapproving parents. If it wasn’t for his past, I’d probably believe him. He hadn’t given me much reason to doubt him, after all.

But, he
did
have his past. And our parents
did
want us apart. And I felt like he was just a rich, eligible bachelor who was looking for a challenge and a reason to defy his father.

After I exited the elevator at the top floor, I walked down the hallway. After a moment of gathering my resolve, I knocked on the door.

The door creaked open.

That's funny
, I thought.
I thought I locked it.

I stepped in and closed the door behind me. I was about to call out Tyler's name, when I heard talking up in the loft area where his bedroom was.

He must have company.

I walked over to the stairs and paused, listening. Then I heard it. A female's voice.

My heart began pounding in my chest erratically.

Calm down
, I tried to tell myself.
It could be anyone.

Despite trying to reason with myself and keep cool, I was overcome by a sudden, overpowering urge. I rushed up the stairs as fast as I could and let out a sharp gasp when I reached the top.

I knew it!

My wildly-beating heart skipped a beat at the sight before me.

There, standing before his bed with nothing on but boxers, was Tyler with some pretty blonde girl, dressed in a tight red dress, who was holding his cock in her hands.

You fool! How could you be so stupid?

The room began to spin around me and my breathing became shallow.

I should've known. I should've known. I should've known.

Tyler's expression was one of shock and he was quick to shove the girl away from him. "Victoria, I can explain!”

"Don’t bother!" I croaked. I don't even know how I managed to get the words out. I had a lump in my throat the size of a basketball.

Fighting to keep the tears at bay, I rushed over to the night stand and grabbed my purse.

"Victoria!" Tyler reached out to grab my arm, but I swatted him away, rushing toward the exit.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

"Please—"

I stopped at the top of the stairs, digging in my purse, turning around to confront him.

"I knew from the beginning you were a sack of shit," I snarled. "I don't know how I could've been so stupid to ever believe that you actually cared about me or that you would stop your manwhore ways!"

Tyler reached out imploringly. "It's not what you think."

How cliché. Isn't that what they all say? It's not what you think. Everything I need to know is right in front of me.

In the background, the girl in the red dress watched our exchange with her hands on her hips and an impish smile on her face.

"He does this to all the girls, honey," she purred. "You shouldn't be surprised."

"Shut up, Candice!" Tyler shouted, his face red with rage. He turned to me. "Victoria—"

"Fuck off!" I reached into my purse to make sure my phone was there. I still had his tie . . .
that
tie. I pulled it out and threw it at his feet. "And you can keep your fucking nasty tie!"

Sobbing uncontrollably, I turned and rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping in the process.

I
stared
at the spot Victoria had vacated long after she left, wanting to go after her but knowing it would be futile.

She'd walked in at the worst possible moment, just as Candice grabbed my junk. I'd never be able to convince her that nothing was going on.

Candice raised an eyebrow in question while eyeing the tie on the floor. “Do I even want to know what the deal with the tie is?” she asked, breaking the silence. "What kind of kinky shit have you been up to, Tyler?"

I turned baleful eyes on her, my chest heaving with anger. "Nothing that concerns you."

Bitch.

Rage blurred my vision. I wanted to wrap my hands around her neck and choke her within inches of her life. I'd never, ever put my hands on a woman in a violent way, but she was pushing me to my limits.

Looking at Candice, I could tell it's something that she probably wanted. She’d
love
it, in fact. In some sick way, she was feeding off my emotions, getting off on them.

"You need to leave," I said flatly. "Now. Or I’m going to call the cops.”

I saw no use in trying to figure out why she was here or talking to her any further. It didn't matter anymore, and I should have thrown her out the second I saw her. But now, the damage was already done.

"Come on, Tyler," she crooned softly. "You're just mad right now. That girl . . . she was no good for you—"

"Get the fuck out!" I roared.

Candice grew silent in the face of my wrath. For a moment, I feared she was going to stay, forcing me to have to take matters into my own hands.

"Fine," she said finally. "I'll leave . . . for now. I'll be back after I give you some time to calm down. You’ll come around, you’ll see. We have much to catch up on.”

She walked over to me and attempted to give me peck on the cheek, but I stepped away from her. "I'm going to make things better. I promise." She turned and strutted her way out of the room, trying her best to tease me with her swaying hips.

She failed
. "And don’t fucking come back!" I yelled.

I walked over to the bed and slumped down on it, resting my elbows on my knees and clutching either side of my head in my palms.

"I'm fucked," I muttered.

“
I
hate to say it
, but I told you so," April said the next day while we were preparing some of Christine's pristine spring designs for a show.

I groaned, eyeing a design, a particular ugly brown number that even a size one model would have to diet to fit in. "Please don’t, April. I really don’t need to hear this right now. On top of it all, I have a splitting headache."

I shouldn't have told her anything
, I thought in regret.
Now I will never hear the end of it.

