Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Frank?” It’s a stupid question. It’s obviously him. He looks more tired than I remember. A little older. His suit is a little rumpled and his tie a little crooked.
“Rosey!” His eyes are full of relief, but all I feel is heavy. Is he here to bring me back? Can he force me? Is my mom behind all this?
I glance around to see if anyone’s spotted him. I’m sure non-employees shouldn’t be wandering around this place. He probably shouldn’t even be on Colorado Club land. I don’t know how he managed to end up here, but he’s going to get us both into a ton of trouble.
“What are you doing here?” My jaw is tight and my fists are clenched. I’m ready to fight for my freedom. I don’t want to go back with him.
“I got the ring,” he says, as if that answers my question.
I hurry past him. “Come with me.” When we get to reception, I keep my head down and hurry out of the front entrance. We’ve been told we’re not allowed to use this entrance once the Club has opened. But right now, it’s my quickest route to get Frank the hell out of here. Not to mention, I need some air.
I lead him around to the side of the main building, toward the pathway that leads to staff housing. There are strictly no visitors allowed. The security risks have been drilled into us. Thankfully, the shuttle bus that takes staff to and from town pulls up in front of the staff block as we arrive.
“Come on,” I say to Frank. “Let’s get on this bus and head into town.”
We let passengers get off. I get a few odd looks, but I just smile like everything is peachy, and try not to let it show that I’m in the middle of a mild panic attack because my ex-fiancé has turned up on my doorstep after I jilted him at the altar.
I usher Frank onto the bus and take a seat toward the back so the driver can’t hear us.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. “How did you even get up here?”
“On this bus. I think they thought I’d come for an interview.” He chuckles. “It’s a nice place. Maybe I should get a job here.”
I roll my eyes. Frank has his own successful business back in Oregon. He’s not about to come and work at the Colorado Club. I just want a straight answer from him.
“I’m glad you got the ring,” I say, trying to get him back on topic. “And I’m really sorry about everything that happened. I should have—” I don’t want to hurt his feelings, so I don’t tell him I should never have accepted his proposal. “I should have spoken to you rather than just running off.”
His face darkens. “Yeah. It was a shock. I thought we were happy.”
I sigh. I never gave him any reason to doubt me. “I’m very sorry. You’re a really great guy.”
He pulls in a breath. “Yeah, your mom said she thought you’d realize you’d made a mistake. She said you’d be too prideful to come back.” He searches my face, waiting for me to confirm what my mom has said—what he’s clearly hoping is true.
I glance at the bus driver. I really don’t want to be having this conversation here. Or anywhere, ever. But I owe it to Frank. “I’m sorry, Frank. I regret hurting you. I really do. You’ve been nothing but kind to me. But I don’t regret my decision.”
He looks bewildered. Like he expected to waltz into the Colorado Club, sweep me off my feet, and take me home to Oregon. Like he thought I’d just been waiting for him to come and rescue me. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I try and block out the view from the bus. I don’t want Frank to exist in Colorado in my mind—not even the memory of him against the backdrop of pine trees. This place is freedom to me, and I don’t want anything changing that. “I’m sorry if that’s why you came here,” I say. “I sent back the ring because I should have never accepted it in the first place. I’m sorry if you interpreted that as me reaching out to you.”
He presses his lips together, like he’s trying to hold back from saying something. I’m not sure I want to hear it. It feels like a dark cloud has passed over the brilliant blue sky. A sense of dread gathers in my stomach.
“Did my mom say it was a good idea to come and visit?” I hold my breath, waiting for his response.
“When I told her you sent back the ring, she said it was your way of apologizing.”
I don’t think I’ve ever hated my mother more than I do in this moment. Looking back, it’s easy to see how she manipulated and controlled me and my sisters. I just feel like a fool for not seeing it. For not breaking free sooner. It only occurs to me now that she didn’t restrict her appalling behavior to her daughters. She’ll do anything to get what she wants. Frank didn’t deserve to be rejected by me a first time, let alone a second.