A Billionaire's Love

Chapter 15

"Samantha..." Chloe’s voice trembled as she pressed her phone against her ear, the screen glowing in the dim light of her car.

On the other end of the line, there was a slight pause, followed by a familiar, calm voice. "Hey, Chloe. What's up?"

"Hello, Samantha... can I come over to your place?" Chloe’s tone was sharp, edged with frustration she could barely contain. She exhaled heavily. "Prepare some drinks. I need to talk."

The irritation in her voice was unmistakable, and though she tried to keep it steady, the anger simmered just below the surface. Samantha didn’t ask questions. She could tell something was off. "Sure, I’ll get everything ready. Come over whenever."

Chloe hung up, throwing her phone onto the passenger seat as she gripped the steering wheel. Her heart raced, not just with frustration, but with something deeper. It wasn't just anger at Dylan's decision that had her on edge—it was the way it twisted inside her, leaving her with emotions she didn’t want to admit to.

Dylan had aborted the project. Just like that. The Hotel de Montemayor, a project that had been months in the making, a project tied to his fiancée’s family legacy, was now dead in the water. Chloe had worked tirelessly on it, dedicating her time and energy to ensure its success. And now, with no explanation, Dylan had pulled the plug.

But as much as Chloe tried to be furious—tried to convince herself that this was all about work, about the wasted effort—she couldn’t hide a flicker of relief deep down. Part of her was glad. And that feeling made her even more conflicted.

She pulled into Samantha's driveway, the tires crunching on the gravel, and took a deep breath before stepping out of the car. Samantha was already waiting by the door, her expression concerned but composed, as always. She knew Chloe well enough to sense the storm brewing inside her.

Without saying much, Chloe walked in and tossed her coat onto the nearest chair. Samantha had set up two glasses on the kitchen counter, along with a bottle of vodka and a couple of mixers. The bottles glistened under the soft light, an invitation to forget, to release whatever Chloe was holding in.

They poured their drinks in silence at first, the clinking of glasses the only sound. Chloe took a sip, then a gulp, and finally a shot, the alcohol burning her throat as it slid down. She welcomed the heat.

It wasn’t long before the floodgates opened.

"You know what, Samantha? I couldn't really believe why Dylan made such a decision!" Chloe blurted out, her words slurring slightly, her voice rising with each sentence. She threw her hands in the air in frustration. "It was for his fiancée's hotel! Her hotel, for God's sake! And yet he, without hesitation, just aborts the project like it’s nothing. No explanation. No reason. Just... gone!"

Samantha remained quiet, sipping her drink as Chloe paced back and forth, spilling her frustration into the room. Chloe’s anger was palpable, but there was something beneath it, something unspoken, lurking in the spaces between her words.

"Gah! Dylan, what happened to you..." Chloe muttered as she slammed her glass down onto the counter and poured herself another shot. She barely took a breath before downing it. The alcohol was loosening her tongue, making it easier to vent, but also making her thoughts harder to control.

And then she saw it. Samantha was staring at her, a quiet intensity in her eyes. It wasn’t judgment, but it was something that made Chloe pause. Her friend’s gaze was steady, unnerving in its quiet focus. Chloe squirmed under the weight of it, feeling exposed, as if Samantha was seeing through all her words, seeing the truth she was avoiding.

"What?" Chloe asked, her voice defensive, a crack forming in her tough exterior. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Samantha set her drink down gently, her eyes never leaving Chloe’s. There was a brief silence, the air thick with tension, before Samantha spoke, her voice calm and deliberate. "Aren’t you happy the project is aborted, Chloe?"

Chloe froze, her mouth half-open as if to argue, but no words came out. Samantha’s question hung in the air, cutting through Chloe’s anger like a knife. She felt a chill run down her spine, even with the alcohol warming her body.

Samantha leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but firm. "I know you like Dylan. You’ve told me that before. And considering this sudden change of heart on his part, don't you think there might be something more going on with him and his fiancée? Something that could benefit you?"

The words hit Chloe like a slap. She tried to muster a response, but she found herself speechless. Samantha wasn’t wrong. She had confided in her before, admitted her feelings for Dylan when those feelings first began to surface. Chloe had tried to ignore them, bury them beneath professionalism and ambition. But they had always been there, quietly lingering in the background, coloring her interactions with Dylan in ways she hated to admit.

Samantha’s knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she saw Chloe’s reaction. "I mean, think about it," she continued, her tone more teasing now, as if they were sharing a secret. "If things are rocky between him and his fiancée, and he’s pulling out of this project, it’s not because he doesn’t care. Maybe it’s because things are changing. Maybe he’s questioning his decisions. Maybe there’s a chance for you."

Chloe felt a mix of emotions swirl inside her—anger, shame, hope, and something darker. She had never wanted to admit it, even to herself, but the truth was, part of her was happy about the project being canceled. Not for the work, not for the effort that went down the drain, but for what it might mean.

She had been there with Dylan through every step of the process, every challenge, every victory. They had grown closer over the past few months, working late nights, sharing quiet moments when no one else was around. And through it all, Chloe had started to wonder if there was something more between them—something unspoken but real.

Samantha's voice pulled her back into the moment. "This could be your opportunity, Chloe. Maybe you’re not just angry about the project. Maybe you’re angry because you know it could change things between you and Dylan. Maybe this is your chance to finally be honest about what you want."

Chloe’s hands trembled as she set down her glass. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the weight of Samantha’s words, but she suddenly felt dizzy, her mind spinning with thoughts she had tried to suppress for too long.

"Maybe," Chloe whispered, her voice barely audible. She looked down at the glass in her hand, her reflection staring back at her, fractured and distorted in the alcohol’s surface.