The Billionaire's Betrayal (Highest Bidder Book 3)

by Carmen Falcone

  Craig’s jaw clenched. “I’m making sure our son doesn’t drag our family name in the mud.”

  Blood pounded in his veins, thick and hot. Every part of him warned him to stand back, to be reasonable because of his mother’s presence, but Brooks didn’t waver. His father had been an asshole through and through, and if his mother had acquiesced because of her old-fashioned education and lack of self-esteem, so be it. He wouldn’t let Craig insult Alexa. “You have no worries there, Papa,” he said sarcastically. “You’ve done a good job yourself.”

  Craig squinted his eyes, tilting his head. A red color spread across his face. He shortened the gap between them, with an ironic shimmer in his hard eyes. “You have some nerve to show up here with this high-class hooker to introduce to your—”

  Brooks launched at his father, punching his fist into his cheek. His father nearly lost balance, swaying back, and Brooks was about to land another one when shouts from the two women in the room slowed his roll.

  “No,” his mother screamed.

  With his breath labored, he turned to his mother, who had both hands on her cheeks, tears forming in her eyes. “What’s going on? Oh my God. Don’t hit your father.”

  His father surged to his feet, smoothing his hand over his clothes, then touched the reddening cheek. “What the fuck—”

  “I’ll wait for you outside,” Alexa said quietly, with a blank expression. “Feel better, Mrs. Taylor,” she said to his mother, then she dashed out of the room. Proving to anyone she had more class than any of the mistresses his father had kept throughout the years. The provocation burned the tip of his tongue, but he bit it, reluctant to upset his mother even more.

  Vanessa knocked on the door and walked in, a nervous expression on her face. “Is everything okay? I heard shouting.” She dashed to his mother’s side, checking her vitals on the screen linked to her IVs. Then, she grabbed a cup of water and silently handed it to Claire, who shook her head more to herself than the others.

  His father stretched to his full height, shooting him a look of disapproval. “What’s your angle? You want to kill your mother by bringing that woman here?”

  Brooks growled. “Stop talking about Alexa that way. She’s a successful businesswoman.”

  His father’s acidy laughter cut through the tension. “What a joke. Did you know, Claire, that she makes money by having women sell their virginity at an auction?” He turned to Claire. “That’s the kind of businesswoman your son has been seeing.”

  Vanessa stepped forward, lifting her hand. “I don’t know what’s going on here. When Mr. Taylor called, I mentioned your visit and your friend as a positive thing for your mother.” Vanessa peered at him, a shade of red spreading across her cheeks. She probably meant well, and his father had researched Alexa online. “I’m sorry. If you two have a fight to pick, please do it elsewhere. I’m here to make sure your mother heals and shame on you two for causing her more stress.”

  His mother clenched the diamond cross pendant on her necklace. “Brooks…is it true?”

  Brooks hooked his hands in his belt, pacing in small circles. His brain was about to explode, so many thoughts running through his mind. Then he popped his knuckles, willing the anger away. He could tell his mother how much of a hypocrite his father was, judging Alexa when he’d had his share of women who slept with him for money. But, if he did, his mother would get more stressed, and maybe worse. He came to a halt and faced his mother. “Mom. This isn’t the kind of conversation we should be having.”

  “I’m tired of all of you telling me what to do and speaking for me,” his mother said, raising her voice. The vein in her neck pulsed, and she shifted in her bed, lifting her chin as a silent reminder she may be sickly but she wasn’t dead.

  Guilt stabbed at him. “Alexa isn’t a hooker. She’s built a successful business facilitating women who want to sell their virginity. She doesn’t force anyone to do anything and has rules in place to secure their safety,” he said without wavering.

  His father slow clapped. “Is that how you met her? You bought some naive young girl’s virginity?”

  Brooks lifted his fist, ready for another go at his father’s face, but Vanessa outsmarted them both, planting herself in the middle of them with sonic speed.

  “Get out.” His father pointed to the door. “This is my property and you won’t slap me around like I’m your little bitch.”

