Perfect Bastard (by Mary D. Sant) novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15: No Way Out

ELLIE

“What? You

don’t live

here! I

live

here.”

“You live

here?

“Yes, right

there. I

pointed

to the

door

at the end of

the hallway,

against

the

side wall.

So

we’re neighbors?”

“No! You

can’t be

my

neighbor.

what Tell me

you’re doing

here.” I demanded.

already told you. I just

in.” moved

“No! You

don’t

live here! You can’t.”

“My

things

on are still

the

way, but I’ve

already

rented

the

apartment.”

“You’re

“No.”

kidding?”

“You have

to

be.”

“No, Ellie.”

No!

way There was no

this could be happening. It had

a misunderstanding.

It must be a mistake.”

‘I don’t think so,” he said, lifting the apartment keys in

his hand, shaking

No! No!

and

now

No! Todd

my fucking

couldn’t be my

rented ex had

calm my breathing, new neighbor. I tried to

of it?

nightmare What kind

almost feeling short of breath. The

damn

apartment had

just been

vacated,

was

this?

I

squeezed

my eyes shut.

This

must be

pinched my arm, feeling the a nightmare. I

and sharp pain,

then opened eye.

one

No!

Damn it. He

was

still there.

“What are

you doing?” he

asked, confused.

“Nothing. Just checking if

I’m

awake.”

“Is having me as your neighbor really

“Are

you

seriously asking

“This

could

be

an

me that?”

opportunity.”

Opportunity?

that bad?”

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Chapter 15: No Way Out

“Excuse me.” I started walking toward my apartment.

I didn’t want to hear anything from him. I didn’t want to see him. I wanted him to

“Ellie…” he began, grabbing my arm as I walked past him.

“Don’t touch me,” I said through clenched teeth, pulling

my

arm

away.

“You still hate me, don’t you?”

disappear and never show up again, just like he had before.

“No. I don’t hate you. I can’t hate someone I’ve already forgotten.”

I never wished so hard for something to be true.

“Well, at least one of us managed to do that, huh?”

Son of a bitch. How dare he say that? I wasn’t going to stand there and listen to him spew a bunch of lies.

“Goodbye, Todd. I turned my back on him and kept walking until I reached

“We should talk, El.”

my door.

“Don’t call me that,” I growled, staring at the door as I fumbled with the key, feeling my blood boil.

“What are you doing tonight? We could…”

“I can’t, I have plans,” I said just as I finally managed to turn the key.

I stepped inside, slammed the door, and locked it from the inside. Leaning against it, I slid down until I was sitting on the floor, feeling like I wasn’t safe even in my own home.

Todd brought all those feelings of abandonment rushing back, and seeing him was enough to make my chest ache. As if he had ripped a piece of

out.

my heart

Why did it still hurt so much? All the questions came flooding back when I saw him, consuming my mind.

Why did he leave me? Did he ever like me even a little? Why was I so stupid not to see that he was just a jerk? Why wasn’t I enough for him?

Why did a part of me still like him even after everything? I didn’t want him back, I hated him, but why did my stupid heart still have some hope?

Calm down, Ellie, it’s just your neurotransmitters at work. Damn it! Todd Lockhart was my new neighbor, and I was going to have to deal with it. Which meant pretending he didn’t exist and ignoring the fact that he shared a wall with me.

Wasn’t having a date with that idiot Morgan enough? My energy was clashing with the universe’s energy and triggering these events.

Ge with the flow, Ellie, not against it. I took a deep breath. Everything was going to be fine. I was going to get rid of Ethan tonight. And then I’d figure out how to get rid of Todd.

I sent a message to Ethan, letting him know to pick me up at eight. All of this felt so strange. I never imagined I’d why you’re doing this, Ellie. Resist and get rid of him.

end

up going out with him. Remember

111

O

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Chapter 15: No Way Out

All I wanted was to call Anna and tell her everything. But Ethan wanted to keep this between us. And it seemed like the most appropriate thing to do to avoid jeopardizing his work. On the other hand, Anna was my best friend, she would keep it a secret.

I stared at her name on the phone screen before dialing.

“Hi! No! You’re going to end up getting the furniture all dirty!” she yelled at someone on the other end of the line. “Can you believe Will wants to change the wall colors? He says we need warmer tones.”

“I think you two are already hot enough to set that apartment on fire.”

She laughed.

“How are you? Is everything okay? Want to come over for lunch?” I took a deep breath.

“No, I’m not okay. I need to tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, including Will.”

N

“Alright. Keeping a secret from my best friend probably doesn’t violate the terms of the marriage contract.”

