by Riley Moreno
"Do you think it could be true?"
Somehow, Roberta knew that he was not referring to Cynthia's departure, but rather asking if his deepest desire could possibly be growing inside her at this very moment. She looked down at him.
"Yes" was her simple reply.
Jeremy embraced her with gentle strength. He kissed her forehead and whispered "thank you".
"Cynthia", she whispered and Jeremy shared her sorrow. "She didn't have to leave."
"She is a woman who knows what she wants. That's why she left us so suddenly," He laughed. "To think, I wanted to throw her a surprise wedding, when all along she had been planning the biggest surprise of all."
Roberta kissed away Jeremy's tears, and he kissed away hers. They made love again, in the same spot that they had been with Cynthia the night before. It was a sacred spot, christened with the spirit of the woman that had orchestrated their love. She had known that they were what each other was looking for, before they even knew that they were looking. This time their bodies intertwined more tenderly. Jeremy was gentle with her this morning when last night he had been aggressive and rough. Roberta was again satisfied, in a way that was so different from the irresistible, almost uncontrollable climax. Today they swayed together softly and took their time. They held each other for a long while afterwards.
"We have to find her" Roberta interrupted their mutual reverie.
"We have to at least try." Jeremy agreed.
Roberta went back to her bedroom and gave a start when she saw her cell phone lying on the made up bed. She had missed several calls from Marianna. It was a jolt to be reminded of her previous life, before she had felt whole and complete. She checked her voicemail. There were three in a row, all from Mariana.
"Hi Bertie, I've only just arrived. I thought that I would let you know that I landed safely. My hotel is so opulent, you would love it. We will have to come back for a girl's weekend when you complete your mystery assignment. I am going to head down to the pool and see if I can spot any bronzed bodies that look a little lonely."
"Bertie, I just met the most gorgeous man. He looks like he could be on the cover of a romance novel. He is all bronze skin, brown eyes and muscle. I am going to meet him for drinks right now, I thought I would catch you to see if you thought it was a good idea. We only just met and it's against my rules, but I kind of feel like I need to see where this is going. If I don't hear from you in the next five minutes, I am on my way."
"Bertie. He's the one. I don't know how to explain to you how I know he is the one, he just is. I am deeply and madly in love with him. I want to have his little bronze babies. Bertie, I think that I might not come home, or rather, I think that I have found my new home. It is here with him. Don't kill me, but I have to resign. Maybe we can work something out. St. Bart's is a perfect place for destination weddings. We could expand. Let me know what you think. Love you girl.
Roberta smiled to herself. It looked as if cupid was saving the two friends arrows to be used in tandem.
Roberta settled into her new life with Jeremy with surprising ease. She sold her wedding practice to a competitor and then bestowed the money upon Marianna so that she could start up her own business in St. Bart’s. Henderson made sure that she had every comfort. He fed her food that was so delicious, she swore it could not be healthy, but it was. Best of all, she had seen Jeremy's private physician who confirmed what they had hoped. She was expecting Jeremy's child. Roberta was so happy that she felt like she could burst with joy. There was only one sadness in her life now. One hole that had been left vacant, and would not be filled until they found out what had happened to Cynthia.
Jeremy tried everything in his power to trace her trail, but Cynthia was so meticulous that she had not left any breadcrumbs. He hired an onslaught of private detectives who continued to follow false trails until they reached dead ends. They had been searching for months, but had no luck. Roberta and Jeremy did not speak of it. Instead, they spoke of their plans for the baby. They decided to wait and not find out the gender of their child. They wanted it to be a surprise.
Roberta decided to enlist the help of Henderson. He had patiently admitted every detective into Jeremy's office, and lurked in the background. He never seemed shocked when they reported that the trail they had been following had come up cold. Roberta decided that he was too calm. Henderson was a professional who would die before he revealed any of his master's secrets, but Roberta knew that he also wanted Jeremy to be happy. She knocked on his office door.
"Come in"
"Hello Henderson" Roberta came into the room and shifted at an awkward angle in order to sit in the chair opposite Henderson. She recalled the first time that she had sat in that chair. It felt so much smaller now. Her stomach had grown so large, that it was now touching Henderson's desk.
"Roberta, you are growing more and more each day."
"It's because you are feeding me so well." She grinned her million-dollar movie star smile and winked. That always gave Henderson a start. She wanted to unsettle him before she made her request.
"What can I do for you Miss?"
Roberta didn't say anything for a long time, she waited until Henderson began to squirm in his seat.
"I know you miss her too."
"Who?"
"Don't play dumb with me Henderson, you know perfectly well."
"I wish that there was something that could be done."
They stared at each other again. Both of them stone faced and unwilling to show emotion or look away.
"I have sworn my secrecy Roberta. I will never go back on my word.
"I know Henderson"
"Then what are you asking me?"
"What would Cynthia do if our situations were reversed?"
Henderson was taken aback. He did not expect this question. His eyes left hers and gazed upon a spot on the while behind Roberta's head.
"Cynthia made it perfectly clear that she watched you for quite some time before orchestrating your introduction to Mr. Leon, did she not?"
