His Rejection, Her Billionaire Engagement

Chapter 2

Kloe POV

I walked back to my small apartment, each step heavy. The weight of betrayal pressed down on me. My future plans, once so clear, evaporated. My two years with Holden, my trust in Jana, all gone. I needed a new path. I needed to leave this city.

I pulled out my laptop, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. An internship opportunity in San Francisco. It was a long shot, but I had nothing left to lose. I emailed the program director, a senior contact from a university seminar.

The phone rang an hour later. It was Professor Davies, the program director.

"Kloe? I got your email. An internship in San Francisco? I thought you were set on staying in LA, building a life here." His voice held a note of surprise. "You were so passionate about your plans here."

I took a deep breath. "Things changed, Professor. I need a fresh start. A complete change of environment." I kept my voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil inside me.

Professor Davies was perceptive. "I understand. Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what we need. You're a bright student, Kloe. I'll see what I can do to fast-track your application. The San Francisco firm is a top-tier tech company, very competitive. But you have excellent grades and a strong work ethic. I'll put in a good word for you with Mr. House."

Hope, fragile but persistent, flickered within me. "Thank you, Professor. It means a lot."

Just as I hung up, my phone buzzed again. An unknown number. My heart leaped. It could be Holden. I felt a surge of adrenaline, anticipating an apology, an explanation.

I answered, my voice tight. "Hello?"

"Kloe? It's Holden." His voice was cold, accusing. "What the hell was that text about? 'It's over'? What kind of joke is this?"

His words were not an apology. They were an attack. My disappointment was swift and bitter. "You know exactly what it was about, Holden." My voice was flat.

"I don't! You suddenly decide to break up with me? After two years? What did I do wrong?" He sounded genuinely angry, as if I was the one who had wronged him.

I remembered his words from the fraternity house: "Kloe was starting to get clingy anyway." "Gold-digger who didn't find the gold." His anger now was not about losing me. It was about losing control. It was about his ego.

"You really expect me to believe you don't know?" I asked, a bitter laugh escaping me. "You're with my best friend, Holden. And you've been lying to me for two years. For a fraternity bet."

A beat of silence. Then, he sputtered. "What? No! Jana? That's ridiculous! Who told you that? She's just... a friend. And the bet? That's ancient history!" His denials were weak, transparent.

"It's not ridiculous, and it's not ancient history," I said, my voice hardening. "I saw you. I heard you. It's over. Don't contact me again."

"You manipulative bitch!" he screamed. "You think you can just walk away? You think you can dump me? You'll regret this, Kloe. You'll regret this so much." His voice was laced with venom.

I closed my eyes, a sharp pain piercing my chest. I recalled the way he had pursued me, the feigned shared dreams, the promises of a future together. All of it, a lie designed to win a bet. Now, his anger was pure narcissism, wounded pride. He hadn't wanted me to leave him. He wanted to be the one to discard me.

"I already regret a lot of things, Holden," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "But ending this isn't one of them." I hung up the phone. I blocked his number immediately.

The decision to leave LA was final. I started packing my meager belongings into my worn suitcase. This was not just a new city; it was a new life, a new me.

My phone buzzed again. A message from Jana. My heart ached. Kloe? Are you okay? Holden just called me. He said you broke up with him.

I stared at the message. She was asking me if I was okay. Did she truly not know? Or was she pretending? Either way, I was too exhausted to untangle it. I felt a surge of indignation, quickly replaced by a familiar pang of protectiveness. Jana was naive. She fell for charming smiles and expensive gifts. Her family's constant demands for money made her desperate for a way out. She just wanted security. Holden could offer that, even if his intentions were rotten.

I remembered Jana's dreamy explanation of her new love, the helicopter ride, the promise to help her family. She truly believed Holden was her savior. I didn't want to destroy that for her right now. She deserved happiness, even if it came from a lie. I had already made my choice to walk away. It was not my place to ruin her chance at a better life.

I typed a reply: I'm fine, Jana. It's complicated. We just weren't meant to be. I'm leaving LA soon for an internship.

Jana texted back almost immediately: Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Want to meet up later? Holden's friends are having a get-together, and he wants me to come. I could use a familiar face there.

My heart twisted. She wanted me to meet Holden's friends, her new friends. The same friends who had laughed at me. The idea was repulsive.

I forced myself to type: Can't, Jana. Too busy packing. You go and have fun. I'm sure you'll be fine.

The next morning, I officially resigned from my work-study job and two other part-time jobs. I needed to move fast. I had a few days before my internship started. I walked across campus one last time, heading to the bus stop. I had to stretch my savings.

As I walked past a bustling outdoor cafe near the university, a flash of familiar dark hair caught my eye. My steps faltered. Holden. He sat at a large table, laughing loudly. His arm was casually draped around Jana's shoulders. She leaned into him, smiling up at him adoringly. His fraternity brothers were there too, all of them laughing, clinking glasses.

My stomach dropped. They looked so happy. So perfect. Holden's friends congratulated him, one even patting Jana's hand. "He's all yours now, Jana. Holden's a one-woman man when he finds the right one."

The words were a dagger. I had been nothing more than a temporary distraction, a challenge. Jana was the 'right one' now. I was just a pawn in his game. I felt a wave of shame wash over me. I turned quickly, desperate to escape before they saw me.

I moved too fast. My foot caught on a loose paving stone. I stumbled forward, colliding with a passing skateboarder. We both went down. A sharp pain shot through my left leg. I cried out.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" the skateboarder asked, scrambling to his feet. He reached out a hand.

I shook my head, tears of pain and humiliation stinging my eyes. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone." I tried to push myself up, but my leg buckled. A trickle of blood seeped through my jeans.

"Kloe? Is that you?"

Jana's voice. My blood ran cold. I risked a glance. Jana stood over me, Holden a few steps behind her, his face a mask of concern.

"Kloe, you're bleeding!" Jana knelt beside me, her eyes wide with worry. "What happened?"

I closed my eyes, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. "It's nothing, Jana. Just leave me. Go back to your friends. Holden!" I urged, pushing her gently away.

Jana looked at Holden, then back at me. "Holden, this is my best friend, Kloe! We go way back, even went to the same high school. Can you help her up?"

My heart pounded. No. Please, no.

Holden's expression was unreadable. He came closer, his eyes on my face. "Kloe?" he asked, his voice flat. He reached out a hand.

I stared at that hand—the same hand that had held mine through two years of lies—and in that moment, I felt the last ember of love for him sputter and die. What remained was colder. Sharper. Something he would come to fear.