My Forever Billionaire

by Katie Evergreen

  Maybe he had arranged for the locks to be changed, it would be like him to think of her security. And if not, then she was sure he’d be able to sort out the mess, even if he had to jimmy the back door to get them both inside. She checked her phone to see if he had replied but the screen was blank.

  A car slowed to a halt in front of the bakery, and Clementine shielded her eyes from the glaring sun in the hope it was Jackson. With loud music blaring from the speakers, she very much doubted it. In fact, when her eyes had adjusted to the light, and she saw the car’s expensive, brash exterior, she knew exactly who it was.

  “Pete,” she hissed under her breath as the door opened and her ex-boyfriend grinned at her from inside.

  How on Earth she had put up with him for five years she couldn’t quite fathom. His face looked smug and his clothes looked garish. He was dripping with gold and designer gear, and the sun reflecting off his shoes almost blinded Clementine as he stepped out of the car.

  “Clementine, I’ll have you step away from my property, if you would?”

  Clementine inhaled so sharply she almost choked on her own tongue.

  “What?” she said.

  “My property, please stand aside. I have a lot of work to do here and I’m starting by ripping down that gosh awful bunting. Really, why do people think girlie and twee sell?”

  He highlighted the words with air commas which made Clementine want to air comma his eyeballs. But she managed to resist the urge. He was playing his usual tricks and there was no way she was going to fall for them.

  “Nice try, leaving me in the lurch,” he continued, grabbing a set of keys from his jeans and unlocking the front door with ease. “You had this sugar-filled monstrosity ready and waiting for you. All you needed to do was get out of our business arrangement, and you had to go and use our relationship as an excuse. You blamed me for that breakdown, when all along you were just looking to get out of The Pastry Emporium and into the arms of your long-lost love.”

  He turned back to Clementine, who was now speechless.

  “You’re a coward, Clementine Harper. Oh, and I’ve done some research… you’ve not even got the correct licenses to be running a bakery, or any food establishment, from this premises, you’re working illegally. You and that hobo deserve each other.”

  He slammed the door so hard in her face that the glass rattled and the bell threatened to drop off.

  “I’m not… we’re not…”

  It was useless, he couldn’t hear her through the closed door. Clementine almost stamped her foot in anger.

  How dare he?

  “And he’s not a hobo. Just because he doesn’t have as much money as you, and doesn’t flash it in people’s faces like you do. Just because he has more empathy and morals in his little finger than you’ve ever had. He’s a kind, good man.”

  She turned to leave—she needed to calm down before she could work out how to fix this—and walked straight into Jackson. This was becoming a habit.

  “Oh, hi,” she said, heat creeping up her face. “Did you just hear that?”

  Jackson nodded, then gathered her up in his arms. She was glad of the distraction from her pink cheeks, and also very comfortable leaning against his chest. But she was worried that Pete would see them hugging and put two and two together again. She withdrew herself from his strong arms, noticing he’d changed his clothes since last time she’d seen him. His black t-shirt and jeans were understated but so much more attractive than the gold buckle belted pants and large logo shirt that Pete had shown up in.

  “I heard most of it, let’s go for a shake and you can tell me what’s happened.” He nodded toward the window where Pete was struggling to reach the bunting. “I’m guessing Poop over there has something to do with this?”

  Clementine giggled.

  “Pete? Yes, he just came out of no…”

  Jackson had his forefinger up in front of Clementine’s lips, stopping her words. With the intimate touch her breath had faltered too.

  “Let’s wait. I need sugar.”

  Clementine nodded and kept her lips sealed.

  They sat in silence until their shakes arrived. Clementine could feel her heart beating through her sweater. Sitting here opposite Jackson in the diner used to be one of her favorite places to be. Him with a chocolate shake, her with a vanilla. Her hands shook as she leant forwards and grabbed the straw, bringing it to her lips and tasting the sweet creamy drink. It was as though she was fourteen again, and Jackson had never left.

