Law #1: Never Bet on Love: A Sweet Billionaire Love Story (Laws of Love)

by Agnes Canestri

  My eyes widen. Did Malcom just apologize to me? I adjust my shoulders, which feel hard like when I’m hanging on the top of my bouldering wall. “You did a good job raising Murphy, Malcom. You have been a father to him.”

  The kind like Father never was to me.

  A flush creeps across Malcom’s cheeks. “Yes, I hope so. But I certainly missed out on my chance to connect with you. And it’s something I truly regret.”

  I suddenly realize that if I’d let him, Malcom could’ve become the same important figure to me as he is to my brother. But I was so blinded with my rage and sense of injustice that I never even gave him a chance.

  The regret in my step-father’s tone is sincere and matches mine. This odd realization that our relationship could’ve evolved entirely different moves something in me. I don’t exactly know what. Nor why I ask him what I’m about to. I certainly didn’t plan on it when we entered the library. I didn’t even realize it was a question I’ve ever contemplated. But the words fly out of my mouth with a rapid mumble, “Malcom, I was wondering, why did you give up your career when you married Mother? It wasn’t just because of her money, was it?”

  Malcom’s thin lips form a perfect “O” for a second, then he sniffs. “I never thought you’d actually confront me about this, Nate.” He rubs his protruding brow bone. “No, your mother’s wealth wasn’t a decisive factor at all. If I’d stayed in service as a pilot, I couldn’t have given Holly what she most desired. A husband who is at her side. So I chose the woman I love, instead of the career I trained for.”

  I shift uneasily from one foot to the other. “But you told Murphy so many tales about Greg, The Flying Mouse…flying must have been a passion for you?”

  “You remember those stories? And yet you never wanted to enter when I yarned to your brother.”

  “No, but I often sat in the corridor and listened to them anyway,” I admit.

  “Oh, Nathan.” Malcom shakes his head, smiling. “I should have checked to see what that rustling was outside.”

  “Yeah, those were the peanuts I snacked on,” I add with a grin.

  Malcom sucks in a breath. “To answer your question, yes, flying was something that fascinated me. But your Mother was, and is, my love. She is my real passion. As long as I can keep her happy, I’m good. Also…” He winks. “I do fly a self-built glider regularly now, and it’s way cooler than the engine-driven models, I tell you.”

  “Maybe someday I’ll join you.”

  I don’t know who is more bewildered at my spontaneous proposition, me or Malcom, but he’s certainly quicker than I am at gathering his wits. “That would be awesome. Pick any day and I’ll take you.”

  Isn’t it weird what a short week can accomplish? Seven days ago, I thought Malcom was a freeloader who gave up his work to bask in the riches my father had set up for us. How is it that I never even considered his act of renouncing his dream-job a sacrifice for love?

  For the first time in my life, I look at Malcom and my vision of him isn’t clouded by my past hurt about him taking the place I believed belonged to Father. Perhaps Father never truly occupied that anyway. My father’s dream was to build AMEA, not to make Mother a happy wife or be a caring parent to me and my brother. It’s sad, but it’s still the truth. And recognizing it is long overdue for me.

  As if Malcom perceives my change of attitude, he allows himself a rare gesture of tenderness with me and pats my face gently. “Before you ask, Nate. I don’t regret my decision. And I never will.”

  The door of the library slams open.

  “It’s your turn, Nate,” Murphy calls from the doorway. His blond curls stand out in high contrast with the corridor’s suffused lights.

  I try to read from his face how his meeting with Eva went, but his features are a serene mask, and I won’t grant him the satisfaction of asking. I don’t want him to think I’m anxious about the outcome. It could ruin my entire plan.

  Malcom gives me an encouraging glance. “Go, Nate. Holly’s eager to speak with you. But remember, my offer to fly together stands anytime you want.”

  “Thank you,” I answer and walk to my brother, my stomach is suddenly back to the same rocky consistency it had when we entered this room.

