Billionaire Romance: Darque Shadows (A Darque Billionaire Romance Book 3) by Diana Steele Page B

know how to say this,” Bradley said, folding his arms at a table in a restaurant neither of them really liked. They ordered an awful dinner. They both knew something big was happening. The whole evening felt like shit and the air itself seemed tainted.
    “Just say it.”
    Bradley stalled, trying to think of some creative or generous way to speak the ugly truth. “I think that we’ve been…growing apart.”
    “What do you mean? Why?”
    “I think that our lives have taken different paths. You’ve become more…I don’t know. Just too unhappy. And I can’t live with your spirit of constant anxiety and depression.”
    “What…but…”
    “I think we should see other people.”
    “But…I love you.”
    “No, I don’t think you do. And I just think you’d be happier with someone else.”
    “But I don’t want anyone else.”
    “And I would be happier too,” he said, trying his best to be compassionate and yet not too charming, which might send a mixed signal.
    “Wait…are you saying there’s someone else?”
    “I’m not saying that. I mean…there might be people that uh…well…”
    “Oh my God,” Bella said, already tearing up, wondering how much of her life was wasted on this mistake. “And that’s how you tell me?”
    “You know this has been where it was all going,” he said, raising his voice and tightening his brow. “Maybe you were in denial but I sure wasn’t. I warned you. I told you that sexually we weren’t compatible.”
    “I said I would learn…”
    “And I kept warning you about being unhealthy, didn’t I?”
    “Unhealthy? You mean fat?”
    “I said unhealthy,” he said, holding his chin up.
    “So you’re just dumping the fat girl who you got bored of fucking? Because you’re already with someone else. Is that what you’re actually saying, Bradley? It’s pathetic that I have to say it for you.”
    “Nice, Bella,” Bradley laughed. “Keep up that charming air about you. You’ll find another man in no time.”
     
     
    The breakup was awful. Bradley even tried to be ‘friends,’ proving himself capable of something, as if to prove that he did nothing wrong. For months, he didn’t even admit that he was sleeping with someone else. He played dumb, trying to make Bella feel guilty. All he really wanted was for people to feel sorry for him. Hey, it got him laid or least got him laid with a naïve college student who just wanted to make people happy.
    Somehow, mistakes of the past were coming to mind a lot lately, as she considered Darque her second official breakup. At least she could take some satisfaction knowing that she dumped him this time. Although the world would never believe her.
    Just as she started cleaning out her desk, she received an ‘emergency’ email.
     
     
    Congratulations! The Haschell Public Relations Firm has decided to bring you aboard as a new permanent member. Next week will be your first official paid week for the firm, which will be an ongoing position. This decision is in light of your progress and the hard work you’ve put forth to help expand our horizons.
     
     
    She flinched away the idea. Permanent hire? Already? It had to be Bastien playing games. Maybe this was his way of ensuring that Bella didn’t disappear. Was he really that paranoid about the story leaking?
    Or could it be that he just wanted her to stay connected to his life? Something like “like” or at least addiction. He was addicted to her. He couldn’t stand to lose her. Was this naïve, Bella thought, to think that a man like Bastien could ‘need’ anybody?
    Well, he did say I was beautiful. And that most girls he went out with weren’t beautiful…
    She shook away her developing smile. So, fine. I’ll stay. But that doesn’t mean I’ll go back to being his whore.
    She left the building, eager to get away from the stressful environment and take a breather at home. But before she cleared the building, Bastien had ambushed her at the side.
    “Did you get the