An I.O.U. from a Billionaire

by Olivia B. Dannon

  “Oh, honey,” she said looking at the golden tube. “Where have you been all of my life? I’m keeping you, sweetheart.”

  The color complimented her skin tone and made her tired eyes pop with the illusion of alertness. Joan dug through the makeup bag Evelyn provided noticing that there were four different tubes of mascara.

  She picked the shiny silver tube and ran the wand over her lashes. The effect was better than she could have imagined. “I look like I’m wearing false eyelashes.” She grinned because that battle was one she hadn’t undertaken since her prom night.

  Already knowing which perfume she preferred from the trio in the bag, she spritzed the air and walked through it as she repacked the makeup bag.

  Repacking her bags, she took the first load down to the front room. Liam wasn’t there. He was in fact nowhere in her suite. Heat surged in her cheeks from the physical evidence from the feeling of being used and discarded.

  Used me like a blow-up doll and then went home to sleep. Or, maybe he went to visit some other woman.

  “Joan, don’t jump to conclusions,” she told herself making another trip up the stairs to retrieve the rest of her things. “He probably went home so he didn’t have to wake me to get into the suite. He’ll be at Wainwright Manor when I get there. We’ll talk and his reason for running off without a word will make sense.”

  Joan called the front office and a bellman arrived only moments later. He loaded her luggage up on the cart and drove it to Fran’s pink car. “Congratulations,” he smiled, “on the engagement. I can see why Liam Wainwright asked you to marry him. You’re a beautiful woman.”

  Great. He’s fishing for a Wainwright tip and I’m just a Taylor.

  “Thank you.” Joan popped the trunk and returned to the back of the car to load up the luggage.

  “I’ll load this for you, Ms. Wainwright.”

  “No, no. That’s okay. I don’t have any cash on me, and I am perfectly capable of putting my luggage in the trunk myself.”

  His smile did not falter. “No, it’s my pleasure. You don’t want to mark up your white shirt.” He made short work of the chore and waved as he drove the cart back to the main office

  “I’m acting just like him.” Joan growled as she reversed out of the parking spot. “I’m just assuming everyone wants money. It’s crazy. Just give me a day in his life and I’m worse than Liam.”

  She didn’t see Liam’s car when she passed through security and pulled into the side parking lot at Wainwright Manor.

  Maybe it’s in the garage.

  “Joan,” Cole called out. “You’re here.” He jogged over meeting her next to Fran’s car. “Need some help with your luggage?”

  “No. I’ll come back for it. I was hoping to speak with Liam before my parents arrive.”

  Cole nodded slowly. “Are you sure? I can probably handle this stuff on my own.”

  “Yeah, just leave it.” Joan smiled as she fished her purse out of the passenger seat. “So,” she said. “Who is this new girl your mom was asking you about?”

  Cole laughed sounding a little like Liam. “She’s just a friend right now. My mom said I can’t date while I’m grounded.”

  “Dang it,” Joan smiled, “sucks being grounded, huh?”

  “Yeah but it’s deserved.”

  Joan nodded. “Very responsible of you to admit that, Cole.”

  “Know what else my mom said?”

  “That she’ll skin you alive if you try that again?” Joan asked as she stepped through the open doorway Cole led her to.

  Cole nodded. “That too. No, she said that I should look for a girl that’s like you. My mom said that getting engaged to you is the smartest move Liam ever made.”

  Joan kept her smile in place with an effort. “Stop buttering me up, you handsome charmer.” Joan pinched his cheek knowing it would drive him crazy.

  “Aw come on.” He groaned as she wiggled his cheek between her fingers.

  “Is Liam… up yet?” she asked not quite sure how to phrase the question.

  Cole shrugged. “I guess not. I haven’t seen him.”

  Joan nodded trying not to feel like the rejected woman who waited far too long for her blind date to show up. “I’ll just call him and see.”

  “My mom is in the study with stacks of swatch books and two wedding planners waiting for you. Should I call him for you?” Cole asked.

  Two wedding planners? How much was that going to cost?