  It’s unexpected, and thus even more stunning, that Malcom and I managed to connect after more than twenty years. But now, the most crucial event of tonight awaits. I need to pass my test with Mother and Murphy. Once I’m done, I can hurry back to Eva.

  Because, strangely, the talk with Malcom did nothing but strengthen my desire to confess to her how much I love her.

  Chapter 33

  (Eva)

  I hover my fingers over the dill-and-chive deviled eggs topped with tangy pickled shrimp. The sauce looks so yummy and creamy, but it would certainly stain my beautiful ball gown. I’m not used to eating in a frothy dress while standing on stilettos. I would surely drizzle salsa on myself.

  My gaze shifts to the rest of the table. It’s certainly not lacking in inviting and colorful canapés. Practically any dish on the buffet could be a Michelin star chef’s creation, and maybe it is. There are giant oysters, roasted fingerling potatoes with caviar, crispy polenta bites with some kind of green tapenade—probably not just a simple guacamole, but some fancy algae-like concoction—as well as skewered shrimp and ham rolls topped with apply jelly.

  I throw a side glance at Marjorie, who’s still speaking with that elderly man who stopped her five minutes ago. They seem engrossed in their conversation, so it might actually be a blessing that I’m this undecided about whether or not I should dare to eat. At least while I’m standing at the buffet table, I don’t appear like a lost soul wandering without a scope, while everyone else is chatting.

  When is Nathan going to be downstairs? Without his protective shield, I feel naked in the room. Especially with the plaguing thoughts about how I let Murphy trick me into confessing my love. I hope Nathan comes back in a good mood. Even if he became CEO, he would likely have less time to hang out with me.

  I sigh and pivot back to the exquisite finger foods. It’s much better to channel my restless energies toward picking one than to start obsessing about how Nathan’s work schedule may or may not be able to accommodate our relationship. If I’m important to him, he’ll surely find the time. I just need to trust him on this.

  I reach toward a mid-sized oyster. I’ve never tried any before now, but I saw a woman with a high-bun and tiara swallow one with one slurp. It might be a less risky choice than anything else.

  “I wouldn’t do it if I were you,” A young waitress whispers behind my back.

  Her voice is familiar. I turn and recognize Lola, one of our waitresses from the Desert Rose.

  “Lola.” I smile at her. “What a surprise.” I’d completely forgotten, but Daphne did mention that Lola works for the Montgregor family events every now and then.

  “Ditto.” She grins back, her thickly outlined lips curling up. “I didn’t know you rubbed shoulders with the high life until I saw you all cozy with Nathan Montgregor on the dance floor. You two are an item? Oh my gosh, he’s a hunky one, right? Of course I’m right.” She points at my dress. “And you? Look at you! You’re so chic and marvelous, like you stepped out of Vogue. Why do you bust your butt off in our dodgy bar when your boyfriend is a billionaire?”

  Lola’s acute tone is loud enough to draw curious glances from the people around us, including Marjorie and her conversational partner. I quickly smile at Nathan’s aunt, and since I don’t want to attract more attention than I already have, I whisper to Lola. “Ah, thanks. You know, for now we’re just dating. Anyway, I’d love to chat, but I really need to find the women’s room.”

  It’s not even a lie. After I came down here with Marjorie, my throat felt like I chewed on smoldering embers, so I quickly drained two glasses of sparkling water. I really could use a restroom break.

  “Just don’t use the one downstairs.” Lola wrinkles her freckled nose in an expression of disgust. “One of the
guests had a little accident…” She bends to my ear and luckily lowers her sharp soprano. “She apparently had a few oysters. That’s why I told you to stay away from them. It got cleaned up, but you know the stench it—”

  “Oh, yes, thanks, Lola.” I hurry to interrupt her, suddenly feeling lucky that I didn’t try the oyster. “I’ll avoid that.”

  Lola throws me a no-worries-it-was-my-pleasure smile. A balding man wearing a white suit steps up to her and asks for more champagne. Lola hurries to serve him, mouthing a quick, “Catch you later,” to me.

