by JA Low
That wasn’t the life I wanted for myself.
When my trust came into my hands at the age of twenty-five, after I finished my double major in Architecture Design and Business, I launched the Davenport Group, securing my first property in Palm Springs. Finding the worst house on the best street to build my luxury vacation rentals and boutique hotel empire, and now, I own a hundred luxury properties around the world as well as twenty boutique hotels.
My stomach sinks again at the realization that I’ve followed in the old man’s footsteps falling for his assistant, the old cliché not falling far from the tree. Still, instead, I’m the one being fucked over by my assistant.
“I’m not giving Madison a cent more outside of what I have already generously offered to her,” I tell my lawyer. I think the home in The Hamptons, as well as the apartment in Paris and an estate in Malibu, as well as a considerable cash lump sum, should be enough for two years of marriage.
“She’s willing to fight you on this?” my lawyer explains to me carefully.
“Then, if she wants a fight, I’ll give her a fight.” Standing abruptly, my chair scrapes across the marble floor of his office.
“I’ll do my best,” he tells me.
And with that, I turn on my heels and storm out of his office.
“What the hell do you mean she wants half of your business?” Stirling Hartford, my Chief Operations Officer, the second-in-command at the Davenport Group, asks. He warned me, the only one who warned me not to hook up with Madison because she was a gold digger. He was right. I should have heard him all those years ago instead of listening to my dick and heart. Maybe then, I wouldn’t find myself in this predicament.
“Some fucker didn’t file the paperwork right, and the prenup is null and void.”
“They did what?” Stirling’s voice raises.
“Some fill-in clerk, and now the asshole is missing,” I explain to him.
Stirling frowns. “Missing?” he questions.
I nod my head.
“That sounds a little suspicious, don’t you think?”
Those are the exact thoughts I have been having too. But nothing makes sense. Honestly, I can’t see Madison being that diabolical to plan this.
“Do you think it was Dominic?” he asks.
“Hell, no. That guy has enough money of his own. He’s allergic to work. He wouldn’t want it.”
“A competitor?” Stirling presses.
“I don’t think I have those kinds of enemies, do you?”
Stirling shakes his head. “Maybe it was just a massive fucking mistake.” Letting out a sigh—a mistake that’s going to cost me dearly.
“So why does Madison want the company then?”
“She thinks because we spoke about work in bed, that it makes her my business partner.” Stirling slowly blinks. He’s showing the exact same expression I did when my lawyer explained Madison’s demands.
“Is she not happy with spending all of Dominic’s money? She needs yours, too?” Stirling asks.
Turns out there are feelings between Madison and Dominic after all. All it took was me turfing her out of my apartment to make him realize that maybe Madison is the woman for him. Also helps that she lets him fuck other women as long as he gives her his credit card. You know, true love. Just thinking about the two of them makes me want to punch something. Hard.
“Tell me you’re going to fight this?” Stirling asks.
“Of course. I’ve worked too hard for Madison to come in here and take everything I’ve worked for just because she’s gotten used to living this kind of life.” Angrily making my way over to my minibar, I grab the bourbon bottle off the shelf and pour myself a glass. I throw back the brown liquid which burns down my throat, easing my pain. “My lawyers told me she’s going to fight me all the way.” I let out a heavy sigh.
“You need to get away from all this. Regroup,” Stirling tells me. “Go up to The Hamptons and chill. Clear your head for the weekend.”
“Not really in the mood to go back to the scene of the damn crime,” I reply while pouring myself another glass of bourbon.
“Please. It’s been totally redecorated. Nothing is left of Madison at that home. If you want, I can hire someone for you to erase those precious memories,” Stirling tells me.
“No.” Glaring at him, I continue, “I don’t need to pay a woman to have sex with me.”
“Think of it as stress relief. At least this way, you know she’s not going to be a gold digger compared to some random you meet at a bar.” Stirling stares at me.
Maybe he’s right.
“I’m not in the mood,” I reply, placing the crystal tumbler back down on the bar tray.
“Let me know if you change your mind.” He grins as he leaves me to get back to work. I shake my head and take a seat at my desk and stare at my computer.
Before long, I realize I’ve been looking at my computer screen for twenty minutes and haven’t done anything.
This isn’t working.
I need to get out of the office and clear my head.
Maybe The Hamptons is precisely what I need.
3
Rhys
I pull up out the front of my home. The home I haven’t been back to since that fateful night. My sister, Audrey, and Stirling took over the redecorating of my home. They turned it into something more in line with my classic taste than Madison’s ‘I’ll take the most expensive thing in the shop.’ I appreciate the muted neutral tones.
It’s almost sunset as the streaks of orange ribbons paint the blue sky. I’m dying to get some sand between my toes. It’s been too long. I need to think, and I do my best thinking walking along the beach.
It’s a chilly spring evening. The warmth of the day is quickly vanishing from the sand as I step onto it. Nothing but the sound of the crashing waves fills my ears. I can smell the salt and sea as I inhale the familiar scent for the first time in a long while. I suck in a deep breath hoping it will reset everything swirling around in my anxious mind.
