YOURS TRULY

by Bella Grant

  I saw the desire to in her eyes, but she shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly. What if I damaged it or something?”

  I pressed the car keys in her hand. “You’ll do fine. Go on, get in the driver’s seat.”

  “I should probably refuse,” she said hesitantly before she jumped in excitement. “But I really want to. I may never get another chance.”

  The words were on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’d buy her a sports car if it made her happy. Instead, I just smiled and sat in the passenger’s seat, which felt weird, but she was so excited that I was happy I was responsible for her that happiness.

  “Nice and easy,” I cautioned her as she plunged the key into the ignition to start the car. Her nervousness was palpable, but she was careful as she backed out of the driveway. She was tense to begin with, but she did a pretty decent job and soon relaxed.

  “Oh God, this feels sooo good,” she moaned, and the sound hit me hard in my gut. “Way better than my car.”

  “Maybe one day you’ll upgrade,” I suggested.

  She gave an incredible laugh and glanced at me when she paused at a stop light. “Are you kidding me? The insurance on this thing would probably take all my salary?”

  “Hmm, that reminds me, where do you work again?”

  She hesitated. “Umm. City and Guild’s. I’m an admin assistant, nothing glamorous.”

  “That’s next door to my friend Greg’s business!” I exclaimed in surprise. “Imagine one day I might have run into you while visiting Greg.”

  “You visit your friend?” she asked, her tone one I couldn’t make out.

  “Truth be told, he always pops in on me,” I answered. “I’ve not been there in a few years.”

  “Hmm.”

  We drove in silence the rest of the way as I directed her to Sahara’s, an upscale lounge where we could drink and talk. If we decided we were hungry, there was a restaurant and a dancefloor up the stairs, so all in all, it was a cool place to be.

  “Good job,” I complimented her when she parked and we exited the car.

  She threw the keys in my direction, and I caught them with ease. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those men who think women are horrible drivers.”

  The way she was looking at me was tempting, and I was still in disbelief that this woman, this sexy, smart, fun woman enjoyed being with me. I snagged her around the waist and pulled her close to me again, loving the slender feel of her body in my arms. She fit against my chest like I imagined Eve would have been carved out for Adam.

  “If I thought that, no way you’d have driven my car,” I responded to her question and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before leading her to the lounge with a hand possessively at her waist. I didn’t fancy letting her go. I wanted everyone to know she was there with me and she was leaving me.

  As we entered the lounge, heads swiveled in our direction. Guys checked her out despite the fact she was with me. I felt a little jealous at the looks she was getting, so I led her to a quiet corner where we could sit undisturbed.

  “This is a nice place,” she stated after the waitress stopped by our table to take our drink preference.

  “Yes, it is,” I agreed, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and the spaciousness of the room. I hated restaurants and public spaces that tried to pack as many tables and chairs as possible, not giving a fig about their customers’ comfort. “Did you want to sit in the restaurant area?” I asked, not wanting her to drink on an empty stomach.

  She shook her head and crossed her arms on the table. “No, Kelly cooked this evening.”

  “I wish I had someone to cook for me,” I mentioned.

  “I love cooking,” she stated. “Of course, Kelly is better at it than I am, but I hold my own.”

  We made small talk, sipping our drinks the waitress had delivered. Talking to her was so easy, and I was glad I’d decided to ask her out tonight even though I had a trip tomorrow to the Caribbean and should be resting. I frowned at the thought of being gone the weekend without her again. I’d have my phone, unlike during the retreat, but I suddenly didn’t trust leaving her on her own. What if she met someone else and forgot about me? What if one of the men who had been staring at her appreciatively approached her and reminded her she didn’t have to date someone who looked like me?

  I couldn’t lose her. I would be torn.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, concern in her voice. “You’re frowning awfully hard.”

  “I was just thinking,” I started, reaching across the table to take both her hands in mine and holding them securely, afraid of losing her. “I have to go on another trip this weekend. I leave tomorrow.”

  “Oh.” I heard the disappointment in her voice, which made me feel a hundred percent better about my proposal.

  “I know. I don’t want to be away from you again so soon,” I told her. “That’s why I want you to come with me.”

  “What?” She frowned at me in confusion. “You want me to go with you on your trip?”

  “That pretty much sums it up.”

  “But-but I can’t!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock. “I mean, people prepare for a trip. I haven’t bought a ticket, I haven’t packed anything. Maybe if the trip was next week.”

  “You don’t need to buy a ticket,” I explained to her. “We’d be taking my private jet.”

  “Your private jet?” she repeated in a daze.

  “Yes,” I answered, watching her reaction. “My private jet. We’re flying from here to the Bahamas.”

  “You own a private jet?” she asked, gasping.

  I nodded, and she reacted by trying to pull her hand away from mine. “Listen, it’s not that big of a deal.”

  “Not a big deal!” she exclaimed, her voice rising. “You own a private jet, Seth. How do you get that working in sales? Is this some joke? You’re not involved in anything illegal, are you?”

  I was touched that the first thing she did was question me about the legitimacy of my wealth. No other woman I’d spoken to wanted to know where my money came from. All they wanted to know was that I had money and if they could share in it.

