Conceited Concierge: A Hero Club Novel by Renea Porter (little readers txt) 📕

“Rylee, we can get past this.”

I made it to my room but turned to Levi. “I need some space.”

“All right. We can talk tomorrow.”

Slamming my door, tears stained my cheeks as I slid down to the floor, burying my head in my lap. How could I be so stupid? Grabbing my laptop, I emailed a coworker of mine and asked her to come help me finish the hotel so it would be done quicker. I offered her my room.

She said she would get the next flight out. I emailed her all the details. There was only a few more weeks before our job would be complete. I typed up a note to Sheryl and Bud, explaining I had a coworker, coming out to help me finish the project. And that I would be staying in town indefinitely.

Locating my suitcase, I quickly piled everything I could fit inside. The quicker I could get out of here, the better. My tears wouldn’t stop, and my heart wouldn’t stop beating so fast. Opening my door and looking out into the hall, I made sure it was clear before I pulled my suitcase behind me as I made my getaway.

It was late but the time I got to town, and it looked like everything was closed down for the night, so I slept in my car until morning.

Chapter Twenty-Three

LEVI

“Good morning,” I called through Rylee’s door, knocking.

“Good morning,” a pretty blonde answered.

“You’re not Rylee.” I scratched my head, and made sure I was at the right room.

“She left last night. I came to help finish the job.”

I whipped my head back. “What do you mean she left? Where did she go?” I felt panicked as my heart quickened.

“I don’t know. I think she went into town to get a place away from here. She should be here this afternoon.”

“Thanks.”

The woman closed the door, and I punched the wall. “Fuck!”

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I tried calling Rylee, only to be forwarded to her voicemail. “Rylee, it’s Levi. Call me ASAP.”

Next, I dialed Aubrey’s number. “Hi, Levi.”

“Hey. Have you talked to Rylee?”

“I haven’t. Why?”

“Don’t lie to me, Aubrey.”

“What the hell happened after you two left last night?”

“Well, she said we should drive to Vegas and get married. I had to tell her I was still married.”

“I knew this was gonna backfire, Levi. I knew it. You should have told her in the beginning.”

“Well, there’s no time to sit and lecture me, Aubrey.”

“Honestly, I haven’t heard from her. But my guess is, you better find a way to make this up to her before you lose her for good.”

“I gotta go. Talk to you later.”

Fuck. I still had a job to do today. There was no way I could miss, unless I quit. It wasn’t like I didn’t have the money to live off. Because I got a sizeable sum when my dad died; he left us an inheritance we couldn’t touch until we turned twenty-five. I was able to get into that account. I needed to find Rylee. I needed another chance. But this was my third strike and I was out.

Out of her life.

I did not like the sound of that.

I headed down to start my day. Slapping a smile on my face to help the guests was nearly impossible. I fucked up so royally. Why did I ask her in the first place without even checking with my lawyer first? I could kick myself. Then I saw her and my breath hitched.

“Rylee.”

“Go away, Levi. We are done. I’m done being toyed with. Just go. I have a job to complete.”

“Please, Rylee. Please forgive me. I promise I will get this straightened out.”

“Handle your business, Levi. I need time.”

“Okay. I can give you that.”

The look on her face, seeing the pain I caused, it broke me. I hurt her deeply.

My heart was beating so fast and I was working like a mad man, doing everything I could not to think about Rylee, but that was damn near impossible. That look on her face kept flashing back to my brain. Once I was on break, I called my lawyer, again.

“Bryce, I need this marriage to go away. It should have been annulled a long time ago, man. Worst case, offer her fifty thousand dollars as compensation. Maybe that will get this moving.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“You know what? Draw up the papers and I’ll come by to deliver them myself.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do, Mr. Bateman?”

“Draw up the papers. I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

I guess I had to get shit done by doing it myself. Now I had to track down Kathrena, who I presumed was still in Vegas. She was a stripper I met when I started managing bands. It was the stupidest thing I had ever done in my life. Our marriage was over after six weeks. She thought I was a rich boy and living the high life. But she got a surprise.

I’ll admit, we tried to make it work. I should say, I tried. But she wasn’t in it. And I honestly don’t know why I didn’t have Aubrey handle the annulment since she was an attorney. She told me as much.

I couldn’t wait around and hope and wish for things to change. Once my shift ended, I found myself sitting on the wraparound porch so I could think since I couldn’t do anything until tomorrow.

Bud appeared and sat next to me. “You and Rylee have a fight?”

“Yeah. Something like that. I think I screwed up royally this time. I might not be able to get her back.”

I told him the truth.

“I figured something might have happened between you