by Kira Blakely
Six months later
Zoe was sitting in front of me with her legs crossed on the floor. I had a bunch of her hair in my hands that I was brushing with one hand and holding in place with the other. Zoe, the big reader, was reading a book silently in front of me, holding still.
“Your mommy’s going to pick you up from school tonight, okay? You’re staying with her. She doesn’t have a shift tonight,” I said, looping the hairband around her ponytail now. She had the same slick dark hair as her mother that shone the more I brushed it.
Zoe whipped around when I was done. “Oh? What are you doing tonight, Aunty Lily?” she asked, in her most grown up voice.
“I’m busy,” I said, a smile forming on the sides of my mouth.
“You have a date with Casper!” she accused me playfully, and I stood up. My new apartment was three times the size of my previous student one, and I still wasn’t used to it. There was too much room here now, and I was hoping that Marla and Zoe might move in with me soon. Marla kept ignoring the idea. She was convinced for some strange reason that she would be invading my privacy if they moved in. As though Zoe didn’t spend enough time with me already!
The truth was that I was still a little scared. Still a little afraid of where my relationship with Casper was going. I hoped that if Marla and Zoe moved in with me, I would be less tempted to move in with him. He had suggested it a few times, dropped a few hints, and when I kept ignoring them, he simply bought me this apartment on the pretext of company accommodation. So, I had to accept.
Zoe followed me around the house now as I started packing her lunch box.
“Aunty Lily! You have a date with Casper?” Zoe was excited.
I smiled at her and tipped my head in her direction.
Zoe and Casper had hit it off the moment they met, although I was still careful to make sure that they didn’t meet very often. He had met her two or maybe three times already and Marla only once. But he was always sure to bring presents and give her all the attention a young girl craves. The result was that Zoe couldn’t stop talking about him and was excited every time she sensed that I was going to see him.
The truth was that I was afraid of my feelings for Casper and the hold he had on me, which only grew stronger as time passed. I was afraid of him hurting me. I couldn’t admit how attached I was to him. I couldn’t bring myself to trust him. We were in a no-labels relationship, and even though he wanted me to move in with him, I was still holding back. I still wasn’t sure.
“Okay, we have to go now. I’ll be late for work, and you’ll miss your bus,” I said, picking up Zoe’s bag from next to the door. She came bounding toward me, and together we took the elevator down to the ground floor. I had my own car now, one of my many company perks.
“Did you and Casper save those trees yet?” Zoe asked, as we made our way to my shiny new car. I had told her about the forest in Nevada where Argent Energy was about to build a base. I was the consultant environmentalist on the project, trying to come up with a plan to best work on the contract and not destroy any of the natural habitat and cause minimal damage to the environment. I had been working on it for the past four months as my first major single-handed project.
“It’s still going on, Zoe. There’s a lot of work to do,” I said to her, as we put on our seatbelts.
“I’m sure you will both be able to do it. Casper can do anything.” Zoe was beaming, smiling as she thought about her superhero. I only smiled at her. She was right, though. When I expected resistance from him, he had allowed me to do my work in peace. With no interference. This job was more rewarding than I had anticipated.
“When can I see him again?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts. I drew in a deep breath. I wasn’t ready yet. I still had a nagging feeling that I needed to give this relationship some more time before I completely let him into my life. Before I allowed him to become a part of Marla and Zoe’s lives.
“Soon, baby. Maybe in a couple of weeks. We could go for dinner,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road.
Zoe sighed, clearly not satisfied with that answer, and she fell into contemplative silence.
“I like Casper, Aunty Lily. You should like him, too,” she said, and I burst out laughing.
“Of course, I like him,” I said, shaking my head at her.
“Is he your boyfriend?” she was quick to ask, and I rolled my eyes.
“Now, Zoe, sweetheart, you know that’s a personal question, and what have we discussed about boundaries?” I said, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
The truth was that I didn’t know if he was my boyfriend. I knew he was my boss and we slept together, and he’d bought me an apartment and a car and showered me with gifts. But was I his girlfriend? Casper Argent was one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. He wasn’t the kind of guy who had girlfriends. He took lovers. And he had taken me. Expecting anything more from him would be foolishness, and I would have nobody else to blame but me for the heartache to follow.
***
I had taken to wearing kitten heels to work now, ditching my leather sandals for something slightly more professional now that I had an actual job. I still wasn’t going to dress like the other corporate thoroughbreds, though. I still wore bright prints, floral skirts, peasant blouses, and beaded jewelry, just a little less loud.
Today, I was in khaki pants that barely reached my ankles and a tie-dye blouse with my red curls tied up in a bun at the back of my head. My black pumps clicked against the polished marble floor of the lobby as I walked toward the elevator.
Marie, the receptionist, and I exchanged cold glances. We weren’t exactly on talking terms yet, but she had started smiling at me sometimes now, which I believed was a step in the right direction.
I still felt out of place here, but I was learning to accept it. I was making a difference from the inside, instead of from the other side of the picket line.
