The Secret Billionaire

Chapter 18

ERIS

"This is crazy. That means he's been lying to me this whole time, and he wouldn't do that,"
"Look, maybe he had a good reason to. Talk to him first before we jump to conclusions."
"He's already getting ready to go out. Stacy, what if he is like Darius? What if Nathan is lying to me to trap me in just like him?!" I whispered/yelled, hoping he couldn't hear this conversation.
"Don't panic. I've met him, and he is nothing like him. Talk to him first. Call me if you need anything, okay? I'll be on standby,"
"Okay,"
I hung up as soon as she said bye. I moved in with him, and he was lying to me this whole time. He made me believe I was safe with him. I don't know what to think anymore. Stacy's right. I should talk to him first before jumping the gun.
A phone started ringing, and I quickly realized it wasn't mine. Nathan had left his phone in the living room. It vibrated on the table until whoever was calling hung up.
Was all he said to me a lie? Were his feelings for me ever genuine? His phone began to ring again, and I glanced at the hallway. Nothing. I could still hear the shower running. The phone stopped and quickly started ringing again.
Should I answer it? If they keep calling, it must be important. I picked it up and slid my finger across the screen.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Nathaniel? Why haven't you answered my calls?" A rough voice answered the phone.
"I'm sorry he isn't here right now. Can I take a message for him?"
"Who are you?"
What was I even doing? I'm not a good liar. He will never believe me.
"I'm a new assistant in training,"
"Answering his personal phone calls?"
Shit, see, I told you I wasn't good at this.
"He left it here by accident,"
I slapped my forehead. Can I be any worse than that?
"Sure, okay, fine. Just tell him to call me back. It's about one of the deals. We need to know when we can demolish the building so we can start working on the new project,"
"For what building is this?"
I kept looking back at the hallway, ensuring Nathan wasn't coming.
"It's for.." I heard the shuffling in the background. "The Hudson building. Just tell him to call me back asap. Thank you,"
The line went dead. I looked down at the phone in disbelief. The Hudson building was my old apartment complex. It was sold to his company. He knew that when we went to go move out my belongings. Is that why he was acting weird the entire time we were there?
"Did I get a phone call?" I looked up and saw Nathan drying his hair with a towel. "What's wrong?" He stepped closer, and I raised my hand.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Nathan Rylan. I told you this already," He looked at me, confused.
"Your full name. Your real name," I repeated myself. He didn't say anything, and I scoffed. "Nathaniel Rylan," I laughed.
His facial expression changed, and he sighed. "You know,"
"You lied to me," I placed his phone down and shook my head. "This whole fucking time, you have been lying to me,"
"Eris, let me explain," He walked to me, and I stepped back.
"No! You lied bout everything!"
"Not everything,"
"Oh yeah? How is your grumpy old boss? Hmm? How does it feel to be an assistant to him?" He ran his hand through his hair and threw the towel on the couch.
"I'm sorry for not telling you who I am."
"Was this some kind of test? To see if I'm a gold-digger? Is this what rich people do? Look for the most desperate person and promise them a different life so we can fall onto your lap. Do you want me to get on my knees and beg? Is that what you want?"
He shook his head, "It was nice meeting someone who didn't know who I really was. I didn't want to ruin it,"
"So I was your scapegoat? Were you going use me until you got bored and moved on?" I was hysterical. Tears were streaming down my face, and I wanted to leave. "I can't trust you,"
"The Hudson building," I stated, and he looked away. "You didn't say anything while we were there,"
"The deal went through before I knew that's where you lived. That's what I've been trying to fix these past couple of days," He turned back to look at me, and I scoffed.
"It's not about the stupid building anymore, Nathan. It's the fact that you lied to me about it,"
"I couldn't tell you about it because then it would reveal everything else,"
"Would that have been the worst thing in the world?" I wiped the tears off my face. "You got me at my most vulnerable and trapped me," I laughed. "Bait and trap,"
"Eris, it isn't like that, I swear,"
"Then how?! You had so many opportunities to tell me. I never care about your money or your title. I confessed my feelings for you, and you still went along with it," I said to him. He stared at me and didn't say a single word. I can't stand being here anymore. I shook my head and grabbed my phone.
"I'm moving out. Thank you for all the help. I don't want to be in your way,"
I texted Stacy to meet me in the front.
"Eris, I didn't want to lie to you. I didn't mean to hurt you,"
"You probably did, or you probably didn't. I don't know. I can't trust you anymore,"
I grabbed my purse and phone and turned to look at him.
"Text me when you're out for a business trip. I'll get my stuff when you're gone," I made my way to the elevator, and I heard shuffling behind me.
"Eris, I love you!" I stopped and closed my eyes. "I fell in love with you and wanted to tell you tonight. I'm sorry for lying, but please, let's talk this out,"
I turned to look at him, tears in my eyes and shook my head.
"Goodbye, Nathan," I walked into the elevator and turned around to meet his eyes just as the doors closed.
"Eris," He begged.
I walked by everybody in the lounge and went straight to Stacy's car outside.
"Where do you want to go?" She asked as soon I stepped in.
"Anywhere but here," I looked out the window as she drove away from the building.