  “I never said I worked in sales,” I corrected her. “You just jumped to that conclusion.”

  “And you never corrected me!” she cried, her lips forming a pout. “What do you do then?”

  “I’m Seth Armstrong, of Armstrong Co.,” I explained to her. “We are a conglomerate business not well known for the name Armstrong Co., but our areas of expertise are well known. We operate the chain of supermarkets across the nation, Hi-Lo, we are in charge of the insurance institution, Life-Pro, and other things, but we are more known for Line.”

  Her mouth had fallen open in shock. “You mean the telephone company?”

  “And cable,” I added. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, and I hope you’re not upset, but I had to ensure you liked me for me only and not because of anything else.”

  Instead of responding to me, I watched as she dug through her bag and removed her phone.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, eyeing her uneasily.

  She ignored me as she typed, then stared at the screen and read aloud. “Seth Henry Armstrong is the CEO of Armstrong Co., a successful business conglomeration, of which their most sizable asset is in telecommunications. As the only surviving member of a car crash that killed his entire family, Armstrong became one of the youngest CEO in the United States. His estimated net worth is 40.9 billion…”

  I could feel my cheeks redden as she stared at me, horrified. “You’re that Seth Armstrong?”

  “I know it’s hard to take in,” I remarked, trying not to make it sound like a big deal.

  “You should have told me!” she stated, and the corner of her mouth dipped. “You had several opportunities to do so.”

  “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone,” I explained. “And I couldn’t tell you on our first date, Robyn. The last date I went on, the woman told me we didn’t suit until she saw my car. Then she prop
ositioned me when I dropped her home. I had to be sure you were different.”

  “So your little test is over?” she asked, her voice taut with anger as she slipped her phone back into her bag. “Because if it is, I’d like to go home.”

  “Robyn, please understand.”

  “I want you to take me home,” she insisted, her anger mounting. “Or I’ll call a cab.”

  I signaled for the waitress to bring our bill, afraid she would leave without me. I never expected her to get so upset about me not being open with her. Women were generally pleased to discover the man they were sweet on was wealthy.

  I tried to put an arm around her waist as I had when we entered the lounge, but she moved away. I let my hand fall to my side with a sigh. I opened the car door for her to slip inside, secured all the locks and turned to her before I started the car.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I apologized. “But come on, that’s not something you tell someone on the first night you get together. What should I have said? ‘Hey, I’m Seth. I’m probably the ugliest guy you’ve ever dated, but I’m a billionaire, so that takes care of it?”’

  “You could have told me anytime,” she snapped. “I thought you were somebody you’re not.”

  “So just because you know I am wealthy, I’m suddenly someone else?”

  “I don’t want to date a billionaire,” she muttered, staring out the window. “I want to be with a regular guy.”

  “Well, I’m sorry I’m not a regular guy!” I exclaimed, running my fingers through my hair. “I like you. I like you a whole lot, Robyn, and that’s why I want you to go with me to the Caribbean. I don’t want to go without seeing you for another few days.”

  When she didn’t say anything, I started the car and drove her home. For the fifteen-minute drive, her head remained angled to the door on her side, staring through the window. We arrived at her house way too soon, and I parked in the driveway feeling defeated.

  “Robyn, please,” I started again, refusing to unlock the door for her to leave. “Look at me.”

  She reluctantly turned to me, biting her bottom lip. I released my seatbelt, thinking I’d reach her the one way I knew how. I cupped the back of her head and heard her sharp intake of breath when she realized what I was doing. Yet she didn’t pull away, which I wanted to point out to her. We wanted each other, and why should she deny us this simply because I was wealthy?

  Our lips clung to each other, not moving, just pressed together. I pulled away slightly.

  “I’ll send you the address for the private airfield I’ll be flying from. I leave at one. I’m hoping you’ll be on the flight with me, Robyn. More than you’ll ever know. We’ve just started this thing between us, and I don’t like to be so far from you.”

  Her eyes were downcast. With a sigh, I kissed her forehead and let her go. I could only do what I had promised: send her the information and hope she would show up. If she didn’t… My heart squeezed painfully at the thought, and I realized just how much I had been hoping for her to stick with me.

  Robyn

  “Oh God, what am I doing?” I groaned as I zipped up the small carry-on suitcase. I couldn’t believe I was going on a trip with Seth. I could have sworn last night when I went to bed that I’d decided not to go. How could I? The man was a billionaire, and now more than I ever, I no longer knew if I believed this was as simple as Greg wanting to find his friend someone to love. I wished I had a clue what was going on in that schemer’s mind, but I couldn’t think of anything. Greg was too complex an individual for me to think he really meant well, given the new information I had.

  When I’d woken up this morning, I was convinced I wasn’t going anywhere this weekend but the supermarket. And when I took a shower an hour ago, glancing at the clock, I’d told myself I was sticking to my guns. I’d stopped trying to fool myself when I reached for the suitcase in the closet and started packing. I didn’t even know what to pack. I suspected he was going on another business trip. Did he expect me to accompany him to business functions or was I supposed to be there only for his amusement when he was finished with business?

