TORN: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novel)

by Love,Michelle

  “Yes there is something you could do and that is getting the bloody hell out of here. Scoot away and find yourself another billionaire who would decorate you with his millions, but stay away from Bernardo,” she almost spat the words out.

  Kathy was shivering, was it with anger or was she scared stiff at this woman who was towering over her?

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. I am Mr. Lorenzo’s personal assistant and nothing more,” said Kathy.

  “Oh yes you little tart, you thought you could get your pretty hands wrapped around him and you did get through a bit on your visit to Malaysia, didn’t you?” she spat.

  Kathy had had enough,

  Stretching to her five feet 7 inches, she looked the brunette in the eye.

  “Whoever you are Miss Whatever, you have got your information all tangled up. Mr. Lorenzo is in there and you can get yourself across there and untangle the tangle you have brought about,” said Kathy furiously.

  The brunette breezed into Bernardo’s room and Kathy took her handbag and left.

  She was not going to stay back and watch the drama unfold. Whoever she was it did prove that she occupied a better part of her time in Bernardo’s bed.

  Tears blurring her vision Kathy walked to the car park and drove off. She pulled the car on to the side of the road and placed her head on the steering wheel. It was then she realized it was raining. A bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, the world around her illuminating like a black and white negative. Kathy swore the lightning had struck close by, as she shuddered when there was a huge clap of thunder. Putting the car in motion, Kathy drove off to her apartment.

  When she reached the door of her apartment, she heard voices coming from Bernardo’s apartment. She stopped to listen. It was the voice of the brunette. Bernardo must have left with the brunette soon after Kathy left, otherwise he would not be in his apartment now.

  “But you can’t be sleeping with that little whore called your personal assistant,” the brunette asked.

  “Even if I am what does it matter to you, Celina?” said Bernardo.

  So the brunette’s name was Celina, thought Kathy.

  Kathy knew eyes dropping was not a good trait, but she could not help herself. Kathy moved closer to Bernardo’s apartment door.

  “Oh it does matter, Bernardo, it sure does,” said Celina.

  “Look Celina, you know I come to you on the weekends and we go out as a family. Isn’t that enough for you?” asked Bernardo.

  Kathy’s hand flew to her mouth. So Bernardo had a family tucked away somewhere. What a nerve did Bernard have to make love to her, when he did have a family.

  “But Bernardo, Adriano needs you. He may be little now, but he would want to know who his father is when he grows up,” said Celina.

  Kathy had heard enough. She walked across to her apartment and immediately started packing. She was not going to stay one moment at the apartment. She would go back to where she lived before and commute to office from there. She was safe from Bernardo if she lived away from him. And if Bernardo was not satisfied with that, he could go stuff it.

  There was silence from Bernardo’s apartment. She called for the porter and was glad she had not met him before.

  “I want you to take my suitcases through the back entrance, as it is closer to where my car is parked. Can you do it?” she asked the porter.

  He hesitated a little, but when she showed a fifty dollar bill, he smiled and shook his head vigorously.

  She caught the elevator down and then handing over the apartment keys to the receptionist, as she always did, Kathy walked out to the car park, where the porter was standing, almost to attention, with her suitcases by his side.

  He helped her to load the boot and then waved at her as she drove away.

  When she was a good one mile away from the apartment, she stopped and dialed Mala’s mobile. Kathy prayed Mala would be in. Her prayers were answered when she heard Mala’s voice.

  “Hello Kathy how are you?” asked Mala.

  “Hi Mala. I am coming back to the apartment. Hope you have not taken a roommate, have you?” asked Kathy hopefully.

  “Oh no Kathy. You can come anytime. In fact Mrs. Accosi and I were talking about you last evening. You are welcome Kathy, anytime,” said Mala.

  “Can I come now? Really I am on my way,” said Kathy.

  Mala knew something must have happened for Kathy to walk out. She had heard of Bernardo’s lifestyle and the women he bedded. He was a playboy and every magazine, saw a woman draped on his arm.

