The Billionaire's Secret Wife
Page 1
Table of Contents
About This Book
Series Reading Order
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
What’s Next
Titles by Nadia Lee
About Nadia Lee
Copyright
Having grown up in a dysfunctional family, Vanessa Pryce knows the futility of relying on a man for happiness. But there is one man who makes her want to ignore the truth: the irresistible Justin Sterling, her no-strings boyfriend since their college days together. Even after they break up, she continues to meet him for passionate encounters while keeping the relationship secret. No need to make public something that’s doomed.
Billionaire tycoon Justin Sterling understands Vanessa’s fears. But he’s about to change the game they’ve been playing… Because when one drunken night of sex leads to pregnancy, he’s going to move heaven and earth to rewrite their rules.
The Pryce Family Series (Hearts on the Line Spin-Off) Reading Order
Book 1: The Billionaire’s Counterfeit Girlfriend
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 2: The Billionaire’s Holiday Obsession
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 3: The Billionaire’s Secret Wife
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 4: The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée (coming April/May 2015)
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 5: Title TBA (coming summer 2015)
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
——
Hearts on the Line Series Reading Order
Book 1: Vengeful in Love
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 2: Reunited in Love
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 3: Redemption in Love)
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 3.5: Sweet in Love
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 4: Forever in Love
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
Book 5: Merry in Love
US :: UK :: Germany :: Canada :: Australia
——
If you want to receive notices about my latest books, please join my new release alert at nadialee.net!
The Billionaire’s Secret Wife
The Pryce Family Book 3
Nadia Lee
For James.
Prologue
Ten years ago
Justin Sterling wrapped his arms around the soft, slim body of Vanessa Pryce, relaxing in the afterglow. The top-floor hotel suite was dark, mirroring the desert blackness that floated beyond Vegas’s garish lights. The AC was putting out cool air, and now that the lovemaking was finished, she shivered. He pulled a sheet over the two of them.
They’d been dating for almost five years. Justin had attended Stanford for his Masters in order to be close to Vanessa, even though his great-uncle had thought Harvard Business School would be a better option. Nobody knew they were seeing each other, though. She wanted to keep things low-key to avoid drawing attention to their relationship.
Justin didn’t mind if it made her feel better. Also, he knew his status as the Heir Apparent to one of the richest and most influential men in the world could destroy the privacy Vanessa wanted. There was a reason she tried to keep a low profile despite her own family’s considerable wealth and prestige, and she avoided talking about them as much as she could.
She pressed her cheek against his chest. “You know I’m going to start my job soon,” she said quietly.
“L.A., right?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
He pushed his hand gently through her silky hair. She always dyed it apple red, even though her natural black looked stunning. She took after her mother, who’d been a renowned beauty in her youth. “We can probably accommodate each other’s schedules. Now that I have my MBA, I need to be in Chicago for awhile, but it’s not that far.”
“Justin…” She cleared her throat. “It’s probably better if we break up.”
His hand stilled. “What?”
She sighed softly. “Long distance relationships never work.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I think I do. We’ll both be busy with our careers, and you’re going to be surrounded by beautiful women in Chicago. You’ll want to date them.”
“Ohh, the women in Chicago. They’re the problem. I guess all the handsome actors in L.A. won’t be a factor.” Justin said, keeping his tone light, even though the idea sent a fiery jealousy blazing through his body.
She laughed softly. “No, I’m not really interested. Besides, most of them want to date people who can help their careers, and lawyers don’t really count. Not enough studio connections.”
“Not if the lawyer’s worth fifty million bucks.”
She pressed her mouth against his. “Justin. Stop arguing. We still have until morning.”
“Oh. So our breakup starts in the morning?”
“Yup. Let’s not waste the night.”
When she fitted her body to him, Justin let his annoyance go. She’d change her mind.
Except she hadn’t.
* * *
November, one year ago
Ten years of on-and-off dating. No, you couldn’t really call it dating. The more accurate term would be booty-calling. A week’s conference in New York, a business trip to San Francisco, a secretly planned mini-vacation in the Bahamas. Two or three times a year, sometimes more, they’d find an excuse—or make one—to get together. Even though Vanessa’s prediction about their careers seemed to be playing out, they couldn’t really let each other go.
He stewed over that as he’d walked along the night streets of downtown L.A. after leaving his friend—and Vanessa’s brother—Iain at a club. Vanessa had been so odd when he’d shown up at her firm, all uptight and aloof. Nobody, not even Iain, seemed to know what was wrong with her.
Instead of trying to figure out Vanessa’s inexplicable mood, he needed to leave for Houston. His great-uncle Barron would kill him if he didn’t show for Thanksgiving, especially since it was the first one he was celebrating with his girlfriend and her family…who also happened to be their in-laws now.
