“Go take your shower.”
“Yes, Sir!” she grinned, and walked quickly to her room.
Hurrying through her shower, she thought about the day ahead, and by the time she had dressed and put on her makeup, she had managed to compose herself and accept that he was leaving. There was nothing to be done about. She would enjoy this last day with him as much as she could.
Taking a deep breath and walking into the living room, she found breakfast ready and waiting. In spite of her late night snack she was ready to eat, and as usual it looked and smelled delicious. Cecil was busy at the desk and nodded his greeting. Moving to the buffet she poured herself a cup of tea as she looked over the various items on offer.
“Now that looks like a good breakfast!”
Simon’s voice brought a smile to her face and she turned to greet him, but the sight almost made her drop her cup and saucer. Dressed in a dark charcoal, three piece suit, white shirt and maroon tie, he looked every bit the billionaire businessman that he was. He had put something in his hair that had caused it to behave, and rather than the unruly curls and waves, it rested uniformly around his handsome face. The light piercing the trees, slicing through the paned windows, caught the glint of his gold cufflinks and the buckle gracing the alligator belt around his waist.
“Is everything all right?” he asked. She was staring at him, a deer in headlights.
“Yes, yes,” she stammered. “You look very handsome.”
Totally, unbelievably, incredibly handsome.
“Thank you, Belle, and you, as lovely as always.”
Belle had donned a black pleated skirt and white shirt she had brought from home. While it was simple, she had accessorized it with a cacophony of gold chains around her neck, bracelets at her wrist, and black boots with a gold buckle across the toe.
“We kind of match,” she smiled.
He grinned back at her.
“Yes, we kind of do. Cecil, I’ll have breakfast, then look at those papers when I’ve finished.”
“Yes, Mr. Sinclair,” his secretary replied, and waited until Belle and Simon had loaded their plates and were eating, before selecting his own breakfast items and joining them.
“Everything has been scheduled,” Belle said, between mouthfuls of scrambled eggs and tomatoes. “Harriett has a conflict so she’s leaving a key under a planter near the front door, and escrow will have everything ready for you, but it won’t be until around 2 p.m. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” he nodded.
The phone rang and Cecil left the table to answer it. The conversation was brief, but the words Cecil delivered upon his return caused her heart to skip a beat.
“The plane will be ready to leave at 7 as requested, Mr. Sinclair.”
“Good, thank you, Cecil,” he replied, and Belle thought his voice sounded as subdued as she felt. Taking several gulps of tea, she willed herself to stay calm.
They finished their breakfast in relative silence, and when Simon moved to the desk with Cecil to go through whatever business was waiting for him, Belle retired to her room and began to gather up her things.
It was over.
This part of the journey with Simon Sinclair was about to come to its end. What would follow she couldn’t imagine. When she would see him again was anybody’s guess. She had just finished clearing her closet, managing to stuff everything into the small case she had with her, when her cell phone rang. It was Susan Caldwell.
“Hi Susan. Is everything okay?”
“Belle–I just had a call from the detective on your case, Detective Tennison. I’m afraid I have some rather unfortunate news,” she said gravely.
“What?”
“Sean Harrington hired a top notch lawyer and has just been released on bail.”
“No!” Belle exclaimed, dropping on the bed. “That’s impossible.”
“It was a great deal of money, but he’s out. I thought you should know.”
“Oh my gosh! What am I going to do?”
“He’s been ordered to stay away from you, but just for your own peace of mind, maybe you should find somewhere else to live for a while. Though I can’t imagine he’d bother you. He’s got too much to lose.”
“Or nothing to lose,” Belle retorted. “Susan, I can’t run into him. I can’t.”
“When you get your check, take the money and go away for a couple of weeks. Visit your family. They’re in Washington aren’t they?”
“Actually, my mother and sister will be here in a week...” she groaned. “I need to think this through. Thanks for the information, Susan. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all.”
“I will. Bye.”
“Bye.”
It was all too much. She couldn’t believe it. Sean was out and the man of her dreams was leaving in a few short hours.
Not wanting Simon to come in and find her so completely distraught, she rushed into the bathroom to let the tears flow. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub she cried into a towel. She’d be by herself. She’d have to deal with the ongoing threat of Sean on the streets and Lucinda’s arrival. Why did it have to be this way?
Standing up and swallowing hard, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, forcing herself to think. She needed to handle one thing then another. First, she needed to figure out where she would stay and feel safe, then deal with her mother and sister.
She splashed her face with cold water and patted it dry, then reapplied her makeup, and except for a little redness in her eyes she looked fine.
“Belle?”
It was Simon’s voice. Glancing at her watch she couldn’t believe where the time had gone.
“Coming,” she called, and after another check in the mirror, walked back through her room, grabbing her bag and jacket. When she entered the living area she found him by the door waiting to leave.
“Ready?”
“Yes, ready,” she replied, forcing a smile.
Frowning slightly, he ushered Belle ahead then fell into step beside her as they made their way down the walkway to the car.
“You’d tell me if there was something bothering you, wouldn’t you?”
“Um–yes,” she mumbled.
