by Scarlet Rose
It Was Always You
Scarlet Rose
Copyright © 2018 by Scarlet Rose
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
To my wonderful readers, you rock my world.
It Was Always You
Hunky and wealthy playboy Leo Cormack has worked hard his whole life for his birthright - control of the family business. But just as the company is about to be handed to him, there is one little problem, and her name is Kylie Musgrave. America’s sweetheart supermodel and Leo’s bitter ex-lover is out to ruin Leo’s reputation by telling the world scandalous lies. Lies that could destroy his chances of inheriting the company.
The decision to give Leo the company is put on hold until the mess can be dealt with, and so Leo needs a plan, and he needs it quick!
Enter Jessica, his beautiful and sexy best friend since college and the perfect decoy. It would be simple, they would fake a marriage to take the heat off of Leo and the family business, and once the plan had worked, everything would go back to normal.
But it soon becomes clear that things will never be normal again. The lines between real and fake start to blur, and Jessica and Leo are forced to confront their real feelings for each other.
A contemporary romance novella with steam. Always HEA’s and no cliffhangers.
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Contents
1. Leo
2. Jessie
3. Leo
4. Jessie
5. Leo
6. Jessie
7. Leo
8. Jessie
9. Leo
10. Jessie
11. Leo
12. Jessie
13. Leo
14. Jessie
Epilogue
About the Author
1
Leo
I could hear the clock ticking behind me. Tick tock. Tick tock. I thought that if I blinked I’d miss it; the moment that my uncle handed the company over to me.
There were eight other people in the board room with us, but it could have just been him and me. Nobody else mattered, nobody else existed. All I could think about were those words coming out of his mouth - The company is yours, Leo. And then I could finally be happy.
This was the moment I’d been waiting for my whole life. What I’d worked for. What I’d given up a social life and a healthy work life balance for. Finally, the company was going to be mine and I’d have my legacy. What was promised to me by my grandfather, at his death bed when I was eight years old.
My uncle, John, cleared his throat and I blinked.
“You know Leo, there is nobody more deserving to take my place at the head of this company, than you.” he said.
I had my hands clasped on the desk, my fingers were digging into my palms. I could feel beads of sweat trickling down my temples. I knew this already.
Tell me something I don’t know.
“We all appreciate what you’ve done for this company all these years. How much hard work you’ve put into it.” he continued. I glared at him, willing him to get the words out.
Across from me, I could see my cousin, Marcus, staring at John with fury in his eyes. He wanted this too, but we all knew he didn’t deserve it. This was promised to me. My grandfather had chosen me to carry the company forward into the next generation.
“At the moment, Leo, we have a problem, concerning the handing over of the company to you.” John stated.
The word what escaped my lips in a whisper. They had a problem? What the fuck was going on? I glanced at Marcus, who’s fury had suddenly turned to victory. What kind of coup was this?
“There’s a problem?” I asked and my uncle shifted in his chair, refusing to meet my eyes now.
From the smirk that was spreading on Marcus’ face, I knew what this was about.
I stood up from my chair with a jerk, towering over the rest of the people around the desk.
“What is this, uncle? What are you trying to tell me?” I growled, focusing on him. I wanted him to look me in the eye and tell it to my face.
John sighed deeply.
“It’s just that we cannot have you head the company right now, not till all that trouble with…” at this point he cleared his throat again, “with Kylie Musgrave tides over.”
I shook my head, clenching my jaws in anger. From the corner of my eye; I could sense Marcus still grinning. He knew what John was going to do. The company was going to him. All because of a ridiculous scandal perpetrated by the media against me.
“You’re going to go against granddad’s wishes because of a lying bitch?” I shouldn’t have used that word, not in the sacred space of this boardroom, where generations of former Cormack men had sat at the head of the table and turned this company into a success.
But I couldn’t hold back now, not where Kylie was concerned.
“Currently, Leo, your reputation is very bad in the public eye. Given the climate, if you head the company, we might end up losing business and clients. Is that what you want, Leo?” John asked, keeping his voice low but firm.
“The people I work with know me. Nobody believes any of the rumors floating around. She lied about everything. You all know that. I am a man of my word. I never proposed to her!”
I banged my fists down on the table and Marcus rolled his eyes.
“Calm yourself, cuz. You can’t change what’s happened already. The decision has been made. Uncle John’s told you what it’s going to be.” Marcus said, with humor in his voice.
I could have crushed his skull with my bare hands. That man hadn’t worked more than two hours a day since the day he was born.
“Yes, the decision has been made, Leo. Sit down and hear me out.” John said.
