This is where the situation became difficult because the emotions I’d had were new to me. At first, pain wracked my very being when she was fingered as the traitor. But it shouldn’t have been like that. I don’t feel for women. I’m the one who uses them, and Morgan should have been no exception.
As a result, her alleged betrayal caught me by surprise. One, because it came from someone close to my heart. And secondly, because the female had somehow wormed her way into a place that hurt. It shouldn’t have been like this. Being a corporate titan meant that I’d insulated myself from any emotion, and this was a massive breach to the wall around my soul. I was confused.
So like a robot, I’d excised the woman. I’d thrown her out of my life, unceremoniously booting her from the flight with nary a backwards glance. Except I’d been the one who’d miscalculated. My intentions of being one and done with the situation had gone massively wrong, and I’d thought of nothing but Morgan since that fateful day.
And here she was now, looking at me with eyes filled with pain.
“You knew I had nothing to do with it,” she whispered on a choked voice.
“I knew,” came my low growl. “You’re nothing but a sweet eighteen year old girl. How could you have pulled off something like this, much less acted as mastermind? No, it was Nick Prescott the whole time.”
Suddenly, the brunette stood, brown eyes flashing and her curves quivering with rage.
“So you knew, and yet you let me hurt,” she whispered, her eyes filled with anguished pain. “All this suffering the past three months. You knew and didn’t do anything about it.”
Her words caught me by surprise. Yes, I hadn’t contacted her. I hadn’t reached out, that was true. But it was because I’d been grappling with my own emotions the entire time, while trying to understand how this situation had gotten so out of control. Because it wasn’t the leaks that troubled my soul. It was the fact that I’d fallen for this girl, head over heels, completely taken unawares. That’s what made me stop short.
But it was too late because Morgan rushed out of the office, running to the elevator.
“Wait, stop!” I called, rising from my desk. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”
But it was too late. The high-speed elevator that goes directly to my office was already dinging closed as my secretary looked on with shocked eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Evans,” Annie stammered, halfway standing from her desk. “Should I have stopped her?”
We both stared as the elevator lights flashed, carrying the love of my life away. My hands opened and closed uselessly, gripping at nothing.
“No,” came my low voice. “It’s fine. I’ll get her back.”
Because no way was I going to let Morgan Nelson out of my life again. The first time had been painful enough, booting her off the plane with every intention of erasing her existence from my brain. But much good that had done. Instead, I’d been able to think of nothing else. My thoughts had circled around the sweet brunette again and again and again, unable to stop. Heck, I’d contemplated therapy just to put the kibosh on these endless ruminations.
But now, the answer was clear in my mind. I was in love with the brunette. She’d never been a spy, and I was the dumbass who’d taken a wrong turn. I should have approached her and made amends the minute I’d gotten a hold of my emotions. I was the one who should have apologized on bended knee, seeking her grace and favor, and not the other way around. Grabbing my jacket, I turned to my secretary.
“All calls on hold,” was my rumbling command. “All meetings cancelled.”
Annie nodded, her expression pale.
“For how long?” she asked. “Just the rest of the afternoon?”
But my head shook even as I entered the stairwell. Fuck, it was going to be a long ways down by foot, but worth every second of the effort because I had to get my girl back come hell or high water, and every calorie expended, every bead of sweat on my brow were infused with need for Morgan.
“No,” came my growl as the emergency door swung shut behind me. “All calls and meetings on hold until I say,” was the rough command. “I’ve got more important matters at hand to take care of.”
With that, I began the chase because the sweet brunette is everything to me, and I wouldn’t stop until she was back in my life. And if I had my way … this time it would be for good.
15
Morgan
Oh god, what now? After leaving Stone’s office, I made a beeline for my hotel. Sure, Evelyn had kicked me out, but that was no problem. With the money I’d earned working for Elite Air, there was plenty in my bank account and I could afford a room.
But my encounter with Stone had been disastrous. Mr. Evans was exactly as I’d remembered. Dark, handsome and imposing, his office was an aerie in the sky with a breathtaking view of the New York skyline. All my previous emotions came flooding back then. Adoration for this man. Love welling in my heart. And sadly, the need to be in his arms again, safe and sound within that muscular circle.
But Stone Evans always gets the best of you because as I’d blurted my apology, his expression remained neutral and curiously still. After I was done, the big man had nodded, uttering a simple, “I know.”
That caught me by surprise. What in the world? The CEO knew that I wasn’t complicit in this farce? He realized that I’d been used as a pawn by another billionaire, doing someone else’s bidding without knowing the true nature of those videoconference chats?
But the flicker in Mr. Evans’s eyes told me everything. These revelations were nothing new to him, and he’d known the entire time that I was just one small player in this larger game of manipulation, with no idea of the ramifications.
Unfortunately, that’s what hurt the most. The alpha male had known the entire time that I wasn’t responsible. He knew that I’d never tried to hurt him or his business, and that I was innocent in every respect, unaware of the evil machinations going on. So why had Stone thrown me off the plane? Even more, why had he forced me to suffer these past three months, clueless while trying to put together the puzzle pieces myself?