I took the elevator to the top floor with a pack of files pressed under my arm. Casper had been away for business for the past two days, and I had some research that I wanted to show him.
I’d also missed him. But I wasn’t going to tell him that in fear of appearing too needy. But he always kissed me, holding me close in the privacy of his office, and I was looking forward to that. I had a smile on my face as I stepped off the elevator and walked toward his office door.
I knew that his door was slightly ajar even as I walked toward it, because I could hear the trickling sound of the koi pond and waterfall in the hallway. I began to walk a little slowly because now I could hear the exchange of voices. Casper wasn’t alone. I didn’t want to interrupt a meeting.
But when I got closer, I heard a woman’s voice, one which sounded oddly familiar.
The door was ajar indeed, just a little bit, but enough for me to see through if I put my eye to it.
Samantha. My blood boiled immediately.
Casper was at the far end of the room behind his oak desk. Samantha was standing in front of him behind the desk, too, so that he had to twist his chair sideways. He was looking up at her with that smile on his face. The one that always melted me into a puddle.
Samantha was in a sleek white jumpsuit with gold trimmings and large, gold earrings. She had the perfect copper makeup on that made her look like a celebrity. She was, indeed, fit to be a celebrity. But I wasn’t concerned about her looks just then. I was more concerned about why she was standing so close to Casper, leaning toward him, making certain that he could see down her cleavage, revealed by the deep V-neck of her jumpsuit.
“You are such a tease, Casper. I flew in all the way from New York,” she said, and my jaws clenched tightly.
Samantha leaned in closer to Casper, her nose nearly grazing his. I knew I shouldn’t have been spying – not again, not like this – but I couldn’t help myself. This would confirm all the fears that I had about Casper.
“I really can’t, Sam. I’m busy tonight,” he said, and my heart started racing more.
Sa
mantha looked visibly upset by his response. “You were always up for a date before. At my beck and call. We always had fun. What’s changed now, Casper?” she asked, straightening. I could barely control myself from the burst of feelings coursing through my veins.
“What can I say, Sam? I’m otherwise engaged,” he replied with a smile.
“Engaged with what?” she pushed him with a sour look on her face.
“All right, Sam. I didn’t want to be direct because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” Casper stood up and glared down at her. “But, I can’t see you tonight because I want to spend time with my girlfriend, all right? I’m just back from a business trip, and I haven’t seen her in days.” He was speaking through gritted teeth now with narrowed eyes, focused on Samantha. Who for some reason, had managed to get on his nerves at that precise moment.
I entered the office without knocking, forcing my face to be as expressionless as it possibly could. They both turned to me, and the look on Casper’s face changed. He smiled.
“Lily! I was wondering where you were,” he said, taking long, meaningful strides toward me. He kissed me with his hands on my cheeks, holding my face. Right there in front of Samantha, the witch.
I was smiling when we parted. My heart was ready to burst out of my chest. Casper always surprised me, but this was a new high. One I didn’t want to get off.
“You?” Samantha cried, with her nose pinched and her eyes narrowed to a slit. She was ready to slap me if she could.
I simply smiled at her. “Hello. I remember you from the party in Hawaii. You’re Casper’s friend,” I said as casually as I could. Casper’s hand on the small of my back was filling me with confidence.
I could see the hatred in Samantha’s eyes as she glared at me, choosing not to respond.
“How was your trip?” I turned to Casper instead.
“Good. I missed you,” he said, smiling at me, as though we were the only two people in the room.
I bit down on my lip as I drank it all in, swaying from the headiness and my happiness.
“Zoe was asking about you today. Maybe we should all have dinner together tonight,” I said, certain now that I had made the right decision.
Billionaire’s Protest
BOOK 3
Chapter 1
Gemma
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel while glaring out the windshield. The empty can of soda that rattled around at my feet with the motions of the car didn’t bother me; my mind was elsewhere. I had the window on my side rolled down, and despite the cold breeze wafting straight from the snowcapped mountains behind me, I was too warm. I was anxious in my seat, hot under my collar and desperate. I’d never said it out loud or even thought the words in my head, but I was desperate to get out of this town.
I was late for work. Not by much, but Big Mike wasn’t going to be decent about it. I hadn’t been able to drag myself out of bed today, as much as I tried giving myself the usual pep-talk. The alarm kept ringing, and I could hear Mom’s voice in the kitchen, shouting because the sound of the alarm was bothering her. I couldn’t even bring myself to reach out and turn it off. It was like my limbs were frozen, and it had nothing to do with the temperature dropping outside.
Twenty-six years in this godforsaken little town, but Carlow Ridge had always been good enough for me. I had never stepped out of the state of Washington in my life, never had the need or the courage. All these years in the same trailer park, the only child of parents who couldn’t afford anything more than a trailer. The only justification for why I was such a happy child and miserable now, was because back then I didn’t know any better. This was my town, this was my family and the trailer was our home. But now I did know better. Now I knew that I could get into medical school if I could just get through college.
