The Billionaire's Bauble

by Ann Montclair

  Maya snorted and said, “Yes, he does. You have to know that after all he’s done. He has chased you for two months, has wrung my ear raw talking about you. David most certainly loves you, or he wouldn’t be obsessed with getting you back to Alaska.”

  Sloane sat up, alert now. “You’ve talked to him? Last night? Today? What did he say?”

  “He called from the plane last night, and his mood was foul, but from what I could tell, he isn’t even close to giving up on you,” Maya answered.

  Sloane absorbed the words and felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

  “That’s because he wants to possess me, not love me. He wants a shiny new bauble to add to his collection.”

  “If you believe that, Sloane, you’re a bigger fool than he is.”

  The words stung, but Sloane listened.

  “Anyway, our plan worked out—sort of.” Sloane could hear hesitation in Maya’s voice.

  “What do you mean? Did Lexi return David’s mom’s things?”

  “Yes, she brought it all back. She’d had it in storage, so it was intact, in good shape. She helped the staff put everything back where it belonged, but then . . .”

  Dread filled Sloane’s mind. What had Lexi done that made Maya, normally so articulate, falter?

  “What? What happened?” Sloane urged.

  “She stayed.”

  The words rang like a warning bell in Sloane’s mind.

  “Tony and I couldn’t make her leave. We figured you and David would return together, and she’d get the message loud and clear. But you didn’t come home with him . . .” The words were a censure, and Sloane felt the brunt of her stupidity like she’d been struck by an anvil.

  “Are they together now?” Sloane whispered into the phone.

  “Together, I don’t know. What I do know is she is at the mansion, and so is David.”

  Sloane sat in stunned silence, waiting to hear more. Maya had finished, though, and both women remained tongue-tied.

  “Oh, Maya, I don’t know what to do next,” Sloane admitted.

  “Get to the airport. Tony sent his jet. Forster needs you, too, you know.”

  “I don’t know.” Though the thought of returning to Alaska, of seeing David, buoyed her spirits somewhat, she still felt conflicted. Maybe Maya was right. Sloane leaned back against her pillows.

  “Sloane, if you love David half as much as I love Tony, you’ll get back here and settle this thing. Lexi is a selfish, true-blue gold digger, but she loved David at one time. Who’s to say she can’t worm her way back into the spot you so expeditiously vacated?”

  Sloane became angry. “If he’s that quick to replace me then he definitely isn’t worth my time.”

  “Okay. You’re right about that. But don’t you have a life here without David? College friends, a great job, Tony and me? You have a nice apartment, a beautiful car, a life, Sloane. Your life. Don’t let David take that away from you.”

  It seemed Maya had changed her tactic.

  Sloane smiled despite the misery filling her chest. She put her hand to her belly, rubbed it gently. Maya was right. Even if David could never love her, never be her soul mate, she deserved a good life. She had that in Alaska, with or without David. And their child—he deserved parents in one state.

  “Maya, I’m coming home.”

  Chapter 15

  Sloane had never been on a private jet before. The luxurious cabin had soft leather couches, a giant flat-screened TV set, a computer station and two bathrooms. She could definitely get used to this, she thought, as the plane made its way back to Alaska.

  The goodbyes had taken their toll on Sloane. It was especially hard to leave her mother.

  “This is the 21st century, Sloane. There are so many ways to keep in touch. Don’t you worry, before the you know it, we’ll be celebrating the birth of our first grandchild!”

  Sloane wished she could match her mother’s enthusiasm. Admitting to herself that she was scared of what she’d find out about David and Lexi, Sloane tried to calm her querulous nerves with memories of the wedding, of the nights inside the tent, of the way David made her blood race and her heart pound. The man was an adept, even expert lover. She wanted to make love to him now, to show him her devotion, her desire.

  “Keep that woman at bay,” she prayed. When she and Maya had concocted the plan to reach out to Lexi and offer her money to return David’s prize possessions, they’d never imagined she’d try to return to David’s bed as well.