  “This is almost too much,” Jackson said as he sipped his drink.

  Clementine wasn’t sure if he was talking about the shake or the situation, so she kept quiet.

  “So,” he continued after a long suck on his straw. “I came as soon as I saw your message. I arrived as Poop was telling you that you were trading illegally. Fill in the gaps, because that’s no reason to lock you out of your own business.”

  Clementine giggled again, almost choking on her shake.

  “It’s Pete,” she said, ignoring his raised eyebrow. “And he says it’s not my business anymore. He wasn’t locking me out because I’m trading without license, that was just an extra dig. He’s bought The Gingerbread House and is currently undoing all of your good work.”

  The thought was too much, and tears sprang into her eyes. The last few days had been a rollercoaster and right now she felt as though it had left the track and was hurtling to the ground.

  Jackson coughed, choking on his shake.

  “He what?” he said, wiping his mouth with the napkin under his glass.

  “I don’t know how true it is, but I can’t get hold of the Carters and he’s changed the locks.”

  It was desperate, and she felt as if a hole had opened up beneath her.

  “Why would he do that?”

  Clementine shrugged, but she knew exactly why. Jackson’s face looked so open and honest that Clementine couldn’t stop herself from spilling her thoughts.

  “He wants me ruined. He can’t stand that I left him because I didn’t want to be with him anymore. Because I couldn’t give him what he wanted. And he can’t stand that I am doing alright without him. No matter what I do, he will never let me move on, because he feels I owe him.”

  “Jeez, what a guy,” Jackson said, whistling.

  Clementine was glad he didn’t judge her outwardly for her choice in partner, both business and personal. She was certainly judging herself.

  “I need to get hold of Mr. and Mrs. Carter and find out what’s happened,” she said. “Surely they wouldn’t have sold the shop out from under me, not after promising me a year’s free rental.”

  “You can ask them now,” Jackson nodded towards the door and Clementine turned to see Mrs. Carter enter the diner, worry etched all over her face. She was wringing her hands together as though they were a sopping wet towel.

  “Mrs. Carter?” Clementine stood so she’d see her in the booth at the back.

  “Oh, Clementine, I’m glad I’ve found you.” She bustled over to their table, her breathing labored. “There’s been a terrible mistake. The bakery. I’m so sorry.”

  Jackson stood, took her arm gently, and sat her down in the booth before he joined her. Clementine was warmed by his gesture, she didn’t think she would be so generous.

  “Can you tell us what happened?” he asked, gently.

  “DJ and I, we… well things aren’t as great financially as they used to be. We’re not getting any younger, and working the land is so hard for us now. And last night we were approached by a young man who offered us such a large sum of money that we’d be crazy to turn it down. We wanted to speak to you first, explain our reasons, and maybe see if we could work out something between you and the new owner. But when we woke up this morning the money was already in our account.”

  She looked down at her hands and Clementine couldn’t find it in her heart to be angry.

  “I’m so sorry Clementine. Maybe you could speak to the new owner yourself?”
>
  Clementine shook her head slowly.

  “That’s not going to happen. The new owner is non-other than my ex-partner, Pete. He’s in there right now tearing out the new appliances and destroying the decoration.”

  Mrs. Carter’s eyes widened and she let out a noise that could almost have been a strangled no.

  “Did you sign a contract with Pete?” Jackson asked, his voice suddenly businesslike and powerful.

  Something stirred in Clementine.

  “Not yet, no,” Mrs. Carter said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I spoke to him a few minutes ago and he said we could organize that today.”

  Jackson was on his feet in an instant.

  “If he comes here, don’t sign anything.”

  He pushed himself out of the booth and was gone before either woman could question why. Clementine and Mrs. Carter looked at each other. Clementine didn’t know what to say, and from the look on Mrs. Carter’s face, neither did she.

  21

  What do I do? What do I do?

