Keeper (A Billionaire Romance)

by Belle Roberts

  “My pleasure. Goodnight Kate.”

  “Night.”

  He closed the door behind him and I went to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. It was almost fictional how my life had changed in such a short space of time.

  I’d been the woman who’d sworn off emotional drama, and now I was scared and worried because the man I’d signed a contract with not to fall for was hurt and disappointed in me.

  I remembered the file he’d given me and got up, walking to the hall to get it. I curled up on the sofa with it in my hands.

  It smelled of him, and I thought about all the effort he’d put into preparing it for me before our meeting.

  I opened the thick leather and read the first page, my heart pounding:

  ‘Congratulations Kate,

  I know how much this meant to you, so I have set up a charity for you called Kate’s Kids that helps those children in foster care who have no permanent home. I’m not only your first monetary donator, but I’m in the process of negotiating a beautiful office building for you. I look forward to seeing what wonders and miracles you do, because I caught a glimpse of your heart last night and I know you have so much more to share.

  Yours,

  Jonathan

  What the hell had I done?

  Jonathan

  “Is that everything? It’s getting late now and I’m thinking of getting home.”

  Helen put the glass of wine down on the table in front of me and folded her arms. I could tell she wasn’t pleased and I didn’t blame her. The thought of what I’d done had left a bad taste in my mouth.

  I watched her walk over to the large windows and look out over the New York skyline before turning back to me.

  “You know, I don’t like to make a bad situation worse and I’m only your assistant, but tomorrow the press are going to devour all three of you. My phone’s going to be ringing off the hook before I even get in.”

  “Take the day off,” I said, picking the wine up and taking a sip. “It’s the least I can do to make up for what happened tonight.”

  “Jonathan…”

  “No, seriously. Use the company card and treat yourself to some shopping or a spa break. Just…”

  “Who’s going to handle the press when they call for comments? Your shareholders are going to be desperate for meetings and…”

  “I’ll deal with it.”

  I closed my eyes trying to block out the pounding headache, when all I could see was Kate’s confused face as our car pulled away from the curb and the disappointment she must have felt in me. I’d completely let her down.

  “I should have trusted her,” I said out loud. Helen sighed.

  “You should have trusted them both. You know how loyal Evan is.”

  “I know, and I can’t believe I punched him.”

  She crossed the room and put a hand on my shoulder.

  “Even though the press will have a field day with that photo and you’ll probably get called to sponsor some boxing products, you’ve got to keep your chin up. I’m sure they’ll both understand you’re just a bit… mixed up at the moment.”

  “Mixed up?”

  She nodded.

  “I don’t know. Ever since you’ve announced your engagement, you’ve changed. I just find it weird. I’m used to sending women break up flowers and dealing with them when they turn up at the office angry and heartbroken, but I’m not used to enquiring about your wedding plans. I guess she’s changed you and I don’t know right now if it’s for the better.”

  I thought about it and she was right. I’d always envisioned the engagement and marriage being one where we would exist in the same house and I would still get the chance to be attracted to and talk with other women, but now the only person’s voice I wanted to hear was Kate’s. Other women didn’t interest me anymore, and a dozen naked, slim models could walk right past me and bounce their tits in my face and I’d still only have eyes for her.

  “Yeah, I guess she has…”

  Helen gave my shoulder a squeeze and stood upright.

  “Okay, I’m going now, and I’m going to see you tomorrow morning—no buts.”

  “Thank you. And would you take James? He’s ready to drop you off.”

  She shook her head.

  “I need some fresh air, so a walk to the station would suit me fine. Goodnight, then.”

  “Night. Stay safe.”

  She shut the door behind her and I closed my eyes. For the first time since I’d moved in, my Manhattan penthouse suddenly felt large, lonely, and empty, and I’d never felt more certain in my life that I was ready to commit one hundred and fifty percent of myself to someone and that person was Kate, if only I could convince her to forgive me.

  Chapter Seven

  Kate

  ‘The American Bridget Jones

  The future wife of property billionaire Jonathan Davenport has been publicly identified as hotel bar worker Kate Williams, after a brawl broke out over her affections in front of Haselini yesterday evening.

  It was said the ruckus was caused by wealthy entrepreneur Evan Jackson, who was out on a date with Williams.

  Official sources in DavenCorp have so far declined to comment, but the fight witnessed by both paparazzi and the general public was over before it started with one punch thrown.

  Experts reckon that it wouldn’t have been long before Jonathan exploded, and people are asking just who is the completely average beauty that has stolen the hearts of two very wealthy and well documented playboys?’

  I put the paper back down on the table and sighed, the photo they had of me was completely awful, but I’d been ready for it. I knew an article would be coming about where I stood in the fight.

  I folded the other papers up and put the lid back over my breakfast tray. As I’d assumed, they’d all got the wrong end of the stick. Everyone had, including Jonathan.

  I’d been portrayed as the ugly duckling making two rich men fight over me, and the idea that I’d been on a date with Evan was crazier than the idea that I would do it out in broad daylight when people already knew my face.

