Consuelo wasn’t answering his phone, which was mildly irritating. The only two men she’d talked to today had treated her badly, and she desperately wanted to hear Connie’s sweet voice, telling her how much he loved her and what he wanted to do to her later. Of course, Justine wasn’t sure what she’d be up to, considering how sore she was, not to mention quite bruised, and a little tired from the pain medication they gave her. Before leaving, Justine called for a cab and asked them to pick her up within twenty minutes of her release, which they did. She paid the hospital with a check from her personal bank account in the States, one that Uri didn’t know she had, once again to assure there was no paper trail. Then, as she walked out of the hospital, she threw the paperwork they had given her into the trashcan.
The driver glanced back occasionally at her in the rearview mirror, which only annoyed her. The last time he looked back, Justine stared hatefully into the mirror at him, and he never looked back again. She would never have gone out in public like this if she hadn’t had a good reason. And right now, it was a means to an end. Before getting out of the car, she draped the long gray scarf over her face, as she had done when she left. No need for those around her to see how visibly disfigured she was. Between that and the sunglasses, no one was the wiser.
Uri was waiting for her in her suite. Housekeeping had already cleaned up the spilled vodka, the glass, and the blood. When Uri saw his wife’s bandaged arm, he burst into tears. He had been in such a rage that he didn’t even remember breaking the glass that cut her. She walked past him, distant and unaccepting of his apologies until it suited her. Justine acted offended that he had punished her before she was able to explain that she was entertaining someone who was helping her to buy a particular sailboat that he had been wanting. She made a mental note to find the elusive salesperson before the end of her trip, to validate her story if needed. Uri begged and cajoled until she finally, tearfully accepted his apology.
Justine had considered telling him about Sydney, but wouldn’t—not quite yet. She had already paid a private investigator to follow Bill and his little tramp. And since the investigator had someone on the inside at the laboratory in his pocket, the results would indeed come back in her favor. But since she didn’t like leaving anything to chance, she would wait until her investigator had the results in his hand to break the news to Uri of his long lost daughter.
Uri was beside himself trying to please her, offering to call room service to order in lobster thermidor for a late night dinner, her favorite, with a fresh berry trifle for dessert. She was too sore and tired, so he was more than happy to take her to bed, although make-up sex was definitely out of the question, with the level of pain she still professed. He promised her a day of pampering at the spa to relieve her sore muscles and make her feel brand new. Justine accepted his offer—only if he promised her a shopping spree, and only if she was feeling better, of course. Uri, as always, promised her anything she wanted. He could always take care of business tomorrow night. After a day at the spa, she was always in a better mood and usually more compliant.
Most nights Justine slept in a separate bedroom since Uri’s snoring was like a freight train going through a tunnel, but tonight, with her pain meds, she slept through with no problem. When she awoke in the morning, Uri was already gone, probably working out in the gym downstairs. She pulled her other cell phone from between the mattresses and called Consuelo again. Damn. He still wasn’t answering. Where the hell was he? He was there for her, not the other way around. She called her private investigator, this call going to voicemail as well. She checked the time again. It was after ten. She called room service and ordered a specialty smoothie.
Not having any success with her other phone calls, Justine called the hotel spa, but all their appointments for that day were completely booked. Telling them she was in the penthouse didn’t pull any weight since they were down a person as well. Did she want to schedule one for tomorrow? Justine emphatically told them no; that was unacceptable and unprofessional, and the manager would be hearing from her. She slammed the phone down to emphasize her point. A moment later her phone rang. It was her investigator informing her of Bill’s arrest. They would arraign him Monday the morning. Justine told him to see what he could do to expedite the lab results. Then she instructed him to keep her posted.
Room service arrived a few minutes later with her smoothie. Justine was in such a good mood she’d forgotten how bruised she was until the waiter looked aghast at seeing her face. She gave him an annoyed glare and signed his ticket without giving him a tip before slamming the door in his face. Then she lay on the sofa, propped her feet up and sipped on her smoothie. It was almost as good as Consuelo’s. Feeling a little more refreshed she dialed his number again. When it went to voice mail, again she left him a less loving message than she had before, laid back and finished her smoothie. Justine closed her eyes. How humiliating it must have been for Bill—being arrested in front of his daughter and his little whore and all his paying guests. She smiled to herself. Yes, everything was falling into place quite nicely.
Chapter 58
When they released Bill on bail, (again), Monday morning, Charlie picked him up and took him straight to the farm. Sydney ran into his arms, the simple gesture bringing tears to his eyes. Jessie assured him they had discussed everything with Destiny. Under the circumstances, Destiny thought it best Bill not return to the Kemper House at least for a couple of days. There was no media coverage this time, which was a relief. And Destiny and Sandy had everything under control. Bill was concerned that she was through with him, especially when she didn’t answer his calls. But Jessie assured him the women had talked for a long time about the circumstances in which they found themselves. She told him just to leave Destiny alone for a couple of days to run his business until they knew what would happen next.