  What if David believed Sloane was done with him? Would he take Lexi to his bed, for old time’s sake? To reward her for her good deed? Sloane would bet the family farm Lexi hadn’t mentioned being bribed to do the right thing. Maybe David would bed her to spite Sloane, to prove he didn’t need her or love her.

  Summoning all her courage, Sloane decided not to let negative thoughts worry her. She had a baby to care for, and even in the womb, the baby might be harmed by her enervated mind.

  Sloane stood and did some yoga poses. If nothing else, she had the room and the time to indulge herself on the way home.

  Home?

  The word made her involuntarily smile despite her dismay. Alaska was home and not New York. When had that shift happened? Sloane conceded it was David who had made her feel Alaska was home. Even when she had refused to see him, to speak with him, he had showered her with gifts and voicemail. She recalled returning home each evening, expectant of what he might have sent her. Like a sweet adolescent crush, each day brought her a note or a card, a bouquet of flowers, a box of candy. He had been so mindful, so intent on wooing her, as if she were his avocation.

  Sloane admonished herself for forcing him to leave New York without her. If she’d gotten on that plane with him, Lexi wouldn’t be with him right now. Self-recrimination flooded her body, and she tried a lotus position to pacify her jangled ruminations.

  Her legs crossed easily, but her baby bump, which by everything she knew, appeared abnormally large for a first pregnancy, already poked out over her low slung jeans. Her pants at the thighs also seemed tight. She wouldn’t be able to hide this pregnancy for long.

  The aircraft touched down on a private jet strip in Fairbanks, and Sloane watched through the window, anxious to get off the taxiing plane.

  She saw a limousine waiting near the gate and remembered how pleased she was when David and she rode through her hometown in a similar vehicle. She reveled in the memory of David’s hands on her breasts as he tried to talk her into a quickie in the back seat. His amorous advances almost won out, too, but then there had been the pond, the tent, their intense desire for one another never entirely satisfied. She couldn’t wait to see him again, she realized, and her palms began to sweat. Nerves, she thought. No, anticipation.

  Maya and Tony emerged from the confines of their limo, and Sloane ran to hug them both.

  “Glad you’re back, Ace,” Tony smiled. “How’d the ride go?”

  “Great. Thanks so much for sending the jet. I owe you,” Sloane said, a smile on her face.

  “Where shall we take you?” asked Maya.

  “Um, maybe we should stop by my place, so I can freshen up. Then I am going to find David.”

  “Are you sure? Do you want us to come with you?” Maya looked askance at Tony, and he said, “I’m not letting Sloane go alone to see David, whether she likes it or not. I’m the boss, remember?”

  Maya slapped his rear. “Only when I let you be,” she reminded him, and he guffawed.

  Sloane grinned at her two friends. “I would like you both to come with me. I don’t know why, but I have a funny feeling I might need your help. No, that David might need your help. I have a lot to tell him.”

  “Let’s go then,” Tony said, and he helped Maya and Sloane into the waiting vehicle.

  Sloane couldn’t believe how small her apartment felt after spending a few days on the farm. Normally, the confines seemed cozy, just enough space for her, but now, with a baby on board, she wondered how she’d ever m
anage a crib, a playpen, a changing table within the tiny space. Maybe she needed to consider a larger apartment.

  Tony and Maya went to the corner store for coffee-to-go while Sloane showered and changed. She chose a simple white cotton eyelet A-line dress, a pair of low heels, and a light chiffon scarf for her arm sling. She tried to pull her hair into a ponytail, but her sore arm made the task impossible. She knew David preferred her hair down anyway. Lastly, she applied a coating of pink lipstick, and dabbed at her throat and pulse points with drops of Chanel perfume. Checking her appearance in the mirror, she felt about as put together as she could be given jet lag and baby weight. Time to face the music, she thought, and prayed David would be happy about their child.

  Sloane, Tony, and Maya drove by Grant first, and parked near the doors. Tony ran inside to find out where David was since he had neglected to answer his phone when called. Maya held Sloane’s hand.

  “How are you feeling? Have you experienced any complications?”