That’s why I can’t forgive him. Stone knew. The alpha was aware the whole time that I’d been used and desperately hurt, undeserving of this pain. Yet he did nothing, refusing to lift a finger. I meant that little to him, and the realization broke my heart, shattering it into tiny shards that sliced into my flesh from the insides.
Reeling with pain, I stepped into my hotel room, setting my bag down on the ground. My limbs were limp and exhausted, my mind a cloudy mess once again. Yes, I’d gone to Gravity Holdings to clear things up, but it’d only made things worse. I’d hoped to gain clarity and unfortunately, the monster in the room was only too obvious now. Because the realization that the dark man felt nothing for me or my well-being tore me to shreds, pain ripping through my soul.
Suddenly, a knock came on the door.
I didn’t bother to answer. It was probably housekeeping here to turn down the beds. My limp body was still on the mattress, unable to think clearly.
Evidently, the daze had made me careless because the door was unlocked. In my fuzzy state, I hadn’t secured the slab of wood, much less shut it all the way. But then like out of a nightmare, Stone Evans himself materialized in my small hotel room, that big frame taking up all available space between the bed and TV console.
“Oh,” was all I could manage, gazing at him with defeat. Unbidden, my heart leaped as tears sprang to my eyes. Why was this happening? I shouldn’t have felt anything. Clearly, this man didn’t care about me, so why was I crying now? Angrily, I wiped at the wet tracks.
But Stone is fast. He knelt beside the bed, gripping my palm in his.
“Morgan,” that deep voice sounded. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for what’s happened.”
Angrily, I ripped my fist away.
“Oh really?” came my voice, dripping with sarcasm. “For which part? Kicking me off the plane, dressed in nothing but a robe? Accusing me of being a spy fo
r your rival? Or even worse, saying nothing about the situation, despite knowing that I was innocent?”
The last sentence came out in practically a scream, but I didn’t care because the hurt and anguish were animals in my chest, struggling to get out. It felt good to finally release the demons, giving voice to the agony within.
Stone’s expression was remorseful.
“I’m sorry,” that bass voice spoke again, imbued with regret. “I should have found you sooner.”
“Oh really,” I said sarcastically. “You think? You knew I was innocent, but you let me suffer. Why, Stone, why?”
His hands gripped mine reflexively, so hard that my fingers ached. But I wouldn’t drop his gaze, and those azure eyes went from sky blue to a deep midnight, reflecting the turmoil within.
“You mean more to me than I realized,” he said slowly. “And it took me a while to realize it.”
“Stop speaking in riddles,” I snapped. “I’m sick and tired of it. Just spit it out. Nothing can be worse than what you’ve already done.”
Pain flashed in his eyes again, but the big man didn’t let go. Instead, he turned to me, those perfectly sculpted lips drawn.
“I’m sorry, Morgan,” he rumbled, the slightest hint of a tremor lacing those words. “I should have done better. I should have gotten on my feet the moment I realized you weren’t complicit. I should have beat Nick Prescott over the head with his cane and leapt to your defense.”
My brown eyes stared at him, narrowing into slits.
“Shoulda woulda coulda,” came my pained whisper. “It’s so easy for you to say now, after the damage has been done.”
Mr. Evans gripped my hands tighter in his, squeezing so hard that my knuckles almost cracked.
“I know, sweetheart,” he said urgently. “I know, and I was wrong.”
My eyes took in our interlaced hands.
“Do you know what Monday morning quarterbacking is?” came my tired voice. “Ever heard of the expression?”
Evidently, Stone knew exactly what it meant because he gripped my hands in a vise then, refusing to let go. A deep tremor shook that chest, those blue eyes searing my form.
“I know what you think,” he ground out roughly. “But you have to believe that this was new to me.”
“Oh really,” I cut in. “So after twenty years at the helm of a multi-billion dollar company, corporate espionage is new? This has never happened before?”
The alpha let out an impatient grunt.
“No, that’s not what I mean, and you know it,” he insisted. “What I mean is that these feelings,” he choked. “That’s what got me. I’ve never felt them before and you have to believe me, Morgan. They reached out like tentacles and wrapped around my neck, choking me of air. It was impossible to think straight.”
My heart leapt hearing the words. Just a small leap, nothing too hopeful. I made myself look into those blue eyes, and talk straight.
“What feelings?” were my words. “What are you talking about?”
The big man swallowed then, trying to get the words out.
“You have to understand this is hard for me,” he growled, that massive chest moving up and down. “I’ve never been in this position before.”
This time, I was silent, merely waiting for his next move.
“Sweetheart,” he rasped again, taking a deep breath. “This. Me, here, kneeling in front of you. Me, begging you for a second chance, trying to explain myself. This never happens to Stone Evans. It’s a whole new ballgame, and I’m trying to play as best as I can.”
He paused a moment, waiting for an answer, but I gave no quarter. After three months of suffering, I wasn’t letting Mr. Evans off the hook so easily. Expectantly, my eyes met his, devoid of emotion.
But the billionaire didn’t get to where he is in life by giving up easy. So even in the face of my non-response, the alpha took another deep breath, centering himself before that strong jaw hardened.
