The Tickets He Gave Me Became My Best Friend’s Trip Instead Chapter 03

The Tickets He Gave Me Became My Best Friend’s Trip Instead Chapter 03

I locked my phone and set it face down on the coffee table.

“Just browsing for a few things for the apartment.”

Julian didn’t suspect a thing. He playfully nipped my earlobe.

“Mom has a routine checkup today, and Megan offered to take her. I cleared my schedule, so you have me all day.”

He held out his hand.

“Come on. Let’s finally go try on the engagement dress you’ve been waiting six months to wear.”

An hour later, we arrived at the designer boutique.

The sales associate checked the order, then returned looking uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Mercer, but Ms. Bennett canceled the order yesterday. The cancellation has been processed, and the deposit is nonrefundable.”

Julian swept my hair aside and fastened a diamond necklace around my neck.

“What are you making such a fuss about, Nora? I already bought this necklace to go with the dress.”

“I meant it when I said you’d never have less than anyone else.”

When I showed no reaction, the concern in his eyes hardened into disappointment.

“Nora, I know losing your parents so young left you deeply insecure, always afraid someone will take what’s yours.”

“But Claire is my executive assistant. Her family has connections that matter to the company, and sometimes giving her a little extra consideration is simply part of doing business.”

He brushed his thumb across my cheek.

“You have no family to fall back on. I’m the only one looking out for you.”

“That’s why I need you to be more gracious. Stop acting like a child no one ever taught better and picking fights over basic professional courtesies. It’s exhausting.”

“Go try on the dress. Let’s pretend yesterday never happened.”

He was leaning in to kiss my neck when the boutique door burst open. His assistant rushed inside, out of breath.

“Mr. Mercer, there’s trouble at the site. Several vendors claiming they haven’t been paid are trashing the place, and Claire’s trapped inside.”

Julian bolted for the exit, forgetting that he was still holding the necklace clasp tangled in my hair.

A lock of hair tore free, and the hard edge of the pendant scraped across the back of my neck. I sucked in a sharp breath, my face going pale as pain burned across my skin.

Julian never looked back. He didn’t even notice.

“Start without me. I’ll be back as soon as I handle this.”

The glass door slammed behind him.

In the mirror, a thin line of blood marked my neck, and the necklace hung crooked against my collarbone.

I left the boutique alone and walked into the rain.

At the corner, I stopped beneath an awning and noticed Megan’s white sedan parked along the curb. The passenger window was halfway down, and Mrs. Mercer sat beside her, laughing and speaking with perfect clarity.

“Claire knows how to handle him,” she said. “One call and Julian goes running. At least he won’t waste the entire afternoon watching that silly girl try on dresses.”

“Megan, come over for dinner tonight.”

Megan laughed. “You’re right. Nora may be useful around the house, but she isn’t good enough for Julian anymore. Not at his level.”

They kept talking, unaware that I stood only a few feet away.

Rainwater ran through my hair and stung the scrape on my neck. I was cold and soaked, but for the first time, everything was clear.

When I got home, I removed my wet coat and found a text from Julian waiting on my phone.

[I’ll be late tonight. Find the scrapbook. I’m taking tomorrow off and finally taking you to Williamsburg.]