Forbidden Desires Box Set

by Katy Kaylee

  It had been an entire week since the altercation at the ice skating rink with Jade, and her lawyers still hadn't called me. I was convinced that she was just being a bitch and nothing would come of her threats, but deep down I was waiting for the bomb to drop. Admittedly, it was a little tense in the house a day or two after it happened, but things started to cool down and we were back to being a happy little family. Luckily, the weather also seemed to cool down, which was strange but very welcoming.

  "Hey," Malia said and I glanced at her. She was on her side, the sheets pulled up to cover her magnificent breast and she looked at me with a frown. "Whatever you're thinking about, please stop."

  "I know I shouldn't be paranoid," I said and turned to her, "but I just can't help anticipating something. It's like I'm waiting for a bomb to drop or something. Is that crazy?"

  "No, you just know how she is, and that she'd be capable of doing something like that. You're not crazy. Don't ever say that. The only crazy you should be is crazy about me."

  "That I am," I said and kissed her on the lips. "Are you hungry?"

  "I am starving, actually."

  "Okay, you get cleaned up, and dressed and I'll take my two favorite girls out for breakfast," I said with a smile.

  "That sound great," she said, and jumped out of bed.

  The screen faded to black as the movie that we watched ended later that evening. It was a strange movie and Malia and I exchanged puzzled glances as the credits started to roll across the screen.

  "I wasn't expecting that," she muttered.

  "Same here. I really thought they were going to make it out alive," I agreed.

  "How about I pick the movie next time?" she sighed.

  I groaned dramatically and shook my head. "No way. Your movies are too emotional."

  "As opposed to this?" she asked and raised her eyebrows as she motioned to the television.

  "Fair enough," I pouted.

  "Don't worry, I still love you, even if your taste in movies aren't as good as mine," she murmured.

  I scoffed but let her kiss me anyway. I loved being playful with Malia, because she played her part so well.

  My phone vibrated on the side table and I reached over to answer it. My blood ran cold in my veins as I noticed that it was Carter, my attorney and my shoulders slumped.

  "What's wrong?" Malia asked, as I glanced at her.

  "It's my attorney," I answered.

  Her eyes widened and she pursed her lips.

  "Carter, hey."

  "Hey, Dillon," Carter greeted me in his usual stern voice.

  "What's going on?" I asked, almost afraid to do so.

  "Are you at home?"

  "Yes."

  "There's something you have to see. I'll email you a link."

  "A link to what?"

  "Just check your email."

  "Okay," I said. "Do you want to hold?"

  "I have another call waiting, but call me back as soon as you've watched it."

  Before I could answer, Carter ended the call and I lowered my phone.

  "Dillon, what's going on?" Malia asked.

  "Carter sent me a link to look at," I answered and grabbed the remote control. I scrolled through the menu, and activated the email function on the smart television.

  "A link to what?" she asked.

  "I have no idea," I answered, "but it sounded serious."

  I waited for the application to open and saw the unread email Carter had sent a few seconds ago. I opened it, and clicked on the link. Another window opened and it was a segment of a popular television talk show.

  I frowned at Malia, who looked even more perplexed than I was, but as soon as the host started talking, my heart sunk into my shoes and my blood started to boil.

  "Welcome back. We're here with Jade Grant, who used to be married to well-known billionaire Dillon Marsh from Marsh Industries. Hello, Jade."

  "Hello, Susan. Thank you for having me."

  Malia's jaw dropped and she asked, "What is she doing?"

  "I think I know," I answered, and stared blankly at the screen.

  "Tell us, Jade, why are you here today?" Susan asked.

  "Well, I'm here to tell everyone that Dillon is not the perfect man everyone thinks he is," Jade answered.

  "And why is that?"

  "I recently found out that he is sleeping with our daughter's nanny, while she is in the house," Jade answered. "I just think that is such a poor example to set for our daughter. She's nine and very impressionable. Can you just imagine if she were walk in on them while they're getting it on gos knows where. I think that is totally unacceptable."