  Jackson paced up and down a field behind Main Street. He’d needed to get out of the diner, to sort through the thoughts reeling around his head, and the street had been too busy to pace. He’d ducked down behind the diner and through a break in the fence.

  This was it. He had two choices. He could walk away and let Clementine deal with the fallout of her ex-partner, losing yet another business, losing him—Jackson—again. Or he could step up and be honest about who he was. Yes, okay, he’d have to admit why he didn’t want to use his billions to do up the farmhouse, and in doing that he’d have to admit the secret he’d been keeping next to his chest for ten years. Not one single person besides Jackson knew. Not even his parents, although Jackson had an inkling that they had known and that’s why they dragged him away from Willingham in the first place.

  The field threw up a lot of mud with Jackson’s swift, repetitive movements. He stopped and wiped away the sweat forming on his brow. The longer he took making his decision, the more he knew Clementine’s heart would be breaking. The more he knew the bakery he’d made so perfect for her would be being ripped apart piece by piece by a jealous, vindictive piece of work. It shouldn’t really be a choice he needed to make.

  For ten years he’d kept his secret, ashamed of the truth, ashamed of what people would think of him. He’d isolated himself from others who knew him, created a new life for himself. He’d even had to forget about those who loved him, those whom he loved. Yet, three days ago he’d tumbled back into an old life, and the feelings of loneliness he now dealt with everyday had reared their ugly heads. The love and comfort he felt here in Willingham, surrounded by Clementine and her family, was almost too much to bear.

  Crying out in exasperation, he looked up to the sky for a sign. Birdsong filled the air, the sun beat down on the mud, trying its hardest to evaporate the winter wetness. Jackson set off up the field again. He took in the warmth on his face, his eyes shut, his face still directed toward the sun. The fresh air was wonderful as he breathed in a deep lungful.

  A flock of birds exploded from a hedgerow beside him. Jackson opened his eyes and watched them take flight. As they soared into the cloudless sky, he wished he could join them. To be free as a bird would be a wonderful thing right now.

  And then it hit him like punch to the solar plexus. Even if he could fly up there, free with the birds in the blue, he would still be weighed down by his secret. Jackson knew then that he would never be truly free until he told those he loved the whole truth. And the only person he had left in this world who he truly loved was Clementine.

  He cursed himself for wasting time coming to this decision and hoped Pete hadn’t done too much damage. Running as quickly as he could across the uneven field he dashed to the gap in the fence, patting his pockets to make sure he had brought what he needed. He stumbled back onto the sidewalk and down the side of the diner.

  He just hoped he wasn’t too late.

  He squinted through the window, but there was no sign of either woman. Bursting through the door, he saw that they were still there. Clementine sat with her arms reached out across the table in the booth, her hands wrapped around Mrs. Carter’s. She really did have a heart of gold. Mrs. Carter had whipped the rug out from under Clementine’s feet, yet here she was comforting the older woman. Jackson didn’t blame Mrs. Carter, they were obviously in a difficult situation and Pete seemed so singleminded that he would have brought down Clementine no matter how long it took him.

  He walked up to them, leaning on the table. Clementine’s beautiful, confused expression was distracting, but he tried to focus on what he’d come here to say.

  “If you still want to sell the business, then sell it to me. I’ll have my accountant draw up papers immediately. He can have them by the end of the day.”

  “But what about the new owner?” Mrs. Carter cried, her hands still wrapped in Clementine’s.

  “Don’t worry about him. Nothing was signed, it was all word of mouth, and actually he went against your wishes and has damaged your property by changing the locks already. He could get in serious trouble if I set my legal team on him. But I won’t.” He looked at Clementine. “Not unless you’d like me to?”

  Clementine still looked too shocked to grant his wishes and he didn’t blame her. Pulling out his checkbook from his coat pocket, he raised his eyebrows at Mrs. Carter.

  “What’ll it be? I hate to rush you to make a decision, but the longer we take the more damage Pete is doing to The Gingerbread House.”