The sharp blare of a horn behind me snapped me out of my thoughts, and I swerved to give way. Clenching my jaws, I gripped the steering wheel even more tightly, slowing down. This wasn’t exactly going well for me. I was late for work anyway, and my mind was buzzing.
Back to sweating the small stuff again. Well, it wasn’t exactly small stuff anymore. Not when it had completely taken over my life. I had this incredible urge to just leave everything behind, my life as I knew it, and disappear. Forget my responsibilities, forget my parents, this town… Just quit. And then what? Med school wasn’t just going to happen automatically for me. I still needed to finish college. College that I could barely afford any more. And what about my parents? I was their only child, and they were both growing older. I couldn’t just forget about them. I couldn’t be that selfish.
I jiggled my toes in my shoes, my impatience catching up to me. In one swift motion, I turned the radio on, hoping the music might help soothe my nerves. Not a chance.
My dark curls blew in the breeze coming in through the open window, lashing against my face as I drove. I didn’t bother pushing them away from my eyes. They were sort of comforting for a strange reason, softly tickling the tip of my small sharp nose. I didn’t have to look at myself in the rearview mirror to know that my cheeks now matched the bright pink color of my lips. The cold wind always did that to my usually porcelain pale skin. I gulped as I tried not to think about my life. I needed to worry about getting to the diner. Bigger life problems could be dealt with later.
I didn’t bother to dress up for work these days, and especially not today, when I could hardly bring myself to get out of bed. I wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a black V-neck sweater. The only pop of color was the pink tank top I wore inside.
I realized now that I was unconsciously playing with one of the small silver earrings dangling from my ears. I twisted the wiry hoop over and over again, just for the sake of having something to do with my free hand.
I didn’t want to have to face Big Mike, not today, not on such a shitty day. But I knew he was going to let me have it. He had allowed me to only take the dayshifts, because I begged him to let me have the nights off so I could study. So now, from time to time, he threw me looks of condemnation, like he thought he deserved some kind of additional praise for giving me a break.
I rolled my eyes just thinking about him. He wasn’t doing me any favors. I was doing him a favor by working at that place where there were only four items on the menu. It wasn’t exactly the Ritz.
A sound like a gunshot rang out in the air, jerking me out of my bitter thoughts about Big Mike. I looked around in sudden fear, checking all my mirrors. There didn’t seem to be any other vehicle on the road, not another living soul. Then I heard the rattling sound of my tire, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was only a flat tire.
Only my flat tire! I huffed hotly as I slowed the car down, pulling it to the side of the road. Seriously, today of all days! What had I done to deserve this? How had I displeased the gods? For a second, I wondered if it was retribution for thinking about leaving this town. Like the universe was sending me a message that I could never get out of this place. Not alive anyway.
And now I was going to be majorly late for work. There was no rescuing me.
Chapter 2
Vincent
How long had it been since I’d driven a car? Being chauffeured had its perks, but it felt wonderful to be behind the wheel again. I drove at a slow, even pace, enjoying the breathtaking mountain views around me. The hills were snow-capped, like chocolate and vanilla cone swirls. Despite the cold weather, the trees around here were evergreen, shrouding the horizon in thick blankets of varying shades of green. I couldn’t imagine an unhappy soul in this little town.
I hadn’t realized how badly I needed a break. I’d been working non-stop for the past two years, without a moment to breathe, and now it was finally over. I’d achieved what I’d set out to do. I would never have thought I’d be saying this, but I had found the cure for Coeliac Disease.
An involuntary smile tilted my lips as the thought floated in my head. It had been three months since we’d filed the patent, our stocks had skyrocketed and the m
oney and praise came flooding in. And now I finally had a chance to get away, even if it was for an official retreat. This was something.
I couldn’t really get away though, could I? Not in the true sense of the phrase. My family’s old Russian aristocratic legacy, my billionaire status, the work I was involved in… those were all important factors that ensured I was never truly out of the limelight. Magazines would continue to rank me in their most-eligible-bachelor lists, and I’d always have the paparazzi following my every move. There was no such thing as an actual vacation for me. No privacy. Official retreats were the only kind of vacations I was allowed to take. I sighed. I should have been proud; I should have been satisfied. What else could a man possibly ask from life?
But I was getting to drive a car myself now. The small pleasures in life, I thought and smiled again. I’d ditched my usual chauffeur back in California, and I decided to pretend that I was a free man. It’s not as though anyone here would recognize me. Unless the cameras had followed me to this place, too. But for now, it seemed like they’d lost the trail, and I was determined to enjoy it while it lasted.
I felt truly alone in this place, and it was exhilarating.
Seven more days of this, and then back to the grind again. Back to wearing three-piece tailored suits, attending charity events and shaking hands with people who were potentially going to be good for business. Not to mention, back to the women I had left behind. I didn’t want to have to think about Sarah or Maria. Mother had picked the two out for me as potential wives.