by Kimmy Love
They were headed back to their apartment in New York with only a few months left to get their new home ready for the baby. Tessa felt strange going to a new place. Athens was her home now. She had been there for so long she forgot what life was like elsewhere. She was incredibly thrilled at the idea of starting her new life with Oscar, however.
She almost didn’t get the okay from her doctor to fly, as she was reaching her third trimester. He allowed it, however, as long as she promised to leave as soon as possible once she was done at the hospital.
Josiah had finished painting the nursery, and she knew the baby would have a great place to go once they returned to Athens. This was like her second home now, and she was eager to return even though she hadn’t left yet.
“Our flight doesn’t leave for another three hours. We have a little bit of time, don’t we?” Tessa asked.
“Better to be safe than sorry! And I heard traffic was bad.” Oscar was acting a little strange. Tessa figured it was just because he was nervous about returning to the States. She felt bad that he was missing the opening of the store, but she knew that it was what was best for their family, and from that moment on, that would always be the most important thing.
“Whatever you say, honey.” Tessa walked up and planted a big kiss on Oscar’s cheek. She walked into the apartment, took one last look around, and headed down the elevator.
Oscar already had a car waiting for them out front. As soon as they got in the car, Tessa’s phone started ringing. It was Maria. Hm, what could she want? Probably to say bye again, she thought.
Tessa and Oscar had spent their last night at Duka’s. They had a little “going away” party and spent the night dancing and singing in the restaurant where they fell in love. Her and Maria had a chance to hug it out and say their goodbyes, both weeping in their arms for what felt to Oscar like hours. She answered the call and said, “Hello?”
On the other line, Maria responded by saying, “Tessa, you need to come to the gallery quick.” She sounded incredibly anxious.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Tessa said, starting to get worried.
“I can’t say over the phone. It’s serious. Just get here ASAP.” Tessa was starting to get really scared. She hadn’t heard Maria sound so frightened in a while, maybe ever.
“What’s up?” Oscar asked. Tessa realized Maria had hung up on her.
“Do we have time to go to the gallery? It’s urgent,” Tessa responded.
“Of course,” Oscar said. They sped towards the gallery.
Tessa nervously thought about all of the possibilities that could be happening at the gallery. Did she do something wrong on her last day there? Were they going to yell at her? Was Maria in trouble? Why couldn’t she say what was going on over the phone?
Tessa thought about all of the horrible scenarios she might walk into. It seemed like every time her and Oscar were good, something would pop up. Lydia was certainly out of the picture at this point. The media had destroyed her after their public confrontation, saying that she bullied Tessa into the panic attack, causing her to almost lose her baby.
Oscar had successfully managed to get a restraining order against Lydia after their divorce had been finalized. They both couldn’t help but feel bad about it all, however. They were both so incredibly in love that it filled them with joy. They felt sad that Lydia had tried to ruin that, but they were definitely happier to know that she couldn’t bother them anymore.
The pulled up to the gallery and Tessa was anxious to get inside. Oscar’s phone started ringing.
“Oh, I have to take this. I’ll meet you inside if you’re not back out in five,” he said as he answered the phone. Tessa was a little annoyed that he was just going to wait in the car, but she was anxious to get in to see Maria.
When she walked in the gallery, no one was there. All of the overhead lights were off, and instead, the gallery was illuminated by several candles and fairy lights that had been strung around the walls. The exhibits that she remembered being there on her last day had been removed, and instead, the walls were filled with photographs. As she started walking around, she was suddenly overwhelmed when she realized what the photographs were of.
The first one was of Tessa and Oscar, taken on the night of their date at Duka’s. The next was a candid shot of them in their apartment, probably taken by Josiah. As Tessa walked around, she realized all of the photographs were of her and Oscar. Some she remembered taking, but others she had no idea that anyone there at the time was taking photographs.
She assumed Josiah and Maria had been the ones snapping pictures of the two of them. There were at least twenty photographs all throughout the gallery of her and Oscar. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She was still the only one in there at the time and though she didn’t know what was going on, she was still amazed to see all of the pictures in front of her. There was one, hanging on the very back wall of the gallery, that really pulled her in.
It was the fountain at the Athens park that her and Oscar had met on their very second date. Only this time, it wasn’t a photograph, but a painting. In the picture was Tessa and Oscar, staring at each other holding hands. When her eyes traveled to the corner of the painting, she realized that it was signed by Cronus!
“I think it’s his most amazing piece,” Oscar said. When Tessa turned around, he was standing right behind her.
“How did you, I don’t believe it. Is this really Cronus?” Tessa asked.
