by Lauren Wood
“What about if I threw enough money down?”
I didn't even turn around to say anything else to him, because there was no point. Men like him were never going to change. They thought of themselves only and the rest of us were just here to make their lives better. Jimmy was one of the main reasons I knew then, that I had made the right decision. I couldn't do this anymore.
Scott
“So, I hear congratulations are in order.”
Jeff looked a little surprised to see me and I rather liked that it was me who was getting the jump on him this time. I don't know what I was thinking to play the game with him. It was never going to work out.
“Dad retired and gave you the business. So, congratulations.”
“Thank you, Scott. I didn't think I'd ever hear you say that.”
“I wasn’t sure either. I spent way too much time wasted away in that company. I am glad to be rid of it.”
I am not sure if that was completely true, but since I had taken some time off and reevaluated what I wanted out of life I knew that what I had told my father was true. Everything that I did in work and no matter how many hours I spent working there, I knew that I was never going to be happy there.
“That doesn't sound like you Scott. You usually don't give up this easily. I can’t believe that you are giving up.”
“I am just learning, that there is no other point. I don't want the company anymore and since you roofied me and hired some chick to marry me, you must want it way more than I ever could. I would never go to those levels.”
“I do want it more Scott. I always have, but I didn't pay anyone to marry you. I slipped you a little something in your drink. It was no big deal. It wasn't an actual roofie, just something to help you relax and become one with each other. And I’m sure that you guys had a fun time that night. So there really is no reason to be mad at me. I just facilitated a good time. You took it to the next level. That had nothing to do with me.”
“You didn't have a plan with Anna?”
“How would I have a plan with her? I didn't even know her. It was just someone that an agency sent through. I don't know how all that works really. You just called the number and tell them how many girls you want. Next thing you know, boom, girls.”
“So, dad didn't give you Anna’s number?”
“Why would he have her number?”
None of this made sense and if Jeff hadn’t clued her into his scheme, then it was all just a coincidence that it was Anna. I should have known that Jeff wasn’t that smart, although he was resourceful when he wanted to be.
“It was just something that I heard.”
“Well you heard wrong, Scott. You know how much of a liar dad can be.”
I had to agree with him, but I don't know where that left me. If he was lying about that, what else was he lying about? Was he lying about ‘knowing’ her and I’d made a big mistake?
“I know that you got it from him, Jeff. Was it all worth it?”
“Was what worth it?”
I moved my hand around a little bit, so that he knew what I was talking about. He had wanted the company and he wanted the position and he wanted to take it away from me. He had succeeded, so I wondered to him if it was all worth it.
“You don't even want this Scott, so why did it matter so much to you?”
“I don't want the company anymore, but I did want her. I need to know the truth.”
“No one is keeping you from Anna. If you two aren’t together, that has nothing to do with me. Just like the marriage didn’t have anything to do with me. You’re on your own Scott. These are your decisions, not mine.”
“All of this is keeping me from Anna. Dad, you, everything.”
“Are you two still married?”
“We are right now, but my lawyer called and he got the divorce papers from her lawyer. All I have to do is sigh.”
“How much is it going to cost you? You know that I will pay it, if it is too much. I do feel a little guilty that you got married to the chick. I did not see that coming. How could I?”
“What do you mean, how much is it going to cost me? And it is your fault Jeff. It’s all your fault.”
“I know, but I mean that you guys are married, and she can get some of your money, so how much does she want? How much is this going to cost me, is what I should be asking.”
The funny thing was, I hadn't even thought of that with Anna. If it would have been anybody else, it would have been the first thing on my mind, but with her, I didn’t even think about it. She had sent back the money I had paid to the college and I wasn't even sure where she got it from. I hadn’t thought about it till now, because I don’t really think of money that much.
“Nothing.”
Now it was Jeff’s turned to be shocked.
“So, you're telling me, that she has the keys to the Kingdom, and she is just handing it back to you without even taking a silver spoon?”
“Yeah. Anna really isn't into money like that.”