I continue my walk along the beach as my mind tries to sort out the Madison situation. Every scenario that runs through my mind lets her win. She doesn’t deserve to have a single slice of all my hard work. Yes, she worked for me for a year before anything happened between us, but as soon as my ring was on her finger, she quit, and her new job was spending my money.
I’ve offered her enough money for her to start over again and never work another day in her life. I’ve offered homes all around the world where she can visit and live a quiet life, and still, it isn’t enough for her.
What game is she playing at?
I don’t understand.
I find myself further down the beach and come across the new hotel the Stone Group is working on. Lucky bastards, grabbing this old estate. I can’t wait to see what they have done with it.
The closer I get I start to notice a figure sitting in the sand. Her brunette hair whips around her face as the wind picks it up. The lights from the hotel illuminate her face. She’s beautiful, natural-looking, the complete opposite to Madison with her Barbie-like appearance. She looks like she’s been crying.
Is that a wine bottle she is holding in her hand?
Can this beauty be homeless?
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why?” She’s startled by my question, lost in her own thoughts, looking as if she has the weight of the world resting on her shoulders.
“A beautiful woman drinking from a wine bottle on the beach. Alone. Usually means something’s happened.” Giving her a small smile, I just need to know she’s okay and isn’t about to run into the ocean, never to be seen again.
“Do you have some kind of white knight complex?” Her chocolate eyes glare at me. “Do you think you have to save women who are drinking alone on the beach from a bottle of wine?” The bite to her tone is endearing and makes me laugh.
“Do you need saving?” Didn’t mean for that to sound as flirting as it did.
“Not sure yet.
I guess I’ll know when I reach the bottom.” She shakes the half-empty bottle, which makes me chuckle again.
“You live around here?” I ask, wondering if she needs help to get home. Maybe I do have a white knight complex? This thought makes me smile.
“Yep.” She points directly behind her at the incomplete resort.
“No, you’re not…” The tone of my voice changes because I know that resort is not complete yet. Is she a squatter?
“Um… yeah, I am.” She frowns at me angrily.
“I know the owners. Plus, the resort isn’t open,” I tell her.
“Really? You know the owners?” Raising a brow at me, I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
“Yes, Logan and Noah Stone,” I reply.
She doesn’t look convinced. I know the Stone twins from being in the same circles back in Manhattan. Even though we run similar businesses in the travel sector, we are vastly different. They’ve attended my family’s fundraising events. I’ve seen them at clubs with beautiful women draped over their arms. I’ve even seen them on my daily run in Central Park. Can’t really escape them.
“Really?” She stares at me. “Prove it.” The mysterious woman challenges me as she folds her arms across her chest stubbornly.
Challenge accepted. I pull out my phone, and dial Logan, then put it on speaker.
“Davenport, what do you want?” Logan’s gruff voice echoes through the night.
“There’s a beautiful brunette sitting on the beach drinking wine directly from a bottle, and she says she’s staying at your resort.” Looking down at her, I smile. “Just wanted to check if it’s true or if I should call the cops?”
There’s a pause.
Then Logan bursts out laughing.
“Lenna. Can you hear me?” Logan calls out.
My eyes widen.
“Yes,” she mumbles unhappily.
Okay, maybe she is staying at the resort.
“I’d like to introduce you to Rhys Davenport. The Stone Group’s biggest competitor.”
I chuckle. It’s nice of him to acknowledge that.
“Davenport, I’d like you to meet Lenna Lund, my HR Director.”
“Well, I’m glad we could sort this all out.” I smirk. “See ya around, Stone.” Hanging up on him before he gets a chance to say anymore, I smile down at Lenna. I’m glad she’s someone who’s supposed to be here because I didn’t really want to call the cops on such a beautiful woman.
“You thought I was a squatter, didn’t you?” she asks.
I hold up my hands and smile. “Well, yeah, but in my defense, I thought you were a very beautiful one.” Those chocolate eyes soften at my compliment.
“You can’t butter me up now after nearly calling the cops on me.”
I laugh. “I wouldn’t have called the cops on you, but I might have made a citizen’s arrest.” Flirtation swirls around my words.
“Wow! That doesn’t sound creepy at all.” She giggles.
“I was hoping for more suave than creepy.” I shrug.
It’s nice talking to a woman who doesn’t appear to be after me for anything.
“You might need to rethink your strategy.” She raises a brow at me.
“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been single, so I guess I’ve lost my mojo,” I tell her.
“I doubt someone like you will be single for long,” she states, looking me over.
“You’d be surprised.” Shoving my hands into my pockets, not really wanting to tell this beautiful woman about my messed-up divorce.
“Sounds like there’s a story there.” She looks up at me.
“You’d be right.”
“I’ve got wine.” She shakes the half-empty bottle in my direction.
Maybe there’s a reason I ran into this intriguing woman. Just not sure yet what it might be. I take the bottle of wine from Lenna and plonk myself down on the sand beside her. “How much time do you have?” I ask as I take a swig from the bottle.
“I’ve got nothing but time at the moment.” She takes the bottle back and takes a sip.
So, I tell her everything.
