Billionaire's Forced Love

by Eilish Rose

  “Looks like we have a long journey ahead,” Noah smirked at Amelia, and she showed him her fist with angry face.

  Car ride went smooth as Noah just slept in the back and didn’t annoy Amelia.

  While Jasper and Kara stole small glances at each other and even held each other’s hand every now and then. Amelia had big smile on her face when she saw Kara happy and peaceful.

  Jasper turned to a gravel road, and ride was slight bumpy. Trees covered the area and the greenery was just too beautiful. After five minute drive, a wooden house came into view. It was big, and beautiful. Kara took into her surroundings and she was amazed with the beauty.

  There was already one car parked. Ethan was getting the bags out while Crystal looked around with a surprise on her face. Ethan went closer to her, when he was about to say something, he saw Jasper’s car and stopped.

  They all got out, but before that, Amelia punched on Noah’s bicep real hard to wake him up.

  They all greeted each other.

  Crystal hugged Kara, Ethan bro-punched Jasper and ruffled Amelia’s hair, shook Noah’s hand while giving a friendly smile to Kara.

  “This is a beautiful house,” Kara complimented while look at both Ethan and Crystal.

  “Yup,” Amelia intervened.

  “Thanks, Amelia,” Ethan replied.

  Involuntarily, Ethan grabbed Crystal’s hand her eyes went wide at his gesture. Jasper saw this and smirked at his friend.

  “Ladies, go inside. We men will bring the bags,” Ethan said.

  Kara and Amelia walked towards the house, but Crystal halted when she took on step as Ethan still had her hand in his. She looked at him with big doe eyes and he stared back. He gave her a confused look.

  “You should leave her hand,” Noah spoke loudly. Ethan jerked his head towards their hands and dropped her hand in lightning speed, and she ran with a flushed face.

  “Noah, you are an idiot. Was it really important to speak?” Jasper groaned in playful annoyance. “Ethan was about to get hit with the Cupid’s arrow.”

  “Fuck you,” Ethan growled.

  —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

  After half an hour, Aaron also reached. All girls were getting ready as Ethan told them there was a beautiful street market in the nearby town and all wanted to see it.

  Noah was taking his nap as he didn’t have any sleep last night because he was busy partying with his friends and when reached his home, his dad didn’t let him sleep with his interrogation.

  Aaron, Jasper and Ethan were on the second floor, in a room which was sort of Ethan’s study. Jasper told the whole story to them, and they were beyond shocked and appalled as they never imagined William could a monster like this. But their service in military had already taught some dreadful truths about live, so it was not an absolutely new outcome. But they still hoped for something else.

  “God! I can’t imagine how you are stopping yourself, Jasper. If I were in your place, I would have shredded him into pieces,” Aaron was furious.

  Ethan stared into space and spoke, “tell me, how to destroy him?”

  “I did some digging, pulled Black Publications’ financials, and there is huge cash mismanagement, and five heavy law suits which were settled outside the court by paying hundreds of millions. Recent published books are generating poor sales and bottom line is in negative. With all the current bills and payments, company will bankrupt in two months unless someone saves it,” Aaron gave his input about William’s company.

  “Count it as a blessing that you didn’t make him as your client,” Ethan said. Jasper and William didn’t do business together as they want to keep their fortune separate.

  Jasper shook his head.

  “So, if I just guess, I think he wanted to kidnap Kara for ransom. Aaron, would you explain what how the cash was mismanaged?”

  “He bought a few expensive properties in shitty areas. And tens of millions were stolen and I guess they are in overseas account, but I’m not able to get the details yet. It’d take time. And some amount was withdrawn, I bet he used it to stage that accident.”

  “I want this to end this week. Be on alert,” Jasper rubbed his face.

  They sat in silence for sometime.

  “What is bothering you, Aaron?” Ethan asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t ‘what do you mean’ me. You seem closed off today. Something is on your mind.”

