A Sacrifice Hidden For Three Years

don lie on his deathbed, clinging to h

y hotel where I work-richer and more po

king my life a living hell, forcing me to change the s

a gold-digger who aban

as standing there, alive and breathing,

rifice cost

iling, and I didn't come

man I saved-because my doctors aren

pte

Sparks

hree years ago, I willingly gave him a piece of my heart

a wrecking ball in a suit, shattering the

xury hotel in the

hind the f

ordinary Tuesday nig

no

but now he exuded an overwhelming aura of power

onger the m

ng blonde hair and an overly brig

ca Ca

perfectly ha

use suite seemed to ha

relentlessly, an annoyin

alway

h towels. Then, a specific

again, complaining the mi

onstant reminder of his presence, his

practiced calm, my voic

sk agent, meant to fa

dn't let me

night, the pho

ate, like a gam

I assist you?" My voice sounded fo

e through the line, laced with a weariness that hinted at mor

ridiculou

ping was

ke this usually wen

ekeeping hours are over. I can leave a note for the morn

tone sharp and utte

nged now. And I want

his lips felt like a

humiliating act, desig

r. Gordon, that's not part of m

ame from the other end, se

form your manager that the hotel staff refus

plain an

w it. He was doin

coworker Maria leaned over,

onstant calls fr

. "Just another

understatement. What did this on

ng her gaze. "He wants

. "Are they really messing with us? Changing sheets three time

ousekeeping was of

wants me to go

he manager's

rusive sound that c

ed the manager nod repeatedly, his face p

e falling on me, he

a whisper. "Mr. Gordon insists. You nee

on was someone no ordinary

forced my legs to move, step by reluctant step, tow

silk bathrobe hanging loose

lightly damp, his e

nter, his eyes sweeping over m

etness-expensive perfume mixed with th

ar the soft gurgle of running water,

spacious room bathed in th

indow, lit a cigarette, and watched me a

e room, making it feel

as I approached

ed, a blatant display of intimacy-a s

washed over me. This room, t

ence, a mix of satisfaction and boredom in his tone.

don," I replied, my voi

ping off the soiled sheets, my fingers b

t felt like a

thick with unspoken wo

clutching them tightly t

, a hand clamped down on

my path, pushing me back against the wall, w

aster with a thud, knoc

same cologne he'd always worn, b

inst my ribs, a frant

as still running, a d

cing. "Donovan, stop," I whispered, my v

ormy eyes bo

lcohol lingere

his voice a low growl. "Was it worth it? The money? The promis

ers, each one piercing m

he bathroom su

idn't eve

over me. I couldn't let her

renaline, I lashed out, biting do

his grip loosening

all I

dle of sheets, and fled for the do

hut behind me, a s

et, honeyed voice from inside the room.

er of the life he was building withou

fl

y wall, clutching the sheet

e a frantic bird

e. He trul

ed times, but never like this-ne

n better. I should

twisted dance of

desk, my steps heavy, his colo

filled with questions. "What h

exha

riend of his-she looks like she stepped right off a runway. Who are they, anyway?

"Maria, you know we're not suppos

's not every day a mystery guest from a sealed file

ng as a whisper-a secret I'd never intended to

about them! It was all over the news years ago. His father, old man Gordon, had all these secre

the legitimate heir, but then he got really sick-almost died, I heard. Kidney failure. Every

all people! Can you believe it? Total gold-digger. Switched sides the second she thought Kyle had a better shot at the inheritance." Maria shook her head, clicking her tongue. "The

hought. "Do you know who she was? Th

ession hanging in the air. "I know," I said, my voic

it up. "You sa

ning to face her

olor, her jaw hanging slack,

s-thick, heavy, and filled