Money

by Jillian Dodd

  “I love that about you, Dawson. You’re so strong and confident.”

  Confident, maybe, I think. But nuts. What am I doing here? I look down at my empty ring finger, knowing I finally stopped wearing my own wedding ring just a few months ago when Keatyn first offered me the job.

  I look around at everything in the closet. Think of the wealth this room represents. I think of where I just came from—living with my parents, not a dime to my name. I could never begin to think a woman like Vanessa could truly love me forever. I couldn’t give her anything.

  Except for my heart.

  Which sucks, because she’s somehow already managed to acquire it.

  I sit down on a fur chaise, feeling defeated. This closet is the epitome of luxury spending. She was right when she told me that’s what she planned to major in.

  Because she sure as hell did.

  I had done well, but not to this level well. Between my salary and my trust fund, we could have lived comfortably for the rest of our lives.

  Until . . .

  I shake my head, willing away the thought.

  Vanessa chooses a necklace—one that is probably worth over a million dollars—and a sexy black dress and is getting dressed when her butler interrupts us.

  “Miss Vanessa, you have a caller,” he says then retreats.

  “It must be Peyton. She mentioned coming over tonight. I haven’t checked my phone.”

  I throw my suit back on and follow her into the entry, where an elegantly dressed man stands holding a massive bouquet of red roses.

  “Bam!” Vanessa says. “What are you doing here?”

  He hands the butler the roses then opens up a box. Inside is a ruby. A massive glittering ruby about the size of her fist.

  “This is for you, my darling.”

  Vanessa’s eyes get huge, and she puts her dainty hand over her mouth to hide her shock, but it’s clear she’s impressed.

  I take a moment to size Bam up. If this were a bar room brawl, I’d kick his ass for sure. He’s a good five inches shorter than me and lean compared to my bulk.

  But this isn’t about that. His clothes, his shoes, even his attitude reeks of money and privilege in a way I never have, and my family is far from poor.

  He takes a few steps forward and pulls Vanessa into his arms.

  And she looks good there.

  They look like a raven-haired billionaire Barbie and Ken.

  “Bam, this is Dawson,” Vanessa says, pulling away and introducing me. “We, um, work together.”

  We work together. Not we’re fucking. Not we’re dating. Not we’re in love. Not I just asked him and his daughters to move in with me.

  Well, fuck this.

  “I have to go,” I say suddenly. “Nice to meet you, Bam. I’ll leave you two to catch up. See you at work tomorrow, Vanessa.”

  Then I get the hell out of there before she can stop me.

  Not that she’d even want to.

  Vanessa’s Estate - Holmby Hills

  VANESSA

  I see the hurt in Dawson’s eyes when I introduce him as someone I work with, and I’m not that surprised when he leaves.

  I don’t want him to leave, but I also don’t want Bam to know about Dawson. If he thinks he has competition, it will only up the stakes for him. Bam gets what Bam wants.

  He always has.

  The massive ruby glinting from the box in front of me is just one example of how he manipulates. It’s hard for a woman to think with all that sparkle so close.

  “Now that your work is done, we must talk,” Bam says, escorting me to the living room.

  He looks around, realizing all the furniture is gone. “Where is everything?”

  “I’m doing some redecorating. It’s out in the garage right now. When we got divorced, you only asked for your personal belongings. Is there anything in the house that you want before I get rid of it?”

  He smiles at me, bringing his hand to my face. “There is only but one thing I, Juan Fabio Martinez, want. And that, my darling, is you.”

  “I heard you got dumped by the supermodel.”

  “She is young, not ready to settle down,” he says, ignoring the dumped part.

  “And you are?”

  “I need a woman. You are the only girl I have ever truly loved. If you will allow me another chance, I will swear my undying love to you.”

  “You did that twice already, it didn’t take.”

  “There will be no other women, Vanessa. Of that I give you my oath.”

  Bam is very sexy. Women all over the world desire him. There are websites dedicated to his folly both on and off the polo field. His sexy accent combined with his deep voice speaking the words I longed to hear give me pause.

  How could they not? I loved him for most of my life, and after we broke up these are the exact words I needed to hear. Dreamed of hearing. That he would realize he needed me. Wanted me. That he made a mistake. That he didn’t desire anyone but me. And to hear these words now . . .

  “My father is dying, and I have also vowed to my family to stop my philandering ways. It is my time to take over his empire, an endeavor with great responsibility.”

  I don’t reply, so he continues.

  “As proof of my seriousness, I will be announcing my retirement from polo to the world very soon, and I need you by my side, my darling Vanessa.”

  “I don’t mean to be rude, Bam, but you were having sex with someone else while I was in the hospital losing our child.”

  He dismisses my comment with a wave of his hand. “The past is the past. I cannot change what is there. I can only hope to repair my life so that our future is bright. The loss of our child cut me deeply. I regret not being there, and I’ve had to live with that decision. I am like my father, my mother says—raging hormones, too many for one woman—but she is wrong. I want to make it up to you. I want to have heirs with you. I was surprised by your pregnancy before.”

  “We’d been married for quite some time. I told you I was ready to have a baby. You didn’t disagree.”

