The Virgin Secretary: A Billionaire Romance

by Cross, Veronica

  “I - I am sorry, father,” she stuttered, her face pale. She realized she wore only her nightclothes as she stood in the chilly, dank kitchen. Outside, the storm continued to rage, flashes of light illuminating Arthur’s angry face.

  “Why did you leave so suddenly?” he demanded once more.

  “I was feeling unwell,” Olivia rushed on. “I did not wish to ruin the occasion.”

  Arthur’s blue eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he regarded Olivia’s attire. To her relief, he seemed to believe her story and his shoulder sagged slightly, losing the demeanor of a charging bull.

  “It was rude and furthermore, dangerous to walk from Houma during a storm.”

  “Indeed, father,” Olivia agreed. “It had not begun to rain when I departed.”

  “Make your tea and finish it in your room. I will fetch a servant to light your fireplace.”

  “No need,” Olivia countered. “I have already begun one. It was my intention to drink a tea and retire for the night. I fear I may have added to my already poor disposition walking in that weather.”

  “No doubt,” Arthur concurred. “And a pity. You missed a lovely jambalaya stew.”

  “I am sorry, father,” Olivia offered again. The kettle began to whistle, and Arthur glanced at the tea cups sitting on the table.

  “Why have you two cups out?” he asked slowly, his eyebrows arching.

  “I always leave one for Connie,” Olivia lied, turning her attention toward the water before her father could read the mistruth in her face.

  “I see.”

  Olivia waited for him to bid her good night but he remained standing in place, a pensive expression in his eyes.

  “Olivia,” he started.

  “Yes, father?”

  “Do you believe that – “

  “Stop! Stop it! Stop!” A scream from down the hall stopped Arthur from finishing his thought, and Olivia went ashen.

  Oh, bloody hell, Connie found Alex, she thought, racing after her father into the main part of the house.

  “Where was that coming from?” he asked Olivia, his eyes darting about. Olivia swallowed and shrugged.

  “I do not know,” she fibbed again. Another shriek ensued, and Arthur started for the library. Father and daughter stood in shock as they took in the strange scene before them. Alex was sprawled on the floor, bleeding from a scratch on his neck as Connie and Mary were entangled in a wild battle. A knife was extended in the sky by a palm, and Olivia almost fainted when she recognized whose hand it was.

  “Stop it!” she screamed at her mother and sister. Arthur lunged forward to tackle them both to the floor in one solid movement, the weapon skittering across the floor and under the piano. Alex kept his hand firmly to the gash in his neck, his green eyes flashing in confusion.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Arthur screamed, restraining both women on the floor. Olivia rushed to Alex, pressing her hands to the cut.

  “It is fine, darling,” she murmured. “It is but a flesh wound. You are merely in shock.”

  “Mama was trying to kill Alex!” Connie screeched, her face white with horror.

  “What?” Olivia and Arthur chorused. They stared at Mary who grinned maniacally.

  “He deserves to die,” she answered simply, wiping her blood-stained hands against her elegant blue gown. Streaks of red tainted the delicate fabric perversely.

  “Mama, why?” Olivia cried beseechingly. “Why would you do such a thing?”

  “They all deserved it!” she laughed. “All of them! That is what you always said, right, Arthur?”

  Arthur stared at her blankly, myriad emotions floating over his face as he tried to reconcile what was unfolding.

  “You…you are the one who has been killing these men?” he finally gasped. Mary laughed hysterically and stuck her legs out before her from her spot on the ground. She suddenly seemed a small child, telling them a ghost story.

  “Oh, come on now, Arthur. You know as well as I that you and Harvey murdered those six men in 1870. You slit three throats, and Harvey slit the other three.”

  Arthur’s complexion now matched the pale white of his daughters.

  “How could you possibly have known that?”

  “How could you have possibly have known that?” Mary mimicked. “You always disregarded me, Arthur. You looked at me as a concubine to bear your children. You never showed me affection or gratitude. To you, I was no different than an armoire, unless you came home drunk and needed a place to whet your wick.”

  “Mary! That is completely – “

  “Shut up!” she screamed, her smile disappearing. “You beat me when I cried for your love. You beat me when I kept to myself. You beat me for everything and anything. But you started to beat my daughters, well, I knew I had to find a way to rid myself of you.”

