Trouble was brewing. She felt her blood surging in response to being called by the alias she’d completely forgotten about.
“Or should I call you Miss Walden? It seems you have several aliases. Which name do you currently go by?” he asked with a pompous tilt to his head and a malicious smile as he rustled through the papers.
Milan gulped. “Uh, my name is Milan Walden. Noah knows that.” She shot Noah an evil look. But Noah was knelt before Hayden, clinging to him with his head placed in Hayden’s lap.
Revealed as an imposter himself, Noah refused to meet her gaze. She wanted to yank Noah from Hayden’s lap, and collar and bitch slap him. It took every ounce of restraint not to pounce upon Noah and strangle him until his tongue lolled and his eyes bulged in death.
“Whatever your name is, I have evidence that you have taken well over a half million dollars of my money. I could have you arrested for theft.” He pointed to her left hand. “Your acceptance of this ring could bring on an additional charge—receiving stolen goods!”
In light of the fact that she had only eighty thousand squirreled away in her hidden stash, the amount he accused her of taking was ridiculously excessive. Sure, Noah had paid her large sums of money, he’d even liberated her of her financial grief with Pure Paradise, but it still didn’t add up anywhere close to half a million dollars.
Hearing the word arrested issued from the lips of an affluent man was disconcerting, to say the least. It was clearly time to cut her losses and make a speedy exit. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I worked for Noah. I made an honest living here,” she said, yanking off the ugly engagement ring. “Here’s your property. Sorry for your trouble,” she said and turned to leave.
“Not so fast!” Hayden watched Milan with unwavering eyes. “I can see that you’re an opportunist. You obviously took advantage of poor Noah,” Hayden informed her and then tossed Noah a sympathetic smile and gave him tender pats on the head.
Apparently all was forgiven, Milan surmised with a tsk. The two creeps deserved each other.
“If you don’t return every single dollar you stole from me I’ll have no choice but to notify the authorities.”
Noah lifted his head from Hayden’s lap. “He’s right. You took advantage of me. I was distraught and in an unhealthy mental state…”
“Shut up, you pervert. Did you tell your boyfriend what I had to do for that money?”
“Please. Spare me the sordid details,” Hayden said snidely. “Young lady, at this point I have no interest in your tawdry love affair. I’m only interested in regaining the money you stole from me.”
“I didn’t steal anything. Noah paid for my services. The money he paid me didn’t come close to a half million.”
“I agreed to pay for the services of a companion for Noah.” Hayden shuffled through the pages. “Yes, here it is,” he said, peering at a computer-generated spreadsheet. “Companion fee—two hundred and fifty dollars a week including room and board and full use of all the amenities.” His focus reverted to Milan. “I offered to pay for a companion for Noah, someone to keep him company until I could resolve my situation. I never intended to maintain the lavish lifestyle of a gold digger.”
Milan didn’t flinch. The personal affront was the least of her worries. “Noah led me to believe that he was independently wealthy,” she said, defending herself while wondering if she could possibly bargain her way out of the predicament. “As you know,” she said, speaking quickly, “we were planning to be married. Imagine how shocked I am to learn that Noah—my fiancé—is on the down low.”
“He’s on the what?”
“He’s a gay man pretending to be straight,” she explained to Hayden, who obviously had not heard of the expression. “He’s bisexual. On the down low, like you,” she added matter-of-factly, but hoping to somehow use Hayden’s hidden sexual orientation for leverage. “No, he’s probably worse than you. He’s such a freak, he likes to pretend that I’m a little schoolgirl.”
Stone-faced, Hayden did not react to the incriminating insult. “An attempt at blackmail is not a wise move. Now tell me, exactly how much of my cash did you siphon?” he asked bluntly.
As if the answer lurked in a hidden corner of Noah’s bedroom, Milan looked in every direction as she tried to come up with the type of lie that would declare her innocence and allow her to escape this house of inquisition with every dollar she had earned. She’d sold her soul to a nutcase homo pervert and she’d be damned if she’d leave empty-handed. The situation reminded her of the ordeal with Pure Paradise when she was railroaded by the members of the board. Being accused of fraudulent behavior was like a recurring bad dream. She resolved that this time, she would not go out without a fight.