“What I mean to say,” he managed between ground teeth, “is that I love you Morgan Nelson. I’ve never felt this for any woman before, so I got caught up in a whirlwind of confusion and stupid shit. I should have gone to you immediately. I should have found you, and made you hear these words. Because that spying shit is lame, and Nick Prescott didn’t get anything important. The damage was contained after a day, but I made it seem like something bigger because …”
“Because what, Stone?” I prompted, my gaze direct. “What made you wait so long?”
“Because I love you,” he managed, almost spitting the words this time. “You can be a hard woman to love, you know that?”
This time, it was me who let out a sharp bark.
“That’s rich, coming from a billionaire who has everything at his disposal. You could have found me at any time. I was wilting away in a dreary apartment in Queens, wondering why you never reached out. And it was because of love? Your love for me made you stop and hesitate? Do you know how backwards that sounds? How absolutely awful?”
Stone had the grace to look ashamed.
“I know,” he ground out roughly. “And I want to make it up to you. We’ll take a trip to Dubai or Beijing. It’ll be fun, and I can show you the world. Let me make it up to you,” his voice commanded, those eyes fierce and unrelenting. “Give me another chance Morgan.”
I was torn inside. Because on the one hand, this man had caused me so much suffering. Three months of my life had been spent in the depths of Hell, my wounds bleeding like rivers each day. And the reason he gave was so bizarre too. Allegedly, he loved me so much that stopped him from reaching out. What in the world? Why would you behave like that? Wouldn’t you want to make things right when Cupid’s arrow pierces your heart?
But Mr. Evans seized my shoulders then, those big hands warm and firm on my frame.
“Morgan,” he said roughly. “You have to believe me. Don’t you remember the first time you were in love? How amazing it was, but also confusing? Now imagine that but ten times stronger. That’s what happened to me. I’m a forty-five year-old bachelor,” he said, those blue eyes intense. “And I’ve never been in love before, so suddenly being swept off my feet was something new. It was like being hit by a hurricane with gale force winds when previously, my emotional life had been nothing but calm, peaceful days. That’s what you do to me,” he said, voice heavy with emotion. “That’s how much I love you, pretty girl, and you’ve got to believe me.”
Something in my heart cracked then because I remembered my first time in love, and it’d been confusing. Magical, of course, but also a whirlwind of emotions, headstrong impulses, and most importantly, a disconnect between my thoughts and actions.
As a result, I understood what Stone was saying. Sometimes what we present to the world is different from our internal emotions, and for the billionaire, it’d been ten times worse. I swept in out of nowhere, a curvy flight attendant who was supposed to be nothing but a plaything, taking him by surprise. And he didn’t know what to do afterwards. The alpha was knocked back onto his feet, choking and gasping, so he did nothing, leaving the situation as is until I walked back through the door once again.
But that’s the thing. What if I hadn’t reappeared? Would we have remained estranged, wondering about each other until the end of our days? Or would we have found our way back to one another somehow? I had to know.
“Stone,” I said, taking a deep breath. “What would have done if I didn’t come to your office today?” The question was slow and I chose my words carefully. “Would you have moved on with your life? Forced yourself to forget me, and everything we had? Or would you have come to find me?”
The billionaire was still for a moment, his eyes intense.
“It’s funny you should ask,” he rasped harshly. “Because I was going to find you. You have to believe that.”
I nodded once, slowly.
“I want to believe it. I desperately do,” came my voice with a tremor. “But I’m not sure if I can,” was the painful admission. “
You let me suffer for three months and did nothing about it. So how can I put my faith in you now?”
My heart was breaking even as the words erupted from my mouth. But it was true. How could I put my life in the hands of this man who’d let me down? How could I be so naïve, when he’d hurt me so badly before? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I couldn’t be so idiotic again, could I?
But the billionaire never gives up. Looking deep into my eyes, he reached into his suit pocket and emerged with his fist closed.
“Sweetheart,” that voice rasped. “You have to believe me because I got this with every intention of finding you once more,” the alpha spoke. “This bauble had your name on it the moment I saw it in the store window. Will you, Morgan? Will you put me out of my misery and make me the happiest man alive?”
The air left my lungs and my eyes went wide because in his hand was a velvet box. Kneeling by my side, the billionaire popped the clasp, revealing a beautiful diamond within. The gem sparkled and shone, making me catch my breath.
“Is that?” I gasped. “Is that really …?”
Stone nodded once, eyes searing mine.
“It is sweetheart. Do you believe me now when I say I was going to find you? Do you see how I meant every word of what I said? You’re mine,” he spoke fiercely. “There’s no one else but you, Morgan Nelson, and I have every intention of making you mine forever.”
I gasped again, cheeks flushing brightly, because suddenly, his sentences took on new meaning. This man didn’t just love me. He loved me so much that he wanted to spend all of his days in my company going forwards. Stone Evans had had every intention of finding me once again and making me his wife to boot.
With a small cry, I threw myself against his chest.
“Yes, Stone. Yes, yes, yes, I do.”
Those strong arms were around me in a moment, holding my curvy form tight.
Falling For My Enemy Page 15
