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“You're only in love with my money,” I said. “We were never good together as two loving, caring people.”
“That's not what you used to say when I was the one you were fucking,” she said. “You used to tell me I was your world.”
“Because you were at one time,” I said. “But that changed once things between us got a little more real and we started to see each other for who we really were.”
The fact that I had to explain this to her again was killing me. We'd had these discussions before, countless times. I couldn't handle the clinginess, the neediness, the jealousy. Her pettiness and snobby attitude also turned me off more than I could say.
When we first met, she'd seemed like a different girl. She'd been kind, compassionate, confident. But as time wore on, I saw that it was all just a facade she had constructed. A mask she'd worn. She was nothing like that girl I'd met. And I started to feel like yeah, maybe she'd pretended to be someone she wasn't just to get me into bed and become part of my life.
The longer our relationship dragged on, the more I felt used by her. She always wanted to go on the expensive vacations, always needed the shopping trips, and the fancy dinners out. Everything about our relationship became what I could do for her or buy for her, not what we could bring to each other's lives.
That was exactly why I loved spending time with Violet. None of that material stuff mattered to her. Each time I did something nice for her, it was a surprise and something she appreciated. It wasn't something she expected or demanded.
With Jessica, things had to keep getting bigger or more lavish. She demanded the finest things from the most expensive places, otherwise she grew bored and pouted. I eventually grew tired of it, and it basically ruined everything between us. I finally saw her for who she really was – a gold digger.
She looked at me and though there were tears still shining in her eyes, there was a defiance and an anger in them as well.
“Well, I guess the rest of the world is finally going to be able to see who you really are too, Sebastian,” she said. “As you know, I have contacts in the media and I'm sure they'd love to hear my story. The story of how you, the greedy CEO tossed me aside for someone younger and prettier. Yeah, feminism is all the rage these days, and don't be surprised if women stop coming to your resorts or staging protests and boycotts once they hear about how you truly feel about us. We're nothing more than disposable toys to you.”
Gritting my teeth, I tried so hard to keep my cool. By “contacts in the media,” what she really meant to say was that she had friends who worked for those trashy supermarket checkout line tabloids. If she went running to them with this, they would do a hatchet job on me that would be brutal. I really doubted it would have any lasting impact on my company in the long term, but in the short term, it would create a lot of embarrassment and headaches. Not to mention, it would wreak havoc on Violet and our budding romance.
“None of that is true and you know it,” I said. “Again, what happened with Violet had nothing to do with her age. And it had nothing to do with you. We're two consenting adults.”
Jessica shrugged, pulling her feet from the water and put her shoes back on. “If you say so, Sebastian,” she said. “But that's not the way I see it. And I'm not so sure Violet can handle the backlash that's going to come from this, especially not so soon after her poor daddy's death.”
“Leave her out of this,” I hissed. “I'm warning you, Jessica.”
“I'll leave both of you out of this and turn over all copies of the pictures to you on one condition,” she said.
I sighed, knowing where this was likely going. “What condition, Jessica?”
“You cut things off with the little tramp, Sebastian,” she said, her voice firm. “Immediately.”
“She's not – ”
“Whore, trollop, whatever,” Jessica said flippantly. “Whatever she is, you cut things off with her and neither these pictures nor my story will never see the light of day.”
“I'm never coming back to you, Jessica,” I said. “Not even if I cut things off with Violet.”
“Oh, I know that now,” she said with a smile. “But if I have to hurt, I want you to hurt too. And if it means hurting your poor, sweet little Violet, then so be it. I'll do whatever it takes to ruin both of your lives and make you as fucking miserable as I am right now.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, sweetie,” she said, in that condescending tone of voice of hers that I hated so much. “It's not a threat. It's a promise. Now enjoy the rest of your trip. I've booked the bungalow down at the end so we're neighbors. Maybe we'l
l run into each other. We can have drinks and catch up.”
She sauntered down the dock and entered a bungalow not too far from us. I felt the need to punch something, anything, but without the risk of breaking something on my property that I'd have to explain. I also had to get ready. Paula and Steve were expecting us, and I had work to do. I'd have to handle Jessica, and Violet after that.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - VIOLET
Paula and Steve were already waiting for us in the lobby, but they made no mention of us running late. Perks of being the boss when it came to being on time to work-related functions, I supposed. Paula looked a little stressed as she outlined our itinerary, listing off everywhere we were going for the day.
I could tell Sebastian wasn't at the top of his game. Not that I blamed him, but what happened with Jessica really had really thrown him off. When he'd come back to pick me up before we left for the meeting, he hadn't even come into my room, choosing to stay outside the front door and wait for me.
And as we walked toward the resort, he stared straight ahead and kept the conversation purely to business-related matters. Even though I'd tried to bring Jessica up, he'd refused to talk about her, instead saying he'd deal with it.
He apparently wasn't the only one off kilter, though. Paula looked over at me, a concerned look upon her face.