“I have never heard of a stripper that isn’t into money, Scott. You better take a look at those papers, before you sign them. She probably wants something. She has to. Anna is no different than all the other girls.”
We talked for a little bit longer, but I tried to keep the conversation away from Anna. Finding out that he she hadn't been sent by my father and wasn’t working with my brother, made me feel a mix of emotions. I was relieved because I didn't want to believe that about her, but at the same time, I was now a little mad at myself for reacting as quickly as I did. I hadn't even gotten the full picture, before I was destroying the painting.
Now I was interested in finding out if Jeff was right. I had been so sure that Anna wouldn't ask for anything in the divorce, but now he had me wondering. I wouldn't blame her if she did and I'd most likely give her what she asked for, but if she did ask for something and it would most likely mean that I had been completely wrong about her anyways.
I went home to find the papers that the lawyer had sent over. I knew that they would be here, and I wanted to see what it said before I went another step forward.
Now I was interested in them, and it wasn't for a good reason. I was worried that I was wrong about everything, but then again, I didn’t want to be right either. Either way didn't feel like it was going to turn out very well. I was wrong either way, with consequences I wasn’t ready to take.
Skimming through the lines, it became clear that I was right about Anna. I knew that I would be. She didn't want anything from me.
Now what was I going to do? Jeff was right though, this was all my decision now.
The doorbell rang and it was quickly answered. Anna opened the door and I was stunned into silence. Anna had changed her hair. It was short and blonde. She was wearing a costume that her look like Marilyn Monroe.
I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I loved the curves and the luscious white dress. I missed her body, as well as her company. It was a little thing that we did together, that had made me feel so close to her, so quickly. It was something else that pulled me in. Something besides the mind-numbing need that came over me every time she was near.
“What are you doing here? I don’t think we have anything to talk about. It would be best if you go now Scott.”
“I want to talk to you. I just got the papers about the divorce and I think we should discuss it.”
“I thought having a lawyer was the whole point, so that we didn't have to see each other again? All you have to do is sign the paper, Scott and you are free of me. This is what you wanted.”
“I was wrong.”
“No, you weren't. And I have work to do, so if you could leave that would be great. I have to go in a few minutes, and I don't want to do this right now.”
“We are you going?”
In my mind, it went to her back to dancing. I didn’t want to think about it, but it was most likely what she was doing now. How had I given her a choice? I didn't even want to think about what she had done to get t
he money back to me for the tuition. Now it was all coming into focus, something I should have seen from the beginning. Anna was doing what she had to do.
“Do you not even have a moment for me?”
Anna had always been gentle, but there was a coolness in her face that hadn’t been there before. I knew it was the way I had treated her the last time I had seen her. I had dismissed her like she was nothing, even though it had been anything but the truth. She meant a lot to me, maybe too much.
I just wanted to see her. And I needed to talk to her, and I wasn't going to go anywhere, until that happened. That was just the gist of it. Why couldn’t she see that? Why couldn’t she give me just another few moments of her kind nature, because I really needed it right now.
“Fine, just a minute though. Did you bring the papers with you? You can sign them now and I will go ahead and send them back to the lawyer, so you won't have to do anything else.”
“Is that really what you want? You really want to sign the papers and end this?”
We were walking back into the kitchen and she stopped so quickly, that I almost ran into her.
“None of this was what I wanted. Whether you believe that or not. It is still the truth.”
“I believe you Anna and I am sorry for all of the things I say. I was mad, hearing about you dancing with dad. He made it out like you two were a couple or something and I let him get in my head. I shouldn’t have done that, and I am so damn sorry that I did.”
Anna
It was what I wanted him to say, but I couldn't believe that he was actually saying it. The last time I talked to him he told me that it was over and could barely look me in the eyes. What had changed?
“Why do you believe me all of a sudden?”
He moved forward, as I took a step backwards. I knew what happened when he got too close and I wasn't going to make the same mistake again. I had to keep my distance from my husband. Or soon-to-be ex-husband.
“Because I have talked to Jeff and he cleared some things up for me. I don't know why it took him telling me to believe you. I really don't. I'm sorry about it. I really am. I should have believed you from the beginning. I was in my head too much and not listening.”