  “Mama – “

  “It is true, Olivia. I know you do not believe it but I always tried to protect you from this beast. When he and Harvey Coville began sneaking out into the night, I decided to follow them. Imagine my surprise to discover that I had no only married a ruthless, unloving man but a cold-blooded murderer!”

  “Mama, please do not say anything else,” Connie begged, but Mary had been holding in her woe for far too long to be stopped.

  “When Harvey Coville stupidly allowed himself to be seen committing that final murder, I was certain that their reign of terror would come to an end and that the three of us would be free at last. But no, your father managed to cast doubt on the identification and saved both of their unworthy souls from the gallows before sweeping us off to New York.

  “Oh, I was sure that he would continue his spree on the east coast, but he did not…or at least I did not catch him there. But I decided to take a life of my own, to understand what it was about such an act which gave him such pleasure.”

  “Mama!” Both Connie and Olivia yelled, but Mary shook her head. She looked sadly at Olivia.

  “I am sorry, Olivia. I knew how dearly you cared for Daniel, but I could not imagine being left alone with your father. He came to ask for your hand in marriage the day he died. Your father was not home, of course but he told me of his plans.”

  Olivia gasped, horrified.

  “You…you murdered Daniel in that alleyway, mama? The police said it was a poker game gone amiss.”

  Mary shook her head and smiled gently.

  “I know, darling,” she whispered.

  “Mama, why did you continue to kill? We do not know the men who died. There was no reason for it!”

  “You knew Cecil,” she replied quietly. Alex sobbed at the mention of his friend, and Olivia’s hand flew to her mouth.

  “You are a mad woman!” Arthur screamed, reaching to seize his wife by the shoulders. Constance pushed him away from her.

  “Don’t you touch her,” she hissed dangerously. “Or you will be the next death in this town.”

  “I wanted your father to pay, pay for what he had done to me, to my girls and for what he had done to those men twenty years ago. I needed the police to investigate the murders again. So, I began to pick up where he and his friend had left off.”

  “Mama, but Alex…why Alex?” Olivia moaned, her heart breaking for her mother, her insides a twisted knot of sickness, concern, and empathy. How many times has she wished for Arthur to be locked away? Her mother had endured so much more at his hand for so much longer.

  “Olivia, my love, he is using you. He does not love you. I saw your face at the restaurant when you saw Vivian Collier. He does not love you. Mark my words, he is no different than his father.”

  Slowly, Olivia glanced over at Alex. His eyes were lit with grief over the revelations.

  “Oh mama,” Olivia sobbed, burying her face in her hands.

  “You cannot believe the words of this sick woman,” Arthur growled, his face a compilation of fear and defiance but both the Vangess sisters knew their mother was speaking the truth. Their father was a murderer, and so was Alex’s.

  “Fath
er, you and Harvey Coville will turn yourselves in tonight,” Connie stated suddenly, beginning to pace the room. “Mama needs help. We will take her to the hospital in New Orleans.”

  “I will do no such thing,” Arthur scoffed. “I have done nothing wrong. Maybe Harvey has but –”

  Connie turned to face him, her eyes flashing with rage.

  “You will do it, and I will tell you why. Alex, Olivia and I are leaving for New Orleans to take mama to the hospital. From there, we will disappear.”

  “I do not understand,” Arthur replied, his lids narrowing as he sensed a threat in his eldest daughter.

  “You will,” Connie replied. “One day. One day when you are asleep under a weeping willow, someone may come along and put a fresh cut of pork against your leg, and suddenly you will understand how Cecil felt in his last minutes.”

  “Are you threatening me, girl?” he snarled, baring his teeth but Connie did not flinch.

  “I am merely suggesting that you might do well to remember that your daughters are bred from two murderers. I suggest that you recall your future son-in-law is bred from one too. Do you think you like those odds, father?”

  Connie did not wait for him to respond as she guided Mary to her feet.

  “Pack a small bag for you and mama, Livvy,” Connie urged.

  Olivia stood helplessly, watching her world unfold before her eyes. She turned imploringly to Alex.

  “We must go,” she told him. “You do not have to join us, but Connie and I must take mama to safety.”

  Alex immediately jumped to his feet, and Olivia reached out to steady him.

