"I know you inside and out. I was with you through every major part of your life and mine. Don't do this. I'm ready to grovel or beg or anything." He moved in front of me and put his hands on his hips, glaring down as if it were time for me to stop playing around and be real.
"Where's the pretty blonde you brought with you? The one with her titties hanging out the top of her dress everywhere she goes?"
An elderly couple in front of us looked back with shocked expressions.
"I'm sorry." I gave them an apologetic look and turned back to Jackson. "Go away. I'm done with you."
"Is it because of that big bastard you were with back at the club? He's not your type, Viv. He's not a small town guy like me. He's going to use you and then find another woman to use."
I tried to stop myself from overreacting, but it was too late. Something deep inside of me snapped, and I turned, slapping Jackson hard in the face and yelling, "Leave me alone. Just because I wasn't good enough for you doesn't mean someone else won't love me. I'm lovable goddammit. I'm worthy of a good man."
He jerked back as his cheek turned red. "I'll call you next week. Have a safe flight."
I pressed my hands to my face and let out a soft sob as my tears turned into a full-on crying session in the middle of the lobby. Why did this shit keep happening to me? Was there no rest for the weary?
The worst part was that my tears weren't over Jackson or my ineffectiveness to keep a man beside me, but over the one I was giving up due to my insecurities.
I wanted to run upstairs and promise Easton the world if he would just love me.
The scary thing was that some part of me knew that he already did.
Chapter 22
Easton
I paced the floor until the sun came up. Calling her seemed like the right thing to do, but I'd watched how hard she struggled to leave me. It was a good clean break that set us back to being friends. The ball was in my court now to call her when I got back to New York, or not to call. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do. I'd mulled over it a zillion times before my alarm went off that next morning. She was headed home, but I had a full day of work ahead of me.
Two resorts left to visit and no desire whatsoever to deal with the unruly bitch that ran both of them. She would be up my ass the entire day. And between getting no sleep and having Vivian walk away from the possibility of a future, I wasn't in the mood.
After ironing my suit, I dressed quickly and checked my tie in the mirror before I left the penthouse. Some part of me wanted to run into the beautiful woman who'd stolen my heart, but I knew it was better if I didn't. Hopefully she was on her flight headed back to the comfort of New York. I wished I was.
I grabbed a coffee from the pastry shop downstairs, letting my eyes move across the lobby in search of her. I couldn't help myself.
"Do you need a car this morning, Mr. Parks?" An older valet smiled at me and extended his hand as I walked up. "I'm Tom. Nice to meet you, Sir. Love your work."
"Well, thanks, Tom." I shook his hand and nodded. "I need a ride over to Valencia and then Carrington Hills. I'm going to try to work them both in today."
"Sounds fun." He lifted his eyebrow. "You know they're under new management, right?"
"I do. I've had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Tarrens before." I checked my watch and moved back as the man mumbled something about the woman being a scary witch or bitch. I didn't catch which one, but both would work just as well.
"Here we go, Sir." He walked toward me and motioned for me to take the white Lexus at the front of the line of cars. "Good luck today."
"Thanks. I don't really believe in luck." I walked to the car, pausing only to answer his next remark.
"Fate then?"
I turned and smirked. "Not at all. Fate's an unruly woman that's hell-bent on offering nothing more than a mirage."
"Ouch." He rubbed his chest and smiled. "Let's hope she didn't hear you."
After getting in the car and adjusting the mirrors, I looked into the rear-view mirror at myself and grimaced. "Let's hope she did hear me."
Anger burned through me as I drove over to Valencia. Why would Vivian not even have the courtesy to call and say goodbye? I wasn't worth a fucking goodbye? How selfish of her. She knew I was falling in love with her. I could tell by the way she spoke to me, the way she looked at me. She was falling in love with me too. Was protecting herself worth crushing me?
"I guess so." I pulled up to the beautiful hotel and got out, ignoring the valet and stopping by the front desk as I presented the attendant with a list of people and times. "I'm Easton Parks. I'll be interviewing the following people at the times listed. Show me to the conference room you have set up for me. I take my coffee black."
"Yes, Sir." The young girl's eyes widened and her lip quivered slightly. I'd intimidated her by being a jackass.