  He started scribbling in the check book, ripped out the check, and handed it to Mrs. Carter. She drew her hand out from under Clementine’s, took the check, and her face drained of color so quickly that Jackson thought she might faint.

  “This is by no means a bribe. It’s a serious offer for the business. I know it’s going to thrive, and I’d hate to offer you lower. But if you don’t want to sell that’s perfectly okay too. Just, please, think of Clementine. She deserves this. She deserves to have some luck in her life for a change.”

  He looked at a spot on the table between the two women, unable to meet Clementine’s eyes.

  “I know I’ve taken a lot from from Clementine over the last ten years. I want to give her something back. Please at least consider my offer. If you accept then I will be handing the bakery over fully to her.”

  Mrs. Carter screwed up her face.

  “Are you kidding me,” she said, and Jackson’s stomach dropped.

  She was going to tell him to stop acting like an idiot. To stop pretending to be something he wasn’t. She probably thought the check would bounce all the way back to his bank in the city. And he couldn’t blame her for thinking that, especially given his appearance yesterday and today. He looked like he didn’t have two cents to rub together.

  “Are you kidding me,” she said again, holding up the check. “There is no way I’m turning down five million dollars. Do you think I’m crazy? I was just glad the space was being used again, then the offer yesterday seemed to solve a lot of our problems, and now this? I feel like I’m in a dream. Am I in a dream?”

  Jackson laughed.

  “Not unless we’re all here too?” he said, sneaking a look at Clementine.

  Her face was like thunder. He reached over and squeezed her hand, but she didn’t return the gesture.

  “I’ll explain everything. I promise. But please, just trust me.”

  Her huge chocolate eyes looked up at him and he felt his stomach flip over. He knew deep down he had never stopped loving the girl who sat before him. This was why he was trying to save her business now. The thought of someone deliberately trying to hurt her broke his heart. Yet he knew he had been breaking it too by ignoring her for all these years, and the very thought made bile rise up his throat.

  “So,” he said, swallowing it down and trying not to lose his nerve. “Do we have a deal?”

  Mrs. Carter was still focused on the check in her hands as she shuffled out of the boo
th and stretched herself upright. Jackson saw tears spring into her eyes. She reached out and gave him a hug that reminded him of the hugs his mom used to give him, full of warmth and love. He missed her so much, and all of a sudden in that diner in Willingham his heart broke for his parents. He knew it would only break further with what he had to tell Clementine. A sob burst from his mouth and he hugged Mrs. Carter back two-fold.

  “Of course we have a deal,” she whispered to him. “Now go and get your loved one’s bakery back before that ridiculous excuse of a man ruins all your hard work.”

  Clearing his throat, Jackson hugged her tightly one last time, then held his hand out to Clementine.

  “Let’s go and get The Gingerbread House back,” he said. He was smiling, but his heart was unbearably heavy—because once they had gotten rid of Pete, and he’d opened up to Clementine, he risked losing her forever.

  22

  The boot to the door quickly rendered the lock useless, and Jackson and Clementine bundled into the bakery like a SWAT team. Pete, who was at the back of the shop ripping plugs from outlets, glared at them, his eyes wide with fury.

  “What the…” he yelled, looking at the door hanging from its hinges.

  He rushed through the counter opening, and Jackson saw Clementine flinch as he neared them. With the adrenaline from kicking the door in coursing through his veins, Jackson stood up straight and stared down at Pete.

  “No one treats my best friend like this,” he growled, feeling empowered by his actions. “You get yourself out of this building before I call the police.”

  He’d never kicked a door in before, let alone in an act of chivalry, and in all honesty, he didn’t really fancy doing it again. But for the moment he was going to fly with the feelings, even if his foot was starting to throb slightly.

  Pete scoffed.

  “I’ve paid for this building fair and square, it’s mine. Now I’ll ask you both to remove yourselves before I call the cops.” He was shaking slightly, but doing a good job of covering up his fear with pig-headedness.