“I might know a guy. Or two,” Oscar said, not revealing how he managed to commission a piece from one of Athens’s most popular anonymous artists.
“Oh, Oscar!” Tessa said, running towards him.
“That’s not all I brought you here for,” he explained. She wanted to kiss him so bad, but she also wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Tessa, no one in my life has made me as happy as you. When I look at you, I just know that you’re the one.” Oscar knelt down and reached into his pocket. “Please tell me you feel the same. Tessa Baker, will you marry me?”
Tessa was overwhelmed. The last thing she ever thought would happen inside that gallery was a proposal! Especially to one of the world’s most well-known billionaires.
The only thing she could think to say was “Yes!”
He slid on a beautiful tear-drop diamond ring onto her hand. It was certainly heavy, but it didn’t seem overly showy like one might expect a billionaire’s fiancée to wear.
“Oh, Oscar. I can’t believe this.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
Oscar leaned in and kissed her hard. “Me neither.” They stood right in front of the Cronus piece, kissing each other harder and more passionately than ever. They had shared their first kiss in front of a piece like that on a night that Tessa thought would just be a one-night stand. Instead, she ended up pregnant and was now in front of this piece kissing the man she was going to be spending the rest of her life with. She felt like she was dreaming.
They stood there and kissed for what felt like a second, but Tessa realized they had been in the gallery for at least thirty minutes.
“Is the driver still out there?” Tessa asked.
“Yeah, he’s not going anywhere,” Oscar said, leaning in to kiss her again. “We really should go, though. I don’t want us to miss our flight!”
Tessa smiled, kissed him again, and grabbed his hand. They started walking towards the door when she said, “Wait, what about the painting?”
“I’ll have all the pictures sent to our apartment. Don’t worry about it! Let’s go!” He squeezed her hand and led her back into the car.
Tessa couldn’t believe what had happened. She thought about herself as a young girl, wondering if she would ever find someone out there that would be able to love her. She struggled to love herself, so how could she expect anyone else to see her beauty? Despite having struggles with her appearance and overall self-worth, Oscar was still able to love her better than anyone else had ever in
her entire life.
She thought about the boys that she dated in the past and how there were men that she thought she might love. She realized she had no idea what love meant until she met Oscar. She felt love for her mother and sister, and her other friends like Maria. This was different, though. She definitely had that admiration, respect, and compassion for Oscar, but what she felt for him was more than just that. She was in LOVE, not just infatuated, or interested. She had given all of herself to Oscar without him ever asking that of her. He had done the same, and together, they were going to make amazing parents to their little baby girl.
“You know, now that we know we’re having a daughter, maybe it’ll be a little easier to name her,” Oscar said.
“That’s true. Have you thought of any good names recently?” Tessa asked.
“Hmm, maybe Penelope?” Oscar said.
“Nah, I knew this weird girl in kindergarten named Penelope. She picked her nose too much,” Tessa responded. They both laughed. They were pulling up to the airport by now. “What about Destiny?”
“Too obvious,” Oscar responded. “Grace?”
“Hmm, I don’t think so.” They had arrived at the airport at this point, so the conversation was on hold. “We still have time, though!” Tessa said. They walked into the airport and Tessa immediately started walking towards security. They were having their things shipped, so Tessa only had to worry about taking a small carry-on back to New York with her. They had planned on buying all new things once they returned to the city.
“No, this way,” Oscar stated. He led her down a different hallway that had been tucked away from the public. When they entered, there were only a few other people inside a large warehouse-like room. Someone walked up and grabbed Tessa’s bag. Another person that looked like a security guard walked up to them both and ran a metal detector over them both.
“Careful of the baby,” Oscar said. The guard shook his head and lightly passed over Tessa’s belly. They then walked towards a door across the long room and Oscar led her out. They were suddenly outside, and Tessa saw a small plane sitting in front of them. “We’re flying private, remember?” Oscar told Tessa.
She didn’t realize that they had their very own plane. She figured they would just be first class. They walked towards the plane and once she got on, she realized they would have the entire cabin to themselves.
The pilot had still come on over the speakers to remind them of the safety precautions, but it was certainly the most luxurious she had ever felt on a plane. She was relieved to know that this incredibly long flight would at least be comfortable.
The plane started to take off. Reality started to hit Tessa, but for the first time in her life, she didn’t start to panic. Normally, when she was reminded of the future, she would get overwhelmed with anxiety. It was hard to know what the future held and what important decisions she needed to make to ensure she had a good future. Those thoughts made her feel sick sometimes.
Not anymore. When she thought of her future, she only felt excited. She used to wonder where she was going to end up or what she might do with her life. Now, when she looked ahead, she only saw Oscar and knew that no matter what ended up happening, she would always have him right by her side. She couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle and become his wife. He had already made her a mother, and for that, she would always be grateful.