“So, you wait until you get the divorce papers to do this? It has been a while since you kicked me out of your house Scott.”
A long while to me. The time had been excruciatingly slow.
“It's not liked that Anna. I just I don't know what I was thinking. Sometimes I think you are too good to be true and it was easier to believe that you just weren't real.”
He was coming closer again and I was running out of room to run away. I put my hand up on his chest to stop him.
“Don't do that Scott. You can stay right there.”
“Why?”
“You know why. Every time you get too close to me, I get hurt.”
“I am never going to do that again, Anna. I made a mistake, but it won't be one that I make again. I promise.”
His words were just too sugary. They were just too perfect and maybe it was Scott that wasn’t real.
He push past my hand and got close enough to lean in for a kiss. Everything in me was screaming to push him away, even harder than before. I knew what would happen if his lips touched mine and before I could stop that very thing, his crashed down on mine.
The world felt right again, for the first-time I felt like I was complete again. How can someone that was in my life for a week, change everything? The only answer I got, was the feeling that came over me when he kissed me. It felt magical and real and perfect.
The kiss deepened and he was taking my breath away. I had to cling to him, so that I didn't fall, my legs no longer wanting to work. Everything about the moment was exactly how it was supposed to be. I was supposed to be in Scott’s arms. I was supposed to be his wife.
Finally, I got a moment to think and pushed hard enough to give myself a little bit of space. He looked at me bewildered and I could tell that he wanted to kiss me again.
“What makes you think that you can come in here and everything will be different? You are the one that wanted this to be over.”
“I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you Anna. But I'm not leaving here without you. I don't know where you think you’re going, but your mine. You are still my wife Anna.”
He kissed me again and before long, we were going back in my bedroom. When I was with Scott, it was the most natural thing we could do. It didn't take any effort or thought. I knew what I wanted, and I wanted him. I think I had always wanted him but in reality, I was scared. I didn't think that something that felt this good could be real, but it was. Scott was real.
“Now what?”
Scott was shedding his clothes and I saw all of him bare, my heart quickening.
“Now, we start on that family that we were talking about.”
* * *
THE END
BILLIONAIRE DESIRE (SAMPLE)
Blurb
* * *
Hail Carte; Billionaire of Sales
* * *
I was known in the company as the golden goose. Whatever I touched, sold and I was at the top of my game.
* * *
The local newspaper called me the most eligible bachelor, but everyone else that knew me, used the words legend. I could have anything, anyone. My life had it all.
* * *
All but love.
That was something that was lacking in my life and until I met my smart-mouthed assistant Evony, I thought I didn’t need it.
* * *
But she changed everything with her smile and the innocence that was hidden behind eyes that were the color of the sky.
* * *
Now she was always on my mind and once I conned her into letting me have a taste, I lost myself. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and suddenly everything lost it’s luster.
* * *
Evony. It was all Evony and how I was going to win her over. I wanted her in my arms and in my bed. I wasn’t going to rest until I claimed her as my own.
* * *
Nothing was going to stand in my way, because nothing ever did.
**End Of Preview**
Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited or purchase for only 99 cents in the kindle store! Continue reading Billionaire Desire – A Billionaire Romance
A Note From The Author
Thank you very much for downloading! I hope you enjoyed my book! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? Your reviews will help other loyal readers.
* * *
In fact, if you liked this book, you can also check out my full Amazon Book Catalog HERE!
* * *
If you are OBSESSED with bad boys, you can find him here of all kinds. My alpha males are strong enough to make the hard decision in life but sweet enough to melt for his mate. I write about smart, sexy, sassy and hot alphas. If you are a passionate romance reader and love reading bad boy books, then stay in tune.
* * *
How to connect with me -
* * *
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenWood/
* * *
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorLaurenW
* * *
Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2koGuQV
* * *
I care about quality, so if you find something in error, please contact me via email at [email protected]
* * *
Love,
* * *
Lauren
s-inline-share-buttons">share