Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“It’s quiet tonight; take all the time you need.” Money truly does work wonders. At least I’d looked for someone who needed the money and deserved it. I wasn’t always that careful in the past.
I never really gave a damn who I used to serve my purpose. That was something I learned from Elena, how to treat people like they mattered. It’s easy to forget your own humanity sometimes when you become rich and famous. Add drugs to the mix, and well, you’ve got a complete asshole. Which is the territory I was headed for before Elena. She was my saving grace. So how did we end up here?
I stood outside the door for a minute before finding the courage to open it and walk in. She was asleep, which is what I expected at this time of night. I leaned against the closed door and watched her for a while, just taking her in. She looked so small, so defenseless, curled in on herself in the fetal position, and my heart hurt in a way it never had before, except for maybe the day I realized what the fuck I’d done to her, to us.
I walked as quietly as I could to the chair beside her bed and sat down, never taking my eyes off of her. I don’t know how long I sat there staring at her as she slept, but when the clouds moved away from the moon and I saw the track of tears on her cheeks, something inside of me came awake.
It was a moment of clarity that will go down in the books. Because it was at that moment that I made up my mind that things were going to change. Until I saw her in that bed looking so helpless and alone, I’d all but given up on life. There was nothing left to live for if I couldn’t have her, be with her.
I know most people looking in from the outside might wonder why someone with all my material possessions, fame, and adoration would even contemplate checking out. People always seem to think that that’s all you need to find happiness, but I’ve learned the hard way that that’s not true in the least.
Sitting there looking at her, it was brought home to me that no matter what had brought us here to this point, I didn’t want to live a life without her in it. Because all the money in the world and all the adulation of my fans could never give me what she brought to my life. Nothing could ever replace her, and nothing ever will.
I reached out and touched her hand, hoping that she didn’t awaken and freak the hell out. But as she slept and I lifted her fingers to my lips, I made her a promise. “I’ll come back for you. No matter what it takes, I’ll win your heart again.”
I sat there with her hand held loosely in mine until I was half asleep. I knew I shouldn’t let the sun find me here, so I left, even though I didn’t want to. I sent a message to my guy on the way out, and he met me at the end of the hallway to walk me out. “I’ll be back tonight. Same time.” I passed him a few more bills which he tried to refuse, but I insisted.
I left the way I came and headed in the direction of the no-frills hotel I was staying at for the night. I’d sent the car away because I knew what I had planned for when I left from seeing her. I don’t care what happens and who does what. I have to find my way back to her somehow, and going home where my unwanted wife was bound to be, was not part of the equation.
Chapter 18
*Ryder*
“Ryder, where are you? Everyone has been looking for you. They say you just disappeared, and you never called me back to let me know that you were okay. You didn’t tell them where you were going? I thought you’d at least tell Scott.”
“I’m fine, mom. I’m staying at a hotel, and no one needs to know. Scott is my business manager; she’s private. From now on, I’ll be keeping the two separate.”
“Oh, Okay. What hotel are you staying at? You know what, never mind, I’m guessing you went to see Elena. Well, did you see her? How is she? How is our girl? Is she alright?” That’s odd; mom still talks about her the way she used to when we were together like she was one of her own. She’s never done that with Janie.
“I saw her, yes, but she was asleep. According to the guy I talked to, she’s doing better; she just needs to rest.”
“Oh, that’s good then; the news reports were freaking me out. Those bitches started a rumor that she was in rehab for drugs, but I knew that couldn’t be it because she was never like that. Thankfully, one of her PR people told the truth, and that’s starting to die down.”