TRAP (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 15)

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© 2016 by Kelly Favor

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B
rayden Forman has left
the building
, Lanie thought, as she watched him disappear out of the office.

Everyone was stunned, including Brayden’s co-founder, Virgil, who was standing there, hands on his hips, his eyes squinted as if he’d been photographed while staring into the sun on a hot summer’s day.

“I don’t get it,” Virgil whispered. The pained expression on his face was heartbreaking.

He looked like a dog that had been kicked; uncomprehending, wounded, not even knowing what he’d done to deserve any of this.

“It’s over, we shut the servers down,” someone called out.

Virgil’s entire body seemed to collapse in on itself. He put a hand to his face and wiped slowly down.

“I’m so sorry,” Lanie whispered.

He glanced at her. “You close with him these days?”

She swallowed and shrugged. “I—I don’t know.”

“I can’t talk to him but maybe you could. Make sure he’s okay.” Virgil shook his head and went back into his office.

The door slammed to the President’s office. Lanie found herself starting to walk and then she was almost running, out of the main workspace and then down to the first floor, knowing that Brayden would be long gone by now.

She got outside the building and looked around, wondering where he’d gone. Would he take his millions and just go off to some remote island hideaway?

Lanie could picture him lounging on a yacht with exotic women wearing very little clothing, dancing and drinking and waiting for him to choose just one to bring below deck…

And that’s when she saw him.

He was down the street and on his cell phone—so far away she was hardly certain who it was. But she could tell from the way he walked and moved, the silhouette of his body—it
had
to be him.

She began walking toward the figure, knowing that she had to make sure he was okay, just as Virgil had asked her to do, and despite everything Brayden had put her through.

This was a man whose life’s work had just come quickly crashing down around him, and more than anything, Lanie wanted to be there for him as a human being.

When she reached him, Brayden saw her and he muttered into the phone. “I have to go, call you later,” he said. He put his phone away.

“Hey,” she said, standing awkwardly in front of him.

Brayden’s eyes were wary, bloodshot. He looked as though he’d been up for a week straight. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice cool and mistrustful.

“I came to see if you’re okay,” she said, folding her arms and trying to withstand his withering gaze.

“I think I’m pretty fucking clearly not okay. Newsflash, I know,” he said, and then he glanced past her and seemed to look around suspiciously.

“Virgil wanted me to talk to you—“

“Virg sent you?” Brayden snapped. He shook his head. “That guy has some nerve. Our company is down the toilet and he’s still playing big brother.”

“He cares—“

“Cares about me?” Brayden scoffed. “Let me tell you something about Virgil, my ex-President. The only thing that guy cares about is the bottom line. He’s a fucking living breathing ATM, and that’s it. Virgil and me haven’t been close for a long time.”

“You’re upset. Can we go somewhere…and just…”

“And just what?” he said, his eyes pinning her to where she stood.

“I don’t know. Talk.” She licked her lips anxiously. “I want to help.”

He smirked. “It’s over, Lanie.” He laughed and the sound was hollow and cold. “My career in this industry, my reputation, it’s all finished. There’s really nothing to talk about.”

“I don’t care about any of that. I care about you.”

Brayden’s complexion seemed to get paler as he took in her words. “
You
care about me,” he said, almost spitting the words out of his mouth like bad food that he didn’t want to swallow.

“I—yes. I do.” She decided to own it, surprised to realize that it rang true, despite everything that had happened between them. She did care about Brayden.

“Don’t waste your emotion,” he said, his shoulders hunched. He pulled out his phone and glanced at it, his expression pinched.

“You can’t even look at me,” she said.

“
This
is not happening,” he said. He glanced up at her and then back to his phone. “So whatever you’re trying to accomplish here—“

“I’m not trying to accomplish something,” she said, her cheeks growing hot with shame and fury at his dismissive tone. “I’m trying to be a friend.”

“A friend?” he snarled. His eyes were cold. “We’re not friends, Lanie. We fucked. You sucked my cock. That’s not the definition of a friend in my world.”

As he said the harsh words, it was like she’d been punched. Blindsided.

She felt the wind leave her, the breath empty from her lungs. Her eyes filled reflexively with tears and she stumbled backwards.

Turning around, Lanie heard Brayden call after her.

“Lanie,” he said. “Wait, Lanie—“

But she was already crying and it wasn’t just a few little tears, it was a full-on deluge, and she didn’t want to look at his arrogant, cruel face anymore.

Fuck him.

How could he talk to me that way?

It was worse than anything anyone had ever said to her, and she felt the stabbing pain of it in her chest, and her head pounded, her ears rang.

She was sobbing and stumbling when she ran directly into a person in front of her.

“Lanie, are you okay?” the kind, female voice asked.

She blinked through her tears and saw that Frida was there, trying to peer into Lanie’s eyes.

“No, I—I’m not—I just…”

Brayden’s cruel words spun in her mind over and over.

We fucked. You sucked my cock. That’s not the definition of a friend in my world.

“What happened,” Frida said, her voice sounding genuinely concerned now.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Lanie said, and then Frida was guiding her out of the street and around the corner.

Lanie heaved and vomited against the side of the building, her shoulder resting against the cold structure as Frida patted her back and told her it was okay.

She heaved again but nothing more came up.

“Here,” Frida said, handing her a napkin.

“Thanks,” Lanie replied, wiping her mouth and turning away from the mess she’d made. Her stomach lurched but ultimately calmed.

“What happened?” Friday said, her brown eyes soft and soothing.

Lanie shook her head. “Nothing. Just a bad, bad morning.”