  “Speak, Aaron. It was you who said we’d tell our problems no matter how bad the situation is,” Jasper said.

  “My father is getting married, and this marriage is going to bite my ass,” Aaron sighed.

  '“Welcome to the club,” Ethan said.

  “What club?”

  “’Screwed by grandparents club’. Mine screwed me and seems like you are about to get screwed by yours,” Ethan spoke nonchalantly while shrugging his shoulders.

  “Shut the fuck up. Your grandparents did good for you as you married an amazing woman, and I’m pretty sure that deep down you know that. But my grandfather was definitely high on something when he wrote something like that in his will,” Aaron scoffed before adding, “but I’ll handle it. I have to,” he said the last part more to himself.

  “Aaron, just remember that we’re always here to help you. So you’d not shut yourself,” Jasper said and he nodded.

  “And if you shut us out, I’ll kick you ass thousand times literally before helping you,” Ethan added.

  “One last thing, you both will behave normally in front of Kara. As for now, she doesn’t have to know that you guys know. She’ll become insecure,” Jasper said and his friends nodded in understanding.

  CHAPTER 25

  Strolling the streets of the markets was like an adventure, and all the girls were excited. However, the men didn’t take any chances with the security, and Aaron stationed some of his trained agents around them to keep an eye on the crowd. Crowded street markets could be the dangerous places and it would be easy to kidnap Kara if William was still on this plan.

  Crystal, Kara and Amelia were in a group and Noah was with them as girls’ group was more fun than three alpha males who were not into cracking jokes and wandering aimlessly. They were more like bodyguards following them.

  Luckily, it was a weekend, and a small carnival was organized by the local people. There were families enjoying their time; laughing and playing.

  A booth caught Crystal’s eyes, and she took off to its direction, after saying something to Kara. Ethan saw this and followed her.

  “Um.. Hey. I want to buy that teddy bear,” she pointed to a big pink teddy.

  “Sorry miss. This isn’t for sale. If you want this, bring a partner who could win it for you,” the owner — an old man -- said.

  “How to win it?” she asked.

  “Your partner must shot all those seven bottles without missing an aim with this toy gun,” he replied while pointing to a far corner of the booth.

  Crystal’s face dropped when she saw those bottles. Those were way too much thin and it’d take a professional shooter to hit all those seven bottles without missing an aim.

  “Oh. Okay, thanks,” she gave a small smile and turned while thinking. She was contemplating to give it a try. Although she wanted to ask Ethan to play for her, she had no idea how to ask. She was still so much shy and silent in front of him. Therefore, she decided to ask Noah, after all he was fun loving boy.

  She was still in thoughts when she bumped into wall. But it wasn’t wall but her husband. She rubbed her forehead where she hit, and looked up scowling. The moment her eyes met his eyes, shyness took over features.

  “Where are you going?” Ethan asked.

  “To ask Noah if he could help me,” she spoke in low voice while looking here and there.

  “Why?”

  She stayed silent for several seconds, but she knew he’d not let it go
without her answer.

  “I want that teddy, and I need a partner who could win this for me. So…” she trailed off as she had no idea how to finish her sentence since she didn’t want to give Ethan any chance to be either angry or jealous.

  “Why?” he asked again.

  “Huh..?” she looked up at his question with confused face. Did he not hear what I just said? She thought.

  “Is there any long list of rules which states that a husband can’t play this game for his wife?”

  “No,” she looked away guiltily.

  “Uh ha…,” his tone sarcastic. Ethan was pissed because he was not able to understand this particular woman, and she was the first woman who was unpredictable. Before he could let his pissed off mood change into anger, he grabbed her hand took her back to the booth.

  Crystal’s jaw dropped when he shot all the bottles in one go and won that bear for her. She looked at him wide eyes when he gave that bear to her. People clapped around them. A small audience gathered quickly around them when he shot first two bottles as people wanted to enjoy the show.