“I have nothing more to hear. I cannot believe you’ve lost your faith in me over one fake rumor!” I growled at him.
“You’re wrong, Leo. I haven’t lost my faith in you. I want to do everything to respect my father’s wishes. I want you to take over, but you have to fix this. You have to fix your reputation, for the sake of this company.” John said.
My mind was racing with possibilities. Did this mean that I still stood a chance? That I might yet be able to salvage my position in this company?
“You want me to fix it?” I asked and John stared at me with narrowed, determined eyes.
“You have three weeks till my official handing over. If you can sway public opinion around in that time, the job is yours, Leo. I would be more than happy to hand it over to you. If not, it will have to go to Marcus.” John explained.
My shoulders heaved with the adrenaline rush in my system.
I still had a chance.
All I had to do was figure out a way to turn this around for me.
“Don’t sign anything. I’m going to do this.” I declared and picking up my files, I ran to the door.
“Leo, where are you going?” I heard John call, but I was already out of the board room.
If he wanted me to fix this, then that’s what I was going to do. Nothing in the world meant more to me than this company.
Kylie had claimed that I proposed to her and then broke up with her. How could I prove that I never proposed?
If I was already married to someone else.
2
Jessie
I was in the middle of my second date with Travis
, when Leo showed up at the bar. I shouldn’t have told him where I was meeting my date, but I’d texted him earlier.
Things weren’t going too smoothly on this date. I shouldn’t have taken a chance a second time when the first one was lukewarm. So, when I saw Leo walk in through the doors, I felt relieved.
Travis was sitting across from me at the small romantically lit table. I could sense he was looking for the next opportunity to ask me for a dance. Leo weaved his way around tables, headed straight in my direction.
How did he always know when to make an appearance?
Travis was talking away, while my gaze fixed on Leo. His dirty blond hair, his sparkling blue eyes, that strong jaw and equally strong shoulders. He towered over everyone as he stormed towards us, and I got a revival of that clenching feeling in my stomach. That no other man would ever be good enough. But we were just friends…we’d been just friends for nearly a decade.
“Jessie, we need to talk.” he declared breathlessly when he came up to our table.
Travis was in the middle of saying something, and he turned to look at Leo with crossed brows.
“What? Who is this?” he asked, looking quizzically at me.
“I’m the guy who is going to kick you out of here if you don’t get up and walk away right now.” Leo said to him. He wasn’t raising his voice, neither was he being aggressive, but there was always something about Leo—when he wanted to, he could make any man or woman quake in their shoes.
Travis decided he was going to put up a fight.
“What the fuck is going on, Jessie? Hey, man, we’re on a date here.” Travis said, beginning to stand from his chair.
“Yeah, I know, a sorry excuse of a date in this shit-hole of a bar. I also know you’ve been texting her every hour since you met. Incidentally, your boss, Richard Leviathan, is a personal friend of mine. If you want to keep your job, scram.” Leo went on, crossing his thick muscular arms over his chest.
“Wait…how…” Travis was even more confused now and he glanced at me. All I could do was shrug my shoulders. On any other occasion, I wouldn’t have encouraged this sort of behavior from Leo, but on this particular date, I was thankful for his presence.
“Did I stutter?” Leo growled this time.
Travis sighed, muttered something under his breath and without looking at me again, he walked away. I could see him, walking with his head stooped low and for a moment, I felt sorry for him.
“Did you have to do it like that, Leo?” I asked, watching him as he took Travis’ seat.
He was in his usual business suit…dark navy and silver tie. The white shirt underneath stretched over his expansive chest. He’d already caught the attention of one of the bartenders, and a waiter was sent over for his order.
Single Malt, on the rocks. I knew by now that he rarely drank anything else. He also ordered a repeat of my Martini.
“Are you going to tell me what you’re doing here, or why you know who Travis’ boss is?” I asked him and Leo smirked.
“If you’re dating someone new, I need to look into him, make sure he is who he says he is. There are a lot of crazies out there, Jessie.” he declared.
He was right. This was New York. It’s full of people who could spring a surprise on you when you were least expecting it.
“So, you’re stalking me now?” I asked him with a smile.
“I’m looking out for you. I always have.” he replied.
Our drinks arrived and Leo sat back in the chair, sipping his whisky.
“So, why are you here? How did you know I was looking for an excuse to get out of this date?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“I guess it’s because I just know you. From what you told me about this guy, I knew you weren’t into him and you were just forcing yourself to be.” he stated.
“So, if you know me so well, you should also know why I’m doing it.” I replied, picking up the martini glass and cradling it.