  Brooks exchanged a stare filled with resentment with his father, then glanced at his mother, softening his expression. “I’ll check on you later, Mom. Sorry for the stress,” he said, unwilling to excuse himself for Alexa’s presence, or for smacking his old man.

  She reached out her hand and touched his face. “We’ll talk later, honey. Goodbye.”

  He closed the door behind him and searched for Alexa in the living area, only to find her in the outdoor patio, texting. “Hey.”

  “Hi,” she said softly. He couldn’t see her reaction through her sunglasses, but he imagined she’d tried to pull herself together. Another tide of anger flooded through him. She’d only come to Texas to help him, and his father had humiliated her. What made him so much better than her? His money and upbringing? “I just ordered an Uber. I should get going.”

  He took her hand in his. “No. We’re leaving together.”

  She ran her fingers through her hair. “Brooks, assholes like your father don’t bother me. But I don’t want to create a rift between you and your mom. Wouldn’t be right, so it’s best if I go.”

  “Go to the hotel or to Vegas?”

  She slid her sunglasses off and stared at him. “Go to Vegas…alone.”

  Alone. Panic ricocheted through him, so real it felt like a blow to his guts. The same word he’d used to describe the idea of the sad future she’d shared with him. A future where she’d run and try to be someone else when the very same person she was would always be with her. “Don’t do this to us,” he said. “My father has no place in my life. He won’t get in our way.”

  She shifted her weight from foot to foot, her eyes glossy and teary. “I want to live in Spain because it’s a good hub in Europe to do some volunteer work. I’ve donated money to women’s shelters here and abroad, but also dreamed I could help them and be more hands-on.”

  “Why can’t you volunteer here? In Texas?” he asked, though the answer echoed in his ears. If she volunteered at a shelter, her identity would be exposed. They wouldn’t take her seriously after running a virgin auction for so long—hell, folks might think she was selecting women to auction later. Idiots who didn’t know the true Alexa—who didn’t know her like he did. “Most people here won’t know you, Alexa. If you want a new identity, I can get you one.”

  He stepped forward, but she lifted her hand in a silent plea for him to respect her space. Frustration throbbed in his throat, his jaw tight.

  “So you’re worried about people here knowing my real identity if we’re together?” she asked, her voice bitter.

  “I’m not worried the way you think. I want to protect you against those assholes who think you’re part of—”

  “Part of an auction? Well, I am. And maybe you’re one of those assholes, too. I saw how uncomfortable you were when that client talked to me in the restaurant. Or how you asked me, out of nowhere last night, how much longer I’ll be doing this.”

  “No,” he said, injecting energy into his voice. A part of him filled with shame, but he wouldn’t give up. He’d been wrong about her. Determination zinged through him, fast-tracking all his cells. Igniting him. Why deny it? He’d fallen hard for her and had shared with her more than he had with anyone else—he wanted her to be his. Only his. Forever. “I confess at first I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but we can make it work. You taught me a lot and I’m not done learning. Just give us a chance.”

  A tear fell from her eye, sliding down her cheek. She wiped it with the tip of her fin
ger, then inhaled. “I can’t.”

  The tips of his fingers tingled to touch her, and he almost did—stepping forward once again, too restless to stay still. She shook her head, the usual shimmer in her eyes gone. “I took a long time off from being who I was as a teenager, to figure things out. To see who I needed to be. Now that I know, I can’t do it halfway.”

  What? She couldn’t leave him right now—not after all they’d been through. “You don’t fool me for one moment, Alexa. You’re scared and running away…from me. Are you afraid of loving me?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair, putting all his cards on the table.

  “I’m not afraid. I just can’t. I’m sorry if I let you believe otherwise—I wanted to believe it, too. But it’s impossible.”

  Against his common sense, he bridged the distance and took her in his arms. He kissed her, violently, pouring his soul into her mouth, holding her so close it became hard to breathe. She didn’t return his kiss, her lips cold and unmoving.