  "So, you don't have custody of your daughter?" Susan asked.

  "Not at all. Dillon had sole custody of her, which I also find very unfair. She's my daughter too," Jade said and clutched her chest dramatically. "What kind of a man would refuse a woman the right to see her own child."

  "I can't even watch it any more," I said and stood from the couch. I pressed the red button on the remote control and threw it on the table as I stepped away from the couch.

  "Oh my god, she is so manipulative," Malia gasped.

  "I knew something like this was going to happen," I muttered. "I just didn't expect her to stoop so low as to make me look irresponsible and a terrible father. How dare she fucking do that!"

  Malia stood from the couch and approached me. "Hey, it's going to be okay. You can call your attorney and they can sort everything out, right?"

  "Right," I said and nodded at her. "I'm going to call him."

  "I'll give you some privacy," she said and kissed me on the cheek.

  "Thank you," I said and she glanced at me with a smile as she left the living area.

  I dialed Carter's number and he answered on the first ring.

  "Did you watch it?"

  "I did."

  "Dillon, this is a serious problem. She accused you of being an unfit father and an unprofessional businessman on national television!"

  "Nobody watches that stupid show."

  "It's the highest rate talkshow in the country."

  "What do we do?" I asked as I paced around the room.

  "I think it's best we talk about this in person. I have a few things I'll need to go over with you, and hopefully we can stop this whole shit storm before it even begins," Carter said.

  "I have a feeling we're too late for that," I sighed.

  "That's it, be pessimistic. That's exactly what we need, Carter scoffed.

  "I'm sorry, okay. I won't allow this to get me down. I know what I know and I have a lot of people who can back up my professionalism and my credibility."

  "Good. Make a list of those people. I need it."

  "I'll do that."

  "Is your girlfriend there?"

  "Yes," I answered with a frown.

  "Good. Tell her she'll be joining us.

  "Okay. See you in a bit," I said and disconnected the phone.

  I lowered my phone and walked out of the living area. I saw Malia in the kitchen making herself a cup of tea and as I stepped onto the porcelain tiles, she glanced at me over her shoulder.

  "What did he say?" she asked.

  "He's coming over so we can talk. He's got things we need to go over and things for me to sign," I answered and looked at her. "He wants to talk to you too."

  "Yes, of course. Whatever he needs."

  "I'm sorry that she had to involve you in this," I said.

  "Hey, I could've said no, right," she shrugged. "I'm with you all the way."

  "Thank you."

  "Do you want some tea?" she asked.

  "I don't drink tea, normally. What is it?" I asked and walked closer to her.

  "It's a calming tea with lavender and camomile. It promotes relaxation and peaceful sleep, which I am thinking would come in handy tonight."

  "I have a better idea," I said and walked to the liquor cabinet and took out a hundred year old scotch. "Can I pour you a glass?"

  "No, thank you," she said and ra
ised her cup to her lips. "I'm fine."

  I shrugged my shoulders and took a glass out of the cabinet. I pursed myself a drink and quickly drank it down. The taste was smooth and sweet and I poured myself another.

  "Are you sure another one is a good idea?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, and I was quickly reminded of how I felt the last time I went overboard with the scotch. "Right."

  The doorbell rang and I placed my glass down on the counter. I made my way over to the door and opened it. Carter, who was the same age as I was, stood in the doorway casually dressed, but carried his leather briefcase in his hand. At one stage I believe that he had had it permanently attached to his hand.

  "Hey," I greeted him. "Thanks for coming."

  "No problem. I know it's late and all that, but we really need to sort this mess out as quickly as possible," Carter said.

  "Come through, please."

  I walked with him to the living room and we sat down on the couches. Carter placed his briefcase down on the coffee table and opened it just as Malia walked in with her cup of tea.

