The Billionaire and the Con Artist: A Bad Boy Romance (Bad Girls Series Book 1) by Leanne Brice
Authors: Leanne Brice
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like with some of the auditions I went on where I ultimately didn’t book the job and couldn’t stop thinking afterward about how I could have been better.
Oh, well.
It’s pretty obvious I’ll have to go back to that L.A. apartment now.
There’s always Lorax—if someone’s tutu-wearing dog hasn’t taken him out.
Getting back to the motel and even L.A. won’t be too problematic; free rides are one of the easiest things to get.
Still, though, talk about a one-eighty—the most promising trip ever turned into the most painful in the blink of an eye.
A drop of water suddenly splashes onto my arm.
Just great. It’s starting to rain now. Perfect.
But then I realize the drop came from my eyes.
A few fall this time before I’m able to call them back.
* * *
N ow that I ’ve had even more time away from my ridiculously huge borrowed suite, the motel room doesn’t look as bad now.
It’s still smelly, and I’ll probably immediately get a fungus from the floor if I take off my shoes, but I’ve definitely slept in worse.
I’ll just be here overnight anyway, and then I’ll take probably take off tomorrow.
I lie flat on my back, fully clothed on the rough bedspread, my hands behind my head.
I stare at the ceiling for a while, then I turn my head to glance around absent-mindedly.
Happy fucking birthday , I think as I notice the primitive clock display announce midnight.
Despair starts taking over again, and I fight off the urge to sob as another teardrop escapes, but I’m almost immediately interrupted by a loud thump on the door, then a crash as two men burst in.
Absolute fear takes over as I recognize one of the men, and he’s someone I doubt is happy to see me—well, outside of the possibility of recovering his stolen items, that is.
Instinct takes over and I head for the motel window, away from the huge angry males headed in my direction, but I am quickly caught by the waist as a thick arm closes around me.
“Where do you think you’re going, you little thief?" Axel says.
“Let me go!”
"Oh, no, no, no. Not happening, sweet cheeks," the other guy says.
Axel’s arms tighten around me as I struggle against him, trying my damnedest not to break down again because how embarrassing would it be for him to see me like that? Crying for real, that is?
I’ve used tears to my advantage before, but no one has seen me in a truly raw state but Taylor.
I’m not quite back to my confident self yet, and having Axel catch me at my most vulnerable moment is going to take some extra effort to recover from.
Still, I can feel myself breaking, so I fight harder, fruitlessly struggling against his grip.
God, this is so humiliating.
Axel will soon learn I got conned myself, what a failure I am all around.
I can’t physically escape him, but I can keep my head on straight, I can stay in control of my emotions at least.
I struggle to keep it together internally.
And fail.
Chapter 11
Axel
D espite my suspicion that this is definitely a con and Jewel has whipped out those female crocodile tears, part of me softens toward her.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
"Not falling for it," I say firmly, hoping I sound more convincing than I feel.
She continues to bawl and I loosen my grip on her.
She doesn’t try to get away again—she just holds her hands over her eyes as she lets it all out, her body limp but contracting with the strength of her sobs.
It’s pretty awkward, and Nate suddenly looks as uncertain as I feel, his eyes darting between her and me.
I gently lead her to the bed and sit her down while Nate stays where he can sort of block the exit.
“Okay, Jewel. You were obviously distressed before we got here. What happened?"
She removes her hands from her face and my heart practically melts as she looks directly into my eyes, her splotchy face still heartbreakingly beautiful, her blue-gray eyes glistening.
“You don’t understand,” she says so sorrowfully, my heart almost breaks. She
Oh, well.
It’s pretty obvious I’ll have to go back to that L.A. apartment now.
There’s always Lorax—if someone’s tutu-wearing dog hasn’t taken him out.
Getting back to the motel and even L.A. won’t be too problematic; free rides are one of the easiest things to get.
Still, though, talk about a one-eighty—the most promising trip ever turned into the most painful in the blink of an eye.
A drop of water suddenly splashes onto my arm.
Just great. It’s starting to rain now. Perfect.
But then I realize the drop came from my eyes.
A few fall this time before I’m able to call them back.
* * *
N ow that I ’ve had even more time away from my ridiculously huge borrowed suite, the motel room doesn’t look as bad now.
It’s still smelly, and I’ll probably immediately get a fungus from the floor if I take off my shoes, but I’ve definitely slept in worse.
I’ll just be here overnight anyway, and then I’ll take probably take off tomorrow.
I lie flat on my back, fully clothed on the rough bedspread, my hands behind my head.
I stare at the ceiling for a while, then I turn my head to glance around absent-mindedly.
Happy fucking birthday , I think as I notice the primitive clock display announce midnight.
Despair starts taking over again, and I fight off the urge to sob as another teardrop escapes, but I’m almost immediately interrupted by a loud thump on the door, then a crash as two men burst in.
Absolute fear takes over as I recognize one of the men, and he’s someone I doubt is happy to see me—well, outside of the possibility of recovering his stolen items, that is.
Instinct takes over and I head for the motel window, away from the huge angry males headed in my direction, but I am quickly caught by the waist as a thick arm closes around me.
“Where do you think you’re going, you little thief?" Axel says.
“Let me go!”
"Oh, no, no, no. Not happening, sweet cheeks," the other guy says.
Axel’s arms tighten around me as I struggle against him, trying my damnedest not to break down again because how embarrassing would it be for him to see me like that? Crying for real, that is?
I’ve used tears to my advantage before, but no one has seen me in a truly raw state but Taylor.
I’m not quite back to my confident self yet, and having Axel catch me at my most vulnerable moment is going to take some extra effort to recover from.
Still, I can feel myself breaking, so I fight harder, fruitlessly struggling against his grip.
God, this is so humiliating.
Axel will soon learn I got conned myself, what a failure I am all around.
I can’t physically escape him, but I can keep my head on straight, I can stay in control of my emotions at least.
I struggle to keep it together internally.
And fail.
Chapter 11
Axel
D espite my suspicion that this is definitely a con and Jewel has whipped out those female crocodile tears, part of me softens toward her.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
"Not falling for it," I say firmly, hoping I sound more convincing than I feel.
She continues to bawl and I loosen my grip on her.
She doesn’t try to get away again—she just holds her hands over her eyes as she lets it all out, her body limp but contracting with the strength of her sobs.
It’s pretty awkward, and Nate suddenly looks as uncertain as I feel, his eyes darting between her and me.
I gently lead her to the bed and sit her down while Nate stays where he can sort of block the exit.
“Okay, Jewel. You were obviously distressed before we got here. What happened?"
She removes her hands from her face and my heart practically melts as she looks directly into my eyes, her splotchy face still heartbreakingly beautiful, her blue-gray eyes glistening.
“You don’t understand,” she says so sorrowfully, my heart almost breaks. She
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