  I switched on my cell and scrolled through to his number, hovering over it ready to call, but I decided not to. I needed him to make the first move. He had to be the one to say sorry to me. I’d done nothing wrong but accept an arm of comfort from someone who genuinely cared.

  He’d punched his best friend and humiliated all three of us in public. I couldn’t just forgive him like that and let him think it was okay.

  He knew the connection and bond we’d shared the night before and the way I’d opened up to him more than I had to anyone else in my life.

  I didn’t want Evan and I didn’t just want anyone. I wanted him.

  The sound of the door knocking broke me from my daydream and I got up and looked through the spy hole.

  It was Evan’s assistant with a rack of clothes.

  I opened the door and she burst through in a whirlwind of expensive perfume and court shoes.

  “Kate, is it? Hiya, I’m Jules.”

  She walked over to the curtains and pushed them open, taking a second to look out at the scenery.

  “I just love this room,” she smiled, giving me the impression that she’d done this before. “Evan ordered a few outfits, but as he wasn’t sure what style you wanted or where you were going, I brought several.”

  “Is he okay?” I asked, thinking about the punch he’d received.

  She smiled and nodded.

  “He’s a big guy, he’ll be fine. Just a touch of bruising, but he’ll live. He also told me to tell you good morning and that Jonathan called him today and booked you a spa treat.”

  “Why didn’t he call me?” I felt the depressing feeling that things were going south quite quickly.

  Jules shook her head.

  “Listen honey, these men are in a class of their own. I wouldn’t try to decipher them. It’ll only drive you even more crazy.”

  She gave me a lopsided, sympathetic smile and wal
ked back towards the door, looking at her glistening jeweled watch. Evan obviously paid her well.

  “What time does Evan’s meeting finish?” I asked.

  She stopped and turned back towards me.

  “The media storm you guys fired up isn’t going to disappear overnight, and Evan has a lot of meetings today. I suggest you lay low for a few hours and get yourself to the spa day. He’s arranged a car to pick you up and take you there, so when you’re ready the driver will be downstairs waiting.”

  I followed her to the door, feeling as though a tornado had just swept through the suite.

  “Oh, and one more thing!” she reached into her bag and pulled out a card. “Here’s my number and email if you need to get hold of Evan. Got to run! Enjoy the clothes and the spa! Bye!”

  She hurried off down the corridor before I even had a chance to respond and I closed the door behind her, resting back against the solid wood.

  Jonathan must have known he was out of line and the spa day he’d planned was most probably his way of apologizing to me, but I wanted more than that. I wanted him to explain to me in person what the hell had happened and, most importantly, where we went from there.

  Jonathan

  The tabloids had the photo of my fist connecting with Evan’s jaw on all the front pages, and just as Helen had predicted the phone had been ringing off the hook with constant calls for comments and interviews.

  I felt bad leaving her in the lurch and escaping to The Hamptons, but I couldn’t face the curious stares from my staff because I knew I’d messed everything up, and the stern but slightly exhausted voice of my mother on the phone earlier was enough of a wakeup call as any.

  I had to speak to Kate, I knew that much, but today I had other things to deal with—things that I couldn’t cancel.

  Anna was coming around.

  I pushed myself away from the desk in my study, giving myself a break from reading the same news stories over and over again and seeing all the different angles there possibly was of my fist connecting with Evan’s jaw.

  I knew I had a lot of making up to do with him and Kate—an exceptional amount, as the press had eagerly been searching around for any information they could find on her.

  They’d assumed she’d come in the middle of Evan and me, but it couldn’t have been further from the truth, and now in the cold light of day I knew it. I saw it. I remembered her already tear-stained face as she pulled away from Evan’s arms and everything slotted into place. I just wish that I’d had that clarity when she was pleading with me to calm down. I should have taken a step back and realized that all she needed at that moment was comforting.

  I’d never had to beg forgiveness from a woman before, as usually they accepted everything I did wrong and came back for more, which was what I liked so much about Kate. I wasn’t perfect, and she expected me to work just as hard as anyone else to put things right. The name Davenport and my charm weren’t enough. Not this time.

  I heard the sound of the front gate buzzer from where I sat in the study and several minutes later the doorbell rang.

  I took a deep breath, downed the rest of my drink, and put the newspapers away.

  I knew it was Anna and her gang before Loria, my housekeeper, came in to get me. Even though I’d been anticipating her arrival from the minute she got into contact with me, I knew this had the potential to go sour fast, and suddenly I felt worried that I was about to make a big mistake, but it was too late to stop now. I’d gone too far.

  I wandered out of the study to the sitting room where a number of people sat looking around the room excitedly, and I felt slightly flat that she’d exceeded the ‘few’ that she’d told me about.

  “Hi everyone!” I said, as upbeat as I could.

  They all turned to me like vultures and a chorus of ‘hello’, ‘your house is amazing’, and ‘thanks for having us’ echoed around the room. I waved politely until I saw her sitting behind everyone, perched on the edge of the sofa. I knew it was her because of her eyes—large, bright, and deep.