  He let go of her, his heart more bruised than his ego. His body tightened, his shoulder blades cramped with tension. A low growl of disappointment escaped his lips. Could he have been wrong about her, like he had been about Pamela? Maybe she was right. She didn’t want his love—and that devastated him more than he could bear.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Hey, Jackie. Is everything ready for tonight?” Alexa asked. The big day for Scott’s auction had arrived. She crossed her legs, going over the last details of the much coveted night. She’d chosen a new security firm and done the background check herself to make sure the team would be legit. Hell, she’d been doing more than needed lately—if it meant not thinking about saying goodbye to the only man she’d ever loved.

  “Yep. Picked him up from the airport last night, and trust me, it was hard to be professional and let that man remain a virgin. He’s hot.” Jackie fanned herself. “Are all Texans like that?”

  Alexa gave her a non-committal shrug. For the past week, she’d made an effort not to think about men in general, especially Texans. Brooks had tried to contact her, and she’d blocked his number. She’d been adamant for a reason—the family meltdown was only an example of what her life with him would be like.

  She’d have to deal with silly jokes from his friends. He’d be shunned from his family life. How could she keep him from seeing his mother in whatever time she had left? His father had been direct—he’d squash any attempt for Brooks to see his mother if Alexa was by his side at social events.

  Sadness wrapped her heart like a rubber band. She’d spent too many years of her life with shame—hiding from shame, then running from shame, and finally, capitalizing on shame. She couldn’t go back to worrying about what people thought. Not for her, but for him. Because she loved him. The thought flicked on a light inside her, offering temporary emotional respite, then it faded into the emptiness that had been her stalker and companion during the past week.

  “Alexa.” Jackie nudged her elbow. “What’s wrong? I’ve been talking about security and you seem like you’re a world away.”

  “Sorry.” Alexa shook her head. “You hired extra for tonight, right?”

  “Yes. Like you asked.”

  To ensure the women attending would feel safe, she’d planned not only for a new security firm, but also for more personnel, to keep any possible negative eventualities at bay. She wanted the women attending to enjoy themselves, not worry about getting into trouble of any kind. Thankfully, she’d emailed Brooks, asking him not to attend the event. Seeing him would crush her. He hadn’t replied, but also hadn’t shown up. So maybe deep down he agreed it’d be best for all if he didn’t go.

  “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” Alexa began.

  Jackie slid her finger across her iPad, checking an item off her list. “Shoot.”

  “I’ll be retiring earlier than planned, but I came up with an idea that might be good for the both of us.” She walked up to the wet bar and grabbed the gin bottle, then poured two glasses. “You can keep running House of Alexa and I’ll get a lifetime fee for branding rights, but you’ll keep most of the money.”

  With widened eyes, Jackie nearly jumped from her seat. “Are you serious? I know we talked about me taking over, but I never imagined you’d really leave.”

  If House of Alexa meant something to someone other than Alexa, that person was Jackie. And now, peering at her, witnessing the pride and joy in Jackie’s eyes solidified her solution. “Yeah. You know, I was almost ready to close everything, but especially after visiting Kace’s brothel. If women want to sell their virginity, they should have a safe place to do it.”

  “I agree.” Jackie hugged her, kissing her cheek. “Thank you. You won’t be sorry.”

  Nostalgia welled up in her throat. She’d keep in touch with Jackie for professional reasons. Was that why she’d chosen her to keep House of Alexa? To use it as an excuse to maintain the friendship they’d created? “I know I won’t.”

  A knock on the door made them disengage. Thomas, the head of the security in charge for the evening, popped his head inside the office. “Someone really wants to see you, Madam Alexa. She said her name is Laura Jensen.”

  Alexa smoothed her hand over her dress. “I’m not expecting anyone.” Nor did she know anyone with that name.

  “She said she works for Kace and has some information you might need.”

  Curiosity quaked inside her. Why would anyone who worked for Kace want to talk to her? She didn’t run a brothel, and most likely whoever was in a house he ran was no longer a virgin. “All right. Let her in.”

