The Billionaire’s Over 40 Love

Chapter 10

Cal was having a hard time sorting through the emotions of the last hour. He’d won an award and had wanted to celebrate with Faydra, but instead, the hustle and bustle of the night meant that somehow Sophia ended up all over him while she tried to sweet talk potential customers.

He’d erupted at her, having to defend his feelings for Faydra. Which he didn’t want to do but felt like he had to after everything Sophia had said. And then, strangely enough, Faydra had found him and pulled him into a classroom where she confessed that she’d heard everything and was so turned on that she wanted to have s*x with him. Right then. In the classroom.

“Keep going, I’m fine. Say what you need to say,” he stated.

“The money thing was a big issue for me, from the moment we met when you spent over a thousand dollars on Ruby. Honestly, it kind of turned me off, I’m not used to that kind of spending and my ex used to spend a lot of money on me while he was cheating. Now, I know now that I was projecting my leftover feelings from that onto you and that wasn’t fair. But that was also why I was on edge when you mentioned sushi and town cars and this necklace.” She reached up and touched the three diamonds. “It wasn’t right of me, I know you were just trying to show me that you cared.”

“I was—but that’s why I sent the cupcakes, because I also didn’t understand until later what spending like that meant to you. I should have paid more attention at first, that was my fault. I don’t think you need my money ever, but I want to know that you can have nice things and let me give you a gift every now and then. But that can be it if you want. Sophia needed things when we were together. All the time; this purse, this car, this fancy dinner, and I didn’t know how to get away from that, it’s been so long since then.”

The room felt hot, so Calvin took off his jacket and loosened his tie. Faydra bit her lip but while he did so but kept talking.

“I know. And the cupcakes were perfect. And I’m sorry about the Sophia thing and not trusting you. I didn’t even take the time to just ask you about it. Instead, I made assumptions and let my mind wander, again equating you to my ex and thinking of you as some master manipulator. But I heard you tonight and I know the truth. And frankly, I’m sorry you have to put up with that awful woman as much as you do. Because I dealt with it for three days and that was enough for me.”

Cal laughed.

“That was my fault too though. I should have been honest. Instead, I thought it would cause trouble to bring it up so I just ignored it, which I shouldn’t have done. But I hope it’s handled now. Hopefully when we go back out there we can show her that she didn’t ruin us like she’d liked to.”

“Exactly. Yes.” The grin on her face started to grow.

“What?”

“That’s it, right? That’s everything—out in the open?”

“I think so?”

“Good.” She moved from the table to the door where she flipped the lock on the door handle. Calvin’s heartbeat quickened. She walked back to the table and used her arms to lift herself up and scoot back so that she fit squarely on the surface.

“That was so good,” she said, coming up next to him and straightening her hair in the mirror he was using. He watched her primp and reapply the wine-colored lipstick she’d chosen.