The silence stretched a minute or so before Evelyn broke it. “So you’ll do it?” Evelyn asked Joan.
“Yes. I’ll help Liam fix the mess he’s made of all this.”
Evelyn jumped in before Liam could because she knew him too well. “Good. It’s a deal then.”
Liam knew he should leave it at that, but he just couldn’t. “The mess I made?” Evelyn gave him the shut your mouth sign where Joan couldn’t see, and he ignored it. “Let’s see how well you swim when you’re on my side of the ocean. You won’t have two men to juggle like I had, but you won’t be swimming in the quiet boring pool you’re used to. There are sharks in these waters.”
“I’ve survived a gang shootout, bomb threats, and things you can’t imagine in the ER. A bunch of fat turkeys with fluffed up feathers and superiority complexes are not going to ruffle me.”
And there was her poker face. The fire in her eyes warmed him even as he knew it shouldn’t. She was tough and confident. Good, she’d need to be.
Maybe, just maybe, we can pull this off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The ringing of her alarm clock nagged at her to wake. Joan reached out hitting snooze but the ringing didn’t stop. “Have mercy.” She yanked on the cord pulling the plug out of the wall. The ringing continued with only a slight pause.
Joan opened her dry eyes. The ringing much too loud for the sudden sensitivity to her ears. Light illuminated from her phone.
Too bright.
She answered the phone to stop the ringing. “I’ve been calling you for an hour,” her sister Kenna scolded. “Are you okay?”
“You’re supposed to be on your honeymoon. Leave me alone. I’m sleeping.”
“With Liam Wainwright?”
Joan’s drowsy eyes popped open and she sat up. “What did you say?”
“I asked you if you’re sleeping with Liam Wainwright. You just broke up with that doctor guy. Now you’re engaged? I’m worried about you.”
“Where did you hear about that?” Joan pressed her hand against her pounding head.
Kenna made a disgusted sound. “Not from you, where I should have. Mom isn’t happy either. Dad is furious and you can’t blame him since he had to see his baby girl lying on some man on the five o’clock news.”
What am I going to do? Lie to my family?
“Since when do you engage in public makeout sessions, brawling rich guys, and limo sex?”
There’s no way I can tell her the truth. My family is not going to play along with some big elaborate lie.
“Joan?” Kenna demanded a response.
Liam has to lie to his family.
“We fell madly in love. It all happened so fast.”
“What? Last I heard you said Liam is a blowhard, arrogant jerk.”
Joan winced at the knocking on her front door. It sounded like someone banging on a drum. “There’s a very thin line between hate and love.”
“So… you really are in love?”
“Yep.” Joan opened the door to tell Mae and Amanda to stop banging on the door. It had to be them. There was no one else that she could think of that would bang on her door at this hour.
A photographer snapped her picture blinding her. “How does it feel to be engaged to the greatest inventor and billionaire of our time?”
Joan slammed the door.
“What was that?” Kenna asked.
“I’m really in love. I’m also hungover and blind. Some idiot took my picture with a flash as bright as looking at the sun.”
Kenna started relaying their conversation to her new husband. “If you’re happy then we’re happy for you,” she said once she came back to their conversation. “You’d better call our parents before they see you hungover in your PJs as the next newsflash.”
“Okay. I will. Get back to your honeymoon. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Joan tapped “End” on her phone. It was five thirty in the morning and according to her cellphone, she had two hundred eighty-seven missed calls, thirty voicemail messages with a full voicemail icon next to the number.
“Oh boy.” The phone started ringing in her hand. “How does everyone have this number? It’s unlisted.” She answered the phone. “Hello?”
“There is no picture of an engagement ring. Did Liam propose or not?”
Joan didn’t recognize the voice. “Who is this?”
“Chevy Lars with Calbi News. How do you feel about an interview?”
“I feel like you’re invading my privacy. Don’t call again.” She pressed “End” only to have the phone start ringing again with the same number on the display screen. Joan answered it. “You’re violating my rights as an American citizen. Stop calling me.”
“You are in the public eye now whether you like it or not. Answer my questions and I’ll stop calling.”
Joan tapped “End”.
Don’t answer it and he’ll give up.
She left the phone on the kitchen table and took a shower all the while to relentless ringing. Clean and dressed for work she reentered the living area. The ringing was still going.
Joan answered it and hung up. When it rang again before she could call into work she hit the green button. “Listen to me, you attention hungry narcissist. If you call me one more time I’m going to use my considerable knowledge in medicine to get away with your murder.”
When the line was silent Joan smiled with triumph.
“Joan Taylor? Do I have the correct number? This is Fran Wainwright, Liam’s stepmom.”
Joan bit her knuckles searching for something to say to explain.
“Wrong number.” She tapped “End” and dropped the phone on the couch like it was a snake and could strike out at her. “Oh my gosh, I just threatened Fran Wainwright.”
The phone rang again.
It’s her. It’s got to be her.
Joan bounced in place trying to decide whether or not to answer the phone. Just before it was about to go to voicemail, she picked up knowing her voicemail would give away that it was her phone.
“Hello?” she said in a deeper tone of voice.