"She did"
"Then do you not think that it would be ludicrous to assume that she has stopped watching you and Jeremy? Do you really think that a woman as dedicated and detail oriented as Cynthia could ever just truly walk away?"
"Henderson, you are a genius!" Roberta jumped out of her chair, quite surprised that she still could, and kissed Henderson on the top of his head before she rushed out of the room. As she left, she glanced over her shoulder in enough time to see Henderson blush for a split second before he regained his composure, put on the mask of a professional Butler, and resumed his work.
A month later, Roberta and Jeremy were sitting together in the lounge, this time curled up on a sofa. Roberta's feet were in Jeremy's lap and she purred as he massaged away her aches and pains. Her feet were so swollen now, she couldn't fit in any of her shoes. Jeremy performed this act of service every night. He said that it was his way of thanking her for sacrificing her body, in order to cultivate his child.
"Did you see the newspaper today?" She asked casually.
"No my love, I did not. Why?
"You might want to take a look at it. Henderson left a copy for you right there on the coffee table."
Jeremy gave Roberta's swollen foot one last gentle squeeze, then placed positioned them on top of a pillow. He reached for the newspaper lying of the coffee table. He flipped it open to the page that Roberta had dog-eared. Roberta watched Jeremy's face. It went from confusion, to recognition as tears rolled down his cheeks. When he finished reading, he gently folded the paper then knelt before Roberta and said through his tears.
"Thank you. It is perfect. How did you know what to do? I have been racking my brain for months, I have paced the halls, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on private detectives who are the best in their business. None of it worked but this Roberta" He kissed her now then said. "This will work"
"I hope so" she answered, then asked "Will you read it to me Jeremy? I want to hear my words
roll off your tongue. Jeremy obliged.
Local Police Report:
The Leon estate has reported that they are missing an irreplaceable part of an invaluable trio. In order to protect the privacy of the Leon family, the specifics of the object have been kept confidential. Henderson, the family butler, has issued a statement to the public, imploring anyone who might know the whereabouts of the mysterious object to come forward. "When this particular set is broken apart, the pieces are worthless. However, when the three pieces are together under the same roof, the complete set is priceless." He went on to state that Mr. Jeremy Leon would like to have the three parts of the trio reunited before the upcoming birth of his first child, who is expected to arrive early next month. If anyone can help the Leon Estate, we urge you to report the missing piece immediately.
A week later, Roberta was fast asleep in her bed. Sleep came so easily to her now. Her body had been working overtime to produce the nutrients necessary for the child growing within her to thrive. She felt a body slip in next to her and smiled in her half-asleep, half-awake state.
"Darling," a sultry and confident voice purred. "I have returned."
The End
New York Rain
(Billionaire romance)
By Riley Moreno
CHAPTER 1
The New York City skyline had its own mercurial personality; on some days, shrouded in fog, it could seem as gloomy and depressed as an old spinster, while on others, with the skyscrapers shimmering in the sunlight, it could seem bright as a mountain sunrise and brimming with promise. On other days it could seem almost menacing and evil, filled with an anger that had been simmering for hundreds of years.
On this, day, however, it seemed calm and benign, at least up here from the sixty-seventh floor of the Goldman building. Jade Gillie stared out at the sea of buildings, gleaming in the afternoon sunshine. She could see a ghostly image of herself mirrored in the window through which she was looking.
She couldn't help but chuckle darkly; she felt like a ghost these days. Like a phantom, walking through some dream, or nightmare, from which she could not wake. Since Vince had passed on, since the love of her life had left, so abruptly, ripped away from her forever.
Forever.
A piece of her had died with him in that motorcycle accident. Maybe the biggest piece of her. Maybe most of her.
It had happened two weeks before their wedding.
That had been almost three years ago; three years of sadness, of grief, of sorrow that would just not leave her side.
She looked at her ghostly reflection in the mirror, shadowed in front of the majestic New York horizon. At twenty-nine years of age, her coffee-colored skin still glowed with a youthful vigor. Her oval face, with its high cheekbones, was pretty in a simple, country-girl kind of way, and was dominated by two large, dark eyes framed by exquisite eyebrows. Her mother had always told her that long ago, her ancestors had been royalty in Morocco, and that she had inherited the looks of a long-dead princess.
She believed it sometimes.
Not today though. Today was a day for serious talk, for business. Thoughts of grief and regret had to be put out of her mind. Business was all she had now, since Vince had passed away. She was supposed to marry Vince, supposed to live out her days with him by her side. Instead, she was living out her days with a briefcase and a laptop by her side. They were her only constant companions. Well, them and Jenny, a high school friend who had also moved from Florida to New York. She and Jenny sometimes met up for drinks in the city, when their schedules coincided. Jade's phone buzzed – a message from Jenny. She took it out of her purse and checked the message.
“Good luck for the proposal today, girl! Btw, I'm going on a date with a dude who drives a Ferrari later! Yeah! -J.”
Jade shook her head. Jenny had a reputation as a gold-digger, and she wasn't doing much to combat it. Truth be told, Jenny was a gold-digger, but Jade stuck by her because the ties of their friendship went back so many years. Jade typed in a quick response.
