He Said I Was NOBODY, But Now He’s Begging For My Love Letter Chapter 09

He Said I Was NOBODY, But Now He’s Begging For My Love Letter Chapter 09

“Lila,” Mom said. 

“How are you? Seeing anyone special?” 

She asked every time. I was used to it. 

“Nope.” 

“You’re not getting any younger! Why aren’t you trying?” she 

said. 

“Look at Chloe–she already has kids!” 

I held the phone between my ear and shoulder, sorting 

papers, and I mumbled vague replies. 

But hearing the name of a high school classmate distracted 

1. me. 

My mind flashed back to Elias’s words in the restaurant. 

“You thought sending my old high school classmate would 

get rid of me?” 

“She’s nobody. I could never like her.” 

I thought I’d built up a thick enough wall. 

But the words still made my head spin. 

A dull ache settled in my chest. 

“Lila? Are you listening? You need to find someone,” Mom 

said. 

“Otherwise you’ll just end up with whoever’s left over.” 

I snapped back to the present. 

I pinched my brows together in irritation and made an 

excuse to hung up. 

“Mom, I have to go. My boss needs me.” 

I hung up and set my phone face–down. I stared out the 

window for a long time. 

The sky was gray, like it might rain. 

After the call, I sat at my desk for a while. 

Dating? 

I once thought Elias would be my first and only boyfriend- 

even as a stand–in. 

Even if he only saw me as someone else. 

I thought that was enough. 

When you really like someone, you don’t feel small. You feel 

willing. 

I even imagined a future with him. People are greedy that 

way. 

Before we met, I just wanted one conversation. 

After talking, I wanted a meal together. 

After eating, I wanted to be together. 

When we were together, I wanted forever. 

I’d forgotten one thing. 

A stand–in is always a stand–in. 

I worked late Thursday night. 

When I left the office tower, it was dark. 

Streetlights stretched my shadow long. 

The early summer air was thick and humid. 

I pulled out my phone to book a ride–share. 

Then a car horn honked. 

I looked up. A black Mercedes–Maybach was parked at the 

curb. 

The window rolled down. 

I’d never expected to see him again. 

Elias Voss. 

He wore a white shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms. One 

hand rested on the wheel. 

Streetlight lit up his face, carving out his sharp features 

clearly. 

I could not make out his expression. Only felt his eyes. 

looked darker than before. 

“Get in,” he said. 

Not a question. A command. 

I froze, fingers tightening around my phone. 

“I’m good. I’m already getting a ride.” 

“Lila,” he said. 

My real name. Not Elara. 

My heart skipped. 

“Get in,” he repeated, but softer than before. 

“I need to talk to you.”