  “What?” Sloane gulped hard, and her hand fluttered at her waistline before landing on her chest.

  “Your accident a couple days ago on the ATV? David told us you had taken another tumble, and I can see your arm in a sling, Sloane.” Maya was all eyes and ears now.

  Sloane covered quickly, “Oh, right. Sorry. I’m just preoccupied.”

  “Okay, so answer the question then,” she smiled. “Sore? Are you taking medication for the pain?”

  “I don’t even notice the arm, to be honest, and I only have to wear the sling another day or two. All I can think about is . . . Oh, here comes Tony.” Sloane pointed through the car’s window at Tony who jogged toward them, a smile on his face.

  Maya opened the car door and Tony sat beside her. “He’s working at home. I wonder why he hasn’t answered my calls. I gave him hell about losing that deal, but he usually takes my drubbings without pouting.”

  “That was my fault, Tony. We were at my brother’s wedding, and I guess David decided Grant Oil could survive a few days without him. I think he was trying to prove that he could be a regular working stiff instead of a billionaire wheeler dealer. Country life got to him.” She smiled at the memory of his valiant behavior. Remembering how he had told her he was all hers, she hoped he still meant it. Or did she?

  Sloane knew she loved David, and that maybe he felt the same, but that was a long stretch from commitment, from soul mate, from daddy. She closed her eyes and exhaled through pursed lips. Maya patted her knee.

  “Don’t worry, Sloane. We’ll be there in a moment.”

  Driving toward David’s house, Sloane started feeling that familiar upset tummy feeling—why did they call it morning sickness anyway? She woke up feeling great. It was the entire rest of the day that troubled her belly.

  When the car finally stopped at David’s place, Sloane noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway. A shiny convertible hovered like a dangerous black spider next to David’s sports car. It bothered her that she was so nervous, so wary all of a sudden. She steadied her legs before attempting to exit Tony and Maya’s car.

  Tony held her arm, and sensing her caution, he pulled her along towards the cavernous entryway to David’s house. “I never knock,” Tony said as he opened the door and strode into the mansion’s entry hall and toward the drawing room.

  Nothing could have prepared Sloane to see Lexi lying on a floral printed couch, reading a book, and sipping a glass of wine as if she owned the place.

  “Tony, Maya, hello,” the blonde purred. “Who’s your friend?” she asked, eyeing Sloane, distaste written all over her cosmetic laden face.

  “Lexi, where’s David?” Tony asked gruffly, walking right past her reclined form and toward the doors that led to the terrace. “Is he outside? David!” Tony called, not waiting to hear Lexi’s reply.

  Sloane, frozen in place, as if at the portal of no return, stared at Lexi. The woman was gorgeous, of course, but her icy blue eyes held no warmth, only suspicion. Lexi knew about Sloane, probably knew she was looking at her now, but she played it cool. Lexi stood up, stretched nimbly, and said, “Can I get you something to drink? Veronica!” Lexi called for David’s housekeeper, and she appeared almost instantly.

  “Please bring some refreshments for our guests,” Lexi demanded.

  Our? The word made Sloane’s head swim.

  “Where’s David?” Tony was back, and this time he was standing over Lexi.

  “Tony you haven’t even said hello. Is that any way to treat an old friend?” Lexi whined, taking a step back from Tony’s obvious menace.

  Before Tony could say another word, Maya inserted herself between Tony and Lexi.

  “Hello, Lexi. We heard you were here. Why?”

  Lexi took another step back and looked beyond Tony and Maya, directly at Sloane. “I’m here with David, of course,” she said, and her eyes bore into Sloane’s. “We’re enjoying getting reacquainted. How do you like the new look?” she swept her arm out as if she were presenting a showcase on a TV game show.

  “The old look, you mean,” Maya said. “I’m gratified you followed through with our deal. David must be happy to have his mom’s things returned.”

  “Oh, he was grateful, all right,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.” Lexi sat back down on the couch imperiously.

  Sloane wanted to rip the slut’s hair out by its bleached roots, but she stood motionless, waiting for something to occur that made one lick of sense.