  “She’s determined to spend for this wedding, isn’t she?”

  Cole hugged Joan, surprising her. “Just enjoy this, Joan. I know Liam is stressing you out, but I just know you two are going to be happy together. Nothing worth having is easy to get, right? This wedding will be something you’ll both remember as the best day of your lives.”

  “You’re right,” Joan said stepping back and avoiding his eyes on her face.

  More lies.

  “Do you want me to walk you to the study?”

  “No. I remember where it is. Thank you.” Joan crossed through the entryway and made a left. Once she was in that side hallway she let go of the fake smile she’d had to put in place when Cole started in about the wedding.

  I’ll insist on firing one if not both of the wedding planners. I’ll pick out the easiest stuff I can pick. I can do this. Liam is here somewhere and he’ll be with me this time. He’ll help me get through this.

  “Joan, good morning.”

  She turned around and found Terrance standing in the open doorway to what looked like an office.

  “Good morning. I was on my way to the study. Did I pass it?”

  “No, it’s still ahead but I’m glad I caught you. I want to introduce you to Paul and Hartford,” Terrance said nodding toward his office. “Would you mind stepping in for a quick moment?”

  Joan nodded. “I don’t mind as long as it’s short. I don’t want to make Fran wait too long.”

  “Of course.” He smiled.

  As soon as Joan was in the doorway she felt like there was something up. “Paul, Hartford, this is Joan Taylor,” Terrance said pulling the door shut with the four of them inside the office. “Joan, this is Paul,” Terrance said as the bald man with the absence of any sign of kindness in his face shook her hand. “And this is Hartford.”

  Hartford wore what seemed to be a permanent frown on his face as he too shook her hand.

  “So, glad we got the chance to meet,” Joan said turning around to make her exit. She ran into Terrance, who was blocking the door with his body.

  “Don’t rush off just yet, Joan. We have a little paperwork to do before the wedding and with it happening tomorrow it’s necessary to get these trifle matters out of the way.”

  The trifle matters turned out to be the prenuptial agreement, which consisted of a lot of reading tiny print for Joan, lots of explanations given by the two suits and Terrance. It wasn’t like she was actually marrying Liam so most of the paperwork went easily. Even though Joan was willing to sign it quickly the lawyers were duty bound to explain every page of the stack of forms.

  When Joan emerged from the office the so-called quick paperwork ate up two hours of the day.

  “There you are,” Fran said catching Joan in the hallway. “Where have you been? Cole said he saw you hours ago.”

  Joan pointed toward Terrance’s office but didn’t get the chance to say anything. “I’ve got most of this wedding planned so all you have to do is watch the presentation and just answer a few questions the wedding planners may have.”

  “Okay. Is Liam going to be helping with this?”

  “I didn’t imagine he was since you arrived alone,” Fran said. “I’ll check in with him while you’re having your fitting. Your parents arrived about half an hour ago. Your mom is with the seamstress and your father went for a walk.”

  A walk? He must still be upset. If I told him it was all just a lie would he feel better? Or worse?

  Before she could think much on that particular dilemma Joan found
herself behind a privacy screen in a fitting room. “Get all the way down to your skimpies.” The seamstress smiled. “Trying on your wedding dress is something you’re going to remember for the rest of your life.”

  “Yes, absolutely.” Joan’s mom smiled, clapping her hands together. “So many things I know you missed with Kenna being so sickly. I am just so happy to be here with you now to see you in your dress.”

  “Mom,” Joan said giving her a quick hug. “You saw me try them on just yesterday.”

  “Pff.” Her mom sounded blowing back the brown stray curls from Joan’s face. “Them on. You see? Yesterday you could have been wearing a white paper lunch sack and you wouldn’t have noticed it wasn’t a proper dress.”

  Joan recognized the excitement in her mother’s eyes. “What did you do?”

  “Well, I was up late last night, as you well know by now I’m sure.”

  Because Dad is so stressed?

  “Okay.”

  “And I remembered the dress you begged Kenna to get. It was your dream dress. Do you remember?”