“Are you sitting down?”

I heard the sound of her moving.

“Now I am.”

“I have a date with Morgan tonight, and I just found out that Todd moved into the apartment next door. Yes, my asshole ex is my new neighbor. Tell me how not to freak out?”

“What? Why the hell would he move right next to you?”

“Apparently, he didn’t know I lived here.”

This is crazy! Do you really think he’s not stalking you?”

“He seemed as surprised as I was when he saw me.”

“This is unbelievable. You need to find a way to get rid of him. It could be dangerous to have him around.”

“Are you implying we could have a relapse? Not in a million years.”

‘Ellie, it’s me, your best friend. I know you still feel something for him.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to let him get close. That will never happen again.”

“I really hope so. You know, I thought I heard you say you have a date with Ethan, but I must be hearing things.”

Leally wish you were hearing things.”

“Oh my God! You’re going out with him? How did that happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, I guess last night I ended up agreeing to some stupid bet to get rid of him.”

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Chapter 15: No Way Out

“That

doesn’t make

are going

you sense. How any

to get

rid

of him

by

going

On

“He said

if we went out and nothing happened, he’d leave

“You know

that’s not going to

work.

right?”

*

Thanks for

being a great

friend

and supporting

1. me.

me alone.”

“You’re being

naïve

if you

think he doesn’t

have

some plan

behind

this.”

‘I have a plan

too: resist him.”

0

date?”

49

drives you

crazy just

*Sure, that’s

going to be easy because

we’re not talking

about

the guy

by existing.

-six, who’s nearly six–foot- super ripped, with a model’s face, who

“You’re not

I called because helping, Anna.

I needed my

best friend

to

tell me

that

everything is

s going to turn out

fine.”

fine “If by you mean

wild

sex, then

yes, Yes, I

think

very that’s going to end

‘I’m

hanging up.”

Answer me

me honestly. Did

you agree

because this to

you really

want to

rid get

of

him,

OF

because

there’s

a

small

part of

you that wanted

this?”

Are

you joking?”

“I just want

you to think about

it.”

I’m hanging up because

you’re

doing the

exact opposite

of helping

1. me.

“Stop trying to lie

to yourself, Ellie. Enjoy this.”

Yes, I’ll

enjoy my peace once I

get rid

of him.”

“Have

you thought about

just

indulging in that body and

then getting rid of him?”

“I

think you’re spending too

much time with Zoe.”

She

laughed.

“Alright.

What else

do you

need from

me?”

‘I think you’ve done enough.”

*So,

your plan

to

go out

with that hottie and do

nothing?”

Exactly.”

‘Good luck with

that.”

‘Do

you

think wearing something

ugly would help make him give up?”

“2

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“I think even if you wore a burqa, it wouldn’t make a difference. Wear your sexiest dress and lingerie and show him what he’s never going to have; that should also help you feel more confident. Have you taken a good look at him? You’ll need it, trust me.”

“Don’t you think that would just provoke him?”

“He’s going to do that anyway.”

“You’re right. Thanks.”

“Try to have fun, at least, okay?”

“Sure, it’ll be so much fun holding myself back from killing him.”

“Bye, El, and enjoy the sex.

“Very funny. I hung up.

Calling her was a terrible idea. If she really thought I agreed to this because I had some interest beyond getting rid of him, she was crazy.

I spent two hours standing in front of my closet, trying to decide what to wear. I decided to follow Anna’s advice. She was right about needing something extra to give me confidence.

I started searching for the lingerie that Zoe had given me as a gift; it would make me feel powerful underneath my clothes. And maybe a black dress, since 1 didn’t know where we were going. A black dress always fits any occasion.

I found the lingerie in the drawer and grabbed the hanger with a black dress that reached mid–thigh, with long sleeves and a square neckline. It was tight but still elegant.

I looked at the black overcoat and picked it up. Mr. Morgan didn’t need to see anything; it was enough that I felt sexy and beautiful enough to walk all over him. I laughed to myself.

At eight, I got a message from him, letting me know he was waiting for me in front of my building. Extremely punctual, Mr. Morgan.

I felt a little nervous as I headed downstairs, not entirely sure why. It was just Morgan; I had dealt with him plenty of times before. You’ve got this, Ellie. Ge through it unscathed and be rid of him, it’s simple.

I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the building. My eyes found him, leaning against the car with his hands in his pockets, distracted by something on

the street.

He was wearing black jeans and a black turtleneck sweater. He looked… Damn. He looked incredibly irresistible and completely sexy. I wanted to turn aroun and run. Agreeing to this was really a bad idea.