My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 132 I Am Never Going To Be Yours

Evelyn

My hands trembled as I dialed his number, the early morning light casting a dim glow through the curtains. Jacob lay asleep, unknown of the turmoil raging inside me, cocooned beneath the duvet. I had tucked him in just moments ago, my heart heavy with the weight of what I was about to do.

I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. All I knew was that it had to be done, and it had to be done right.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before he finally answered, his voice thick with sleep. "Hello?"

So, the bastard was indeed sleeping. Probably in some other woman's bed, given his notorious reputation. I was sure he had different women depending on the days.

"Hello, this is Evelyn," I forced out, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me.

"Evelyn?" There was a note of surprise in his groggy voice.

"Yes, it's me. Though it's a wonder you don't recognize my voice, considering your apparent obsession with the idea of sleeping with me."

"Well, it's not that I don't recognize your voice, Bella Donna. It's just that I didn't expect you to call me at this ungodly hour, especially before I've had the chance to send the bigger bombs your way," he chuckled, his cockiness oozing through the phone line, making my skin crawl. "But, pray tell, what has prompted this early morning call?"

"I don't have time to answer your questions right now. Just give me your address," I demanded, my grip on the railing tightening until my knuckles turned white. I couldn't believe I was actually going through with this. The mere thought of it made me sick to my stomach.

"Anything for you, my love," he replied smoothly. "Take note: Via del Corso, 123, 00186 Roma."

"I'll be there this evening."

"I'll be waiting," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation, a sickening smirk evident even over the phone.

***

for moments far removed from this one. Yet, necessity demanded it, pushing me into the arms of a man I abhorred from the depths of my being. I

was no secret I needed to save Jacob from

around my neck, I grappled with the weight of my actions. Betraying Jacob's trust gnawed at my conscience, a bitter pill swallowed in the

home. He had gone out, presumably for a meeting with his business associates, likely in search of the last remaining pieces of evidence that could help him navigate out of this perilous situation. However, I doubted Tyler Ricci would let that happen. From what I had gathered about him, he wasn't the type to yield easily. At any cost, if he desired something, he would go to

my misfortune

that Tyler

in his

life of the most

it was a cruel twist of fate or simply

us

nature, the fact

world, he had fixated his gaze upon me. I couldn't attribute it solely to my own allure; I knew that another reason for his obsession lay in his perverse desire to strip everything away from Jacob. He

erode the very foundation of the relationship between Jacob and me until there was nothing left. Tyler possessed formidable power-I was acutely aware of that. To wrest that power from him, I would need to offer him something in return, or perhaps....play yet another game, akin

for what lay ahead, I stepped out of the apartment, rode the elevator down, hailed a cab, and directed the driver to Tyler's estate. As the cab pulled up to the property, I couldn't

whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties. I didn't want to embark on this path, but I saw no other

stood before the

security measures rivaled

granted me entry. One of the guards escorted me inside, summoning a maid to guide me through the sprawling mansion. As we

Miss," the maid announced with

emitted a sharp

clenched tightly

rising tide of

to discover my current predicament. I knew he would sacrifice everything, even his own safety,

allow me to

conceal everything, I knocked twice on

pushed the door open

dim lighting, the windows tightly shut, and an atmosphere permeated with the mingling scents of cigarettes and liquor.