  "Hello, I'm Malia," she said and held her hand out to Carter.

  "Carter," he said and shook her hand. "I'm Dillon's attorney."

  "Yeah, I figured, with the briefcase and all," Malia smiled, and sat down.

  Malia's humor was clearly lost on Carter as he simply glanced at her with a furrowed brow for a second before he turned his attention back to the briefcase and took out a whole bunch of files and paperwork.

  Malia and I exchanged glances and I sighed. This was going to be a long night.

  "Right, let's begin."

  Malia

  I couldn't help but feel incredibly guilty for what was going on in our lives at the moment, and I wondered countless times if it wasn't that I had provoked and attacked Jade the way I did, things would have been easier. Dillon was taking most of the strain, although he'd never admit it openly. He'd tell me that he was fine when he was clearly not, but I didn't want to call him out, because I knew he was just trying to be strong for Willow, and for me, and for him.

  I didn't want him to be strong for me. I could handle it, although I spent most of my night awake, listening to his slow breathing, trying to think of some way to fix things.

  When Dillon came home from work earlier, he was in such a state of shock and anger that I was convinced he was going to go to Jade's house and strangle her with his bare hands. He probably would have if I hadn't taken him into the bathroom and talked some sense into him.

  Apparently the news of Dillon and my relationship had reached some of Marsh Industries's biggest investors and clients had withdrawn their support for his company due to his apparent unethical and immoral behavior. This was causing his company to lose a lot of money and he was furious about it. Obviously he was trying his best to extinguished the fires Jade had carelessly started, but he only wearing himself down. He went to his office without having dinner, and I began to worry about him.

  Even Willow was worried about him, and it started to affect her very deeply, which I didn't like one bit.

  I stared up at the dark ceiling and sighed quietly. There was no possible way that I could go back to sleep, so I slid out of bed and went downstairs for a drink of water. The house was completely dark, apart from the blue light the pool cast from the deck. It did provide adequate lighting that I didn't need to switch any lights on in the house, which was nice. The tiles were cool against the soles of my feet as I made my way the refrigerator, but someone had already beaten me to it. Willow stood in front of the refrigerator and glanced at me.

  "Hey, Will. What are you doing up so late?" I asked as I tugged at the bottom of my side braid.

  "I was thirsty," she answered. "Also, I couldn't sleep."

  "Yeah, me neither," I sighed and took out a bottle of water. "Would you like to join me for a drink?"

  "That'd be nice," she answered and grabbed her own bottle.

  We walked to the table and sat down with our water, with a perfect view of the pool. I glanced at her and saw the word on her young face. I didn't want her to worry so much, but there wasn't much that I could do about it.

  "It is what it is," Dillon had told me after he had calmed down earlier, but I knew that even though it was true, he would still be livid. I couldn't even imagine what he'd do if he had to appear in court with Jade. That would just be chaotic. He might even get locked up.

  "I'm worried about Daddy," she said quietly.

  "I know, honey. I'm worried about him too," I said to her.

  "He's not sleeping well, he doesn't eat anymore," she said and glanced at me. "You're not sleeping either. Should I worry about you too?"

  "No, you don't need to worry about me. I am fine, and your dad is going to be fine. He just needs..." My voice trailed because I didn't really know what to say to her. I wasn't even sure what Dillon needed any more. He was grumpy, miserable and a nightmare to please. I knew I shouldn't take him to heart, that it wasn't anything I was responsible for, but it was hard not to.

  "He just needs a little time to process things. Your mother caused a lot of negative publicity for him and he's just trying to keep his head above water," I said to her.

  "I know," she sighed. "I just wish there was something we can do to make him feel better."

  "There is, Will," I said.

  She glanced me with expectantly brown eyes and raised her eyebrows. "What?"

  "We can let him know that we support him and will stand by him through all of this," I answered.

  "Shouldn't he know that already?"

  "I'm sure he does, but in difficult times, it's always nice to be remind of that."