  Loud clapping and cheering sound of people did nothing to bring Crystal out of her shock. With a sigh, Ethan grabbed her hand and dragged her with him towards their group.

  “Oh my God!!! You won this teddy for her!” Amelia exclaimed excitedly while smiling at Ethan. He smiled back at her and nodded lovingly.

  Amelia poked Noah and he scowled in her direction.

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  “Win that smaller teddy for me,” she grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the booth.

  “Are you nuts? No way I’m ever going to something stupid like that,” he groaned.

  “It’s not stupid. It is nice.”

  “Then ask Ethan, he could do this again.”

  “Are you seriously that dump? Read that list,” she pointed at the board where all the rules were written. “Once you win, you can’t participate again that day. Plus, you just have to shot three bottles down for this one.”

  “You want a teddy, I’ll buy you a hundred bears, or even real ones.”

  “I don’t want a bought teddy. I want ‘the won’ teddy,” she stood her ground while air quoting her words.

  Putting his hands inside the pockets of his sweatshirt, Noah sighed.

  “Will you shut up if I get this for you.”

  “I can try.”

  He paid and took the gun to aim. He missed the second shot. Amelia’s face sulked. But then the old man told him he had two more chances to win.

  He aimed again, but he couldn’t even shot the first bottle.

  “I don’t understand how do you play football when you can’t even aim three bottles.”

  “Exactly. I’m a footballer, not a professional shooter,” he groaned.

  He took in big breath and went to fire for the third round. Everyone started cheering for him, and Amelia had hopeful look. Noah looked at her and shot the bottles while holding his breath.

  Surprisingly, this time he knocked all the bottles down and crowed erupted into loud cheers once again. Amelia ran to the front of the booth and grabbed the pastel-orange teddy. She beamed at Noah for the fist time and thanked him.

  He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal, but deep down he knew it was. More than that he was shocked that he could pull this off, at last.

  “Do you want any teddy bear?” Jasper asked Kara while rising his brows.

  “No, I don’t,” she tucked a strand behind her ear.

  “Then, what do you want?” he asked.

  “That hand made jewelery shop looks nice. I think I’ll buy something from there,” she gestured towards the shop.

  Jasper took hand and led her to the shop.

  Kara started looking at some jewelery pieces, and there were some beautiful pieces. Although it wasn’t expensive or made of shiny stones, it still had unique finish to them

  He eyes caught a bracelet, she asked the women behind the counter to show it to her. It was a simple with beads on which ‘J’ and ‘K’ were engraved.

  “I want this,” she looked up at Jasper and he smiled at her. Jasper paid for the bracelet before putting it on her wrist. Then, he kissed inside of her wrist causing tingles all over her body. Images of their hot love making night still fresh in her mind. She trembled a bit when she made eye contact with him. His blue orbs looked at her with intensity.

  “Hey! Love birds. Let go and eat something. We all are hungry,” it was Noah who broke their intense eye lock.

  Rest of the group groaned, and Aaron flicked him on his head.

  Kara felt a blush creeping on her face when she took in her surrounding. There were hundreds of people all around, occasionally casting glances towards them. Some smiled genuinely, and some ladies frowned at her as they eyed Jasper. Even Crystal got many glares since Ethan was also attracting female population like a magnet. Noah and Aaron were not behind at all.

  Everyone wandered for some more time, and decided to go to a small food corner for the lunch.

  As they walked — laughing and talking — Ethan shoved a man aside.

  “Watch where are you going buddy. It is still day and I have better than twenty-twenty vision,” Ethan said in his heavy voice while crossing his arms over his chest. His face hard with murderous glare.

  Everyone turned towards him, and tried to understand what just happened. Aaron and Jasper knew the reason, but everyone else was confused. Crystal bit on her lower lip and looked at her husband with wide honey brown eyes, a cute shocked expression on her face.