Feeling invigorated and determined to keep most of the money, she told Hayden, “I only earned about ten thousand! Noah said my elegant room and board was sufficient for now, that I’d be handsomely compensated after our marriage.”
“I said no such thing!” Noah objected.
Milan opened her mouth to respond, but struck with an excellent idea, she instead assembled a speech. “I’m saddened by this dreadful turn of events, Noah. I’ve spent hours celebrating with my family—my mother and my sister,” she lied. “Celebrating the new life that you and I are bringing into the world.”
Noah frowned. Hayden turned as white as the papers he held in his hands. “You had sex with her?” Hayden recoiled visibly.
“Never!” Noah said firmly.
“He’s telling the truth,” Milan said. She narrowed her gaze and studied Hayden’s expression, watched his features soften with relief. Then she went in for the kill. “We never had sex, not in the conventional sense, but I am most definitely carrying his child. The advances in technology are amazing and I was able to use an early detection at-home pregnancy kit. I’m approximately ten days’ pregnant. Isn’t that wonderful?” Milan asked, beaming.
“An immaculate conception, I presume,” Hayden said. Judging by his doubtful expression and the sarcasm in his tone, he obviously didn’t believe her.
“Noah hired a nurse to inject his sperm into my uterus. Check your records, you’ll see that he doubled the hours of Ruth Henry from the Mobile Nurse Agency.”
Hayden quickly leafed through the pages. Spotting the incriminating evidence, his body stiffened. “You did pay extra hours for this nurse.”
“I admit it,” Noah said quietly.
“She used a turkey baster to do the deed,” Milan chimed in. Hayden grimaced.
“I didn’t have possession of my rational mind,” Noah whined. His panicky eyes flicked over Hayden’s rigid form. “I thought I’d lost you; I wanted to hurt you as much as you hurt me. Bringing my own progeny into the world was an act of defiance—a ludicrous notion. I’m so sorry, Hayden. Darling Hayden, please forgive me.”
“I do forgive you, dearest, but this is quite an awful mess.”
Milan wanted to throw up, but doing so would interfere with the flow of the plan she’d put in motion. “Seems you two have an additional problem now that I have a little Noah on the way.”
“How do I know that what you’re saying is true?” Hayden asked, his voice rising angrily.
“You don’t,” Milan replied in a calm tone. “My attorney will handle all the details of the paternity suit.”
“Sue!” Hayden said challengingly. “As I’ve told you, Noah doesn’t have a plug nickel to his name.”
“That may be true, but I’m going to have to find a way to support myself during my pregnancy…” Her voice trailed off. She inhaled blissfully. Wearing a serene smile, she caressed her stomach.
Noah and Hayden shared expressions of revulsion.
“Mr. McIntyre—may I call you Hayden?”
Hayden grunted a response.
“I don’t know what you do for a living or your social ranking, but Noah spoke of you as if you were royalty.”
“Believe me, I have no ties with the royal family.” Hayden gave a nervous titter.
> “Well, you strike me as a rather prominent person—a well-connected man with strong social ties. I’m sure my story will make great fodder for one of those British tabloids. And with all Noah’s bills being funded by your account, I can assure you that you will indeed be dragged along with Noah through the court system. I plan to divulge everything I know about your homosexual relationship with Noah, your manservant.” Milan snorted. “I’ll provide graphic details of Noah’s ruthless and twisted revenge tactics that resulted in the conception of an innocent child. You two,” she said waving a finger at the two men, “will be held in scorn by the masses. I see a book deal and a film offer in my future. Yes, this awful mess might work out just fine for me,” Milan said brightly.
“How could you get me involved in such a scandalous disgrace?” Hayden shouted at Noah. “I can’t have my name dragged through the courts and sensationalized in the tabloids. Why, Emma will never get invited to another social function, the poor dear will have to hide in shame. I can’t let this happen,” Hayden avowed as he slammed the heap of documents on top of the table, then pounded the pile with a balled fist.