“Tell me about it,” the tall, exotic woman said. “That was crazy.”

Sighing, Lanie felt the tears coming again and tried to will them away. “This just sucks. It sucks.”

“Does this have anything to do with Brayden Forman?” Frida asked.

Lanie couldn’t believe that this woman she hardly knew suddenly felt like the only person in the world she could confide in. “You slept with him too, didn’t you?” Lanie asked.

Frida sighed and have her a wry smile. “I told you that at some point, he’d try with you. But I’m guessing it didn’t take him long to make his move. You’re so innocent.”

Lanie crumpled the napkin in her hand. “I was a virgin and Brayden fucked me.”

Frida gasped. “He what? He took your virginity?”

She sniffled and nodded, staring at the crumpled up napkin in her palm. “He promised he wouldn’t ever fuck me—but then he did anyway.”

“Oh, Lanie. Poor, Lanie.” Frida reached out and stroked her hair softly.

“And the truth is, he never cared even a little about me. I thought we were friends, you know? Somehow…even though there was no reason to believe that, I still did.” Lanie felt the tears start again.

“Come here,” Frida told her, and then the taller woman was embracing her, and Lanie let it happen.

It felt good to be held and comforted, if just a little.

When they were done hugging, Frida smiled kindly. “Want to come back to my place for a bit?”

Something about the way she said the words gave Lanie a strange feeling. There was nothing wrong with it, but she suddenly felt as though Frida wanted her. Wanted something from her…maybe even something of a sexual nature.

You’re just being crazy
.

But despite knowing that she must be confused about Frida’s intentions, Lanie still felt a strong aversion to the woman. “I think I just need to go home and get some rest.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Took a deep breath and released it slowly.

“You sure?” Frida asked, shouldering her purse and giving a knowing grin. “I could make you dinner. Maybe someone should take care of you for a change.”

For a change? You don’t even know me
, Lanie thought.

But those were very uncharitable thoughts, given how kind Frida had been to her in her time of need. Much kinder than Brayden had been.

“Maybe some other time,” Lanie told her. “I think I just need sleep and maybe a bath.”

“I have a big tub at my apartment,” Frida laughed. “But okay, I can take a hint. You go rest up. Feel better.”

“Thanks for being so lovely about all of this,” Lanie said.

“We girls have to stick together when it comes to men like Brayden Forman,” Frida told her. “Let me give you my number. Call me if you need me.”

And then the dark haired woman was walking away, her hips swaying, and even now she seemed to be all too conscious of Lanie’s eyes upon her, as though she was trying to seduce her somehow.

Lanie didn’t know if she was just confused and paranoid, or if Frida was as bizarre as she appeared to be.

I can’t believe Brayden slept with her. And me.

And everyone else.

She made a face and then walked on, making her way towards home.

* * *

I
n the end
, Lanie did take a bath. She soaked until her fingers were wrinkled, and she tried not to focus on the end of everything that had seemed so exciting and promising just hours before. When she and Brayden had been so close, he had been inside of her, and it had been more than just lust, more than just a random screw—she had felt it.

There had been real intimacy.

But no.

That clearly had all been in her imagination. Men like Brayden Forman didn’t know what intimacy meant. Everything was about the chase, everything was about getting his rocks off and having his way with a new, fresh piece of meat.

Lanie stood up, feeling the cool air make her skin turn to gooseflesh as she looked at her own naked body.

She traced her fingers down her own skin and thought of Brayden’s touch and how she would never have the chance to feel it again.

The thought made her entire body ache as if she was in physical pain.

How had everything just turned so quickly to dust?

And why had he been so dismissive of her feelings, so blatantly disgusted with her mention of friendship?

Bastard.

He’s a bastard, that’s why he acted so cruelly. You need to stop even thinking about him. Don’t even say his name anymore.

Getting out of the tub, she wrapped a towel around herself and then dried off, slowly, every movement feeling difficult and heavy.

I’m falling into a depression.

What will I do for a job? I probably won’t even get paid for my work at Hookup.

She sighed.

The problems just continued to mount as she thought about the wreck that was her life at the moment.

She grabbed her phone off the sink and saw that she had a missed call and a voicemail from Brayden.

Her eyes widened and her heart felt like it was going to explode.

“Oh my God.”

Immediately, she was feeling one hundred percent better, thinking that he was calling to apologize, wanting to see her, and she was already planning her wardrobe.

A flash of him fitting deep inside her passed through her mind, causing her nipples to reflexively stiffen, her slit to moisten. She pictured his hips thrusting into hers as he filled her so tightly that she cried out.

And then she was checking the message, noticing it was only a few seconds long.

Brayden’s voice came on the line, deep and commanding.

“You had me fooled, Lanie. I guess I should give you credit for a great act.” And then the message abruptly ended.

Her brow furrowed.

Fooled him how? What was he talking about?

Perhaps he’d cracked up and just gone insane from all the pressure of losing his company.

Lanie tried to call him but it went immediately to voicemail, and she didn’t want to leave a message. She tried again and got the same result.

Then she texted him.

Got your message. I have no idea what ur talking about. Call me please!

She stared at her phone, the dampness of her skin and hair drying in the open air as she waited for a reply.

A moment later, came a text from Brayden, but there was no message—just a voice memo file. She felt a surge of anxiety at seeing the file there.

What the hell was going on?

She took a deep breath and tapped the voice memo file and it began playing. The moment it began, she recognized the voice she was hearing, but it was so strange and shocking that her brain couldn’t seem to process it at first.