Used By My Billionaire Boss

chapter 6

Old Fears

The hotel is nothing like Leon's house. It's small, run-down, with peeling walls and a faint smell of mildew that hangs to the air. The bed creaks when Stephanie sits on it, the springs groaning under her weight. But for now, this place is her haven far from the rich life she left behind. The thin curtains let in only slivers of the lamps outside, leaving weak shadows on the cracked walls.

Stephanie stands in the middle of the room, feeling the tiredness coming in after everything she’s been through. Her whole body feels heavy, but there’s no rest for her mind. The steady buzz of thoughts questions, fears.... fills her head. What’s going to happen now? Did she do the right thing by leaving? She wraps her arms around herself, trying to block out the nagging questions.

Her hand automatically rests on her stomach, feeling the small curve where her baby grows inside her. “I’ll protect you,” she says, her voice barely a breath.

Saying the words makes it real.... makes her feel like she’s doing something right in this storm of chaos. Her decision to leave Leon, to walk away from the life she once thought was perfect, falls heavy on her shoulders. There’s no going back now. She’s made her choice, and she’ll have to live with it.

For a brief moment, Stephanie wonders if Leon has already realized she’s gone. Would he even care? She shakes the thought away. Of course, he cares he’s the type who hates losing power, and she’s taken that away from him. But she has bigger things to worry about now than his response. She’s free, but freedom doesn’t feel as free as she thought. It feels lonely, frightening even.

The flickering light of the bedroom lamp casts a weak glow as she looks at her bag lying half-open on the floor. She hasn’t unpacked yet, and she’s not sure she will. There’s no telling how long she’ll stay here. All she knows is she needs to lay low and stay hidden.

For now, that’s enough.

Stephanie’s phone buzzes on the bedside table, its soft vibration breaking the silence of the room. She doesn’t move to check it immediately her instinct is to ignore it. She doesn’t want to talk to anyone. Not Leon, not anyone from her old life. But the phone buzzes again, more insistently this time.

With a sigh, she grabs the phone and glances at the screen. Jake. Her heart skips a beat. She hasn’t spoken to him in years, not since the wedding. He was one of the few people she trusted back then, but life had a way of pulling them apart. What could he possibly want now?

Her thumb hovers over the screen, hesitating. She almost lets it go to voicemail, but something stops her. Maybe she needs to hear a familiar voice right now. Maybe she just can’t face the quiet anymore. She takes a deep breath and answers.

“Stephanie?” Jake’s voice is filled with worry, the sound of it taking her off guard. “Where are you?”

Stephanie pauses, her throat tightening. She wants to tell him everything, but the words won’t come. She doesn’t even know where to start. “I… I’m fine, Jake,” she lies, though her voice betrays her.

“No, you’re not,” he says softly, cutting through her weak effort to distract. “You don’t sound fine. What’s going on? Where are you?”

She closes her eyes, the weight of the last few days falling on her all over again. She doesn’t have the energy to pretend anymore. “I need help, Jake,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, she wonders if he’s still there. Then his voice comes through again, this time more determined. “Tell me where you are. I’ll come to you.”

Stephanie bites her lip, unsure if she should. Bringing someone else into this mess feels risky, but she also knows she can’t do this alone. Not anymore. She gives him the address of the hotel, her hands shaking as she does. The relief of knowing someone is coming, someone who cares, eases the tightness in her chest just a little.

“I’ll be there soon,” Jake says before hanging up.

Stephanie sets the phone down, staring at it for a moment. A part of her feels bad for bringing Jake into her worries after all these years. But the truth is, she needs him now. She needs someone to lean on, someone who isn’t Leon.

Risky Meeting

The café is quiet when Stephanie comes. It’s one of those small, modest places tucked away in a corner, the kind of place where people don’t ask questions. Perfect for keeping off the map. She steps inside, her eyes darting nervously around the room, half-expecting to see someone she recognizes. Half-expecting to see Leon.

But the only face she recognizes is Jake’s, sitting at a small table near the window. His face is drawn, his brow wrinkled with worry as he spots her. He stands up as she approaches, and for a moment, they just stare at each other. It feels strange, seeing him again after all this time.

“Steph,” Jake says, pulling her into a hug. The warmth of his hug takes her off guard, and she realizes just how much she’s missed having someone who cares about her, someone who doesn’t make her feel small or stuck.

They sit down, and Jake watches her carefully, his eyes searching her face. “You look tired,” he says, his voice soft with worry.

“I am,” she admits, looking around the café, feeling a burning sense of anxiety coming in. “I don’t know how much time I have before ” She stops, swallowing the lump in her throat. She doesn’t want to say his name. Not here. Not right now.

Jake doesn’t push her to explain. Instead, he leans forward, his voice low. “You can’t do this alone, Steph. I know you’re strong, but this… this is too much for anyone to handle by themselves.”

She nods, her eyes flicking to the window. The street outside is quiet, but something feels off. A shiver runs down her spine, and she can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. “I don’t have a choice,” she says, her hands tightening into fists in her lap.

Jake reaches out, putting a calming hand on hers. “You do have a choice. We can figure this out. Together.”

Stephanie looks up at him, her eyes filled with doubt. She wants to believe him, but everything feels so uncertain, so fragile. “What if it’s too late?” she asks, her voice barely audible.

Jake shakes his head. “It’s never too late, Steph. Not if you’re willing to fight for yourself.”

Before she can reply, her eyes catch something outside the window. A black car is parked across the street. It’s been there since she arrived. Her heart skips a beat, and her pulse quickens. Is someone watching me? She tries to keep calm, but the unease spreads through her like wildfire.

“Jake…” she says slowly, her eyes still on the car. “Do you see that?”

Jake follows her look, his face darkening as he spots the car. “Stay calm,” he whispers, his hand tightening on hers. “We don’t know if it’s anything yet.”

But Stephanie’s senses are yelling at her. It’s something. She can feel it.

The café feels smaller now, more stifling, as she watches the car. Is it just a chance, or has Leon already found her? And if he has, how far will he go to bring her back?