Ariana
Eighteen Months Later
I’ve been talking to this guy online for the past month called Rhys Bailey, and the man is gorgeous. He looks tall and broad from the pictures he posted online. He has dark, black hair with stunning blue, almost aqua eyes that I just get lost in. Tomorrow night is the night we finally get to meet for the first time as he’s been in London for work.
I want to see you dressed in a trench coat and your best lingerie with sky-high heels for me tomorrow night, Rhys messages me.
A shiver courses down my spine with anticipation each time I read his dirty requests.
“I’m here,” Emma greets me at the designer lingerie boutique.
What a year it’s been for her so far. She got engaged to her husband, Anderson, in Vegas. I know that doesn’t sound right, but it’s a long story. Then, unfortunately, the next day, a drunk driver hit the car that had my friends, Emma, Stella, and Elise were in, and it changed our lives forever.
I’ve spent part of the summer up in The Hamptons with Stella while she recovered from her broken leg. Now she and EJ have found love with each other, finally, after all these years of dancing around one another.
While we were away from the city, Emma fled to France after the accident due to the large slash she, unfortunately, got across her face. She’s a supermodel and having something so traumatizing happen to her face was all a little too much for her, so she ran. Obviously, Anderson ran after her, but Emma wasn’t ready to deal with all her emotional baggage, and I understand that. Emma had a traumatic childhood, and I think the accident might have brought up some past wounds.
You can still see a faint scar across her face under her makeup. Still, in all honesty, she looks even more beautiful because she’s not so perfect anymore, and she’s become more confident because of it.
She and Anderson are getting married next year in Vegas. They’ve also traded in the city life for the suburbs, which I’m surprised about because Emma is a city girl through and through. They bought a place near our friends, Lenna and Chloe.
Lenna has her gorgeous little man, Jagger, and will probably be knocked up again at any moment. I swear that woman is going to have a football team. Chloe’s getting married in the winter after being engaged to Noah for a year. She’s had quite the journey too, but they are stronger than ever.
Then there’s EJ and Stella, who have just gotten together over the summer, even though it’s been six years in the making. Now it’s full steam ahead on creating a life together. They’ve purchased a farm in Connecticut and are slowly transitioning from the city.
Now it’s just me in the city, all by myself. Which is fine. It’s not like I’m not out there having my fun. It’s my choice to be by myself. I don’t have time for a relationship, but maybe that will all change tomorrow night with Rhys.
“So, we’re looking for the hottest lingerie to get you laid?” Emma asks.
“Yeah, pretty much.” I grin as I run my hands along the silk of the intimate attire hanging up in front of me.
“Please tell me you have done your research on this guy?” Emma raises a brow in my direction. I know she’s just looking out for me, but since my friends are all happy in their relationships, it means they are way more concerned about mine. Emma, of all people, knows how the single scene in the city works. She was way worse than me with her hookups.
“Yes, of course,” I reply as I continue looking through the racks of the overpriced strips of material.
“And everything checks out?” she pushes. “’Cause, you know, no dick is worth losing your life over,” she warns me.
“I will let you all know the address. The time. Even the passcode to his building, so if anything happens, you can find me.” Shaking my head, I continue looking at the pastel garments.
“Good.” Emma grins. “It’s great seeing you excited about someone.”
“I think this guy is different,” I confess. “But we shall see how tomorrow goes. He might be all talk and no action.”
Emma shivers at the thought. “How’s work going?” she asks, changing the subject to one that I am even more reluctant to talk about.
“Urgh. I’m so overworking at Davenport Architects. They are a bunch of misogynistic, private school boys’ club and a bunch of dickheads.” Emma’s eyes widen at my reaction, then we both burst out laughing.
“Tell me how you really feel.” Emma grins.
I let out a heavy sigh. “I need to get out on my own, but I don’t have the money for it yet,” I explain.
Emma remains silent for a while as we continue looking at underwear.
“I still have my apartment in the city,” she explains. “I’m happy for you to move into it rent-free if that means you can get out on your own.”
I still at Emma’s generous offer. “Ems…” I begin, but she shakes her head.
“No, Ari.” She holds her finger up at me. “I never use it, but I also can’t bring myself to rent it out to randoms either. When I’m in the city, we stay at Anderson’s apartment. It’s just sitting there,” she tells me. “If you don’t have to pay rent, then you have a roof over your head. EJ owns a restaurant, so you will always have food on the table.” She grins. “So, tell me again why you can’t go out on your own?”
Tears well in my eyes. I turn and reach out to Emma and pull her into me and hug her tightly at her generous offer. “You think I can do it?” I ask her. Now that my dreams might be in my grasp, self-doubt has decided to creep in.
“Of course, I do. You’re an extremely talented woman. If our new home in Connecticut wasn’t so perfect, I would be hiring you to change it. Actually, I wouldn’t mind a larger boathouse.” She smiles.
“I love you,” I state, looking at one of my closest friends.
“Being married to a billionaire has its perks, and I should be able to share them with my friends.” Emma chuckles. “Now. Let’s buy you some of the hottest lingerie, so we can get you laid. Rhys Bailey isn’t going to know what’s hit him when he sees you.”