by Jenna Brandt
“That’s not what is going on,” Tiffany corrected dropping her hands to the side. “Look, I’m exhausted, and I just want to get some sleep. Please go.”
“No, not before I do this,” Artie stated firmly, leaning forward and placing a kiss on her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock. Though oddly familiar, she instantly wanted to pull away. The only man she ever wanted to kiss again was Conrad.
Artie must have sensed her resistance because he pushed his mouth down even harder on hers and grabbed her firmly with his right hand so she couldn’t pull away.
Angry that he thought he had the right to force an unwanted kiss on her, she lurched back, raised her hand, and slapped him soundly across the face.
“Don’t ever do that again, you hear me, Artie. That constitutes as assault, as you well know, I don’t want anything more to do with you. If you come near me again, I’ll get a restraining order. You hear me?”
Artie shrank back, the smug look disappeared from his face and was quickly replaced by one of fright. “You wouldn’t do that, would you? It would ruin my reputation, possibly my career.”
“Then don’t push me to do it, Artie. Take this as my last warning. I’m not, nor will I ever be interested in you again. I’m in love with someone else.”
12
Conrad hadn’t been feeling good enough to go into his own company’s office since he saw Tiffany with Artie two days ago. All he could think about was how much it hurt to be wrong about what they shared during their time together. He was so certain she was the one, he couldn’t figure out how he had been so wrong about her.
He clicked away on the keyboard, trying to ignore the alerts that kept popping up. He knew what they were about, pictures were circulating of him kissing Tiffany. Social media was swirling with rumors whether they were together. Mixed in with those reports were stories about Marcus’s attempted kidnapping. It seemed no matter what he tried to do, he couldn’t get away from Tiffany Boswell and her family.
Standing up, he made his way out of his office and into the kitchen. He needed a strong cup of coffee to take his mind off of the mess he’d been living in since finding out Tiffany was back with her ex.
Conrad hit the button on his expresso machine and waited for it to work its magic. A couple of minutes later, he was sipping on a piping-hot, delicious cup of java.
A knock at the door drew Conrad’s attention. He placed his cup down and padded through the house to the front door. He opened it to reveal Roger standing on the other side.
“What are you doing here?” Conrad asked, stepping forward and glancing out into the hall. “Better yet, how did you get in here?”
“I have friends that live in this building. Actually, I have friends that live on this floor, come to think of it,” Roger explained. “Can I come in?”
Conrad stepped back and gestured for him to enter. “I guess since you’re already here, you might as well.”
“Thanks,” Roger said, breezing past him and making his way into the living room nearby. He took a seat in one of the chairs. “Look, I know we aren’t the best of friends, Conrad, but I have to tell you, I’m really disappointed with how you’re treating my sister.”
Conrad snorted, slinging himself down on the white leather sofa across from Roger. “That’s rich, considering she’s the one who played me. I have to admit, I didn’t see it coming. All of this time, you’re sitting there warning me, and it’s your sister who is the one to watch out for.”
“What are you talking about, Conrad? Tiffany has been beside herself wondering why you won’t return her calls or texts. She wanted to come over here herself, but I told her I would take care of it.”
Conrad shrugged. “Really? I thought she would be relieved I made it easy for her to go back to Artie. She doesn’t have to break things off with me, now that I’ve removed myself from the picture.”
Roger leaned forward in his chair, placing his hands on his knees as a confused look settled on his face. “You’re going to have to explain what happened, Conrad, because I can honestly say, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Conrad wasn’t sure he wanted to get into what he saw with Roger. What he needed was another jolt of coffee. He stood up and headed over to the counter where he left his caffeinated beverage. He picked it up, took a long swig, and then came back to his seat.
“After the picnic, I dropped Tiffany off at her place. I was headed home when I realized that she had forgotten her wallet in my car. I went back to return it and found Artie Frankhurst outside her apartment. I wasn’t sure what he was doing there until I saw them kissing.”
“Are you sure you saw them kissing, or did you see Artie kiss Tiffany, and you left before you saw her push him away? I only ask, because I know for a fact, that there is no way she willingly kissed him, let alone made plans to get back with him.”
“And why is that?” Conrad inquired, taking another drink of his coffee.
“Because Tiffany dumped Artie when she found out he was cheating on her,” Roger explained. “It’s not my story to tell, but he hurt her really bad. I honestly thought she might swear men off forever because of what he did to her, but then somehow you worked your way into her life, and she opened up to you.”
Conrad felt sick to his stomach. Why had he been so brash and taken off without giving Tiffany a chance to explain? He should have known better, but he let his fears take over. “I didn’t know that. She never talked about what happened between them, and I never wanted to press her on the matter.”
“If I’m completely honest, you wouldn’t have been the man I picked for my sister,” Roger admitted.
“Right, because I’m not like you and Artie. I don’t come from a long list of rich relatives who came over on the Mayflower centuries ago,” Conrad mocked.