When he’d arrived, Hayden had been ready to divorce his wife, according to him. Now he had a change of heart. Milan suspected he’d been stringing Noah along for years with the divorcing and un-divorcing of his wife. But what did she care? She was too close to the prize to concern herself with the twisted love triangle of Noah, Hayden, and Emma, the unsuspecting wife.
She hadn’t stolen one dollar. The money she had stashed was hard earned and she wasn’t about to take a fall for the misdeeds of the group of thieves Noah had hired. Milan didn’t have a problem dropping names, including that of Tookie’s mom. For all Milan knew, Elise could very well be the thief. Hell, if it wasn’t Elise than it had to be Irma, Greer, or even Ruth Henry—any of those women could have stolen the money. She’d be damned if she was going to be left holding the bag.
“Listen, I’m going to cut to the chase,” she blurted. “I don’t know what happened to your money. Noah had a companion before I was hired. Her name is Elise Corbett and I heard she’s sitting pretty—doesn’t have to work another day of her life. He also had a traveling nurse from down South, Greer Wilson. Greer made out like a bandit too. Check your records—you’ll see she charged a king’s ransom for every sugar pill she dispensed. Noah paid for her family’s vacation. And that cook…” Milan sighed. Irma had obviously been in cahoots with Noah. Her thoughts traveled to the many lies Irma had told her and focused on the most recent: “The jeweler was here…” No jeweler had delivered the ring. Milan shook her head. More than any of the others, she particularly wanted Irma to go down! “Don’t get me started about Irma,” Milan said, sucking her teeth. “She bought food for her family and charged it to Noah’s grocery bill. At one point, the freakin’ cook had a key to the trunk where the cash is kept! Now that’s the person you should have been interrogating, not me.”
Hayden nodded wearily. “Miss Walden, I’ve had a change of heart. I’m not interested in pressing charges against the cook or anyone else,” he said softly. “I want this entire matter to go away. I plan to sell this house as quickly as possible. Noah, you’re returning to London with me. I don’t want an ocean to separate us ever again. We’ll work out our problems together. Do you agree, dear boy?”
“Yes!” Noah said emphatically. “Yes, without a doubt. I’ll wait for you forever if I have to; I’ll be your manservant again. To be back in your good graces, I’ll even put up with your marriage to Emma. Whatever you desire.”
“Yes, you’ll return to London as my manservant. Emma will be happy to give my current servant the boot. He’s not as polite and polished as you,” Hayden said, giving Noah a nod.
Hayden turned his attention to Milan. “I’ll have my attorney draw up the paperwork. Of course, you’ll state that Noah is not the parent of your unborn child. I’ll pay you one million dollars with the expectation that you will go away and leave us alone. Forever.”
Milan stroked her chin as she pondered his offer. Hayden could afford to pacify Noah with several million. She didn’t see why she should she settle for only one mil. Her pain and suffering was worth much more than that. “Make it five million and I’ll sign anything you want.”
Hayden bristled. He raked his fingers through his thick hair, breathed in deeply, and finally nodded. “I’ll have the papers drawn tomorrow,” he said resignedly.
chapter thirty-six
Some would call it a coincidence, others would say it was just a stroke of good luck, but Milan knew it was true kismet that brought Maxwell Torrance into her life.
From the haughty air he exuded and the boisterous manner in which he barked orders to his hired lackeys, no one would have ever guessed that a powerful man such as Maxwell Torrance would have responded to the ad Milan posted on the internet: STERN MISTRESS SEEKING WEALTHY PLEASURE TOY.
Her involvement with Gerard had provided an outlet to explore her sexuality and embrace her submissive nature. Transitioning from submissive to dominant had not been a simple undertaking; her finances, however, had demanded that she do so. She’d treated herself to every imaginable luxury, including forking over a hefty monthly mortgage on a two-million-dollar mini mansion, a personal chef, a gardener, a housekeeper, and she’d bravely gone under the knife for breast implants, which were a magnificent work of art.
Milan purchased new homes and cars for her mother and sister. Her mother cautiously accepted Milan’s gifts with the dire warning that Milan’s new-found wealth just wasn’t right—she was headed for trouble and needed to get married, settle down, and have kids.