  Sloane got right to the point, “Are you saying the two of you are back together?”

  “We are together, yes,” Lexi said, “and who are you to ask or care?”

  Sloane turned and walked back out the front doors. She heard Tony say, “Please, tell David we were here if it isn’t too much trouble.” Then he and Maya followed Sloane, and they got back into the limo, Tony muttering a few choice curse words under his breath.

  Though it appeared to Sloane things had gone from bad to worse, Tony wasn’t giving up. He drove around to the rear of the house and went into the kitchen while Maya and Sloane waited in the car. They said nothing, but Maya rubbed Sloane’s knee.

  “She’s really pretty and so tiny, too. I bet she and David look great together,” Sloane bemoaned.

  Then it was Maya’s turn to cuss.

  In less than a minute, Tony returned. “Veronica said David has been locked in his home office all day, but she’ll tell David we were here first chance she gets. Don’t worry, Ace. David will drop her like a hot potato once he hears you’re back in town.”

  “I wasn’t trying to get him back anyway, not really. I just had to tell him something.”

  “What is it?” Maya asked. Sloane admired her friend’s radar. “You can tell us. Maybe we can help.”

  Sloane smiled sadly. “You two have done enough. If David wants to talk to me, he knows where I am.”

  The rest of the ride to Sloane’s place was abysmally quiet. Just as they arrived back to Sloane’s apartment, Tony’s phone jangled. “It’s David,” he said, then turned away and answered.

  Sloane slouched out of the car and kissed Maya’s cheek goodbye.

  “I’m done for today, positively beat.” She walked away as Tony began speaking to David.

  Sloane half-expected her friends to follow, but they must have sensed she couldn’t handle any more. Sloane’s head throbbed as if it were a bass drum. Exhaustion overtook her the minute she sat on her couch. She leaned her head onto a pillow and closed her tired, red-rimmed eyes.

  Moments later her own phone rang. She saw David’s number on the screen, but she didn’t have the energy to answer. It could wait another day. Maybe it could wait even longer. She didn’t want to talk to him when she felt so fragile, so defeated, so close to tears; so she hit the ignore button on her phone, wearily rose to her swollen feet, locked her door, then went into her bedroom to lie down.

  Her bed sheets felt too hot, too constricting, so she took off her pretty white dress, un-slung her arm, and took off her ne
w, pink underwear. She silently cursed herself for buying all those bras and panties that were too expensive, too sexy, and now, too small for a pregnant woman. Before she could shed one tear, her heavy eyes closed.

  “She said what?” David growled into the phone.

  “Yep, she told Sloane that you and she were together. And the way she said it, it sounded more like, ‘We had sex all night long.’ Sloane was pissed, but she just walked out. That girl has class, David. Maybe too much. If it were Maya, Lexi would be bald. You better do something before you mess this whole thing up. And get that witch out while you’re at it. Damn, I’m glad she was lying. Never could stand her, you know.”

  “Why did you bring Sloane here anyway?” David asked angrily. He paced his office like a caged beast.

  “I tried calling, but you didn’t answer. Don’t blame me for trying to help your sorry butt,” Tony railed.

  “I’m not blaming you. I just want to know what she said, what she wanted. Any clue?”

  “Only that it was important enough to go to your house right away. Just call her, or better yet, show up at her apartment. Maybe you should stop at a jewelry store first.” Tony suggested.

  “Sloane can’t be bought,” David declared.

  “You are dumb, buddy. I mean, dense as a grizzly. You better propose, or you are out of the game. Out, do you hear me?” Tony hung up in David’s ear, and David looked at his phone as if it had grown wings or a long, curling tail.

  He went downstairs and found Lexi stretched out on his mother’s couch. She smiled at him and patted the couch, indicating he should lie down with her. His blood boiled. He looked at her seductive pose, and spat, “Stop trying. You’ve worn out your welcome. Get out. Now.”

  David knocked hard on Sloane’s apartment door. His pulse raced like he was picking up a date for the first time. Figuring she was asleep or in the shower, he used his super’s key to unlock her door and enter.