  Kathy reached, Mala’s apartment. Mala was out in seconds helping her to carry her suitcases. Kathy had left whatever Bernardo had given her back in the apartment. She did not want to own any of them now.

  She would tender her resignation the following day.

  While she told Mala all about what she had heard, the girl was very sympathetic towards Kathy.

  “I am really glad you are back. I missed you. said Mala,”

  You can always find a job Kathy,” she continued.

  Kathy had switched off her mobile phone and put it in her handbag. She knew Bernardo would try to call her.

  Chapter 8

  Back at Cardiff, Bernardo was furious that Kathy had left. Celina had told him of how she had asked her to leave and she was glad that Kathy had heeded her command.

  Bernardo did not want Celina to stay back in his apartment. He wanted to be alone. Where could Kathy have gone?

  When he searched her apartment, he found all her things missing and only whatever he had given her, she had left behind.

  He cursed Celina, he cursed himself, he shouted at Ralph. The porter was asked whether he helped Kathy with her luggage. The fifty dollar bill still in his pocket, he denied point blank that he helped her, as the warmness of the bill nudged him.

  He dialed her mobile once more and found it switched off.

  Pouring himself a stiff scotch he walked on to the balcony. He had never felt this way, as it was he who walked out on his women out and not the other way around.

  “Celina, you bitch. Why did you have to make an appearance?” he growled to himself.

  He wished that he had paid off Celina at the beginning when she said she was pregnant with his child. But she insisted that she wanted to have the baby and would never trouble him.

  Come to think of it, was Adriano his child? Why didn’t she agree to a DNA test when his lawyer suggested it. He was so naïve then and now it was no point going back and digging up the past, which did not have a pleasant aroma at all.

  The following morning Bernardo got up with a thundering headache. He popped two Tylenols in his mouth and sent a whole glass of water after them.

  Kathy should come into office this morning. She had unfinished work and moreover she had to explain her sudden disappearance.

  In the meantime, Kathy walked into her room, looking like hell. Hearing a movement in Kathy’s room, Bernardo opened the connecting door. Kathy looked up from her seat.

  “Where the hell did you go last night?” he bellowed.

  “Bernardo, please keep your voice down it is none of your business to question me,” she spat out at him.

  Bernardo was shocked for a moment at her outburst.

  Getting up from her seat, Kathy walked up to him and stretched out an envelope.

  “Take this,” she said.

  Bernardo had a sick feeling that this was her letter of resignation. He hesitated before he took it from her and opened it.

  In the meantime Kathy had turned away and was picking up her handbag, when he spoke.

  “Kathy you cannot leave like this. You have unfinished work,” he said.

  “No Mr. Lorenzo, I will not leave the unfinished work. If you read the letter carefully, you will see my resignation takes effect tomorrow evening and so I have all the time to finish the work that is pending,” she said.

  “Look Kathy, I can explain,” said Bernardo.

  “You need not explain anything t
o me, but I think you got a lot of explaining to give Celina, in case she comes around today, with Adriano,” said Kathy with a sneer.

  Bernard was shocked when he heard her mention Adriano. How on earth did she find out? Did Celina tell her?

  Kathy immersed herself in the unfinished work as she needed to clear the backlog and have a clean slate ready for the next personal assistant, whom she hoped would not be as vulnerable as she.

  The whole day and the next, Bernardo tried to convince Kathy to stay back, but she relented and said her mind was made up.

  The last day of her stay at Lorenzo Conglomerates was the worst day of her life. She had fallen in love with Bernardo and was deeply saddened by what she had heard. However, she could not go on, if he had a family out there somewhere.

  Sighing she looked around and took up her handbag. She did not stop to speak to anyone, not even Bernardo, who was in his office.

  Leaving the office, she stood in the car park and looked back once more and then she strode to her car, got in a drove away, leaving the love of her life behind, but taking the memories with her, which she would cherish until the day she left this world.