She’d bought Sweetie’s family a roomy home and new SUV and also financed a take-out restaurant for Sweetie’s husband, Quantez. And recently Sweetie, who suddenly had no problem accepting money that she wasn’t sure Milan had killed Noah to acquire, was trying to hit her up for even more money to open a day care center. Thinking of her sister’s selective moral values made Milan smile and shake her head.
Milan possessed a powerful fear of poverty and in light of her spending habits, which were admittedly out of hand, taking on a wealthy submissive was a wise financial move.
Having no idea how much longer the remaining money she’d swindled from Noah’s boyfriend would last, it made good financial sense to step up to the plate and sexually dominate a wealthy man who could easily afford to maintain the lavish lifestyle she’d become accustomed to. And billionaire Maxwell Torrance was a serious upgrade from the impoverished imposter, Noah Brockington.
The chauffeur, a tall broad-shouldered, black man, parked Maxwell Torrance’s Rolls-Royce at the curb near the Broad Street and Lehigh Avenue subway stop. The declined inner-city neighborhood bustled with commuters and other pedestrians of meager means who ogled the nineteen-foot-long luxury automobile.
Milan, relaxed in the rear seat, read the financial report she’d recently received from her acquisitions attorney. Cool as a cucumber, she didn’t lift her gaze when the chauffeur reported, “There he is!”
“Hmm,” she uttered. Disinterested, she continued reading.
Accustomed to taking orders from the man who had just emerged from the bowels of the subway station, the driver was ill at ease. “Should I open the door for Mr. Torrance?” he asked. Creases of concern marked his forehead but did not distort his rugged good looks.
“There’s no hurry; let him wait,” she said casually.
“You think it’s safe out there for Mr. Torrance?”
“Maxwell Torrance needs a reality check; let him wait!” she said firmly.
Milan enjoyed the performance as she watched the smartly dressed business mogul hurry to the driver’s window. To no avail, he urgently rapped on the tinted window. Amidst the scoffing laughter of the onlookers who were amused by his humiliating predicament, Maxwell Torrance made even more of a spectacle of himself as he rushed from one side of his Rolls to the other, desperately jiggling the handles of the locked front and rear passenger do
ors.
It was an unsafe neighborhood. It was risky business for Milan to force her rich benefactor into such a potentially dangerous situation, but throughout her life, she’d been a risk taker. Pushing the limits and leaving the powerful deal-maker exposed and vulnerable would remind him who called the shots in their relationship. This exercise in degradation would motivate him to promptly obey her future orders without question. From now on, Maxwell Torrance would respectfully affix his signature to any document she ordered him to sign. And he’d do it without the benefit of reviewing the material. If he knew what was good for him, he’d sign whatever she commanded him to sign, without hesitation.
Five minutes later, she instructed the driver to open the door. The chauffeur was a big man, but he moved with the grace and agility of an NFL player, which was his occupation before a knee injury cut his career short.
Milan paid no attention to the beleaguered older caucasian man who fell into the back of the car and dropped his briefcase heavily to the floor. Gasping and panting, the harried man mopped his brow as if he’d narrowly escaped the bullet of a paid assassin.
“Are you ready, Mr. Torr—” The driver caught his error and respectfully corrected himself. “Excuse me, are you ready, Miss Walden?”
“Yes, I’m ready, driver,” Milan said, shifting her gaze to the tinted passenger window. The Rolls always attracted a lot of attention, but parked in this low-income district, the car was as out of place as a spacecraft. Milan could see curiosity in the eyes of the swarm of North Philadelphians who gawked at the time-honored symbol of success. She knew they wondered which celebrity or which wealthy socialite on the other side of the tinted glass had taunted the obviously affluent businessman.
“How was your commute?” she asked in a ridiculing tone as the Rolls glided into Broad Street traffic.
For a few seconds, Maxwell Torrance was silent. To blurt out the truth—that utilizing public transportation from his posh corporate headquarters to this frightening urban neighborhood was a stiff and humiliating experience—would result in even harsher consequences. Milan swelled with pride as the powerful and obscenely wealthy tycoon mentally scrambled to come up with just the right words.
A Bona Fide Gold Digger Page 24