  “Anna?” I said walking forwards, my arm outstretched. “So glad you could make it.”

  The room fell silent as she stood up, walking towards me and ignoring my hand as she pulled me to her in a tight embrace. She buried her face deeply into my chest, catching me off guard.

  The room erupted into laughter at my surprise, and when she finally let go she reached up and put her hands on either side of my face and smiled warmly.

  “Thank you, Jonathan. You don’t know how much this means.”

  “Like I said, I’m so glad you could come here. All of you!” I turned to the others, despite wishing it were just Anna and I.

  “I owe you an explanation…” she said, taking my arm and leading me out to the hallway. “It’s been on my mind for years and I just didn’t know what to do about it. I didn’t know how to go that one step further.”

  “You don’t need to explain to me. Save it. You’re here now and we’ll keep in touch. I won’t let this lapse. You have my word. I have a confidentiality agreement here for everyone to sign and this meeting today stays with us, okay? Well meet again, just the two of us, once you get confirmation and I’ll make sure not to mention anything to her until then. I don’t want to tell her something that isn’t true. I don’t want to cause undue hurt.”

  She nodded, her eyes still bright and friendly.

  “Jonathan? Sorry to interrupt you both…”

  I looked up to see an overly made up woman with large tits and crazily botoxed lips looking at me.

  “No, no. Go ahead.” I offered.

  “I couldn’t see your maid and didn’t wanna go snooping. Can you show me the right direction to the lavatory, please?”

  “Just next to the front door.” I pointed behind us and she nodded.

  “Thanks sweets!”

  I watched her walk off and turned back to Anna, my eyebrow raised.

  “She’s a cousin,” she whispered. “Extremely confident and outgoing. She’s the opposite to the rest of us, but she means well.”

  I nodded.

  “Anna, do you understand the importance of the fact that we have to keep this a secret until you get the go ahead. All these people can’t breathe a word until we’re ready to go. It’s really important. I have a lot at stake here. More than you can imagine.”

  “I know, I know. It’s important to me too, I promise you,” she squeezed my hand reassuringly.

  “Good, then let’s all have something to drink. I have some food being served shortly, and then I’d like to go over my plans.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  I offered her my arm and we walked back to the sitting room together. I just hoped my plan was going to work. It had to.

  Kate

  “Thanks for coming back so early,” I said to the driver as he got back into the car and we pulled away from the spa. “I just have something I need to do and I can’t relax until it’s done.”

  He nodded, looking at me in the rearview mirror.

  “Am I taking you back to the St Regis, Miss?”

  “No. Can you take me to the Hamptons, please? I’ll give you the address. I know it’s far, but I have to do it tonight.”

  He entered it into his navigation system and I sat back, tilting my head towards the window as we drove towards Jonathan’s house.

  Helen had been a little stand offish on the phone when I’d asked to speak to him and indirectly refused to let me know where he was, but thankfully, his Penthouse housekeeper had been more than happy to point me in his direction.

  It wasn’t that staying in the Hamptons was wrong, but coupled with Helen’s lack of enthusiasm to speak to me and the fact that he should have been at work rather than hours away made me nervous.

  I’d tried in vain to concentrate on getting my nails done and the massages that I was being given, but all I could think about was him. I couldn’t get the thought of what had happened the previous night out of my head.

  I loved the
idea of the spa, but I needed to know for myself. I needed to hear from him where he wanted us to go and whether or not he trusted me.

  It was time we told each other the truth, because entering into such a business arranged marriage was only going to end badly for us, especially since we both were developing real feelings and I didn’t want to get hurt. I didn’t want to fall for him and spend the next few years by his side watching as he broke my heart over and over again.

  I closed my eyes, still relaxed from my spa treatments, trying to stop the heavy pounding of my heart as we neared.

  It was now or never. Tonight I was going to be brave and tell him how I really felt. No barriers, no walls, and certainly no restrictions. I was going to give him me.

  We pulled up at the gates as the sun was setting and the driver looked at me silently hyperventilating in the back, as I tried to hold onto my hand to stop it from shaking.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  I shook my head, wishing I felt the way I projected to him. If I had my own way, I would have asked him to turn the car back and drive away, but I knew I needed to do this. I needed to explain to him everything inside me so he knew whether he wanted us or not, but I’d never opened up to anyone in my life and my nerves were getting the better of me.

  I pressed in the code and the iron gates opened slowly.

  Please don’t reject me, I thought to myself as we drove through. It was now or never.

  Jonathan

  The sun was starting to set on the beach as Anna and the rest of her gang followed me up the path to the back of the house, and we walked through into the kitchen where Loria had some champagne ready for everyone.

  They all picked up a glass and looked towards me, expecting a toast of some kind.

  “Um, I’m glad you could all come out here today, Anna especially. It means a lot to me, and I hope you all understand about the confidentiality agreement you’re all required to sign.”