  “I did nothing wrong. You just shoved me for no reason,” the man replied while trying to puff his chest out. But he was no match to Ethan’s tall and wide muscled built. When Jasper and Aaron took one step ahead, that man’s facial expressions turned to fear. However, he refused to back down.

  “Stop being over smart,” Ethan took threating steps in his direction. “If you ever dare to think about bumping into my wife, I’ll punch you over and over where sun doesn’t shine,” Ethan threatened that man with a dark look on his face.

  “Hey buddy! Let’s go. We have so much fun to do,” two bulky men stepped behind that mad and grabbed him while dragging him away. They were, no doubt, Aaron’s men who were here for their security.

  Ethan, then, pulled Crystal closer, and all went to eat. Crystal darted small glances in his direction with confusion and uncertainty. Ethan had no idea what her brain stated to cook up in her head.

  CHAPTER 26

  The weekend was over. Jasper and Kara were back to their normal life. After this small outing, Kara felt fresh and she looked forward to have her life back on track. She got ready to went to her office and this change in her made Jasper happy.

  He kissed her goodbye after dropping her off at her office. Jasper’s attention made her feel special, and she decided that she’d officially confess her love to him. There was no point of delaying the inevitable. But a small part in her was scared as they didn’t know at what lengths William could go. She was happy as there were very less interactions with that monster. She was having a feeling that William was planning something big, and he’d act soon.

  On the other hand, Jasper wasn’t at peace either. Before leaving Ethan’s cabin, Amelia came to him and wanted to talk, but unfortunately Noah chose the exact same moment to interrupt them. Jasper, then, promised her that he’d meet her on Monday.

  ******************

  Amelia was in girl’s locker room, but she had no mood for practice. She changed her mind, and dressed back in her school clothes and went out towards the football ground.

  Noah was with his teammates, practicing for the game. She stood near the boundary and watched the whole team. After nearly five minutes, Noah’s friend — Hunter — said something in his ears, and he turned abruptly. Hunter patted him on shoulder and ran towards his team.

  Shaking his head, Noah walked towards Amelia.

  “What? You wanted see whether I’m a footballer or shooter?” he wi
nked at her.

  Amelia rolled her eyes and ignored his remark.

  “I need a favor?” she said.

  “Favor? From me? Did you hit your head in the morning?”

  “I’m perfectly fine. And answer me.”

  “I’m not going to win any other teddy for you.”

  “Relax. I’m not going to ask that.”

  “So, how could I be at your service today, Princess?”

  Amelia didn’t reply him. She started pacing left and right in front of him while biting her nails. When her pacing started to make him dizzy, he grabbed her arms and stopped her.

  “Speak right now, or I’m going back to the practice.”

  “Take me to Jasper’s office,” she spoke in hurried tone.

  “Why?”

  “I have an appointment with him.”

  “Appointment? Uh…huh… are you going to sue someone?”

  “Will you give me ride or not?” she challenge.

  “You should request me, not dare me.”

  “Shut up.”

  He smirked.

  “Wait here, I’ll be back in ten minutes. And remember, you owe me.”

  Noah ran towards the gym locker to change, but he took his sweet time and made her to wait for twenty minutes. Amelia was pissed at him.

  Going to Jasper’s floor was not difficult as Noah had been there multiple times and everyone knew him.

  “How could I help you, kids,” Samantha Miller — Jasper’s PA asked with a friendly smile. She was in her late forties, and an efficient assistant to work with.

  “Sammy, is Jasper in his office?” Noah asked.

  “I’m sorry, kid. He is extremely busy today. He hasn’t returned from the court yet. I could pass your message to him,” she offered.

  Noah looked at Amelia and she shook her head.

  “We’ll wait for him. Just inform him we are here,” Noah replied.

  “Okay. Give me two minutes,” Samantha went to call Jasper.

  “Jasper said to wait in the office, and he’ll be back in an hour,” she informed after confirming with Jasper. “And he said not to touch any of his documents,” she gave pointed look to Noah and earned a full blown smile from him.