  Chapter 9

  Kathy did not hear from Bernardo after she left Lorenzo Conglomerates. However, she read in magazines of his new women and his lifestyle, which he had not given up and would, she thought, never give up. This was Bernardo and this was his life. He would never deviate from the hobby of taking women, having them and then leaving them. The women who he had associations with knew where they stood, they were immune to not falling in love, but only to giving their bodies for his pleasure and steamy sex. But what happened to Kathy was she fell in love with him and it was all wrong.

  Kathy once again started scanning the newspapers for vacancies, but found nothing to her liking or anything that would suit her qualifications.

  Aunt Margie telephoned her that evening.

  “Kathy darling, how are you?” asked Aunt Margie.

  “I am ok Aunty Margie,” said Kathy.

  An idea sprang into Kathy’s mind. Why didn’t she take a holiday and fly out to London for a few weeks, so that she could put all what happened in Italy behind her.

  “Aunt Margie, I was thinking of coming over to London on a holiday. Would the end of this month be okay with you?” asked Kathy.

  “Why of course darling, I would love to have you with me. Let me know when you have made plans,” said Margie delightfully.

  Kathy started making plans for her trip to London. She bought new clothes, shoes and presents for her Aunt and Uncle and cousins.

  She had booked her flight and everything was ready.

  One week prior to her leaving for London, Kathy was doing a bit of last minute shopping, when she felt dizzy and groped around trying to steady herself. A young man who was passing by, helped her to a chair.

  “Would you like a glass of water?” he asked.

  “Yes please,” croaked Kathy.

  She felt miserable. Of late she had not been eating much and she attributed it to missing Bernardo. But he was a closed chapter now.

  After the glass of water, Kathy felt better. Thanking the young man, she walked to her car and again she felt a wave of nausea.

  She drove back to the apartment and made it just in time to the washroom, where she wrenched and vomited. Mala came rushing in.

  “Kathy what’s the matter honey?” asked Mala.

  Kathy could not speak. She was exhausted from vomiting. Washing her face, she looked in the mirror and was shocked to see that she looked like hell.

  “Let’s see Dr. Luka this evening,” said Mala.

  Kathy shook her head.

  “It will pass Mala. Maybe it is something I ate,” said Kathy.

  But nothing seemed to have changed overnight and the following day Mala insisted that Kathy come with her to Dr. Luka’s.

  Mala drove Kathy and when they arrived at the clinic they were happy to see there were a handful of patients.

  Dr. Luka examined Kathy and rubbed his chin.

  “When did you have your last period?” he asked.

  Kathy looked at him in surprise. It was then that she realized she had not had her period for about a month and normally she was regular.

  “It is two weeks gone and I have not had my period,” said Kathy.

  Dr. Luka nodded.

  “I thought so. Well anyway let’s take a urine test and will see thereafter,” said Dr. Luka, scribbling something on notepad. Tearing off the page, he gave it to his nurse and asked her to take Kathy to the laboratory.

  Kathy held Mala’s hand tight as they went down the corridor of the clinic.

  Looking at the report over his spectacles, Dr. Luka smiled and turned to Kathy.

  “Kathy you are pregnant,” he said.

  Kathy almost fainted.

  “I am pregnant?” she whispered.

  Dr. Luka nodded. “Yes you are my dear,” he said.

  Prescribing a few vitamins, Dr. Luka asked her to see him in one month’s time.

  Kathy inquired from him whether it was okay if she flew to London. She told him she had made plans, which could not be cancelled.

  Dr. Luka nodded and said she was almost two months pregnant and it was in order.

  Kathy sighed in relief. At least she would not run into Bernardo.

  Mala and Kathy came back to the apartment.

  Mala looked at Kathy with a serious expression.

  “Don’t you think you should inform Bernardo. I know he is the father of the child you care carrying,”

  Tears pricked Kathy’s eyes.

