He took her
NOLAN POV
It’s best to say that I have been ignoring Rose since we had sex in the shower.
I know what I said.
I still remember every bit of that moment because her scent keeps taunting me.
We had meaningless sex, and I convinced myself that it didn’t mean anything to me, but deep down, I wanted to be the only man who made her vision blurry.
That kiss meant more.
It was different.
It meant something to me, but I was in a bad place to start exploring new connections because I wasn’t over Ben yet, and it was probably fucked up, but I still loved her, and maybe that’s why I’m glad that she wants nothing to do with my father.
My father’s company rests on my shoulders, but I haven’t had the heart to show my face, especially after how my so-called wedding went down.
I leaned back against the bed and closed my eyes, daydreaming.
Was it too late to go back in time?
If I had gone to the bar, Ben would have met me instead of my father.
Things would have been different for us, and maybe we could have been in love with one another.
It could have opened up doors to a lot of possibilities.
We could have been happy.
But then there was Rose.
Was I only sexually attracted to her?
I slowly opened my eyes and pulled out my phone, hoping that I had heard back from her, even though it was the dumbest idea, but a part of me still clung to a little hope, believing that I would find something from her.
But I was wrong.
She never reached out after I had ghosted her, and that was very strange.
It was unlike her.
It was true that I had only known her for a few days, but something felt off.
I got up and stared at her house from across the window, and the place looked abandoned.
Almost like no one had been there in days.
I tried her number, but it was going straight to voicemail.
I decided to call my favorite uncle.
He was the only person I could trust at the moment.
Luckily, he picked up on the first ring.
“Have you heard from your father? I’ve been trying to get in touch with him, but his phone isn’t going through.”
I frowned.
“Uncle Matteo, I didn’t call to hear about what my dad has been doing; I really need a favor, and it’s really important.”
He muttered something in Italian and
sighed deeply.
“Make it quick, son.”
“I need a background check on Rose Blake.”
He remained silent.
“Is this why you sound worked up?
Because you can’t find a girl?”
I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll need it now.”
Before he could utter a word, I hung up on him.
It wasn’t meant to be rude, but I was just trying to make a statement.
After a minute, I received a folder.
A smile curved my lips as I opened it.
My jaw dropped.
Rose Mariana Blake.
She wasn’t just any girl.
Her daddy just happened to be the vice president.
So why is the vice president’s daughter hooking up with a man she barely knew?
She was just a kid.
Fucking 19.
My mistake was not asking her questions about herself.
She was a college student.
In fact, a law student.
For some reason, I felt intrigued.
There was something about this girl.
I had her college address, so I decided to pay her a visit.
The least she could do was come fucking clean about her identity.
An hour later, I had arrived at the school, and Uncle Matteo took the liberty of sending me her schedule as well.
I already knew where to find her.
Being in the atmosphere of these walls brought back memories of my college days.
I was constantly surrounded by attention-seeking girls who I never found attractive, and it looks like nothing has changed.
After asking around for Rose, I found her in a room with a few other girls.
I was about to call her name, but I stopped and hid.
“So, there’s the evidence?”
My gaze lingered on the blonde who had her arms crossed over her chest.
She was giving off a mean girl vibe.
Rose adjusted her glasses.
“You dared me to hook up with my neighbor…and I did it.”
She pulled out her phone.
My eyes narrowed at the small screen, and I saw a picture of myself sleeping with Rose beside me.
I was shirtless.
The other girls gasped in shock.
“Does that mean that I’m in?” Rose asked curiously.
The blonde remained silent.
She smirked.
“I knew that you were a spoiled princess of your daddy’s money, but I never thought you would actually have the guts to do the dare.”
She offered Rose a bracelet.
“Welcome to the clique sisterhood, Rose…you’re now one of us.”
I stepped away from the door.
She lied.
Everything she said to me was a fucking lie.
She wasn’t my new neighbor.
That pie was just an excuse to get into my house.
“Did you get your consolation prize, neighbor?”
She spun around, shocked.
“Nolan?”
I forced a smile.
“You’re a very good actress, Mariana; you should consider dropping the whole lawyer thing because it doesn’t suit you.”
I walked away.
“Nolan, please let me explain…”
I kept walking, ignoring her pleas until I made it to my car.
When she finally caught up with me, she grabbed my hand.
“I’m sorry that I used you…but I have feelings for you, and I fucking gave you my virginity even when I barely knew you because I felt drawn.”
I sighed deeply.
I felt like I was going through another breakup.
“I just wanted to fit in because it’s fucking college, and I want to have friends.”
I gave her a smile.
“All that time we made love, I never thought of you; I only wanted Ben, so don’t give me that emotional bullshit.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Delete those fucking photos before daddy dearest finds out his only daughter has been playing the slut.”
Her eyes widened in shock.
“Nolan…”
Our eyes locked in a frenzy.
“I didn’t want to lie to you…and when I came to your house, it wasn’t more than just a dare.”
She let go of my hand.
“I like you, Nolan, and I admit I did a shitty job of getting your attention, and I’m sorry for lying to you, but it was the only way to prove that I was more than my dad’s puppet in his political games,” she whispered.
I swallowed hard.
My phone began to ring, and it was my father.
I placed the phone to my ear.
“She’s gone.”
I frowned.
“Ben?”
“She sold her apartment, and her friend mentioned that Ben has been planning to leave the country… I need to check the airport before he leaves… Zane is very dangerous, and he won’t stop until he hurts her.”
I got into my car.
I looked at Rose one last time before driving off, and thirty minutes later, I arrived at the airport, looking around frantically for Ben.
I kept showing people her photo, but no one had seen her.
I decided to go to the reception desk and showed them Ben’s photo.
“Have you seen this woman? She had a flight today.”
Her gaze lingered on my phone, and I saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
“I saw this woman in the morning, but sadly she never boarded her flight, and security stil
l has her luggage.”
I ran my fingers through my hair.
Zane did something to her.
I could feel it in my gut.
“Did a man accompany her somewhere?”
She shook her head.
“She was alone.”
I nodded quietly and asked for Ben’s luggage.
I had to pretend to be her husband.
Once outside, I called back my father.
“He took her.”