Chapter 2 Roger

• I wished I’d listened to Stefan when he warned me about Jessica. I didn’t take his warning seriously because I thought I loved her. I should’ve known better.
• “So what now? What is the plan?” Stefan asked, his blue eyes twinkling with questions.
• “The board members suggested I take a break in Milan and regroup. You know, get my head on straight. Meeting you here worked out to my benefit. So now I have to pack.” I said.
• “That’s a smart move,” Stefan said. “Take a break from the media. Come back from the race, revived, and get XDE Athletics back on track. That will give the press something new to discuss, and you can move on.
• I nodded, “That’s the plan, anyway.”
• “Try to have some fun in Milan,” Stefan said, “Rest, eat some great food, and meet a beautiful woman to help you forget Jessica.”
• I shrugged, “Anything is possible.”
• Stefan and Jonah were with me at the airport the following day as we waited for Adam and Leonard. I’d spent the night tossing and turning. My mind constantly drifted back to Jessica and her betrayal.
• “They’re here,” Stefan announced. We waited for my pilot to finish up on last-minute safety checks on the jet.
• “You look amazing,” Adam jabbed sarcastically.
• I frowned. I constantly remind myself that he’s one of my board members and trusted friends. However, he’s very cocky and thrives on sarcastic comments. Sometimes, I would love to deck him, you know, to knock him down a notch or two. But it’s easier to let it go. It’s not worth the drama.
• Adam and Leonard were in suits, a sign they were not going.
• “Jonah’s not coming,” Adam stated.
• “Why not?”
• “You need a break. Some time alone and clear your head. Everything will work out perfectly. The race is in a few weeks. We’ll all arrive in plenty of time to prepare for the race. Until then, keeping a low profile in Milan would be best.” Adam replied.
• “Try to avoid standing out,” Leonard chimed in.
• I knew they were right. Avoiding attention was wise. I nodded, gave a quick wave, and boarded my jet. For seven lonely hours, my thoughts churned. I couldn’t escape Jessica or how she tried to sabotage me with my most prominent rival, Jamie. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she had tried to ruin my life.
• Why did it have to be my rival she betrayed me with? Of all people. She knew how much I despised him. Why would she tell vicious lies about me? I was upset that day, but I’d never physically hurt her despite the accusations, and she knows that. I have to get over all this. I need to move past this and get her out of my mind.
• After the long flight, we landed in Milan. A car met me at the airport and drove me to ‘The Seven Stars Milan.’ It was one of the most exclusive hotels, right in the middle of the city, with amazing views. I was met by the concierge, who had my bags sent up, while he gave me the keys to the lavish ‘Grand Royal Suite’- the Penthouse.
• Now that I was finally alone for the first time in ages, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. “Is everything to your liking, Sir?” The concierge asked.
• “Yes, everything is fine, thank you,” I replied.
• The concierge left quietly while I walked around the massive suite. It was awe-inspiring by anyone’s standards. The enormous suite was incredible. It was nice to take it all in as I tried to clear my mind.
• This was Adam’s doing. He had ulterior motives. The massive suite was his way to help me relax and forget ‘the incident.’ Don’t think about anything back home.
• Was I ready for that? I continued to walk around the massive suite to check things out. The main bedroom and master bath had beautiful glass chandeliers that lit up the rooms. Roses were on the bed and all around the bathtub. I smiled because only one person would be the mastermind of this little extra touch.
• My phone rang, and it was the mastermind, Stefan. Not surprising. He promised to check in on me while in Milan. He was going to badger me to find a beautiful woman.
• “Hey, Roger,” he chuckled over the phone.
• “What is it, Stefan?” I asked. I refrained from rolling my eyes, mostly because he couldn’t see me.
• “I timed your flight and arrival. You should be in your hotel room by now. Am I right? Do you like the little touches,” Stefan laughed as he was part joking and part serious.
• “You need to get a girlfriend or a life,” I said, joking.
• “Yes, I do. It’s not my fault they’ve all decided to cause us heartbreak,” he volleyed back.
• “Okay, talk to you later. I’m not having this conversation. I’d rather go hang out in a bar alone,” I said seriously.
• “Try to have some fun in Milan,” Stefan said, “Rest, eat some great food, and meet a beautiful woman to help you forget Jessica.”
• I shrugged, “Anything is possible.”
• Stefan and Jonah were with me at the airport the following day as we waited for Adam and Leonard. I’d spent the night tossing and turning. My mind constantly drifted back to Jessica and her betrayal.
• “They’re here,” Stefan announced. We waited for my pilot to finish up on last-minute safety checks on the jet.