Then he heard the laugh that never failed to grab his attention. Throaty and full-bodied, it flowed over him, warming him from the inside out. He turned his head, and there she was.
Carrying a briefcase and a purse, Vanessa was striding along confidently in those crazy sexy stilettos of hers. Her red hair glinted as she tilted her head to look up at a man next to her.
Justin narrowed his eyes. The other guy was a bit too close to her for Justin’s taste. He undoubtedly wanted to sleep with her. Given the man’s conservative haircut and outfit, he was probably a lawyer. Maybe another associate at the firm where she worked.
Suddenly V
anessa stopped as though she’d felt something, then turned and saw Justin. Her eyes flickered for a moment, then a blank expression descended upon her face like she was looking at a stranger.
The persona-non-grata treatment scraped his already shot nerves. He could still hear her moans, smell the sweat and sex on her skin when she’d come with his cock buried deep inside her the last time they’d met for a hook-up. The memory of her sweet, baked-pear scent sizzled through him like a potent drug, and she was standing so close to the other guy that Justin knew her date could smell her.
The man next to her smiled at Justin. “Hello, Mr. Sterling. Fancy running into you here.”
Justin gave him a warm, professional smile, while imagining breaking his nose. “Have we met?”
“No.” The other man flushed. “But I saw you at the firm. I’m Felix Peck. An associate.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Peck.”
“Please. Call me Felix.”
Justin nodded once.
Felix cleared his throat, shifting his weight. Vanessa put a hand on his sleeve. “If we don’t hurry, we’re going to be late.”
Justin reined in his temper. “Do you mind if I borrow Vanessa for a moment, Felix?”
“Sure.”
Justin pulled her away, none too gently, breaking the offending contact between her and Felix. She glared at him, but he didn’t give a damn right now. If they’d been in private, he might have done something far more glare-worthy than just moving her a few feet.
When they had a little distance from the associate, she hissed, “Stop. What’s wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Justin almost snarled at her. “Don’t you know?”
“No. I can’t read your mind.” She yanked at her arm, but he didn’t let go.
“It hasn’t even been a month since you and I were fucking like bunnies, and you’re clinging to this guy Peck? Do you think he can give you what I gave you?”
Even in the dark, Justin could see her cheeks flush. “Don’t be nasty and weird. And hypocritical. It’s not like you’ve lived like a monk since then. I’ve seen more than one picture of you with a model on your arm.”
“Only because you didn’t want to go to any of those functions with me.”
“Justin…” She squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. “I like you, but it’s complicated.”
It suddenly hit him. The clarity of the situation—this messed up relationship he had with Vanessa—it was so obvious.
She was his Siren—the seductive, irresistible being that would lead him to his doom. Because no matter how much he wanted her, he couldn’t really have her. And what she did to him wasn’t healthy. By indulging her, he was letting her screw with his mind.
He slowly let go. “I understand how it is now.”
“Good,” she said, rubbing her arm. “Now if I can—”
“I’ve let you use me for far too long.”
She pulled up short. “Huh?”
“Because I liked you.” He swallowed a bitterness that threatened to suffocate him. “Good enough to fuck in private, but not good enough to be seen with in public? I get the message loud and clear.”
“What? No, that’s not it.” She took a step forward, her arm extending. “Justin—”
He pulled away, making sure they didn’t touch again. “Don’t even try. And don’t ever act like you know me.” The finality of what he was about to say burned his throat. “From now on, you’re dead to me.”
Then he spun and stalked away, blocking out Vanessa’s cry. He’d had enough of this emotional rollercoaster bullshit.
Chapter One
Present day
Vanessa let out a long breath as she and Felix walked out of the firm’s glitzy lobby to grab a latte from Starbucks. Her head throbbed, but she clenched her hands to avoid rubbing her temples. The client was guilty as hell, that was obvious, but she and other lawyers at the firm would spend endless billable hours to ensure a Desirable Outcome.
“You okay?” Felix lowered his voice. “You seemed really distracted in there.”
“I’m okay.” But she wasn’t. Her oldest brother Dane had texted her in the middle of the deposition: Parents are divorcing. And now the jerk wouldn’t answer her calls or texts.
“Miss Pryce!”
Vanessa stopped as two young girls ran toward her. Just like that the throbbing in her head started to dissipate, and she felt her mouth start to curl into a smile. They were clients from a previous case on which she’d worked pro bono. She turned to Felix. “Do you mind getting me a tall skinny latte? I’ll meet you back upstairs.”
He nodded and walked away, leaving her alone with the girls. “What are you two doing here?” she asked. “Does your dad know?”
