SHARING EMMA [18+]

20. Ton of Bricks

|EMMA|

As I sprinted up the stairs, my heart was pounding in my chest. The betrayal cut deep and the realization that Ryker had manipulated me for his own gain hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't believe I fell for his charm and believed his lies.

I slammed the door shut behind me, and the sound echoed through the silent room. My legs gave out and I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in the pillows. Hot tears streamed down my face as I let out a heart-wrenching sob.

The memories of our moments together flashed through my mind, and I wondered if they were all fake, just a facade to manipulate me. Was everything he said and did just a means to an end, to get to his father?

I couldn't bear the thought of it. The pain in my chest was too much to bear, and I felt like my heart was being ripped apart. How could I have been so foolish to trust him?

The knocks on the door grew louder, but I refused to budge. I buried my face in the pillow, hoping to muffle the sound. I could hear faint whispers outside, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to be left alone with my thoughts.

The room was suffocating, and my mind was racing. I tried to calm myself down by taking deep breaths, but my heart was pounding so hard, I could feel it in my ears. The hurt was raw, like a festering wound that refused to heal.

I needed time to process everything and figure out how to deal with this betrayal.

The knocks turned into banging, but I remained stubbornly still, determined to block out the world until I was ready to face it again.

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, I stirred awake, feeling the weight of exhaustion and sadness still heavy on my chest. I reached up to touch my face, and my fingers brushed against the roughness of dried tears. The events of the previous night played in my mind like a movie, the hurt and betrayal still fresh and raw.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how both Ryker and Carlos had been playing me like a chess piece in their twisted game of revenge. It was as if my feelings and emotions didn't matter to them, and all they cared about was getting back at each other. The realization left me feeling angry and powerless.

But as I sat up in bed, I knew I couldn't keep being a part of this. It was time to take control of my own life and stop letting their drama dictate my happiness. I was done being a pawn in their game, and it was time to make my own moves.

With my bags packed and ready to go, I knew it was time to leave. But before I could go, there was one thing I had to do.

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed for breakfast, I headed to the dining area.

As I walked in, I could see Carlos pacing back and forth with a phone pressed to his ear. He was speaking in a language I couldn't understand, but when he noticed me, he quickly moved the phone away from his ear and stared at me for a moment longer than usual.

I could feel his eyes boring into me, and I suddenly became acutely aware of my surroundings. The smell of fresh coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of bacon and eggs.

The wooden floors creaked slightly under my feet as I walked over to the table where Carlos stood. The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on everything in the room.

Ignoring the uneasy feeling that Carlos' prolonged stare had given me, I took a deep breath and decided to focus on the matter at hand. "Carlos," I said, my voice shaking slightly, "I am leaving. But before I go, there's something I need to talk to you about."

I was unsure of what to say, caught between the sincerity in Carlos' eyes and the knowledge that he had used me, or was planning to, just like Ryker. I moistened my lips, trying to gather my courage to do what I came for. "I wanted to talk about our arrangement," I said, my voice quavering slightly.

As soon as the words left my mouth, Carlos' frown deepened, and he pushed his phone deep into his pocket, giving me his full attention. "I'm listening," he said, his tone guarded.

I took a deep breath and closed the distance between us, surprising him with my boldness. Instinctively, he wrapped his strong arms around my waist, looking at me with curiosity and concern.

"Remember when you asked me to become your exclusive?" I began, searching his face for any sign of recognition. "You took it back, thinking that you were too drunk to say that, and because it wouldn't be fair to me."

He nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "I remember. But why are you bringing it up now? What's the point?"

I placed my hands on his chest and leaned in to kiss his jaw, relishing the feeling of his warmth against my lips. Carlos was weak for me, and I had always known it. But I had never considered taking advantage of his vulnerability until now. If Ryker and Carlos could play their games, then so could I. I was determined to make them both kneel before me.

"I want to be your exclusive, Carlos," I said, pulling away from him and looking into his eyes. "And I want it to be a real arrangement, not just something you say when you're drunk and take back the next day."

Carlos' eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he didn't say anything. I knew he was trying to process what I had just said, and I waited patiently for his response.

"Why now?" he asked finally, his expression serious.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I need to know that I can trust you," I said. "After what happened yesterday, I can't just assume that everything between us is real. I need a commitment from you, Carlos. Something that tells me that I'm not just a pawn in your game."

Carlos' grip on me tightened, and I could feel the warmth of his body against mine. "You know I would never hurt you, Emma," he said. "I care about you too much."

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "I know you do," I said. "But I need more than just words. I need something concrete."

Carlos nodded, his expression serious. "Okay," he said. "I understand. We can talk about it more, if that's what you want."

I nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction. I had taken control of the situation, and I knew that Carlos was now fully aware of my expectations. The ball was in his court now, and I was eager to see what he would do with it.

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