• “You look amazing,” Adam jabbed sarcastically.
• I frowned. I constantly remind myself that he’s one of my board members and trusted friends. However, he’s very cocky and thrives on sarcastic comments. Sometimes, I would love to deck him, you know, to knock him down a notch or two. But it’s easier to let it go. It’s not worth the drama.
• Adam and Leonard were in suits, a sign they were not going.
• “Jonah’s not coming,” Adam stated.
• “Why not?”
• “You need a break. Some time alone and clear your head. Everything will work out perfectly. The race is in a few weeks. We’ll all arrive in plenty of time to prepare for the race. Until then, keeping a low profile in Milan would be best.” Adam replied.
• “Try to avoid standing out,” Leonard chimed in.
• I knew they were right. Avoiding attention was wise. I nodded, gave a quick wave, and boarded my jet. For seven lonely hours, my thoughts churned. I couldn’t escape Jessica or how she tried to sabotage me with my most prominent rival, Jamie. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she had tried to ruin my life.
• Why did it have to be my rival she betrayed me with? Of all people. She knew how much I despised him. Why would she tell vicious lies about me? I was upset that day, but I’d never physically hurt her despite the accusations, and she knows that. I have to get over all this. I need to move past this and get her out of my mind.
• After the long flight, we landed in Milan. A car met me at the airport and drove me to ‘The Seven Stars Milan.’ It was one of the most exclusive hotels, right in the middle of the city, with amazing views. I was met by the concierge, who had my bags sent up, while he gave me the keys to the lavish ‘Grand Royal Suite’- the Penthouse.
• Now that I was finally alone for the first time in ages, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. “Is everything to your liking, Sir?” The concierge asked.
• “Yes, everything is fine, thank you,” I replied.
• The concierge left quietly while I walked around the massive suite. It was awe-inspiring by anyone’s standards. The enormous suite was incredible. It was nice to take it all in as I tried to clear my mind.
• This was Adam’s doing. He had ulterior motives. The massive suite was his way to help me relax and forget ‘the incident.’ Don’t think about anything back home.
• Was I ready for that? I continued to walk around the massive suite to check things out. The main bedroom and master bath had beautiful glass chandeliers that lit up the rooms. Roses were on the bed and all around the bathtub. I smiled because only one person would be the mastermind of this little extra touch.
• My phone rang, and it was the mastermind, Stefan. Not surprising. He promised to check in on me while in Milan. He was going to badger me to find a beautiful woman.
• “Hey, Roger,” he chuckled over the phone.
• “What is it, Stefan?” I asked. I refrained from rolling my eyes, mostly because he couldn’t see me.
• “I timed your flight and arrival. You should be in your hotel room by now. Am I right? Do you like the little touches,” Stefan laughed as he was part joking and part serious.
• “You need to get a girlfriend or a life,” I said, joking.
• “Yes, I do. It’s not my fault they’ve all decided to cause us heartbreak,” he volleyed back.
• “Okay, talk to you later. I’m not having this conversation. I’d rather go hang out in a bar alone,” I said seriously.
• “Great. Have some drinks and find a hot woman.” Stefan laughed as he hung up.
• I grabbed my coat and headed out of the hotel to the car provided to me. I went to the nearest bar the concierge recommended—no sense staying at the hotel. I wanted to explore a little to clear my head, especially with the race coming up.
• I pulled up to an expensive bar and tossed the valet my keys. Inside, the bartender, a petite brunette with green eyes, flashed me a flirty smile.
• “What would you like?” she asked flirtatiously.
• “Sex on the beach,” I replied, noticing the look in her eyes. My flirtation skills were still sharp.
• While the bartender mixed my drink, I scanned the room, checking everything out. My eyes caught sight of a stunning blonde. Her gorgeous hair was in a tight bun with loose strands perfectly framing her delicate face. She wore a short red dress, exposing her cleavage and showing off her petite body that wouldn’t stop…and those kissable pink pouty lips.
• I wanted nothing more than to…
• The bartender slid me my drink, interrupting my thoughts, just as a heated argument erupted. It was the curves for days blonde… I might have to step in...
• But when the guy grabbed her wrist tightly, I instinctively reacted. “Time to go, buddy. Leave the lady alone,” I said.
• He glared at me and the other patrons before storming out.
• “You’re welcome,” I smiled at the woman.
• She jerked her arm back, glaring with fiery eyes. “I could’ve handled it myself. I don’t need your help.”
• I grinned as she walked to the bar, feisty and fun to tame. I like a challenge.