  “I will follow you anywhere you go,” he told her, his eyes shining earnestly. Gulping the lump in her windpipe, Olivia smiled through her tears.

  He truly does love me.

  Epilogue

  The wedding was small and sweet in a chapel outside of Marianna, Florida and the bride was radiant.

  “You are positively glowing,” Connie told Olivia as she adjusted the veil against her sister’s pink complexion. “I have never seen you look so radiant.”

  Olivia smiled, knowing that her cheeks were rosy for more than merely the obvious reason. She was pregnant with Alex’s baby, but she had sworn him to secrecy until after they were wed.

  “It is improper for anyone to know,” Olivia had told him. He had laughed.

  “It hardly matters now, darling. No one knows us in Florida, and we are marrying in less than a week’s time.” Yet he still agreed, knowing how important it was to her.

  For Alex’s part, he could not believe that Olivia had become pregnant after one encounter. He could not count the times that he had been unsafe with Vivian and yet he had never worried about getting her with child.

  It was meant to be with Olivia. It was never destined to be with Vivian.

  Occasionally, he thought of the beautiful blonde in Houma, and he wondered if she pined for him.

  Highly doubtful now that she knows the Coville name is cursed, Alex thought dryly. It did not stop stabs of guilt from coursing through him.

  The trio had promptly left Houma that horrible night two months earlier, leaving Mary in New Orleans before jumping on a train to Florida. They had not formulated any definitive plans for the future, but when the train stopped in Marianna, they had instantly been smitten with its charm.

  “We are still in the South,” Alex had reasoned. “So should we ever need to return and pay our fathers a visit – “

  “We will do nothing of the sort!” Olivia replied hotly. “Connie merely said that to put the fear of God in our father.”

  “Well it certainly worked. I hope that the trial happens quickly and they are sent to the gallows.”

  “Your poor mother, Alex,” Connie said. “Should we send word for her to come to us?”

  Alex laughed.

  “My mother is a strong, stubborn woman. She would never join us. She will keep her head high and look down her nose at any and all gossip. However, I did send her word to tell her I was safe and that I intended to marry Olivia.”

  Both sisters raised their eyebrows in surprise.

  “Did you?” they chorused, and Alex smiled.

  “I did,” he replied. “And she welcomes you to the family.”

  Olivia smiled, but she did not believe his words.

  Despite everything that has happened, I highly doubt that May Coville would open her arms to accept me into her family.

  “Are you ready, Livvy?” Connie asked, lowering the veil over her sister’s dark blue eyes. Olivia smiled and nodded.

  “Will you give me but one moment alone to pray?” she asked. Constance smiled and nodded.

  “Of course. I will be just on the other side of the door for when you are ready.”

  Olivia watched as her sister ducked into the small chapel and she closed her eyes.

  Dear Lord, thank you for blessing me through this nightmare. I vow to be a loving, doting wife to Alex. But most of all, like my own, I vow to be a protective mother. Amen.

  Olivia opened her eyes and snaked a hand up the long skirts of her wedding gown. Pressed between her corset and her thigh was a pocket knife, freshly sharpened. Smiling, she patted the weapon and lowered her dress. She had everything she required.

  The End.

  Enjoy the stories? Sign up for our steamy romance mailing list to receive news on releases and promotions! By subscribing you will also receive a full version of the following teaser before it is released!

  Click Here!

  Chapter 1: “Don’t Fuck Anyone.”

  “You’re getting married!?!”

  I was having a hard time believing it. First, I got a text from my brother Jim, “Holy shit dude, Dad is getting married.”

  Naturally, I didn’t believe him, but now after my father cordially invited me to his home, he stood before me with a straight face.

  “You are being serious,” I said under my breath.

  “I thought Jim was pulling one of his classic ruses again,” I said. My face was serious. So was his. “I never thought I’d hear that.” We maintained eye contact through the awkward silence. “This is fantastic news!” I screamed. My father tried to fight the smile that was chiseling its way onto his face, and I went in for a big hug. This was a bonding moment that had evaded our relationship for years, and as we stood there in an embrace, I imagined myself being spun around like I was a little boy as my father made whooshing noises. In my mind, an orchestra of world-class musicians created a soundtrack of violins, violas, and cellos like it were right out of a movie.