“Don't let this one get away now girl. And thanks for the good luck wishes! Hope it goes well! Xx. -J.”
In messages they each signed off only as “J” - which could lead to some confusion sometimes.
Jade pressed 'send' and put the phone back in her purse, and continued to stare out at the mesmerizing skyline.
“Ms. Gillie?”
Jade turned around to see a tall, strikingly beautiful blonde secretary dressed in an eye-catching red dress behind her.
“Yes, that's me.”
“I'm Mr. Huxley's personal assistant, Claire Marsh.”
Claire extended a slim, long-fingered hand to Jade. Jade shook it politely.
“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Marsh,” she said.
Claire beamed a broad smile at Jade.
“I hope you haven't been waiting too long. Apologies if you have; it's just that Mr. Huxley has been talking to a very important client over a very serious matter. However, if you'll just come with me I'll take you to his office. He's ready to see you now.”
Jade nodded and smiled, but inside a stab of nervousness twisted her guts. She was about to present a business proposal to one of New York's most powerful billionaires. If she could pull it off, it would be the biggest deal of her career thus far.
If she could pull it off. Brenton Huxley was a notoriously hard man, and rumor had it that you didn't do deals with him – he did deals with you. If, of course, he liked you. If he didn't, however, he'd be as quick to say so, and that would be the end of it. He didn't give second chances to anyone. Ever. You had one shot, and if you blew it... That was it. For good.
Jade swallowed slowly, trying to keep her nerves under control, and followed the slim figure of Claire Marsh as she strutted off down a dark, somberly-lit passage into the depths of the skyscraper.
Brenton Huxley slammed a heavy right cross into the boxing bag, and the whole bag shuddered and swung from the force. He brushed a wisp of his sandy blonde hair out of his face and then hit the bag again.
“Tell me one more time,” he grunted as he planted a left jab into the still swinging bag.
“I'm sorry sir. The MaxTech shares have dropped by seven points.”
“Damn it!”
Brenton crunched a three shot combo into the bag immediately after the voice in his earpiece had told him this.
“Indications, sir, are that share prices will continue to drop even further tomorrow. Do we sell now or hold?”
“Hold.”
“Sir, I must say that there is a strong chance that the company will lose eight hundred thousand in-”
“Damn it Sykes, I'm the CEO! I call the shots here! When I need your advice-”
BEEP!
“Hold on Sykes, I've got a visitor.”
“Sir! If you don't mind me saying, this is a very pressing-”
“I said I've got a visitor. I'll talk to you later.”
Brenton unplugged his earpiece just as Sykes started protesting. He didn't want to hear any more of the man's whining, to be honest. Sure, the company might lose a few hundred thousand dollars with the share price drop, but that was a mere drop in the ocean. Hell, he'd brought this company up from a two-bit chump change operation to a multi-billion dollar entity all on his own. And at the age of thirty-seven, he just happened to be one of California's youngest billionaires. Losing a few hundred thousand was par for the course; he'd make a few million in a couple of weeks to cover his losses. He was sure of it.
The door buzzer beeped again. Without looking at the door, he grunted the password – “Maserati”, his favorite car manufacturer – and heard the pneumatic doors hiss open behind him as he continued to hammer blow after blow and combo after combo into the boxing bag with the full force of his powerful, heavily-muscled arms.
He heard someone walk in – female, he could tell at once. Her high heels clicked rhythmically on the onyx floor, and a waft of her perfume tickled the nasal passages of his tall, angular nose.
“Yes, Mr. Huxley. Jade Gillie. I'm here about the-”
“SolarTwo proposal, I know. I've read the brief.”
Jade couldn't help but stare at Brenton's body; his bare torso was all chiseled muscle, and his skin was perfectly tanned. The force and precision he struck the bag with were those of a seasoned professional; she felt both fear and admiration for the power and ferocity that seemed to emanate from his core. What was more, she had not expected to have been dealing with a shirtless, muscled hunk for one of the biggest business deals of her life. She felt surprise, and perhaps even a little shock.
And something else – arousal? No, surely not... She rarely, if ever, felt this way about white men. She certainly hadn't felt a stirring of feelings like this since... Well, since Vince. And that had been a long time ago.
Yet this white man – he was different. There was something of a wild animal about him; he had the aura of a great solitary predatory cat, like a jaguar or tiger. She could picture his teeth, like those of a wild beast, biting deep into her flesh as she moaned with pleasure...
“Ms. Gillie?”
His deep, sonorous voice snapped her out of the daydream and she felt a blush darkening her mahogany cheeks. She felt suddenly vulnerable and unsure in the presence of this man. Now that he had stopped hammering the boxing bag, he had turned to face her. Sweat was running down his bare torso; pooling between his perfectly-chiseled, bulging pecs and glistening in a sheen over an impossibly ripped six-pack.
But aside from his male model body, another feature of his was getting her heart racing; his ice-blue eyes – staring at her with obvious hunger. He was making no effort even to disguise how his blue eyes were running with a deep and lusty hunger over the curves of her hip and breast, revealed subtly through her sleek, tight-fitting business suit. His mouth curved into a slow, languid smile as he continued to devour her with his eyes.