  Willow pouted and was quiet for a while as she took a few sips of water. "I know just what to do. I'm going to draw him a picture and we can write him a note, to say that we're right beside him."

  I smiled at her. "That is a great idea, Will."

  "I'll get on it in the morning," she said with a yawn. "I'm a bit tired right now."

  "You should go back to bed, sweetie," I said to her.

  "I will. Thank you for the talk, Malia. You're the greatest," she said to me and hugged my briefly before leaving the kitchen and disappearing from sight.

  I sat in the kitchen for a little while longer, staring at the patterns the water made against the walls, making it feel as though I was under the water. There was a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach and I sighed miserably. I hadn't even had time to process everything that was going on. When we spoke to Carter, he was quite frank about what was going to happen. They would file a complaint against Jade for defamation of character and slander, especially since she did it so publicly, and a lawsuit would most likely follow. It sounded like a stressful and tedious process, but clearly it had to be done. Jade had already caused a lot of harm towards both Dillon's public image, as well as his company, and it was his fullest right to sue her for those damages.

  I was terrified and nervous at the prospect of possibly appearing in court, especially since I gave Jade a piece of my mind in the parking lot. When I told Carter about that, I noticed a brief look of disapproval from him, but there was nothing I could do about it now. I had made a mistake and had to deal with those consequences.

  I had watched enough courtroom dramas and television shows to know that lawyers and defense attorneys thrived on making a witness look incredible, and tear their testimonies to shreds. I was an easy target, especially since I was the one looking after Willow, and sleeping with Dillon. I was in trouble, for sure.

  Feeling my eyes burn, I stood from the table and went back to bed, walking slowly and carefully up the stairs. I quietly walked into Dillon's bedroom and closed the door almost all the way. I made my way over to the bed and as I climbed in under the covers, Dillon rolled over onto his side, glancing directly at me.

  "How long have you been awake?" I whispered.

  "Only for a little while. I woke up and you weren't here," he answered sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

  "I was
downstairs, having a water with Willow."

  Dillon sat upright and asked, "Is she okay?"

  "She's fine She's just a bit worried about you," I answered. "So am I."

  "I know I've been acting a little like a bear with a broken paw, but I-"

  "You don't have to explain, or apologize. We understand the stress that you're dealing with. I just wish that I can make it all go away," I said to him and took his hand."Do you know a good hitman?"

  "I am shocked," I gasped. "Surely someone as well connected as you should have your own hitman."

  "I fucking wish," he chuckled, and for the first time since we saw Jade turn his world, and mine, upside down on national television, he smiled. He glanced at me, his brown eyes warm and inviting and said, "I don't know what I would have done without you, Malia."

  "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this mess," I muttered.

  "What are you talking about? This isn't your fault. Whether you had given Jade a piece of your mind or not, this would have happened."

  "That's not what I mean," I sighed.

  "Well, what do you mean then?" he asked.

  "I've complicated your life by just being here. Maybe it'll just be better if I wasn't here," I said, being truthful for the first time about how I felt about it. I had kept it to myself because Dillon had enough to deal with. He didn't need a sullen sulky pregnant woman around that he had to reassure while he was dealing with all this shit.

  Yes. I was pregnant.

  I had done a test earlier that day, and it came back positive, which explained all the horrible symptoms I had been having. The crying, the overwhelming emotions coursing through me, being hungry all the goddamn time.

  I didn't have the guts to tell Dillon about it, because I didn't want him to lose focus of what was important. Willow. He needed to make sure that Jade didn't have the ammunition to take her from him. I couldn't complicate this situation by letting the public know that I was pregnant with his child. That would just make everything worse. I could see the headlines already. 'Billionaire gets nanny pregnant,' 'Marsh Industries bankrupt due to CEO's immoral behavior," and 'Billionaire nanny gets massive child allowance'.

  I shuddered at the thought and pursed my lips.