  I traipse my way through the crowd, avoiding eye-contact with anyone. If I hurry, I won’t miss Nathan. His mother said their chat shouldn’t take long, so he could be back any minute.

  As I enter the spacious lobby, one of the security guards bolts over to me. “Looking for something, Miss Flores?”

  Oh heavens, do they make them memorize every guest’s name with their picture? Or was it Nathan’s special request that they learn to recognize me, in case he needs to absent himself during the ball? Knowing his attention to detail, it wouldn’t surprise me if it were his doing. “I…uhm…I’m just searching for a ladies’ room,” I mumble.

  The security guard points at the stairs. His square jaw is set in a polite but stony expression. “Please use the one upstairs. Fourth door on the left. The one downstairs is being spruced up right now.”

  Ah, Lola wasn’t exaggerating then. “Thank you.” I flash a quick smile at the guard.

  I sashay over to the marble staircase, trying not to trip over the fluffy material beneath my shoes. I pinch my skirt slightly with one hand and keep my palm on the cool banister of the stairway just in case. As I make my way upstairs, I take a peek at the ballroom’s buzzing air through the large ornate doors. I see Lola still coquetting with the bald man, and I think I catch Majorie’s back as she shakes hands with a slender redhead. I can’t believe I’m part of this glitzy world now as Nathan’s…girlfriend? Well that’s what Lola called me. And it does have a wonderful ring to it, I think.

  As I get to the top of the stairs, I pause. In order to go to the restroom, I need to pass in front of Holly’s study. I wonder if Nathan is still inside. Probably, because he said he would come down to me right after.

  Then, just as if life wants to prove that I shouldn’t lose faith in Nathan’s promises, I hear his baritone. Its melodious clang is carved into my memory like a cherished song that one wants to play over and over again.

  I peer at the large wooden door. It isn’t closed properly, which explains how I can perceive his voice.

  I tiptoe toward the study, which isn’t the easiest in this large tulle creation. Each movement makes a rustling noise, and I’m afraid someone will step outside to check who’s lurking around the corner. I really don’t want to pry on them. I’ll just take a small peek at Nathan’s handsome face and then be on my way to the ladies’ room.

  I carefully lean to the wall and look inside.

  Murphy is at the window with his back to me. Holly stands in front of her magnificent desk, her hips supported by the dark wooden surface. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows are raised and her arms are crossed over her chest. If I had to judge based on her posture, I’d say she is in a business meeting instead of a get-together with her sons. Where is Nathan anyway? As soon as the question materializes, his muscular figure comes into view and halts in front of his mother.

  Okay, I guess this is as much as I can get now—a glimpse at his wide shoulders and dark locks. It’s better than nothing. I need to be thankful I didn’t get caught. It would be utterly embarrassing if they realized I was eavesdropping on them.

  I start to move to the other side of the corridor and do a swift escape to the toilette, when I hear his mother’s question. “So are you confident about the outcome of your bet with Murphy?”

  I freeze.

  A bet? What bet?

  My sixth sense tells me I’m involved in this.

  I can’t see Nathan’s face and it’s hard to decipher what he answers Holly without reading his lips. I try to angle my ears closer without being discovered.

  Suddenly Nathan’s voice becomes so loud that I can hear him clearly. “I was such a moron for believing that you and Murphy would hold up your end of the bargain if I managed to conquer Eva’s heart. Murphy chose her because you two were sure that she would never fall for me, right?”

  The floor drifts beneath me as if an earthquake is shaking it. I grab the wall with both hands to keep steady. A wave of violent nausea hits me, as some puzzles pieces I didn’t know were missing fall into place. So that’s why Holly and Murphy wanted to get after my feelings so badly. They needed to verify whether Nathan managed to make me fall in love.

  His answer when I asked him about his mother’s test comes to mind.

  It’s not that kind of test. Also, I’ve already put everything in action.

  Was I the condition of his promotion? Gaining my feelings? How could they even come up with such a sick idea?

  His mother’s satisfied expression flashes through me. That’s why she was so overjoyed when I admitted to loving Nathan. She wasn’t glad for me or about my relationship with her son. She was happy that Nathan proved to be the right material to lead their empire. How could Nathan do this to me?

