"She obviously doesn't want to talk to you. Do I need to call the cops?" my neighbor, Tina, threatens.

"Mind your own business," Sebastian warns.

"When you're waking me up, it is my business," she claims.

Another knock makes me almost jump out of my skin. I hold my hand over my mouth and squeeze my eyes shut as he declares, "Georgia, I love you. Open the door."

My knees give out. I crouch down on the floor, shaking.

He loves me?

No. It's another trick. He wants me to finish the contract so he can become CEO and screw me out of the money.

"In three seconds, I'm calling the police," Tina announces.

Desperation fills Sebastian's voice. He knocks again, only not as rough. His voice is lower, and he asserts, "Whatever I've done, I'll make right. Please, let me in."

More than I've ever wanted anything, I want to open the door and believe him. But I can't. I stay frozen, except for my quivering body, staring at the door, with a puddle of tears forming on the wood floor.

A while passes before I check the peephole. He's finally gone, which only hurts my heart more.

I crawl back into my bed, and my phone lights up.

Sebastian: I love you. Please, talk to me.

More pain rips through me. I wonder how he can be so cruel. And then all my demons come rushing to the surface.

What was it that made me so eager to be his victim?

Is my self-esteem so low that I was okay subjecting myself to him?

Did my loneliness cause me to agree to his contract so I could be around people over the holidays?

The hard questions continue to pop up all night long. I beat myself up until the sun comes up, but there still aren't any answers. And there's only one question I'd do anything to know the answer to but never will.

Did Sebastian have any feelings for me, or was it all one big lie?

I don't get out of bed the entire day. He pounds on my door several times, sends more messages, and attempts to call. I ignore all of it. It's after midnight when l fall asleep.

The next day, I force myself to get out of bed. I turn on the shower and step under the hot water, vowing to never again trust Sebastian Cartwright.

I was wrong about him.

And I'll never make that mistake again.

Twenty-Six

SEBASTIAN

Nothing I do gets Georgia off my mind. Working out doesn't work. Pacing my penthouse doesn't work. I can't eat or sleep, and it doesn't matter how many times I've gone to her house or texted or called her. She won't give me the time of day. She wants nothing to do with me, and it's starting to sink in, making me crazier.