“I’m looking for Joan Taylor. Is this she?”
“Yes.”
The deeper voice made her sound like a life long smoker.
“This is Joan Taylor?”
Joan blew out a breath. “Yes. Can I help you?” She was still doing the ridiculous voice. It was too late to change it.
“This is Liam’s mom Fran. I wanted to invite you to come and stay with us for a week or two. I’d love to get to know my soon to be daughter.”
“Thank you for inviting me. I can’t. I have to work. I’m a nurse.”
Fran laughed a playful sound. “Sweetheart, you’re going to be a Wainwright. You don’t have to work.”
“I want to work. I love my job, but I’m sure I’ll be out to see you soon. Thanks for calling.”
“Wait.” Fran got in before Joan could hang up.
Joan held her breath. “Yes?”
“I understand you are not accustomed to fame. You must be overwhelmed. Take a day off and take our jet here. I can help you adjust.”
“That’s very kind of you but I am out of vacation days.”
And I have no intention of lying anymore to you than necessary.
“I understand, though you won’t be able to dodge me for long. We’re practically family.”
“I look forward to meeting you, and uh, thank you for being so kind. Goodbye.” She tapped the button this time before she’d even finished saying goodbye.
Joan turned off her phone. “Handled that well, didn’t you, Joan? She must think I’m as crazy as Alise.” Grabbing her keys, she looked out the peephole in her door. She didn’t see the guy with the camera, but she also knew that didn’t mean he wasn’t outside waiting.
There was no way Joan was missing work while her ex was trying to get her fired. Snatching up her purse, Joan opened the door. Still no sign of him.
Good.
<
br /> Pulling the door shut she locked it. When she turned for the stairs there was another bright flash. “This is harassment. I have to go to work.”
“Still no ring, huh?”
“I’m not about to lose it at work. It’s too big.” Joan hoped that would satisfy the annoying reporter and opted for the elevator instead.
He followed.
“People are saying you’re a modern-day Cinderella. What do you think of that?”
Joan cut him a side glance. “Sounds more like a headline you’re shooting for.”
He laughed, nodding the pen in his hand at her before scribbling something down on his notepad. The doors opened. He caught her arm as she started out. “I wouldn’t go that way if I were you. There are a lot of reporters out there.”
“How’d you get in my building?”
“I’m lucky enough to live here.” He grinned under his pointed nose. “You won’t make it far on your own. I could give you a ride.”
Joan poked her head out of the doors. There were some people standing around talking but there was no way they were waiting for her. “I’ll take my chances.”
Her heartbeat sped up as she approached the glass doors. When she pushed through them, the people lingering outside turned and surrounded her.
“Show us a pretty smile, Joan.”
“If I do will you leave me alone?” Joan started walking and they backed up, however, maintaining the wall of people around her.
I’ve had more than enough of this.
She smiled. They took pictures while yelling out questions like, “How did Liam propose?” and “Have you set a date for the wedding?”
“I’ll answer three questions and then you’re going to leave me alone.” Joan pointed at the guy in the back with the black thick rimmed glasses. “Question one, go.”
He pushed the frames up his nose. “Why did Liam punch Xander Clark? And does he feel remorse for his violent actions?”
“It was a misunderstanding. Both sides of that fight have resolved the problem.”
“So, you’re condoning violence as an answer?”
“I said one question, Harry Potter, but no, I don’t condone unnecessary violence.” The crowd chuckled at her JK Rowling reference. She pointed to her left selecting a female wearing a red blazer. “Your question?”
She smiled. “Would you compare Liam Wainwright to Don Juan or is he more like the count of Monty Christo?”
How should I know? “Liam is…” say something nice “is an entity all his own. I can’t think of anyone to whom I could compare him. Liam Wainwright is the confident, brilliant inventor he presents himself to be.” Joan quickly pointed to another reporter. “Last question.”
“Does Liam know about your family debt in medical bills for your sister Kenna’s cancer, or were you going to wait until after the wedding to tell him?”
Violence is not the answer. Violence is not the answer.
“My family’s financial business is, in fact, their business, not yours or anyone else’s. As far as Liam knowing about any of my financial matters, there is no need. I take care of myself. That was the last question and the only one I’ll ever take from you,” Joan said meeting the eyes of the man asking the question.
At last they parted enough she could squeeze through. They continued firing questions at her but she didn’t answer any of them. Truthfully, she wasn’t listening anymore.
Her family was being dragged into this too?
I really didn’t realize what I was getting myself into.
***
Crenshaw stood up from behind his desk. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here after last night.” He slammed his hands down on his desk.
“I understand why you feel that way,” Liam said standing his ground. “I’m here to take responsibility for my actions.”
“The deal is off.”
Liam clenched his jaw but nodded. “I figured as much and don’t blame you. My behavior last night must make you think the worst of me.”
“Humph. Damn right.”
“I fell in love with Joan Taylor. It wasn’t planned and I fought it for as long as I could because I respect you and Alise, care for you both as friends. You know what that kind of love is like. It’s undeniable.”