“I know it’s not ideal that I’m leaving tonight,” he continued, “but I won’t be gone long. Just have to wrap up this Cosgrove deal and handle the situation with Cassandra.”
“Sure. I understand,” she answered.
He took her hand, squeezing it tightly.
“Don’t worry, Belle. I may have to leave, but please know I don’t want to.”
Then stay here, with me, in the suite...
“Other than me leaving, there’s nothing else on your mind, right?” he pressed.
It had been one of his rules. If there was anything bothering her she had to tell him. She had promised.
“Belle?”
They were nearing the parking lot and she could see Parker waiting by the town car. She wanted to tell Simon everything. Sean had been released, and as much as she didn’t want it to be, it was frightening. Her mother and sister were impossible, and even if they did work with another agent they would demand she drive them all over the city, and spend night after night at all the best restaurants. She couldn’t bear the thought.
“Belle?” Simon repeated, his voice tinged with insistence.
She realized she was standing stock still, staring at the ground, Parker holding the door open waiting for her to enter the car.
“Oh–sorry,” she stammered, and stepping forward, climbed into the back seat.
Simon settled in next to her, and as the car pulled away he cupped her chin and forced her to look at him, his question silently repeated in his steady gaze.
“Yes, Simon, there is something,” she confessed, his eyes melting her. “I’ll tell you later, when we’re alone at the house.”
She had no desire to bare her soul in the back seat of the car, and staring up at his handsome face she found comfort
in the deep concern emanating from his eyes.
“I promise,” she added.
Joseph was waiting beside a sleek, contemporary, four-story building, and before Simon even stepped from the car he knew it was the one. The outside was finished in a glossy dark gray slate, and tall glass doors invited entry. Robert Logan was late, but Joseph had access and led them to the elevator.
“The first two stories are leased,” he said, inserting a key and pushing the button for the third floor. “The building is owned by the company that used to occupy the top two floors, but they’ve gone out of business and this is a fire sale. You’re the first person to see it. Just understand that the offices are still a bit of a mess.”
Stepping from the elevator, Simon and Belle found themselves surrounded by boxes, filing cabinets, desks and chairs, haphazardly scattered around an airy open space. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered breathtaking views, and though they were tinted, it didn’t prevent a flood of light filling the room.
“This place is amazing,” Belle remarked, ambling towards a window to take in the panoramic sight of the city below. “It’s just so open, like a big, empty canvas.”
“There’s a staircase over here,” Joseph declared, walking towards the far end of the spacious room. “They put it in to facilitate access between floors.”
Belle and Simon joined Joseph, following him up the winding stairwell to the top floor. It had been the executive suite, and the sectioned-off, large corner office, the one that would house Simon when he was in town, was paneled in tasteful cherry wood. The large contemporary desk still sitting proudly in place, had obviously been custom made to compliment the aesthetic.
“Joseph–it’s perfect,” Simon announced. “I want to make an offer. Fill me in on the details.”
Joseph beamed, and in spite of all the worries floating through her mind, Belle was genuinely happy, both for Joseph and Simon. Joseph had hit a home run, and another bullet point on Simon’s list of Things To Do could be checked off.
“I have all the details in my briefcase downstairs. Do you want me to bring them up or...”
“No. Let’s go down there. I assume Logan will be arriving shortly.”
Joseph glanced at his watch.
“Yes. Any minute.”
“I’m going to stay up here for a bit,” Belle remarked, sitting in the high-backed leather chair behind the desk.
“See you shortly then,” Simon nodded.
As he and Joseph left, Belle swung the chair around to stare out at the beautiful homes set against the majestic backdrop of the mountains in the distance.
The thought of her sister moving to Los Angeles was truly horrifying. She was sure her father would insist her mother return to Washington at some point, and Belle knew exactly what that meant. Her mother would demand that Belle watch over Lucinda. The fact that Lucinda was now in her early 20’s and perfectly capable of taking care of herself was irrelevant. She could hear it now–
“Lucinda is special, Belle. She needs her big sister...”
There was only one thing she could do, leave Los Angeles, but with Simon about to start his business in Beverly Hills it was the last thing she wanted to do, and where she would go she couldn’t imagine. Heavy-hearted, she stared at the sun sparkling off the city windows and towers, but the images began dissolving into a blur as she became consumed with thoughts of her dilemma.
While Belle was pondering, downstairs Simon and Joseph had met up with Robert Logan. It didn’t take long for Simon to make his decision. He was buying the building.
“Robert–would you mind giving Joseph and me some privacy? Just some details I’d like to discuss with him.”
“Not at all, take all the time you want,” Robert replied, elated that he’d sold the property so easily. “I’ll just wander over to that desk by the stairs and check my email and messages.”
“Thank you, Robert. This won’t take long,” Simon answered, and as Robert moved to the far end of the office floor, Simon began explaining to Joseph how he wanted the offer to be presented. Joseph was sharp, and quickly understood the finer points Simon pointed out. As Simon reached for his cell phone to call Silas Montford, to his surprise, Joseph interrupted him.