The younger girl nodded. “Dad drove us. He was coming to downtown anyway.” She hugged Vanessa’s legs, her small hands sticky. “Dad’s so awesome.”
The older one, Suzy, added, “We wanted to see you and say thank you again.”
Vanessa grinned. She’d fought long and hard to get their no-good drug addict mom and her abusive boyfriend away from the kids. It hadn’t been easy to convince the court that the girls were better off with their father. The man was a gruff, blue-collar high school grad, while their mother had gone to community college and knew how to work the system.
“Aunt Sally said you didn’t get paid. Is that true? I brought some money.” The younger one reached into her pocket and pulled out a small change purse.
Vanessa put a hand over the girl’s. “I’ve already been paid, just to see you guys this happy.”
Their father rushed over and gathered the kids around him. “I’m so sorry they’re bothering you. I told them they weren’t going to be able to see you again, but they just wouldn’t listen,” he spoke fast, his face flushed.
“It’s all right. I was on a coffee break. It’s great to see them doing well.” When she’d first met them, they’d been skinny, dirty and wary. Now they clung to him, their gazes certain of his love.
He sniffed. “Couldn’t have done it without your help. Thank you.”
“I’m just glad everything worked out.”
“I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I know you’re a busy woman, helping people like me.” He turned to his daughters. “Hey, say thank you to Miss Pryce, real polite now, and then we can go have ice cream.”
The girls crowed, their faces flushed, then thanked her again in a loud chorus. Chuckling, the man started herding them across the street. Something warm and sweet unfurled inside Vanessa as she watched them laughing and joking around. She blinked away sudden moisture in her eyes. Now that, she thought, was a Just and Proper Outcome.
It sort of sucked that her paying clients rarely fit into the same category.
She started to turn away, then stopped when she saw her mother climbing out of her car. She was dressed as elegantly as usual. Nothing about her hinted that something as disastrous as divorce was about to impact her life.
“Mom!” Vanessa started marching toward her mother at a rapid pace.
Ceinlys’s face relaxed into a smile. “Hello, dear,” she said when Vanessa was close enough to hug.
Vanessa searched her mother’s expression, looking for any signs of distress, but Ceinlys looked perfectly composed. Still, Dane wouldn’t have sent a text like that for no reason. “Is it true?” She’d kill him if he’d only done it to make her ask stupid questions.
“Is what true, dear?”
“That you and Dad are divorcing.” It couldn’t really be happening. Both her parents were in their sixties. Why now?
Ceinlys hesitated for half a second, then said, “Yes.”
The answer hit Vanessa like a hammer to the base of her skull.
“Where did you hear that?” Ceinlys asked.
“Dane told me.” Bitterness bubbled. “Why is Dad doing this?”
A wry smile twisted her mother’s mouth. “You have it wrong, dear. I am divorcing him.”
T
his time it was like a sledgehammer. “Why? The prenup—”
“If you wish to talk about my divorce, call my lawyer.” Ceinlys’s diction was proper and precise. “Her name is Samantha Jones, and as it happens I’m late for our appointment.”
Something cold and hard fisted around Vanessa’s chest. Samantha was one of the most well-known divorce attorneys in California. Nobody hired her unless they were serious, and she was exactly the kind of lawyer her mother needed if she wanted to leave her father. Vanessa forcibly drew air into her tight lungs. “But—”
“Don’t you have to go back to the office? It’s only four thirty.”
As if to prove her mother’s point, Vanessa’s cell phone started ringing.
“Nice chatting with you, dear.” Ceinlys walked away. She didn’t look back.
* * *
Hands steepled together, Justin watched the man on the other side of the executive desk. In his mid-forties, he looked starkly white against the dark, supple leather of his seat. His fish-like mouth moved, and words kept pouring out in an unrelenting stream, but Justin had tuned him out. It was too late for excuses.
“Have you heard anything I said?” the man said finally.
“Unfortunately, I have. Nothing you said can change my mind. The children’s hospital is no longer under your directive.”
“But—”
The muscles in Justin’s jaw tightened. This was getting tiresome. “Furthermore, as of now, you are no longer employed at Sterling & Wilson.”
The construction manager’s eyes bulged. “What? You can’t do that!”
Justin gave him a bland look. “I just did.”
“But Barron—”
“Is no longer in charge.” Justin put some steel behind his voice. People kept looking for Barron even though he hadn’t been in the office in months. It was getting old. “He’s retired.”
Sweat beaded on the other man’s forehead. “Look. I know I made a few mistakes. He wouldn’t like you firing one of his longest-term managers over some minor errors.”
“Your ‘minor errors’ are going to cost the company at least five million dollars. You’re not worth anywhere near that much money.”