As soon as I’d come into work, April accosted me. One look at my disheveled appearance, and she knew something was up. In fact, she knew
exactly
what was up.

Maybe it was my bloodshot eyes that were red from bawling my eyes out all night, or my perpetual scowl that I’d adopted when I woke up and realized I had to go to work when it felt like my soul was being crushed by an iron fist.

At first I’d deflected April’s questions to find out what was wrong, but eventually I broke down and told her.

Everything.

I wasn't sure why I did. I mean, I knew what was coming afterward. I suppose it was because I needed a shoulder to cry on. Since I was estranged from my mom, April was the only real female friend that I was close enough to confide in.

I'd lost contact with all my previous friends when I moved to the city to start my career, and I couldn’t just call them up to dump this in their lap after having not spoken for ages. Since coming to work for Christine, I’d discovered that friends were in short supply. It was hard maintaining friendships while being worked to death.

On top of that, I’d learned the hard way that there weren’t many people you could trust in the fashion world, with all the back-stabbing and gossiping that went on.

But April, and to an extent, Gabe, were cool. So far, she hadn't shown me the cattiness that most females that worked under Christine were known for. She had her quirks, of course, but who didn’t?

"What?" April protested. Today, April was dressed in a purple dress with a white belt encircling her waist. Matching white pumps adorned her feet. She looked cute, but then again, she always looked cute. Christine expected all of us to look great coming in to work. "But I was right, wasn't I? He was a manwhore all along. I mean come on, Vicky, how could you ever think he wasn't? The guy is filthy rich with movie star looks. Why would he want to settle down at his age? Besides, doesn’t he normally go for the A-list starlets?”

I scowled at April. "I didn’t think money or fame mattered when it came to love. Besides, he claimed to be attracted to me because of
me
, not my bank account, or lack thereof.”

April shook her head, eying a flashy green number. "You’re right. In some situations, money doesn’t matter. As far as looks go, you could’ve looked like Kate Upton and he'd still have cheated on you. Guys like that just don't respect women. You should know that.”

I bit my lower lip. Everything April was saying was true. I knew it, and she knew that I knew it. "You're right," I said grudgingly.

April stopped fingering the green number and slipped it onto a hanger before hanging it on one of the clothing racks lining the room. She turned to face me, crossing her arms. "Next time you should listen to me."

I snorted. “You’re not Nostradamus, April. His past was no secret. But he seemed so sincere. So intense. But trust me, if I learned anything, it’s that I’ll always heed that annoying little voice inside my head from here on out.”

April beamed at me. “Good. I'm just relieved that it happened now and not later. I certainly didn't want to see you more hurt than you already are."

A lump was forming in my throat. I wished she would just change the subject. "Gee, thanks, April."

"No problem. Trust me, you’re so much better off without him."

"I think I’m done with relationships for now,” I muttered.

And the distant future,
I thought.

“Don’t let him ruin your faith in men, though,” April warned. “There are plenty of good ones out there. You just need to find the right one.”

“For now, my career will be my man — or my pursuit of a career,” I said, grabbing a red dress that had yellow flowers emblazoned on it. Now this was one I could see myself wearing.

“Fair enough—”

“Hey bitches!” chirped a cheery voice. Gabe came walking up and elbowed his way in between us. The always-handsome young man was dressed in skinny jeans and a preppy pink sweater, his hair gelled and slicked to the side. The smell of a fruity cologne wafted to my nose.

“Gabe,” we both greeted in unison.

Gabe reared back when he looked at me, his face twisting in horror. “Sweet Jesus! What happened to you? You look like you were hit by a bus.”

Before I could reply, April supplied, “Her big shot boyfriend cheated on her.”

Gabe let out a gasp and clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes going wide.

“April!” I protested.

“What? He would’ve found out anyway. You know he was going to hound you like hell to find out what was wrong.”

“More like you would just tell him as soon as you saw him, like now,” I accused.

April shrugged. “Same difference.”

“Don’t worry about me, Vicky,” Gabe assured me, looking extra eager to hear the sensational gossip. “You know your business is safe with me, girl.”

Right,
I thought wryly.
You’ll have my whole story all over the Channel Seven Evening News.

“So tell me what happened,” Gabe urged eagerly. “I want all the juicy details.”

I groaned inwardly.
He’s never going to give up. Thanks, April.

I didn’t want to keep rehashing the experience. It was almost too painful. Luckily for me, or maybe not so lucky, April obliged me.

Gabe clamped a hand on my shoulder, shaking his head with sympathy when April was done with her slightly exaggerated tale of Tyler’s cheating. “I am so sorry, girl. You must feel terrible. That man was sex on legs. Too bad he couldn’t keep it in his pants.”

“Can’t we just change the subject already?” I demanded, tossing aside the red flower dress with exasperation. “I’m never going to get through the day if we don’t.”

Gabe frowned. “Okay. But can I ask a question?”

