The Arrogant Artist : A Billionaire Boss Romance (International Bad Boys Set Book 2)

scans the room impatiently I’m sure willing the hostess to return with the champagne. I wonder if the ring is in the bottom of the glass like they do in the movies.
Remember, Emily, don’t drink the entire contents of the glass, you don’t want to choke on a two-carat engagement ring.
“Oh, how exciting. What is it?” I talk more when I get nervous, I can’t help it.
“Wait until the bottle comes,” Toby tells me. This is it. He has a plan, and I must be patient. He has probably been organizing this night for months, and I don’t want to ruin it by being too eager. I smile and wait while the butterflies flit around my stomach.
Toby’s such a catch, or should I say that’s what people tell me. He comes from an extremely wealthy family who may even be related to royalty or something like that. They are blue-blooded with country estates and posh accents while I come from a hard-working, middle-class family. I got into university via a scholarship, whereas I’m pretty sure Toby’s family has a wing of the university named after them.
Even though we come from two different worlds, we fell in love. I’m not one of those girls impressed by money. I hate that Toby has to buy everything in our relationship because, let’s face it, my meager wage isn’t paying for first-class trips to Majorca like we did last summer. He knows it makes me feel uncomfortable, but he simply smiles and tells me that he’s lucky because he has a large trust fund, and why wouldn’t he want to spoil the woman he loves. I can’t argue with that.
The waitress comes back with the expensive bottle of champagne. She pops it and pours us each a glass, then places the bottle back into the champagne stand beside us before rushing away.
Toby holds up his glass. “To the future.” Then he clinks his glass against mine.
My heart does a double beat. I take a sip, the bubbles tickle my nose, and the smooth liquid warms my belly.
“So, I wanted to talk to you about something, Emily.”
I try and calm myself down by taking a deep breath. I need to act surprised when he asks me to marry him.
“You know how I have been working on projects with our New York office?” I nod. He’s been flying back and forth frequently for meetings for the past six months. “Well, they have asked me to take over the New York team for a two-year contract.”
Oh. My. God. We’re moving to New York.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
This is the fresh start I need.
“Oh, Toby, this is an amazing opportunity. You deserve it so much. I’m so proud of you, baby. You’ve worked so hard.” Giddy excitement fills me as I continue, “There are so many amazing galleries in New York. I bet I can easily find work there.”
Toby stiffens, placing his champagne glass on the table, his look now serious.
“Actually, Ems…” there’s a long awkward pause, “… I was thinking of going alone.”
I just stare at him, my lashes blinking slowly, my brain trying to compute and then catch up to what his words mean.
Alone?
As in one person?
As in just him?
“Oh. Okay. It’s a work thing… I understand.” I try to hide my disappointment, but the pain is killing me inside. “Long distance is going to be hard.” I simply can’t afford to fly back and forth between London and New York for the next two years. I have no idea how this is going to work.
There’s another long pause, then he says, “I don’t want to do a long-distance relationship, Emily.”
Again, I just stare at him, my brain not really computing the words he’s speaking to me. “You don’t want me to come to New York, but you also don’t want to do a long-distance relationship.” Toby nods. “I don’t understand what you…” Then it hits me. “You’re breaking up with me?” The question comes out louder than I anticipated, and people at the next table turn to look at us.
“I’m not breaking up with you, just asking for a break.”
What the hell?
I’m sure my jaw hits the floor.
“I thought you were going to propose.” My voice squeaks, then a sneaky single tear falls down my cheek. No. I will not cry. Toby dislikes emotional women.
I hear someone tsk behind me.
“Emily, I’m sorry.” Toby grabs my hands and holds them with his own. “But honestly, babe, you can’t be surprised.”
What? I don’t think I can be any more stunned than I am at this moment.
“Excuse me?” I pull my hands away from his.
“Ems… you’ve done nothing with your life. You flit around from menial job to menial job, which was cute for a couple of years, but we’re getting older now. I want to be proud of the woman I marry.”
Oh, holy hell, his words are like a knife to my heart, slicing it in two. I have never felt so worthless than I do right now.
“I think it’s best we have some time apart. You sort yourself out. You can stay in my apartment while I’m gone. I’m not an asshole. When I come back, and you’re in a better position with your life… I can propose then.”
I stare at him, completely dumbfounded.
Does he actually think what he’s saying is okay?
“So, what you’re saying is… you want to see other people while you’re in New York?” His cheeks turn red, and he has the nerve to turn away flustered. My stomach sinks with realization. “Oh…” well, this is awkward, “… what you’re really saying is you’ve already met someone in New York.” There’s a long pause before he sticks the knife in further and twists.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen, Ems.”
My body is shaking with humiliation and anger. My hand is itching to pick the champagne glass up and throw it at his face, or better yet, break off the stem and plunge it in his dark heart.
“How long?” I don’t really want an answer to