Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 101399 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101399 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Read Online Books/Novels: | The Bad Guy |
|---|---|
Author/Writer of Book/Novel: | Celia Aaron |
| Language: | English |
| Book Information: | |
My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story. I’ve decided to lay myself bare. To tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there. Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her. She was a damsel, one who already had her white knight. But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me. I’m the bad guy. ****Author's Note: This is a dark romance with an HEA and no cheating. | |
| Books by Author: | Celia Aaron Books |
1
Sebastian
My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story.
I’d like to tell you that I try to be good, to do the right thing. That would be a lie. As with most powerful men, the truth is a minor inconvenience that can be bent like a circus stripper into whatever form I want.
But I’ve decided to lay myself bare, to tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there.
Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her.
Her—Camille Briarlane. The one I’d been searching for. When I found her, she was already in the company of her white knight. He’d claimed her for himself, planting his flag and showing her off like the treasure she is.
A fairy tale romance by all accounts.
But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me.
I’m the bad guy.
2
Camille
“Are you sure this looks okay?” I pulled the hem down on my midnight blue dress as I stepped from the limo, my hand in Link’s.
He smiled down at me, his perfect white teeth gleaming in the low lights along the front of the swank New York hotel. “You outshine everyone else here. Trust me.” His black tux gave him the look of Hollywood glamor, every smooth line of his body perfectly wrapped in the fabric.
I squeezed his hand as he led me up the stairs. “You haven’t seen everyone else yet.”
“Don’t have to. I already know you’ll put them to shame.” He wrapped his arm around my waist as the doorman ushered us into the hotel lobby.
I welcomed the blast of warm air that dispersed the early winter chill.
“May I?” An attendant offered to help with my coat.
“I’ll handle it.” Link smiled and slid his hands into my collar and down my arms, peeling the wool coat from me. He passed it to the attendant and wrapped his arms around me from behind. “I might just take you back to my apartment and ditch this party altogether.”
I craned my neck to look at him. “I don’t think that would be a wise move for Lindstrom’s newest VP of marketing.”
His dark blond hair tickled along his forehead as he leaned down and nipped at my neck. “Maybe it would be nice to make a bad decision for once.”
“Link!” A rotund man strode up, his eyes already glassy from too much wine.
Link released me and led me over to him where the men shook hands.
“Is this the Camille I’ve heard so much about?” He took my palm and placed a messy kiss on the back of my hand.
I wanted to wipe it on something. Link grabbed my hand in his and pressed it against his pants leg, scrubbing the saliva without making it obvious.
“Camille, this is Hal Baxter, VP of finance at Lindstrom. Hal, this is the one and only Camille.” The pride in Link’s voice sent heat rushing to my face.
Hal nodded, his chubby face widening into a grin. “Well, she’s a beauty. Teacher, right?”
“Yes.” Link spoke before I could. “She’s at Trenton Prep—about two hours outside the city. The best biology and life sciences teacher they have.”
“Trenton, eh?” Hal took a large gulp of champagne. “One of my nephews goes to school there. Minton Baxter. Do you know him?”
I cringed inwardly. Minton “Mint” Baxter had turned into one of my worst students—he spent more time trying to undermine me than he did learning. I forced a smile. “Yes, he’s in my senior biology class.”
“Go easy on him.” Hal finished the drink in his chubby paw then swiped another from a passing tray. “If he’s anything like his uncle”—he pointed a thumb at himself—“he may need a little after hours instruction. Though they didn’t make teachers like you when I was in school.” He gave me an elevator look as our conversation veered from awkward to unbearable. I wished I was still wearing my coat over the strapless dress.
Link’s grip tightened. “Good to see you, Hal. Enjoy the party.”
We walked away, weaving through the crowd of people drinking and talking. My heels clicked on the marble floor, and I counted my steps to avoid thinking about my mortification. Women pranced by, their designer dresses and breakneck heels reminding me that this wasn’t my scene. But when Link asked me to be his date, I couldn’t turn him down. He’d recently been promoted to VP and wanted to impress his coworkers at the annual Lindstrom gala.