I sighed. “What?”

“How big is he?”

“Gabe!”

“What? We’re talking about important information here!”

I scowled, wishing he’d just go away.

“Please, Gabe, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t go for men. In fact, I know he doesn’t.”

Gabe raised a stern eyebrow at me. “I’ll have you know, Miss Thing, that I’ve turned a few men in my day.” Gabe crossed his arms. “But really, I do have a serious question.”

I ignored him for as long as I could before I sighed and gave in. "What is it?"

“How is he in the sack?”

I tossed a dress right into Gabe’s face, walking off and refusing to admit to him or anyone else that the sex was
amazing
.

"
I
'm
ready to take Tyler's place when you feel the time is right,” I proudly announced to the CEO of Armex, hardly concealing my excitement. "Just say the word."

I'd stopped by Mr. James Locklin's office to have a talk about my soon-to-be promotion. Rumors were that Tyler’s days were numbered and that I’d be his replacement. I hadn’t been given the official word from Mr. Locklin about it yet, but I had to come across as confident and willing to do the job.

Pride swelled through me as James, who was sitting at a large desk in the center of room, leaned back in his chair to regard me.

"Ah, Mr. Whitmore. As one of my best employees, I’ve always admired your enthusiasm for this company and your willingness to do what's best for our bottom line."

A feeling of dread pressed down upon my chest. The tone in his voice told me something was afoot. There was a
BUT
coming . . .

I smiled nervously and nodded my head. "Thank you, sir. It's my pleasure. Working for Armex has been a dream come true for me.”

I was laying it on pretty thick, hoping that my feeling was wrong. James shifted in his seat, and by his expression, I knew he was about to hit me with something. "That being said, I have no intention of removing my son as CFO."

Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw . . .

It felt like I'd been hit by a bolt of lightning. "What?" I asked in disbelief. I’d all but been assured by everyone else that Tyler's position was mine. “I was told that this was a done deal!"

"I'm sorry, Charles, but this whole thing got started because I reacted out of anger.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was usually a composed individual, but it was hard to keep a lid on my frustration. My dreams and aspirations were crashing down around me. “You said yourself that I understood the intricacies of running this company better than anyone you’d ever met!”

James scowled. "No, what I in fact told you, was that you take your job very seriously, and I appreciated that. But Tyler is my son, and as much as I want him to get his life together, I can’t aid in taking this from him. My conscience just won’t allow it. I’m willing to accept whatever consequences come from it."

You've got to be shitting me.

I clenched my fists, anger swelling in my throat. "I can't believe you're saying this, sir," I said hotly. “You’re going to let Tyler continue to be the downfall of Armex?
Your
company?”

James sat silent.

"Why?" I continued. "Why would you want to keep someone like that on board, even if he is your son, when you have someone more capable and far more willing to take this company to the next level?" I shook my head. "I just don't get it."

“You are both alike,” James remarked, his eyes scrutinizing me.

“Never!” I raged. “I’m nothing like him.”

“Yet, in some ways you are. You’re so blinded by your dislike and jealousy of my son that you fail to see it. In my opinion, you both are hard-headed and have a problem with authority.”

I sucked in a breath, readying a hot retort, but then gained control of myself. “Are you alright, sir? You sure you haven’t drunk anything, taken any medication?” It was unlike James to be so direct with me. Maybe he was speaking under the influence.

“I’m perfectly sober.”

“I—”

James stood up from his chair, interrupting me, looking tall and imposing. I could definitely see where Tyler got his impressive frame from. James was the type of old man you didn’t want to mess with you. “I want what’s best for my son, Charles. He’s my only heir. This company is just as much his as it is mine. I have to believe that he’ll turn things around, however unlikely that may be.”

“But you’re making a business decision based on emotion, sir,” I protested. “That’s like the number one no-no in business. You know that even more than I do.”

“Even so, you have my decision. I can only hope Tyler straightens up and becomes the man that I know him to be.” He looked at me with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Charles. I know you were looking forward to this.”

“Weak,” I snarled. I knew I was insulting my boss, a very powerful man, but I couldn’t help myself, and my emotions were getting the better of me. “This decision makes you look weak and unfit.”

“I know very well how it makes me look,” James said tightly, “and if you value your place here at Armex, I suggest you watch what you say right now. I know you’re upset and speaking out of emotion right now, so I’ll forgive you this once, but make no mistake, I will not tolerate any more disrespect.” His eyes bore into me. “Do I make myself clear?”

I stood there for a long time, overwhelmed by helpless rage.

“Charles?”

“Yes,” I grated. “Yes sir, I understand you completely.”

James nodded his head. “Good. Now go finish that report that you said you would have on my desk by Monday.” He sat down at his desk and began looking over a stack of papers, letting me know our meeting was over.

Swallowing my pride, I turned and walked out of the office, closing his door a little louder than I should have behind me, vowing that it was time to take matters into my own hands. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.