That would allow Bill to have a day to recuperate, and for he and Charlie to discuss what would happen next. He had to admit he was more than a little annoyed that Charlie was being so cryptic. Charlie assured Bill that his contacts would be in touch with him soon on all fronts, and they could proceed from there. They encouraged him to get some rest because he was going to need his strength over the next few days. Bill said he hadn’t slept at all the night before, but felt fine. However, once he lay on the bed, just for a few minutes—to relax he said—he slept straight through until the next morning.
When Bill finally woke, he insisted that he needed to go back to Kemper House, even though Charlie and Jessie encouraged him not to. When he argued, they reminded him how badly it went the last time he failed to listen to the advice his attorney had given him. So he sulked, and then went riding with his daughter.
Meanwhile, Destiny had risen early, fed the guests, checked them out and had the rooms’ linens flipped. Andy called her with the not so great news. He had been unable to delay the results. Then he told her something he considered a little odd. One of the senior lab techs was handling the results, and more specifically, guarding the results. Which was out of the ordinary, since they were just regular paternity test lab screenings. Destiny filled him in briefly on the arrest and Bill’s subsequent release, and they promised to talk later that day. Then she called her attorney to request a meeting with the DA’s office later that day.
Lisa called Destiny and asked if she was available about one o’clock that afternoon to meet her at her spa for a massage. Since Sandy had promised to stay through the evening, she told Lisa the time was perfect. She made another phone call to Jessie, inquiring if she wanted to meet them as well. Her excitement was apparent. It was a date. She just had a few phone calls to make first, and then she would be meeting them.
Then Destiny called Bill, who was riding with Sydney. He promised to talk for as long as they had good reception.
“By the way, we found your phone. The one you lost during the storm.”
“It’s supposed to be waterproof.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think it’s horse-proof,”
he laughed. “That’s how we found it. Peanut stepped on it.”
“I somehow doubt the warranty covers ‘stepped on by horse.’”
After a brief silence, Bill asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am,” Destiny replied.
“Are we okay?”
“Absolutamentee!”
“What?”
Destiny laughed. “Ask your daughter. That’s her word.” She hesitated a beat, then asked, “Do you remember the first time we met?”
“How can I forget? You were hitting on my brother.”
“Whatever. Look, I mean…”
Bill furrowed his brow. “You obviously have something to ask me, so just ask me. I won’t lie to you.”
“Your face,” she began. “You looked like you’d been in a fight.”
Bill chuckled. “You know that massive, gaudy desk in the hallway?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, there ya’ go. She and I had a run-in very early one morning.”
Destiny chuckled.
“Hey, it may be funny now, but it hurt like he—” he began, then looked over at his daughter. “—like heck.” Bill rubbed his nose at the reminder. “My nose will never be the same.”
“I like your nose.”
Bill sighed, glancing over at his daughter again as she rode her pony proudly. “I miss you.”
“What, you didn’t have some guy named Bubba keeping you company in the slammer?”
“That’s not funny.”
“Maybe a little,” Destiny teased. “Okay, maybe not much. I’m sorry. That was in poor taste.”
“Am I going to see you today?”
“I don’t know. I have some things I have to do, and then I have to meet with my attorney.”
“Your attorney?”
“Yeah, long story. Hey, I have to go,” she sighed, as a call came through on her phone.
“I love you.” But she was already gone.
“I knew it!” Sydney exclaimed.
“Knew what?”
“That you two liked each other,” Sydney smiled smugly.
“Really?” Bill wrinkled his lips. “So… How do you feel about that?”
“I’m cool with it. I told Destiny that, too, when she asked me.”
Bill smiled a crooked smile. “You’re cool with it, huh.”
“Yup.”
“I’m glad you’re cool with it, Sweetie because I really like her. Actually… I’m in love with her, and I want to ask her to marry me. Are you cool with that, too?”
“Yup,” she added, nonchalantly.
“Good.” Bill breathed in the crisp morning air. “Good.” He smiled to himself as they crested the next hill, before disappearing into the morning mist.
Reconciliation
Chapter 59
Justine had been ecstatic when Consuelo texted her that he wanted to meet. His phone had been acting up, so she’d have to communicate by text until he could get it fixed. She texted back that she’d forgive him if she could see him. Uri was in town, so they’d have to be discreet. He promised her a day of pampering and an afternoon spent in bed. Even better, he’d set up a spa day at one of the most exclusive and celebrated salons in Austin—and in just two hours! Uri had disappeared again, most likely shopping for jewelry to help ensure he would get laid later that night. So she left him a note that she was doing a day at the spa and would meet him for dinner sometime around seven. That would give Consuelo and her plenty of time.
Justine took a cab, only because she didn’t want any record of her travels at the hotel. She even changed cabs twice, to assure no one was following her. When she finally arrived, she was greeted by a long legged lovely wearing a low-cut dress that showed off her firm, ample bosom. Justine knew it was a spa of the highest caliber when an attendant met her with fresh cucumber water and immediately showed her to her private room. She undressed, lay face-down on one of the heated tables, under a warm polyester blanket and waited for Connie and her massage, both her phones on the table in front of her chest. Soon, the door opened, and a pair of slender feminine legs entered, a butterfly tattoo on one ankle. She usually preferred to be worked on by a masseur, rather than a masseuse, but sometimes she actually enjoyed women, especially when she and Consuelo were getting couples’ massages. She found it kind of erotic. The door opened again, and another set of legs walked in, then another. She lifted up on the table, not concerned at all with covering up her breasts.