“Excuse me, Mr. Sinclair. You don’t have to pay a lawyer to do that. I can prepare the offer.”
Simon frowned, puzzled at the remark. He knew that under California law only a broker or lawyer could draw up and negotiate an offer, and for Joseph to represent him he would have to work in concert with his lawyer. Seeing the look of concern, Joseph quickly added,
“I have my Broker’s License.”
“You do?” Simon asked, astounded. Obtaining a Broker’s License was no easy task, requiring at least two years of working as a realtor, then sitting a very stiff state examination. “Why didn’t you tell me you had your Broker’s License in our interview,” Simon asked, truly impressed by the young man’s ambition and ability.
“It just never came up, but it is on my resume,” he replied.
“So–why were you driving cars?”
“It was the perfect job. Most of the time I would drive people to dinner then wait for two hours. There’s quite a bit of studying I can do in two hours, and the tips were great,” he added. “I could make as much money being a chauffeur than just about anything else I could find.”
“I’d be very happy for you to prepare the offer,” Simon said, still taken aback at the news. “I can arrange for you to have an office at the law firm if you wish.”
“I have a complete setup at home. I would prefer to work from there if it’s all right with you.”
“Yes, of course, but I must ask you, how were you able to work as a realtor, go to law school, and get your broker’s license all at the same time?”
To Simon’s surprise, Joseph looked somewhat embarrassed, and dropped his gaze to the floor.
“What?” Simon asked. “Is there something wrong?”
“I’m just not that comfortable talking about myself,” Joseph muttered.
“Get used to it. You’re an extremely impressive young man. Please tell me how you managed it.”
“It’s a strange thing,” Joseph answered, lifting his eyes. “When I read something it sticks with me, and not just the words. My brain seems to be able to comprehend and analyze without effort. All of that studying and learning was nothing. Is nothing. I’m not at all worried about passing the bar. Everything is just sitting in my head, waiting for the questions.”
Simon shook his head.
“Joseph–you have a photographic memory. That’s a real gift. I’ll let you in on a little secret–I do too. Embrace it. The more you use it the stronger it becomes.”
“Really? That’s how you can run so many businesses?”
“Exactly. I could do it in my sleep. Balance sheets, contracts, it’s like the alphabet. Instant recall. You’ll be doing it yourself one of these days.”
Simon saw the light go on in Joseph’s head, just as it had gone off in his own so many years before when his father had said the same thing to him.
“I–uh–am kind of speechless,” Joseph mumbled.
“Take a deep breath and thank your lucky stars,” Simon smiled.
As Simon had been learning about Joseph’s God-given talent, Belle had made her way down the staircase, spotting a man she assumed was Robert Logan. He greeted her with a welcoming smile, and since Simon was clearly busy with Joseph, she smiled back and moved to join him.
“Hello–Robert Logan. Can I help you?” he asked, standing up and extending his hand.
Belle thought him attractive in an offbeat sort of way. He was dressed well and carried himself with confidence.
“Hi–I’m with Mr. Sinclair. His residential realtor. Belle Somer’s,” she said, offering her hand.
“Ah–well I don’t imagine we’ll be much longer. Wish I could offer you coffee or something,” he replied, shaking her hand.
“No problem. I can’t get enough of this view,�
� she remarked, walking to the windows, realizing it was a different perspective than the one she’d been enjoying upstairs.
Robert Logan followed her, and the two of them stood together admiring the city laid out before them. They started chatting, and she found Robert entertaining and amusing, full of stories about the wild west of commercial real estate.
It was a few minutes later that Simon finished talking with Joseph, and as he turned to seek out Robert Logan, he was not prepared for the instant and unexpected reaction to the sight that greeted him.
Belle was leaning against a window, the sunlight, diffused by the protective coating on the windows, was bathing her in an aura like glow. Robert Logan was standing just a few feet in front of her, hands in his pockets, leaning slightly forward, laughing quietly at something she had said.
Though it appeared perfectly innocent, Simon, who had never felt jealousy in his life, found himself uncomfortably at odds with the picture of another man, a good looking one at that, engrossed and entertained by his–
What? he asked himself, irritated at the alien emotions, and all he could think to do was interject himself.
“I see you’ve met Belle,” he announced, striding quickly forward, calling across the breadth of the room.
“Yes. We were just sharing real estate stories,” Robert Logan chuckled. “So many dramas and hilarious anecdotes.”
Belle giggled.
“I didn’t realize the commercial side of things had as many crazy characters as residential.”
“Ah–well,” Simon stammered, still unnerved at the onslaught of the unfamiliar feelings, “we’d best be going. Joseph has all the details of my offer. I think we can make this work.”
Simon saw the man’s face light up, and his attention immediately shift from the delightful woman in his presence to the deal about to be made.
“Thank you, Mr. Sinclair. Belle, great to meet you.”
“Thanks for keeping me entertained,” she smiled, then had to move quickly to catch up. Simon had unexpectedly walked away with alacrity.
As they entered the elevator, she sensed something wasn’t quite right, and looking at his face she was surprised to see it was ruddy, almost red.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
The British Billionaire Bachelor Page 17