“No, it’s because you have a chip on your shoulder, a chip so big you let it cloud every decision you make, down to not giving my sister the benefit of the doubt. You need to let go of your anger, over your past and where you come from. For my part in what happened, I’m sorry, but you can’t use that to keep you from your future. If you can let go of your past, maybe there’s a chance for you and my sister. I mean, after all, she could do a lot worse.”
Conrad rolled his eyes, putting his coffee down on the table. “That’s a ringing endorsement.”
“Actually, it is. It’s hard for me to admit when I’m wrong, Conrad, but I was where you’re concerned. You’re a good man, if you can get out of your own way.”
“So, other than coming over here to berate me and tell me how utterly I’ve failed, why else are you here?”
Roger looked Conrad straight in the eyes. “I came here to tell you to fight for my sister, fight like you did for your place in society, your company, for everything you’ve ever earned. If you do that, I will back you a hundred percent.” He stood to his feet and headed for the door. Over his shoulder, he added, “Don’t make me regret coming over here and apologizing to you. Go find my sister and tell her you love her, because it’s obvious you do.”
As Conrad sat on his sofa contemplating what Roger just said, he realized that everything the other man said was true. He was harboring resentment and anger from his past. He didn’t trust anything or anyone because of it, and it caused him to possibly ruin the best thing to ever happen to him.
If he was going to change, he needed to give everything over to God. He spent the next half hour praying and releasing his past pain, then the next half hour getting ready to go win back the love of his life.
Nearly half the day was gone, and Tiffany knew she needed to be getting ready to head into work. All she wanted to do, however, was to continue to lay in bed and mope over how things ended with Conrad. She really cared about him and couldn’t believe he just ghosted her out of the blue. One moment, she thought she had found the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, and the next, he was gone without a trace.
She grabbed a hair tie and quickly pulled her hair up into a
tight bun before shuffling into her closet. She picked out a navy-blue pantsuit along with a cream top and slipped them on. Next, she brushed her teeth, then put on her makeup, before finishing her outfit with a pair of beige pumps.
A knock at her door caused her to pause, wondering if she should answer it. Was Artie back again, bothering her? If he was, it was time for her to involve the authorities. Grabbing her cell phone, she marched over to the front door. “Look Artie, I told you to never come back here,” she yelled through it, just before she threw it open to reveal Conrad on the other side. “What are you doing here?”
“I was hoping we could talk. Can I come in?”
Tiffany debated, wondering if she wanted to allow Conrad access to her home again. Her need to know the truth overruled her pride. She gestured for him to come inside.
They made their way into her living room where she took a seat on the couch. He sat down next to her and turned to face her. “I know I hurt you, Tiffany, and I want to say I’m so sorry.”
“You came here to apologize?" she asked with incredulousness. “Well, let me save you some time. I don’t need to hear an apology; I need you to tell me why you decided to ghost me. We were in a good place, finally able to be open and honest about our relationship.”
“I know, and I messed it all up. I came back to your apartment and found you with Artie, and assumed all the wrong things,” Conrad explained. “And I’ve realized, it wasn’t just because of that. It’s because I hadn’t let go of my past. I was walking around wearing my hurt like a shield constantly waiting for everyone to betray me. It’s why I never let anyone get close, until you. Somehow, you snuck through all my defenses, and by the time I realized it, it was too late. I was in love with you.”
“You’re in love with me?” Tiffany repeated back in shock. “Really?”
He nodded. “So much, it scared me into running away before I could get hurt, but I realized now, loving you is worth any amount of potential pain I might face down the road. I would risk everything to be with you, Tiffany.”
“I love you too,” she said, reaching out and placing her hand on his. “It’s why I was devastated when I thought you were done with me.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you like that, but I can promise you, I will never run away again. I’m here to fight for you, Tiffany, every day if I have to.”
A small smile curved her lips. “You are a good fighter, I mean, that’s how we started out after all.”
“True, so it should make fighting for our relationship a piece of cake,” he agreed.
“Just so you know, I didn’t want Artie to kiss me. If you had stuck around long enough, you would have seen me pull away and slap him across his face for his rotten efforts.”
“Good, I don’t want to see another man kiss you ever again,” Conrad stated firmly.
“That’s good because you’re the only man I plan to kiss for the rest of my life.”
“You promise?”
“Are we negotiating?” she teased with a wink.
“I’ll agree to any terms, as long as it means at the end, I get to be with you.”
“That seems like a fair deal.”
“Good, I guess that makes this easier,” Conrad said, pulling a velvet ring box out of his pocket as he got down on one knee in front of her. He opened the box to reveal a beautiful canary diamond ring inside. “Tiffany Boswell, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
She nodded her head up and down vigorously. “Yes, yes, I will marry you, Conrad.”
He pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. Then he leaned up and seared her mouth with a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tears of joy cascading down from her own cheeks onto his. The moment was perfect, and Tiffany realized this was the moment when she was starting to live the rest of the life she was always meant to live.
Epilogue
One year later.
The sound of the music shifted, causing the assembled guests to stand to their feet. Conrad could hardly contain his excitement as he waited for the doors of Journey Church to open and reveal his beautiful bride on the other side.
When it happened, the sheer magnitude of the moment took his breath away. With the light glowing around her, she looked like a perfect angel. She cascaded down the aisle in her perfectly tailored white wedding gown. The sheen of the silk shimmered as she moved in it, and though she had opted for a minimalist design, it did nothing to hide her beauty. Just the opposite; it made her the most beautiful bride he had ever seen.
She reached the end of the aisle, giving her hand to his as they turned to face Pastor Greg. The pastor greeted the guests, talked about love, and before Conrad knew what was happening, it was time for the vows.
“Do you promise to love and cherish, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death does part you?”
“I do,” Conrad proclaimed to everyone in the room.
Tiffany repeated the same vow before they moved on to the rings.
Conrad hadn’t expected it, but their wedding was speeding by so fast, he wondered if he blinked if he would miss it. It didn’t matter though. All that mattered was that in a few minutes, Tiffany would be his wife and they would be ready to share their lives together forever.
“You’re journey to this moment hasn’t been the easiest, but the road you took led you here for this exact reason. You’re just getting started, and the rest of your journey will be filled with laughs, tears, but most importantly love. That love will be the cornerstone of your lives and will guide you through each and every step. Now, it is my greatest pleasure, with the power vested in me by God and the state of New York, to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” Pastor Greg directed with a giant grin.
Conrad didn’t need a second prompting. He reached out and pulled Tiffany towards him, letting his lips claim hers as his own. In that moment, surrounded by their friends and family, and filled with the love of God and for each other, Conrad knew his life was complete.
Tiffany couldn’t keep from watching her husband from across the room. How did she get so lucky to find the perfect man for her? Conrad was exactly what she needed, encouraging her to continue her career, rooting her on when she succeeded, and comforting her when she didn’t, and loving her through it all.
“You did it, little sis, you’ve joined the married club,” Roger teased with a grin as he came up with Celeste on his arm. “How does it feel?”
“Wonderful. Thank you both for helping me with all of this. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“What can I say, between helping Lana with her wedding and planning my own, I somehow became an expert,” Celeste confessed. “I might even be able to give Roger a run for his money on party planning.”
“Bite your tongue,” he half-joked, kissing her on the mouth. “There’s only one Boswell around here good enough to be called the party expert.”
“He’s right about that,” Bryce chimed in as he and Lana came to stand beside the group. “I mean, he’s been all over planning our co-ed baby shower.”
Lana rubbed her rather large stomach and smiled. “This little one is going to be one spoiled baby. I mean, how are we ever going to top her baby shower and have a big enough birthday party in the future?”
“Oh, leave that to Uncle Roger,” he vowed. “I promise that she, along with any future nieces and nephews of mine, won’t ever be disappointed with any occasion that requires a party.”
The group laughed just as Conrad joined them. “What did I miss? What’s so funny?”
“Roger, of course,” Tiffany explained. “He’s telling us how he’s in charge of all the future parties for the family.”
“And for the company, too,” Roger added. “Don’t forget that.”
“Never. That is completely your territory, and I’m glad for it,” Tiffany relented. “I have plenty of work to keep me busy with the new windmill technology we’re integrating.”
“It’s going to be
amazing,” Conrad encouraged. “I still can’t believe how you were able to talk Tempest Turbine into agreeing to sell the rights to their latest windmills to Boswell Energy.”
“What can I say, I’m a great negotiator. It’s how we ended up here, after all,” Tiffany confessed with a playful smile.
“All right, that’s enough business talk,” Celeste corrected. “This is a wedding after all. It’s time for some dancing.”
As all of Tiffany’s loved ones joined her on the dance floor, she couldn’t help but think about her father. Though he wasn’t there physically, Tiffany could sense he was there in spirit. She knew he was happy for her, and she in turn was grateful he had steered her towards the man she was meant to be with.
Never would she have thought an unwanted business merger would change all of their lives forever. That one decision brought her to the biggest and most important merger of her life—the one where she merged her heart with Conrad Gaines’s forever.
A Note from the Author
I hope you have enjoyed Merging for the Billionaire and plan to read the first two books, Waiting on the Billionaire, Roger’s best friend’s story, and Nanny for the Billionaire, Roger’s story and swell as my other series. Your opinion and support matters, so I would greatly appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. Without dedicated readers, a storyteller is lost. Thank you for investing in my stories.
Also by Jenna Brandt
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Billionaires of Manhattan Series
The billionaires that live in Manhattan and the women who love them. If you love epic dates, grand romantic gestures, and men in suits with hearts of gold, then these are books are perfect for you.