  I could have called to alert him that I’d changed my mind and would be there, but I didn’t want to. For one, there was still a niggling doubt at the back of my mind on whether I’d end up at the airport or turn the car around on the way there. The best thing for me to do was offer no expectations.

  Having finished packing, I tugged off my robe and dressed in a mid-thigh length blue and white skirt with a hot pink top. A hundred and one doubts crawled through my mind when I was combing my hair and checking I had transferred all relevant materials from one handbag to the other. I was still battling with the revelation that Seth was a billionaire. I’d never flown first class before much less fly on a private jet.

  My stomach felt like it was falling to the floor when I finished brushing my hair about my shoulders and stared at my reflection. I looked a little pale, so I pinched my cheeks, not wanting to use any blush. Seth had a thing for kissing me and I didn’t want to get makeup all over him.

  A warm flush spread to my nether region at the memory of Seth’s kisses. I wanted more, and no doubt if I made it all the way to the airport, we would be engaging in way more. We had met only twice for dates, and though intimacy between us seemed to be happening too soon, it also felt inevitable. Kisses like those we shared led in one direction. A bedroom. If we even made it that far.

  Pulling my mind out of the gutter, I grabbed my carry-on and wheeled it to Kelly’s room, where I knocked on the door.

  “What’s up?” she asked, pulling the door open. She had a pair of earphones hanging from her neck, snapping her hips to whatever she was listening to. “Whoa, you’re going somewhere?” she added, noting my outfit and the suitcase.

  I blushed and smiled nervously. “I think so. Can you drive me to the airport?”

  “Where you going?” she wanted to know.

  “The Bahamas with Seth for the weekend,” I told her breathlessly. “And you already know the drill. I expect the house to be in the same state when I return.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” she said with a salute. “Let me drag on a pair of jeans.”

  I waited about five minutes before she was ready. She took the driver’s seat while I buckled in and tapped my fingers on my thigh throughout the drive. The phone was in my lap as I contemplated calling Seth and letting him know I was on my way, especially when we encountered a traffic congestion and were running late. I still didn’t call. If I got there and he’d left, he would have no idea and I could return home feeling slightly better that I had tried.

  “You really like this guy, huh?” Kelly asked when we were almost at the private airfield.

  “Yes,” I sighed. “You met him. What do you think?”

  “He seems like a nice guy,” she replied. “A little serious, but you’re the same. Must be an old people syndrome or something.”

  “Ha-ha very funny.”

  “I have just one question, though,” she said, almost as though she didn’t really want to ask.

  “Shoot.”

  “I know you’re a very compassionate person,” she began. “You’re not dating this guy because you feel pity for him, are you?”

  I didn’t take her question lightly and actually thought about it. I reflected on the way he made me feel when we talked. The way he made me laugh. I thought of his kisses and how they always left me wanting more. No, I wasn’t with Seth because of his scars and feeling compassion for him. I was with him because he was a wonderful man who gave me butterflies in my stomach, and I wanted to know what it felt like having his naked rod pressed into me and not just feeling the thickness against my belly when we kissed.

  “No, I really do like him,” I answered with conviction. “And that was before I found out he’s a billionaire.”

  “Holy shit, what?” she exclaimed, her mouth gaping. “Did you just say he’s a billionaire?”

  “He told me last night.”

&nb
sp; “Damn, you have all the luck. How did blackmail turn into billionaire?”

  I shrugged. “Please, whatever you do, never mention the blackmail when he’s around.”

  She frowned. “So you’re not going to tell him how you two really met?”

  “I-I don’t know.” I brooded for the next several minutes because I wanted to tell him but didn’t know how. Maybe later when we were sure we wanted to be together and it wouldn’t matter anymore. I hoped it wouldn’t matter anymore.

  Kelly dropped me off at the airfield, and I told her to wait a few minutes because I wasn’t sure if he had left yet. I would text her if he hadn’t left so she could go. She hugged me and promised she would take good care of the house, giving me a grin that made me groan at the thought of her having the house all to herself for the weekend.

  Before I could change my mind, I wheeled the suitcase beside me and walked through the entrance of the building, hoping I wasn’t too late.

  “Ms. Richards?”

  I turned towards the sound of my name to find a woman about my age, dressed in a flight attendant’s uniform smiling kindly at me. “Yes?” I responded, wondering in disappointment if she was there to tell me the flight had left.

  “I’m Katie,” the woman introduced and extended her hand for a handshake. “Mr. Armstrong is waiting for you. Right this way, please.”

  “He’s waiting?” I asked, pleased. I glanced at the watch on my left hand. I was ten minutes late and he hadn’t left. He must really want me to go with him.

  I texted Kelly and followed the air hostess, marveling that I didn’t have to join long lines to go through security clearance. Katie reported that Mr. Armstrong was aboard the jet and awaiting my arrival. I stared in awe at the private jet, trying not to feel overwhelmed. Seth was no different than the man I’d first met because he was wealthy. He had been wealthy when we started talking, and I had no reason to believe he would act any differently.

  I climbed the steps behind the air hostess and swallowed hard when I came face to face with Seth just inside the jet. Of everything inside the jet that marked its opulence, I focused on Seth. He looked relieved when he saw me.