  I dart to the stairs, not caring whether my running steps are loud or if my skirt shuffles. I need to get out of this mansion before Nathan comes out of that room. I don’t want to see him. He has played with me. He earned my trust and then shattered it for good.

  I grit my teeth as I take the stairs by double and almost trip. In the back of my mind the gloating laugh of an old, soulless woman echoes. I know who it is, and I know it has come to get me.

  To think, I almost convinced myself that I wouldn’t end up victim of La Mujer Sin Alma. That my story would turn out like stupid Cinderella’s.

  What a fool. A darned, hopeful fool.

  Chapter 34

  (Nathan)

  As I say the words, I almost choke on them.

  Hiding my love for Eva while my chest rumbles like a volcano about to explode has been the biggest and most difficult task of my life. One I’ll never want to repeat once I’m out of this room.

  “I don’t know how this is possible.” Mother adjusts her swept-back hairdo. “I thought Murphy came up with the perfect challenge. He was sure it would work…”

  The distraught edge in her voice catches me off guard. A flicker of suspicion sizzles through me. Could it be that Mother wasn’t unsure about how good of a leader I could be? Maybe the test was just simply a task she hoped I wouldn’t pass? A way to confirm Larry’s claim without feeling guilty? If so, they fooled me. They fooled me perfectly.

  I square my back. “I’m sorry to be the carrier of such disappointing news. Murphy had free hand about choosing my challenge. As per your request, I believe. Of course, I wouldn’t know, since you didn’t pick up any of my calls while you were on your cruise with Malcom.”

  Mother looks like I’ve just slapped her in the face. “Nathan, my son, I’m not sure you understand the situation correctly.”

  Oh, but I do. Mother wanted me to fail. It’s evident by her disappointment as she stares at me. This can only mean one thing. She never planned on letting me win against Larry. The bitterness of this whole thing dawns on me. “I was such a moron for believing that you and Murphy would hold up your end of the bargain if I managed to conquer Eva’s heart. Murphy chose her because you two were sure that she would never fall for me, right? You knew of her dad, didn’t you? And of her brother? Did you hire a private eye to investigate her before you picked her or what?”

  “What gibberish are you saying, Nathan?” Mom’s surprised outrage sounds sincere. “Private detective? Eva’s father? I don’t know anything about this at all.” She inhales, pinching her nose with two fingers, as her other hand fans her face with rapid little beats. “Nathan, you don’t get it. We…Murphy and I…we didn’t—”

  Murphy’s hands tap lo
udly on the window then he whips around and springs over to us. He gives me a you’ve-gone-mental look, which ought to be prohibited for him, given his profession. “Nate, you’re wasting your breath. Nobody plans to disrespect our agreement. If you’ve won the bet, you’ll be promoted. Right, Mother?”

  She blinks at him, her mouth a confused frown, then suddenly her face brightens, as if Murphy’s intervention changed something. “Of course.”

  “So, does that mean I am becoming CEO?” I feel like an animal kept in captivity for too long. My cage looks like it’s open, but I still don’t dare to take a step forward.

  “Not just yet.” Mother shakes her head. “We’ve only checked one condition so far. The second one is still open.” She levels my gaze, her green eyes boring a hole into mine. “So let’s proceed, shall we? Did you or didn’t you fall in love with Eva?”

  My heart drops and my stomach shrinks to the size of a peanut. “I-I-I…already told Murphy. Ask him.”

  “I’m asking you, my son. Please answer me.”

  Come on, Nathan. Reply. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for in my head. I’ve played and replayed how I would need to state my lie to make it believable. I mustn’t break eye-contact, and it’s best is if I keep my arms in a lazy posture. If I fiddle with my cuffs or make any other unconscious movements, Murphy might notice the incongruence between my non-verbal clues and my confident words.

  But if I’m so well-prepared then why do I suddenly feel at a loss, with a giant lump in my throat that makes it impossible to utter even a sound, much less a full-blown fib?