  “That’s because I wanted for you to have everything your heart desired. That is still my wish. What do you want, Vanessa? Homes across the world? A new yacht? To be dripping in gold and jewels? Whatever you ask for, my darling, I will present to you on a diamond encrusted platter.”

  “What I want is to understand why you did what you did.”

  “Mentally—emotionally—I wasn’t there yet. Not ready for responsibility. Not ready to settle down. I am like a wild mare in my youth. I had to be broken.”

  “And you’re broken now?” I ask, not able to help adding an eye roll. “The model dumping you did that?”

  “I understand your reluctance,” he says, taking my hand. “Can we go sit down somewhere, have a bottle of wine, and discuss this?”

  “Sure, let’s go outside.” I call to my butler, Bernard, “Can you please bring us a bottle of—”

  “The Chateau Margaux, please,” he says, interrupting me.

  “I thought we weren’t supposed to drink that,” I counter. “Isn’t that the hundred thousand dollar limited collector’s edition?”

  “It is, but this is a very special occasion, my darling. Our reunion is worth celebrating.”

  “Bam, we’re not getting back together.”

  He leads me outside, his hand fitting into the small of my back and reminding me of so many occasions in ballrooms, private clubs, and restaurants around the world when I was so in love with him. When the luxury and royalty of it all was new. When I didn’t know the consequences of his love.

  We sit in silence until our wine is brought.

  After sniffing, swirling, and tasting, Bam declares the wine good enough to drink, so Bernard pours us each a glass.

  Once he has retreated and we are left alone in an uncomfortable silence, Bam raises his glass to mine.

  “Tonight we drink a wine that is considered by many to be priceless. I, myself, used to believe that it was, but I have learned the ha
rd way that the only thing priceless in life, is love. Salud.”

  When our glasses touch, I see the pain behind Bam’s smile.

  “I will be honest with you, Vanessa.”

  “That’s always nice,” I say, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

  “My father’s illness was unexpected. Until I was called upon to provide for my family, I did not have so much responsibility. I was but a boy playing a man’s game. Now, it is my time. I want to renew our vows. I will shower you with gifts and attention. We will have children. As many as you want. I pledge to be a good father. Our children will have everything. I know you need more than my words. You need proof. I will spend the rest of my life proving this to you.”

  He pulls another box out from his jacket pocket, opens it to reveal a diamond that belongs in a museum, and gets down on one knee.

  “Do you remember those weekends on my yacht when we were young? How crazy in love we were when we secretly wed. Darling, I’ve loved you since I learned how to love. Will you do me the vast honor of marrying me again?”

  Tears fill my eyes as emotions overcome me.

  Vanessa’s Estate - Holmby Hills

  DAWSON

  After I beeline out the door, jump into the Ferrari I couldn’t have bought for myself, and drive off, I’m both pissed at myself for leaving and pissed at her for letting me go.

  I know Keatyn is working late tonight, so I call Aiden. “Hey, you in town?”

  “Yeah, just got back. What’s up?”

  “Wanna go get a drink or something?”

  “Why don’t you just come here. I can’t really leave tonight.”

  That’s a good idea, I think. I’ll drop the car off at home and walk down. Then I can drink.

  And drink.

  “Is Keatyn home?”

  “No, not yet. You’ll see why I can’t leave when you get here.”

  “I’ll be there shortly.”

  “Are you okay? he asks.

  “I don’t know,” I reply.

  Aiden greets me with a pile of yellow fur cradled in his arms, a pale pink ribbon around its neck.

  When I talk, the puppy looks up at me, licks my fingers, then yawns, and tucks its head back into Aiden’s arms.

  “You got a dog?”

  “Yeah, Keatyn and I always talked about getting a golden retriever and since she’s decided to slow down with work and spend more time at the vineyard, it finally seemed like the right time. I’m going to surprise her tonight.”

  “You’ve always given Keatyn thoughtful gifts,” I say, following him to the bar in the kitchen.

  “Well, I try to make them meaningful. I mean, any guy can shower a girl with jewels and expensive gifts.”

  “Not any guy,” I mutter.

  “Can you do the honors, so I don’t have to put her down? She whines if I don’t hold her when she sleeps,” he says.

  “Already got you wrapped around her paw? Wait until you have a child.” I pour us each a glass of scotch.

  Aiden beams.

  “What’s the smile for?”

  “We’re expecting.”

  “You are? Wow. Congratulations, man. There is nothing in the world that compares to holding your baby.” I think about my girls, knowing there aren’t enough diamonds in the world—let alone Vanessa’s closet—that would ever mean as much as they do. “Children are the ultimate jewel.”

  “I can’t wait to experience that,” Aiden says, rubbing the puppy’s head. “Although, I will admit I’m a little nervous.”

  “Just spend a lot of time with them and always let them know they are loved. They will turn out beautifully.”

  “Says the guy who’s already been through the sleepless nights and the terrible twos,” he says with a laugh.

  “You’ll survive and forget how terrible it was. Now, I’m starting to have to worry about boys. And slumber parties. And mean girls. And soon, I’ll have to deal with them getting their periods.”