  “Thank you,” he said, “But I need to talk to you, seriously, it's important.” The stone in his voice returning with the expression of stone on his face. He pushed me away.

  “I will not let you ruin this for me,” he was glaring into my eyes.

  Just like that my world class musicians were replaced with the pudgy fingers of deaf children, and I was being hurled into a cold lake as my father yelled, “It will feel warmer when you’re in there.”

  “Okay,” I hesitated, “Tell me more,” I continued.

  “Margarette and I will be renting out a hotel in Hawaii..”

  “Who’s Margarette?” I interrupted.

  “My Fiancé,” he replied stoutly. “We're renting a hotel in Hawaii for a few days for the ceremonies. We're also going on a vacation for two weeks before our wedding. You’re invited. Margarette and her family are going to be there too.”

  “Sounds fun,” I replied happily, “Thank yo..” He reached over and grabbed my shirt collar. His white knuckles pressed forcefully against my jaw.

  “Don’t fuck anyone from her family! Actually, you know what? Don’t fuck anyone at all.” He was growling. “I know what you’re thinking, I was once your age before, but you, you’re something else.” His eyes wandered to the ground as he recalled all the occasions he walked in on me with girls, in my younger years. He regained focus, shaking his head as he resumed eye contact. “I know you aren’t related or a
nything but, I don’t want drama!”

  “Ok Dad holy hell!”

  “There are a ton of girls in her family, most are your age..”

  “It sounds like you’re trying to sell me on something.”

  “I don’t want any drama!” He was poking me in the chest with every word.

  “Fine, fine. I won't fuck anyone.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I promise I won't fuck anyone.”

  Chapter 2: Sweet Reunion

  Jim, Dad and I lugged our suitcases through the entrance of the airport and got in line. The line was long with students, who had just finished their semesters at university, like me. I got lost in the conversations happening all around me. The usual gossip amongst young people; “She said what?”, “No, he didn’t.”

  “Damn this trip really came out of nowhere!” Jim said, trying to spark a conversation out of boredom.

  “Quiet,” I snapped, “I’m trying to find out what happened to Rebecca.”

  “Who’s Rebecca?”

  “That girl with the white shirt in line over there, I’ve been eavesdropping on her entire conversation.”

  “Anything interesting?”

  Through the snaking line up, I caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman. She wasn’t wearing anything spectacular, a black tank top and sweatpants, usual traveling attire, but I could tell she was gorgeous. Her long brown hair shimmered in the bright fluorescent lighting of the airport, her waves lightly flowing with the swift industrial air currents. I followed her through the crowd with my gaze. I noticed several girls blushing and smiling at me as my eyes wandered past them. Sorry girls I’m not looking at you, I thought to myself. My heart jumped as she got in line several rows behind me. I really did have a weakness for beautiful girls.

  A hard slap hit me in the back of the head.

  “Ow, what the heck was that for?”

  “Remember what you promised me!” Rick asserted.

  “We aren’t at our hotel yet,” I joked. He didn’t laugh.

  “Pay attention, we’re up.”

  We made our way through the standard airport procedure and eventually I found myself sitting in the airplane. I had the middle of three seats, a large man sat beside me in the aisle seat, and the window seat was empty. The plane was still filling up with passengers. A homogeneous mixture of people walked past me until I noticed her. The same girl I had spotted earlier. She was walking towards my row. I sat up taller in my seat and watched her eyes, my heart racing. She was looking at the numbers indicating the rows, and she gave a subtle nod when she looked at mine. Bingo. She looked down at the man in the aisle chair and then at me. I was already looking at her. Her gaze felt oddly familiar. After what seemed like an uncomfortable amount of time we broke eye contact, and she made her way to her seat. The larger man didn’t stand to make it easy for her, instead leisurely pulling his knees in to make an inch more space. She clumsily clambered over him doing her best to avoid physical contact. Then she got to me. I stood to try and make it as easy as possible for her. Facing me, she shuffled through the empty space. As she slid she braced herself against my ribs, delicately touching me with her fingertips. I couldn’t resist looking down at her as she did this and took a nice glance at her cleavage. She sat down, I followed. “Hi, my name is Liam, I'll be your seat buddy for the duration of the flight!” I extended my hand and smiled at her. She took it. Her hands were soft and slender.