“Who the hell are you?” she asked the three women in white robes.
“Is this her?” Jessie asked.
“Yup,” Destiny said. “This is her.”
“I recognize you.” Justine glared at Destiny. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Lisa smiled and sat down in one of three chairs that had been strategically placed against the wall so that Justine would have to face them. “You can just refer to us as the three amigos,” she replied, a handful of files and a phone in her lap.
“I’m waiting for someone.” Justine lay back down. “I think you are in the wrong room.”
Lisa dialed the phone and Justine’s phone rang. Justine lifted up again, looking at the number on her phone and saw it was Consuelo’s number. Lisa hung up.
“How did you get that?” Justine asked, staring at the phone in the woman’s hand.
“I think you need to stop talking and start listening,” Jessie stated flatly.
“I think I’m going to call the manager and put an end to this right now.”
Lisa raised her hand. “That would be me.”
Justine sat up, holding the blanket around her and sliding from the table.
Jessie walked to the door and stood in front of it.
On the massage table, Lisa opened one of the files and laid out several pictures of Justine and Consuelo together, in and out of bed. They were explicit enough that Destiny had blushed when she first saw them. Lisa pointed at one in particular. “That’s my favorite,” she smiled, tilting her head. “Although, for the life of me I can’t figure out how he—well, never mind. You get the gist of it.”
Justine was shaken, but only for a moment. “These are nothing.”
“Really? Then I guess the set that we have waiting at the hotel for your husband won’t bother him at all. Maybe he’d even like to try some of these positions,” She looked back at the pictures. “Oh, my! I mean, if he could. Somehow I don’t think he’s as agile as, what’s his name? Consuelo?”
“What have you done with Consuelo?”
Lisa laughed. “We haven’t done anything with Connie, is it? In fact, you just missed him. We had a nice little chat.”
“Where is he?”
“By now, probably on a flight back to Milan, with his tail tucked between his legs,” Lisa smiled slyly. “Nice body, by the way. Not bad to look at, only that’s not all you were doing, was it Justine?”
Justine glared at her.
“Actually, he’s quite the affable young man. By the way, Connie told us to keep the phone. I mean, I don’t think he needs it anymore. Do you? In fact, I don’t think he cares if he ever hears from you again. Especially after we explained the situation to him.”
“Situation?”
“That we were going to send the same pictures to his wife. Those and several others that we happened upon, only it wasn’t you in all the other photos,” she added, almost empathetically. “There were two, or was it three other women?” she asked dramatically, holding out another handful of pictures for Justine to see.
Justine glanced at the first one in Lisa’s hand and crossed her arms. She refused to take the pictures. Lisa shrugged and placed them on top of the others.
Jessie and Destiny looked perplexed as well.
“Three, I think,” Destiny said.
“Yeah, I think it was three,” Jessie agreed.
Lisa continued. “You see; he was more concerned about his prenup than you seem to be. He’s not about to blow his millions, is it?”
Jessie interjected
. “Tens of millions.”
“Yes, his tens, of millions, on a piece of ass. Or should I say, several pieces,” she added, dramatically.
Justine stared at her hatefully.
“Oh, I can see the wheels-a-turning. You’re pissed,” Lisa said smugly. “I can tell. But you know what? You’re not quite as smart as you think you are. You see, we’ve had people following your PI since you put a tail on Bill,” Lisa said sarcastically. “You knew you couldn’t find any dirt on him, so you had to manufacture it. Well, dearie, you just hit a dead-end.”
“Oh, really,” Justine replied, trying to sound self-assured.
“Yeah. Really. See, we have an affidavit by the lab guy,” she said, holding up another file. “The one you paid five thousand dollars to doctor the lab results. He’s ready to sing to save himself from jail time.” Lisa crossed her arms. “So, you see, we’ve traced the lab guy to your guy, and your guy to you, and you to Consuelo. It’s all a matter of connecting the dots.”
Justine clenched her teeth in anger.
“Oh, and there’s something else. Our other investigators, the ones we have in Italy? They struck gold, as well. It seems that your prenup also has a few stipulations. Besides the infidelity clause, it had a ten-year deadline on a having a kid, or lose millions. So, it made sense that you set your sights on Bill’s kid.”
“She’s Uri’s daughter.”
“No, she’s not,” Lisa said. “I’ve got the results right here.” She held up a third file and tossed it on top of the pictures. Nonchalantly, she picked up another file. “Oh, and look, here’s yet another one by another investigator—a medical file. Let’s see what this one says.” Lisa opened it, feigning surprise. “Why, you recently had an implant removed.” She turned to Destiny and then to Jessie. “Did you know that they can implant you to keep you from getting pregnant now?”
Destiny shook her head.
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