“You’re incapable of that kind of love. I see the women you pick up and lose. Not my Alise though. Not Alise. You were to protect her heart, instead you stomped on it just because you saw another pretty face.”
“All due respect, sir, I fell for Joan last Friday the moment I saw her. She was taken with me too, but I couldn’t hurt Alise. I walked away from her and she ended up saving my brother’s life on the airplane. It was fate.”
Crenshaw raised his chin. “Saved Tatum you say?”
“It was Cole. He would have died without her there.”
“That’s gratitude you’re feeling, you stupid wet pup. What you have with Alise, that’s what’s real.”
Liam shook his head. “No. You don’t understand. Even after she saved him, I thanked her and got away from her.”
“And you just happened to run into her again? Right.”
“As it happens, yes. She found Cole right before the hurricane. We fled back to my place and I called Alise. I wanted to hold onto her because of how special she is.”
Crenshaw exhaled leaning on fists atop the desk. “I suppose a night of passion won you over.”
“Alise came to the villa and I remained faithful.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Liam shook his head. “I don’t blame you, but it’s the truth. I returned to my life and left her to hers. Then Westley Hawthorne invited me to the benefit that ended up being for the hospital Joan works for. She’s a nurse.”
“I get it, I get it. Fate and all that.” Crenshaw sat down. “I’d like to see this uncontrollable love you have for her. Your mom invited me to dinner. Joan will be there I’m told.”
“She will,” Liam said though this was the first he’d heard of the dinner plans. “I assume you’re in contact with Alise? She’s not answering any of my calls.”
Oh no.
“I’ll get in touch with her right away and have her call you.”
“Do that. Now get out,” he said through exposed clenched teeth.
Liam nodded. “Our deal is off the table for certain?”
“Yes.” His voice boomed across the room.
“I only ask because I have another offer and would not want to offend or hurt you more than I already have. Thank you for seeing me.” Liam turned and opened the door to leave.
Crenshaw cleared his voice. “Wait.”
Liam turned back holding in his smile. “Yes, sir?”
“If Alise tells me herself that she is okay with your departure and new interest, I’ll consider making the deal with you and the one your father put on the table with me Saturday.”
“Fair enough.”
Liam turned and left the office. As soon as he was in the elevator he dialed Alise. “Pick up, you lunatic.”
“You’ve got Alise Crenshaw, Liam’s one and only. We’re busy. Leave a message and maybe you’ll get a call back.” The beep came next.
“Alise, this is Liam. Call me back right away, it’s urgent. I also have those prizes you won, remember? Call me.” He hung up. It wasn’t like Alise not to call her father.
Evelyn stood up from the chair in the lobby as soon as Liam stepped out of the elevator. “Well? How did it go?”
“Better than we hoped. Get a hold of Joan, tell her she’s flying out to join us for dinner.”
“I’ve tried her already. Her phone goes straight to voicemail. I think she’s struggling with being your fiancée.”
Liam cut his eyes to Evelyn. “Because it’s so hard to be associated with me? This was all her idea you know?”
“I was trying to reach her to get her the protection she needs. She’s being swarmed by paparazzi.”
“Did she say anything to them?”
Evelyn
nodded.
“Oh great. How bad is it? What did she say?”
Evelyn began tapping the iPad as she took a seat in Liam’s car. She turned the screen toward him. Joan exited a building with glass doors. She was dressed in light blue scrubs that made her eyes take on a creamy jade blue. Her face was clean and naturally beautiful.
The crowd of reporters surged toward her and he saw an almost imperceptible flinch. She looked so tiny and vulnerable, but then her eyes flashed with anger and she met them head on. The anger he’d recognized in her eyes was absent from her voice and hidden in her gaze. She took control of the situation easily as if she’d been handling the press her entire life.
The way Joan stood was like watching a princess who’d been groomed to stand with perfect posture and the ease of public speaking. She had them laughing. The bloodthirsty vultures were actually laughing?
Too caught up in looking at her, he hadn’t been listening until he saw her flinch like she’d been cut. She blinked back moisture in her eyes. Her lips set in a straight line as she zeroed in on the man asking her the question.
Liam leaned forward taking the iPad from Evelyn as Joan answered, “My family’s financial business is, in fact, their business. Not yours or anyone else’s. As far as Liam knowing about any of my financial matters, there is no need. I take care of myself.” Still in control and poised her voice was even, though it bore even more confidence than before.
Liam smiled as Joan looked directly at the reporter who’d used Joan’s sick sister to try to get a rise out of her and said, “That was the last question and the only one I’ll ever take from you.”
“She… did very well.”
Evelyn nodded. “She did.”
Liam was backtracking the video to watch Joan again. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Well it is, kind of. The press loves her. She’s entertaining, beautiful, and strong. They are going to harass her like crazy if we don’t get her some protection.”
Liam nodded. Normally Hansen took care of those kinds of matters but he was now concentrating on Cole as he should be. Liam should have taken the steps to protect Joan on his own.
“I’m going to order her a protection team. I want you to track down Alise. She’s gone AWOL. I need to make sure she’s happy with our breaking up. If I can, we still get the deal.”
An I.O.U. from a Billionaire Page 18