She looked over at Oscar sitting next to her. Though they were on an empty plane with about a dozen seats, he was still sitting right next to her, holding her hand. She looked out the window and saw the city of Athens get smaller as they slowly flew away. She thought about how lucky she was to have found love in such a beautiful city.
Something about Greece made falling in love so much easier to do. She normally held back and was scared to let her emotions drive her decisions. She was able to forget about all of that fear and really put herself out there and into Oscar’s life. If she had been back in New York, she might have been more scared.
Then again, who knows what would have happened if her and Oscar had met in any other circumstances. She believed now more than ever in soulmates and felt that Oscar was made for her. She knew that no matter where she first saw those crystal blue eyes, she would have fallen deeply for him. It didn’t matter that he was incredibly handsome and could have been a model. All of his money and wealth meant absolutely nothing to Tessa. The only thing she cared about was the person that was him, just him. The way he made her feel so beautiful when she had just woken up and needed a shower. The way that he was always protecting her whenever she was scared or in danger.
Tessa spent a good portion of her life being independent and always taking care of herself. Her mother and sister were an amazing support system, but even when funds were running low or she was feeling emotionally drained, she would still keep a lot to just herself. It could be exhausting at times, and that feeling of loneliness would sometimes feel like it would never go away.
That wasn’t the case once she met Oscar. She would always have that storm inside her tearing things up and making stressful situations more difficult. She knew now that she was with Oscar how to make those thoughts of self-doubt and fear quiet. He helped her blossom into the most amazing version of herself possible. She leaned over and looked at Oscar. He gave her a comforting smile and a soft kiss on her cheek. She looked back out the window and took one final look at the city that had treated her so well.
“What’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours?” Oscar asked. He had such an amazing way of always making Tessa feel special.
“What do you think about the name Athena?” Tessa had finally realized the perfect name for their baby girl.
“I can’t imagine a better name.” Oscar leaned in and kissed Tessa. They spent the rest of the ride holding each other.
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MATCHED
THE RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE
A BWWM BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE By..
KIMMY LOVE
Summary
He knew he HAD to have her...
Russian Billionaire Yuri Kozlov is not a man who likes to waste time. When he wants something, he gets it, no matter the price he has to pay.
After meeting Heather Nicholls via a Billionaire Matchmaking agency, he knows that she is what he wants and does not hesitate in asking for her hand in marriage.
Now Heather has said yes and all seems perfect. However, this is just the calm before the storm.
Heather has a dark past that she is trying to escape from and a secret that could change everything if Yuri ever found out the truth.
And as we all know, the truth always comes out eventually...
Copyright Notice
Kimmy Love
Kimmy Love © 2015, Matched – The Russian Billionaire
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
Chapter1
Prologue
He was up pounding the pathway of Central Park way before anyone he knew was even awake. He wore a gray Nike, custom-made vest and running shorts. His shoes were especially designed for his particular running gait. With only a protein shake to keep him going for the forty five minute run, Yuri knew this was the best way to set himself up for a day of work.
His friends always said the only living creatures awake before Yuri were the birds. He'd never been lazy. The word never
featured in his vocabulary. In fact, his motto was: work hard and then work harder still. Those were the words running through his mind when he first arrived in America on a fake passport, trying to pass as the son of a Russian diplomat who had been visiting at the time. Getting past customs was tricky. One false move and he would be flown directly back to Lensk. It had been his only chance to escape his past. With only thirty words of English and not a cent in his pockets, he thankfully succeeded; he had made it to America.
Knowing very little about the US, Yuri had heard of New York from the American comedies he saw at a cousin's house – one of the few televisions available in his district. So Yuri decided New York would be his home. New York had remained his home for twenty years, since arriving there at age fifteen.
Now Yuri owned three houses in the US, one in Brazil and a villa in the Caribbean. From once having an empty pocket, he now had a bank balance that totaled billions. He spoke fluent English, with a New York accent, and he had never looked back: he never did he go back to Russia or ever see his family again.
*
“Late again, Heather? You know that's the second time in two weeks. Am I going to have to dock your wages? Or do I have to fire you before you realize this isn't working for me?” The owner and manager of Zoop Textiles called after Heather as she tried to rush past her office.
She had arrived fifteen minutes late.
Heather halted and came back to the open door. Mrs. Solanki had her glass-walled office right at the entrance to the factory so she could see the comings and goings of all her employees. She never missed a thing. Heather shifted from one foot to the other in the doorway as the owner looked over the top of her reading glasses at her.