  Jackie nodded, texting. “I’ll tell security to let her through.”

  Within a few minutes, Thomas escorted the same woman Alexa had seen at the ranch. She’d been one of the women hanging out in the bar area when she’d visited the brothel with Brooks. Blonde, curvy, and with a sleeve of tattoos on her right arm. She wore jeans and a tank top and would stand out from all the moneyed potential buyers circulating soon for the auction.

  Jackie and Thomas left the room.

  “You wanted to see me?” Alexa pointed to the empty seat across from her.

  With a nervous smile, Laura pulled a chair facing Alexa and sat. “Yes. I have some information you might be interested in.”

  Alexa grabbed a pen from her holder and clicked it mindlessly. Information usually cost money, particularly in the sex industry. “How do you figure?” she asked casually, hoping her neutral expression wouldn’t give away how eager she was to hear the intel.

  Laura glanced around the office, cataloguing the thank-you notes on the brag wall, the expensive vases and the wet bar in the corner. Then her gaze snapped back to Alexa. “I saw you with that good-looking man when you visited the ranch. I know you were asking around about Pamela.”

  Alexa leaned in. “Shoot.”

  The woman shuffled in the seat, cleared her throat. “I need five hundred dollars.”

  Alexa rocked back in her chair. Of course she needed money. A pig like Kace probably didn’t give his girls a good share when they literally did all the dirty work. “Must be some good information.”

  “Yes.”

  Alexa folded her arms, musing over her options. If she didn’t pay her, she’d go to sleep wondering about the information. If she paid her and Laura just gave her some sob story or gossip, she’d be mad at herself for falling for it. Either option would offer a night thinking about Brooks and not sleeping. Sighing, she unlocked her top drawer, opened it, grabbed five Ben Franklins and sat them on the desk. “Okay. I’ll bite. What do you have for me?”

  Laura glanced at the money, but didn’t take it. An eagerness flashed in her eyes, and Alexa hoped she needed it to pay her rent and not for drugs. “Pamela had someone interested in her. The day of our auction, I got her hair done for the live video, so we chatted a bit. She wanted to sell her virginity, but
in the process, met this guy and fell for him. But she refused to let him fuck her—she said if she sold her body for one night, she’d make good money and they could start a life together.”

  “Who was he?”

  “He worked as security. Think his name was Tom or—”

  “Tony.” Beads of sweat slicked over Alexa’s forehead. Her stomach twisted in knots, and before Laura confirmed it, she remembered the personal trainer they’d talked to after questioning Mike Wheeler. A young, good-looking man.

  Alexa froze. The pieces of the puzzle fell neatly into place.

  Pamela hadn’t been kidnapped. She’d changed her mind about House of Alexa at the last minute, choosing to sleep with a stranger for money for only one night—maybe it felt like less of a betrayal to her boyfriend.

  “Yes. That’s it,” Laura said.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that when we visited the ranch?”

  “I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. Didn’t want to get in trouble, so I waited until you had a scheduled auction again because I knew you’d be here tonight.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You did me a solid. My rent is overdue. Hey, are you sure you guys aren’t going to start offering regular work?” She winked. “At some point, the world will run out of virgins.”

  Alexa grabbed her business card from a drawer and gave it to her. “No, we won’t turn into a brothel. But if you want to work as an assistant, I’ll let Jackie know. It’s a salaried position.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m not saying you have the job, but she can interview you,” she said. After all, Jackie would need help, and why not give the opportunity to someone who knew the ins and outs of the industry?

  “Wow. Yes, I’d love that. You’re a good woman, Madam Alexa.”

  Alexa bit her inner cheek. She was about to call Brooks, and there was nothing good about what she’d reveal to him.

  …

  Brooks took another swig of beer. Duke rested his head on his lap, and whatever game was on TV turned into a blur. Ever since he’d returned to his ranch, memories from when Alexa had visited had stalked him like some evil criminal. He’d even gone into the room she’d occupied a few times, in hopes of still catching traces of her scent.