  “No Mala. I will not let him know. He should never know and will never know. I am going to have this baby, as it will be all I have of my memories with him,” cried Kathy.

  Mala hugged her and the two girls cried together.

  Mala drove Kathy to the airport. Hugging her at the departure lounge Mala cried and so did Kathy.

  “Do call me once you arrive in London,” said Mala as she waved at Kathy.

  Kathy boarded the plane and lucky for her she had got a seat by the window. As the plane taxied, she found herself crying looking down at the trees that speed past as the plane took to the skies.

  Yes she was leaving Italy and leaving Bernardo. But she was taking the most precious gift he had given her. Her baby. Kathy gently caressed her belly and closed her eyes.

  Will Bernardo ever know that he gave a precious gift to Kathy and that was the only gift that she took with her, while she had left all the others at the apartment?

  Only time will tell.

  End of Book 1

  The Alpha Billionaire’s Edge

  Book 2

  By: Michelle Love

  Chapter 1

  Aunt Margie was at the airport with two of her cousins Derika and Denham. Kathy was seeing her cousins after years and they looked so grown up. Aunt Margie was the same, except that her head of hair resembled a pepper and salt combination.

  “Aunty Margie, how nice to see you,” said Kathy as she hugged her aunt.

  Derika and Denham smiled at her as they came forward to hug her.

  “Welcome home Kathy,” said Derika.

  Derika was about the same age as Kathy and looking at her Kathy knew they would be the best of friends.

  Denham drove them home and at the door to greet them was Uncle Benedict. He too had grown old and shared the same pepper and salt hair as Aunt Margie.

  Kathy hugged her Uncle.

  That evening they all sat in the living room, as Kathy gave them the gifts she had brought. There were oohs and aahs as everyone opened their gifts.

  “Kathy you should not have gone through all this trouble of getting gifts for us,” said Aunt Margie.

  “Thank you,” said Denham and Derika followed suit.

  Uncle Benedict was elated by the books she had brought him and also a fine pipe and tobacco.

  Aunt Margie had arranged the guest room for Kathy.

  Kathy felt she had real
ly come home. It was as if she was having her mum and dad with her now. That night before she went to bed, Aunt Margie came to her room and sat on her bed.

  “Kathy, I couldn’t help but notice that you picked at your food. May it you are tired,” she said.

  Kathy looked at her aunt and tears welled in her eyes.

  “Aunt Margie, I am pregnant,” she blurted out.

  Aunt Margie looked at her in surprise.

  “Kathy you can tell me. What really happened? Who is the baby’s father?” asked Aunt Margie.

  Kathy related the whole story to Aunt Margie.

  Aunt Margie was shocked that Kathy had not informed Bernardo of her pregnancy.

  “As the father of the child, he needs to know,” said Aunt Margie.

  “I know that Aunt Margie, but will he accept it, is the question,” she said.

  ‘He is such an arrogant man, that I am sure he would turn round and tell me the baby is not his,” continued Kathy.

  “Well Kathy, you know you have a home here. You can live with us as long as you like and when you have the baby, I would be happy to help you out,” said Aunt Margie.

  Kathy leaned forward and hugged her Aunt, as tears poured down her cheeks.

  Aunt Margie patted her back.

  “Now don’t you go around crying. It is not good for the little one. A baby in its mother’s womb knows when she is sad and it affects the baby too,” said Aunt Margie.

  Kathy decided that from then onwards she was going to be happy and have a good time with her cousins, Aunt and Uncle.

  Chapter 2

  Bernardo, was furious with Kathy for leaving the company. There were a lot of questions and raised eyebrows amongst the staff, but Bernardo played it down to saying, she left because of family problems. Most of the staff knew that was a frivolous excuse and some of them blamed him. They had come to like Kathy and they missed her too.

  “Damn it Kathy. You walk out of the company and my life and I have to answer the unasked questions of the staff here,” he said to himself.

  Bernardo dialed Mala’s mobile.