  Joan stiffened. “Yes.”

  “I thought knowing you, you would have pinned the dress on your online pin board.”

  “Please don’t tell me you bought that dress, Mom. It was expensive.”

  When her mother put her fists on her hips Joan knew she was going to get herself a lecture if she didn’t watch it.

  “So, it’s not too expensive for Kenna but it’s too expensive for you? Ridiculous. Anyway, on such short notice I didn’t have the money.”

  “Good. It was just too much. I was silly to suggest it to Kenna.”

  Her mom was smiling again. “Fran called me early this morning. Six actually. She has been doing her best to please you but felt she was failing. I gave her the link to your pin board and well.” She smiled.

  “Mom, you didn’t?” Joan gasped as she pulled off her pants. She tried to remember what she’d pinned on her pin board labeled “If I were to tie the knot.” It was a dream board. She pinned giant wedding cakes that were actual works of art, the dress her mom mentioned, a carriage, doves, aisles decked out with… she couldn’t remember everything.

  Fran’s going to go over the top. She’s going to buy everything and more that I put on that stupid pin board. I have to stop her. I have to tell her the truth.

  “Mom, I wish you hadn’t done that,” Joan said as she spun in a circle trying to find the clothes she’d just taken off. “Where are my clothes? They were just here.”

  “Bagita took them to hang. You had them on the floor, dear,” her mom answered. “And you know I wouldn’t have if Fran wasn’t so upset. I know she just wants to please you. She’s such an amazing woman to have as a mother-in-law.”

  Joan raced out from behind the privacy screen.

  I just saw Fran. She couldn’t have gone far. I bet she’s just outside the door. I’ll grab her, and I’ll just tell her everything.

  “Jo? Baby? Where are you going?” her mom called after her. “Joan, wait.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Joan opened the door and spotted Fran straight across the hall on her phone with her back to Joan.

  Turn around, Fran. She’s probably ordering the crown jewels.

  Joan dashed across the hall and was almost through the open doorway but then Joan felt the chill on her backside.

  Of course, I’m wearing a thong. It’s the only freaking underwear Evelyn packed.

  “Liam, I can’t hear you. Wait I’ll put you on speaker.” Fran tapped the screen of her phone. “You said you went after Alise? Why would you do that? You told me you were going after the woman you love.”

  “I am.” Liam’s voice came over the speaker loud and clear.

  Joan felt her heart drop like an anchor.

  That’s why he didn’t come back last night? He went to Alise.

  Joan turned back to return like a shot to the dressing room. She was crossing the halfway mark when a scream froze her in place and scared her so bad she almost wet herself.

  Tatum slapped his hands over his eyes. “What are you doing? Liam is going to gouge out my eyes now.”

  Joan’s mom burst from the fitting room with a robe and tossed it over Joan. The soft terrycloth white robe fell over her like a blanket over a child who was pretending to be a ghost. It did not, however, block the sight of Fran’s shocked expression before it fell over her.

  Everything went quiet. She could feel everyone looking at her naked thighs, calves, and feet. Joan knew she must be the perfect image of a certifiable crazy person. She was still just standing there with the robe over her head, knowing they could see her and yet wasn’t ready to look at them face to face.

  “Is everyone all right?” Liam’s voice came over the speaker.

  The sound of his voice lit her anger fuse, pulling her from her state of embarrassment. Joan began fighting with the robe until she had it on properly. Her mom was standing beside her and tried to smooth her hair.

  Fran was yelling at Tatum to be a gentleman and leave them.

  “Fran? Is Joan all right? I heard a woman scream.” Liam’s voice came again over the speaker.

  Tatum with his back now to Joan yelled, “It was not anything like a woman’s scream.”

  “Tatum, I said go.” Fran repeated. She was watching Joan. “Dear, what is going on?”

  “Yes, Joan. What’s wrong?”

  Joan sucked in air and held onto her anger. With Fran and her mom being so kind it was difficult not to break down and cry. “Mom just told me she shared with you that silly pin board I made. I know you won’t understand this, Fran, but I can’t bear for you to pay for this wedding. It’s eating me alive.”