  Aiden takes a drink and shakes his head, looking overwhelmed.

  “One step at a time,” I tell him.

  “So, you seemed upset when you called.”

  “I was at Vanessa’s. Have you ever seen her closet?”

  “No, but I’ve heard about it. Jewels, expensive paintings.”

  “You mean that Monet was real?”

  “Yep.”

  “Holy shit.” I run my hands though my hair and pour myself another drink.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “She has everything. And I mean everything. Her ex came to her house tonight and pulled out a ruby the size of her fucking fist. I can’t compete with that shit. I can’t afford that lifestyle. I can’t give her anything like that.”

  “Do you think she expects it?”

  “You know what happened, Aiden.”

  “Dawson, what do you like about Vanessa?”

  “She’s amazing. Sweet. Sincere. Soft. Confident. I love her red lips and how she looks equally sexy in high heels and bare feet.”

  “Not once in that list did you mention a single materialistic thing,” he comments. “You and Vanessa are sort of opposite in that respect.”

  “How so?”

  “Whitney left you with no money, but with something more important.”

  “My girls.”

  “Exactly. And Bam left Vanessa with more money that she knows what to do with, but without the one thing she wanted.”

  “She came over the other night wearing nothing but a fur coat he gave her. She used to hate the coat.”

  “Probably because it was something he gave her to make up for being an asshole. He was always trying to buy her love instead of trying to earn it.”

  I study Aiden, knowing I don’t need to say it, but that I should. “I watched the movies before I went to work at Captive.”

  “The Keatyn Chronicles?”

  “Yeah, and I’ve never really apologized for being such a dick to you in high school.”

  “All’s fair in love and war,” he says, repeating a line from the movie and what I had actually told Keatyn when we dated briefly in high school. Whitney had sent me a text—a simple text, baby, please—begging me not to go away with Keatyn for the weekend but stay with her and try and work out our relationship. She had devastated me when she had broken up with me a few months before and to have her now saying she made a mistake, was what I had longed to hear. I realized too late, that I was an idiot for not staying with Keatyn and tried to win her back. For a short period, she dated both Aiden and I.

  “You wooed her. How did you know what to do? What would affect her?”

  He shrugs. “I was just there for her when she was upset. I took her chocolate cake.”

  I think back to the movie. “And gave her a four-leaf clover for luck, put stars above her bed, ran a feather earring across her neck, and brought her dirt. None of those things really cost money.”

  “I bought her a purse she loved and some gorgeous gold feather earrings. But it’s not what you spend that matters, Dawson. You have to find what touches her soul and give from yours freely.”

  “I was going to give her this.” I show Aiden the necklace I planned to give Vanessa tonight. “It’s just something the girls and I found in Venice, but the butterfly stands for rebirth and the infinity symbol on its wings reminded me of our path back to each other.”

  “Why didn’t you give it to her?”

  “It felt insignificant after seeing all those jewels. Hard to compete with them.”

  Aiden smiles at me. “Here’s a tip, Dawson. All isn’t fair in love and war, but the victor always plays with heart.”

  In the car - L.A.

  RILEY

  I’m on my way to the hotel to meet Shelby when I get a text.

  Ariela: I’m really sorry the note upset you. That wasn’t my intention.

  I don’t reply, instead I call Logan. Once we exchange greetings, I get to the subject at hand.

  “So tell me about this new guy she brought in to
be her assistant.”

  “Kyle? I don’t know much about him. Seems like a nice enough kid. Good looking. Funny. Maggie and Grandma were drooling over him.”

  “And what about Ariela?”

  “They seem close. But they must not be too close because he thinks that Maggie and I are renewing our vows, so Ariela doesn’t trust him enough to tell him everything.”

  “Is she fucking him?”

  “Hmm, not sure. Based on the way he acts around her, I’d say he wants to but hasn’t. Why the twenty questions? I thought after homecoming you two made up? She even told us about the premiere girl getting pregnant. I was under the impression she wasn’t going to let that interfere with your relationship.”

  “Did she tell you guys about the note?”

  “What note?”

  “On graduation day, she was too chicken to tell me in person that she was going to Princeton.”

  “What do you mean? She told you in person then ran to her parents’ car and left.”

  “Yeah, I know. But that wasn’t her plan. Apparently, she didn’t have the guts to tell me in person, so she was going to leave a note on my car. But as she was going to my car, she ran into me, blurted everything out, and forgot to give me the note. She’s kept it all these years though. She gave it to me at homecoming and made me read it last night.”

  “And, what did it say?”

  “That she had to go to Princeton because it was her dream, that she hoped I would understand, and that she hoped we could stay together.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “That was my exact response.”

  “Why didn’t she mail you the letter? Or message you? Or one of us? Anything?”

  “Exactly. Why didn’t she? If she was as heartbroken as she claims to have been, why didn’t she send it?”

  “Did you ever contact her after that?”

  “Fuck no.”

  “Maybe that’s why she didn’t send it.”

  “It really doesn’t matter anymore. We agreed to talk this week, but I’m bailing on that. At the wedding, I’ll tell her I don’t want to see her again, and she can go back home.”