Leo shook his head.
“You have no idea how amazing you are, Jess. You think you don’t deserve better than these losers, but you do.” he replied.
“I don’t want to be alone either. I’m sick of sitting around waiting for the one to turn up somewhere. I need to look. I need to give people a chance.” I explained.
I could feel my cheeks flushing red under his gaze. It was on the tip of my tongue—to confess to him, after all these years, that the guy I’d been waiting for, was him. I was in love with him.
Leo sighed.
“Well, you might have to put a stop to that, for some time at least. I need your help.” he said.
He wanted me to stop dating? Why?
Since we’d been friends, Leo always had problems with every guy I dated. But he had never outrightly declared that he wanted me to stop seeing other men. Why would he want me to stop dating?
Unless he had his own confession to make.
I was nervous, excited and jittery. Was it possible that Leo was jealous? Had he just realized he had feelings for me too?
I shifted in my seat, waiting for him to continue. Leo stared back at me, searching my eyes. I knew he had something important to say. Whatever he needed my help with, I would do it.
I would do anything for Leo, and he knew it.
All I hoped for in return was that someday he would see how perfect we were for each other.
3
Leo
I had a speech prepared in my head for Jessie, but now that she was sitting in front of me, I couldn’t remember it.
She’d always had that effect on me. I felt relaxed around her. I knew I could speak my mind without judgement. I felt most like myself when I was with her, and it made my blood boil to see her with another man. But we were just friends, and friends were not supposed to be jealous of each other’s dates.
Jessie tucked some of her sleek dark hair behind her ears as she took a sip of her drink. She was waiting for me to explain.
“We had that meeting today.” I began.
Jessie’s eyes widened with excitement. She knew exactly what was at stake here for me.
“With your uncle? Oh my God! Congratulations, Leo. I am so happy for you!”
When she smiled, a soft dimple indented her left cheek which I couldn’t stop staring at. Her green eyes shone with excitement.
“Don’t congratulate me yet, I don’t have it. My uncle didn’t give it to me…well, he hasn’t given it to anyone yet, but Marcus is in the running too, now.” I told her.
Jessie looked confused.
“Marcus Horse-face Cormack? Why? How did this happen? Why in his right mind would your uncle even imagine that he deserves it?” she asked, putting her drink down.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
“It’s about Kylie.” I admitted.
Jessie just sat there in silence for a few moments. She was too shocked to hear it. We hadn’t spoken about Kylie in several weeks. We’d both decided it was best to never mention her name again. The truth was that Jessie had warned me against Kylie when I first started seeing her. Jessie’s exact words were - she’s a gold digging lunatic. She’s going to put you in trouble.
I should have listened to her, but I didn’t. Kylie’s runway famous long legs and perfect hour-glass body reeled me in. If I couldn’t have Jessie, the woman I was in love with, empty relationships and meaningless sex would have to suffice.
“Why does Kylie have anything to do with your company?” she finally spoke in a low hissing voice.
“My uncle doesn’t want the company involved in a scandal. He claims there is too much at risk. If I take over the company, there are a lot of people who might not want to do business with us because of my reputation in the media right now.” I replied.
“But that will die down. People will forget. I know you never proposed to her, but so what if you did and changed your mind? People do that all the time.” Jessie retorted.
“But not to America’s top models like Kylie Musgrave. She’s t
he country’s sweetheart. There are millions of people on her side. Everyone, including the media, sympathizes with her. They think I broke her heart, a week before we were going to elope to Las Vegas. She’s given interviews claiming that I made her promises.” I continued.
Jessie sat back in her chair, mumbling under her breath.
“That bitch. I wish there were some way we could prove it, that she’s lying about everything.” Jessie said, shaking her head with a faraway look in her eyes.
“If I don’t, I’m going to lose the company. I’m going to lose my legacy.” I added.
She looked at me, her delicate heart-shaped face pinched with worry. Jessie always wanted what was best for me. I knew she’d want to help me however she could.
“We need to find a way out of this, Leo.” she said and I nodded.
“I have an idea, but before I tell it to you, I need you to have an open mind. However, tell me to shut up if I’m taking it too far.” I said. She had her brows crossed with concern.
“If I can prove to the media…to the public that I was already married to someone else, that I was madly in love and happily married, then I might be able to sway public opinion on to my side again.” I explained.
“You mean you want to fake a marriage?” she asked.
“Yes, just until people forget. Just until I get the company. But it can’t just be anyone…some random stranger out of the blue. It has to be someone believable, someone who has been a part of my life for a long time. Someone nobody would suspect of lying.” I continued.