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CHAPTER ONE

Thethe hotel I woke, bleary eyed and exhausted, to the sound ofin my purse When I'd finally found ht and in spite of everything that had happened, I'd passed out almost instantly A quick look at the clock told me I'd overslept

I slippedstopped

12 missed calls

I didn't even have to look at the caller ID There was only one person who had any reason to ring that uely surprised that Sebastian was so frantic I'd figured that since the game was up, he'd admit defeat and take the opportunity to slink away quietly, but for so it out

A night's sleep had done little to teht that perhaps I'd overreacted, that I should have given him a chance to explain, butin ns before and I'd turned a blind eye I wouldn't fall into that trap again

The phone started ringing again before I evenit to silent, I shoved it into h he'd eventually get theout the door, I felt it vibrating against ain, three minutes later, in the taxi Twelve calls became twenty

There was only so much I could take

"What?" I said, answering gruffly

"Sophia, thank god I've been calling all "

"Really? I hadn't noticed"

"I didn't knohat else to do What the hell happened to you? Why did you run off?" He sounded breathless and there was a faint crack running through his voice that I'd never heard before

"What do you care? You got what you wanted And judging by that text e, you don't need me anymore"

"Text h my phone?"

"I wasn't I got up to get a drink and it went off behind ot aith it"

"Listen, it's not what you think—"

"Save it Look, Sebastian, this whole thing was a in with I need you to stop calling This isup the line all day" It was a lie, but a believable one

"Please, if you just let me come and see you for five minutes I can explain" If I didn't know better I'd have said he alh the phone I could feel hiain was al But I closed my eyes and steeled myself

"So you can sweet talkto your lies Say hi to her for me"

"But, Sophia—"

"Goodbye"

I mashed the end call button withback again, but the phone remained silent