Chapter 4

JAYDA

Jayda woke up slightly tired. She blushed and buried her face deeper into the pillow as soon as she remembered last night’s events. She was also very sore but in a good way. Lilian was going to be so proud of her when Jayda told her she’d finally gotten the good lay Lilian was always urging her to find.

The space beside her was empty, and she sat up with the duvet wrapped around her curvy body. Sebastian stood next to the bed, his back to her as he dressed. She could tell he just had a shower because of how his hair looked.

Jayda ran her fingers through her own messy hair before she spoke. “Good morning.”

No reply.

Maybe he didn’t hear her.

“Good morning, Sebastian,” she said again. This time around Sebastian took a glance at her, said nothing, then turned his attention back to buttoning his shirt. He did not attempt to reply to her greetings.

His expression was stern. Distant. Nothing like the passionate lover who’d taken her to bed last night.

This man had turned back into a stranger.

“Aren’t you the one I’m talking to?” Jayda said. She was starting to get irritated. The slight headache she woke up with started turning into something more.

Sebastian didn’t respond. He reached for his Rolex on the nightstand, put it on, and reached for his wallet in his back pocket.

Jayda’s heart fell when she saw him counting out some cash. Was he going to leave her money? What did he take her for?

Sebastian placed the money on the nightstand. “This is for your cab ride home. Make sure you’re out of here in an hour, or they’ll kick you out.”

Tears welled up in Jayda’s eyes. She tried her best not to let them fall, but she failed. Never had she felt so used. Sebastian was acting the opposite of how he was yesterday.

Last night it was lovemaking, but now he was tossing her money like she couldn’t pay her own way. He had no idea who she was. Money was the least of Jayda’s problems. She didn’t need his money—or him!

She threw the pillows on the bed at him. “You’re nothing but an evil bastard!”

Her tears kept falling.

“Watch your language, woman. Nobody talks to me that way,” Sebastian said through gritted teeth.

“You’re so impossible, so heartless, so cruel, I can’t believe I gave myself to you. The man I was with last night was different from this manipulative bastard I’m looking at. You’re the worst person I’ve ever met, and I hope you rot in hell, you bastard.”

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian’s face was red with anger. She’d crossed a line, and his rage was flaring. “If you call me that again, you’ll regret it.”

“Do you think you can intimidate me with the money you have? You’re just a spoiled brat whose parents gave him everything on a platter of gold. You’re a sadist, you have no human feeling, and I hope you rot in hell because people like you are not meant to be seen among humans. You’re totally sick,” Jayda hissed.

Sebastian fumed, furious that she dared speak to him that way. He shoved aside his memories of the night before. How different being with her had felt. He wasn’t going to let her talk to him that way.

“You’re the one who’s sick,” he snapped. “I gave you the night of your life. What is it? You want more money?”

He grabbed his wallet and showered another handful of cash onto the bed. “You’re just like all the rest of them.”

“Not everything is about money, you dumbass!” Jayda cried.

JAYDA

This was the man she’d given her virginity to! Last night, he’d been sweet, passionate, and considerate. He’d treated her like she was precious, but now he was acting like she was dirt.

“I don’t want your money, just take it away and get out of here!” she shouted.

Sebastian’s lip curled. “Are you sure you don’t need the money? Isn’t that what all women want, when it comes right down to it?”

“I’m not all women,” Jayda spat.

How dare he! More tears burned her eyes as she fought to untangle herself from the duvet. She didn’t even care that she was still naked as she got out of bed and crossed to Sebastian. Her hand flew out to strike him across the cheek.

“You’re so full of yourself. You have no idea how much I hate you. Get out of here, and don’t forget to take your stupid money with you.” Jayda headed for the bathroom.

The ache and soreness between her thighs that had been a wonderful reminder of last night’s shared passion now only felt like shame. She wasn’t going to let herself be embarrassed by this. She hadn’t done anything wrong except trust that arrogant bastard in front of her.

Jayda had never been a violent person, but the pain and hurt she was feeling now made her act without even thinking. Grabbing one of her shoes from the floor by the bathroom door, she threw it as hard as she could.

The shoe hit Sebastian in the head before he could duck out of the way. Then, she stepped into the bathroom and locked the door.

SEBASTIAN

The shoe had hit him hard enough to leave a welt. With his hand on his forehead, Sebastian collapsed on the edge of the bed and tried to massage the place the heel hit him. No blood was gushing out, but he could feel a bump.

“This woman! What the hell have I gotten myself into?” Sebastian cried in pain.

He must’ve been out of his mind last night. No matter what he’d thought about Jayda then, women were all the same. Good enough for one night, but nothing more than that. All they ever wanted was his money.

So why had she rejected it? He’d given her twice the amount he usually did and far more than she’d need for a car ride. Why hadn’t she taken it? The only other times a woman had left without happily accepting his money was when he woke to find she’d stolen his watch and emptied his wallet.

From inside the bathroom came a muffled sob. He stood but stopped himself from knocking. Last night he’d been under some kind of spell, coming down with a flu, or some other reason why she’d made him feel so much.

The moment he’d woken next to her, he’d known he had to get out of this hotel room before she could get to him again. He didn’t have room in his life for romance.

Love did not exist.

He’d never again allow himself to lose everything because of a woman.

At the sound of another low cry, Sebastian went to the bathroom door. Once again, he almost raised his fist to knock but changed his mind. He picked up his suit jacket and got the hell out of there.

He left the money behind.