  “I do understand, actually. Liam felt the same way. He’s paying for everything. I just get the honor of helping you to plan it and shop. He has insisted that every penny comes from his own pocket. Of course, I don’t understand why you both feel so strongly that you must pay for the wedding yourselves. I do understand that it’s important to you both, and I will just have to make my wedding gift something extraordinary.”

  “I should’ve known that was why you were being so difficult,” her mom said as she put her arm around Joan’s waist. “You’re such a giving, wonderful woman, Joan. Sometimes though, you have to let others help you too. It can’t just be a one-way street.”

  Joan nodded, her cold fingers fisted around the end of the robe belt. “Thank you.”

  She wrapped her mind around Liam holding onto her anger.

  He practically forced his way into my room last night. Even after I told him this was all getting to be too much for me, that it was getting too emotionally complicated for me and he… didn’t care. Liam took what he wanted from me and then left to go get more from Alise. The woman he told Fran that he really loved.

  “I’ll just go and finish my conversation with Liam, and then I really want to see you in your dress.” Fran smiled. “You know, considering the rush put on you by Liam and Terrance, I’m surprised you haven’t had a freak out moment before now.”

  Joan nodded. “Thank you.” She repeated sounding numb.

  “Come now, we’ll go put it on,” her mom said guiding Joan back toward the dressing room.

  Put on a wedding dress? Keep doing just as Liam would have me do? What am I some submissive little girl all of the sudden?

  “Actually,” Joan said straightening her back. “I’ve already tried on my dress. We did that yesterday. I think it’s time for my bachelorette party. Right?”

  “Bachelorette party? Now? It’s only just after eleven thirty in the morning.”

  “My point exactly. The day is wasting away.” Joan marched back into the changing room with her mother running after her.

  “I thought you were skipping a bachelorette party. Your friends aren’t here and Kenna is still on her honeymoon. Fran is trying to plan the wedding and will need our help.”

  Joan shook her head. “There are now two wedding planners and they have my pin board. Right?�
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  “I don’t think we can just drop everything and go—”

  “Liam is in Arizona with his jet. He won’t mind if Mae and Amanda get a ride out here. So, you, Fran, Mae, Amanda, and I are going to hit the town. I’ll see if I can get Evelyn on board too, but she’s probably babysitting Liam.”

  Her mom poured a glass of water and held it out to her. “Sweetheart, I want you to drink this and then I want you to go and lay down. You’re not sounding like yourself. It’s the stress.”

  You have no idea.

  Fran entered the fitting room just then. “What did I miss? Is she feeling better?”

  “She is not quite there yet,” her mom whispered though it was so loud Joan heard her easily.

  “Fran, Mom, we’re going to the spa while we wait on Mae and Amanda.”

  “Wait on them for what?”

  Joan found the closet with her clothes and shed the robe. As her mom tried and failed again to whisper, “She wants an impromptu bachelorette party. She said the wedding planners could take it from here.”

  Fran nodded as she watched Joan, probably for signs of another outburst. “The spa? What a wonderfully perfect notion. I could use a break. We’ll go and then I’ll need to return here to check on the wedding. How’s that?”

  Joan smiled at Fran. “No need to check on them it’s what they do, plan weddings.”

  “How will they know what you want from your pin board?” Joan’s mom asked.

  “Everything on my pin board and I want it all. Go big or go home right? Liam wants to pay for the wedding so why hold back?”

  Her mom set the glass down. “You look especially… pissed. Is everything all right?”

  “Liam can afford it.” Joan clapped her hands together. “He’s been telling me how loaded he is since he first opened his fat mouth.”

  Fran narrowed her eyes on Joan. “She does seem rather perturbed. What has Liam done this time?”

  “I’m not upset. I’m excited. Leave word for the men that we’re going out and not to wait up.”

  “By midnight we should return don’t you think? We’ll be back in time for the wedding of course.” Fran followed Joan out into the hallway.