Billionaire's Secret: The Complete Series

by Simone Sowood

  “You know, you’re right.” He hesitated. “But I’m scared you’ll hate me for it.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s nothing that matters, nothing that impacts our relationship. I want to forget about it and go on loving you.” His voice had lost all confidence and wavered with his words.

  My mind raced with possibilities. Was he running his company illegally? Was he divorced with kids? What could it be? And no matter what else he told me, how would I know whether to believe him?

  Chapter 24

  We sat on the private jet, in silence, though I was not convinced his silence was because of the same reason as my silence. My silence was from anger at being lied to. Or if not lied to, kept a secret from. His seemed to be because he was so preoccupied with staring at his computer screen.

  I was still racking my brain for any clue of what he might be hiding. And if it was to do with whatever Calvin was blackmailing him over.

  “Here, look at these spreadsheets and tell me what you think.”

  His words snapped me out of my thoughts. He turned his computer to me. Surprised, I pulled the computer onto my lap and studied the spreadsheets.

  “The in-house consultant set up accounts in various tax havens around the world, the Caymans, Panama, the Isle of Man. Then he set up an automatic transfer of funds every month, but buried it so it wouldn’t be caught. After I fired him, he lost control over the monthly transfers. Somehow, Calvin — I don’t know if they knew each other before or not — got hired and made sure the transfers stayed buried.”

  “But this is only showing a couple of million a month. Why did you say they wanted several hundred million?”

  “Because that’s what they’re asking for.”

  “But why? Why are they asking for that much? What could they possibly justify that with?”

  “They say they’ll expose it.”

  “Yeah, and? They’d just be hurting themselves. Even if you don’t want to go to the police, and just turn a blind eye to it, they’re not going to expose it because it’ll cut off their free money.”

  Jay looked at me and smiled. The first relaxed smile I’d seen out of him all day. It warmed my heart. He let me in, asked my advice. We were working through this as a team.

  I pushed the computer aside and leaned across the aisle to kiss him. He swiveled his chair to face me, and pulled me onto him. I straddled his lap, cupped his cheeks and pressed my lips against his.

  His lips were gentle as they pulled me into his mouth. Pulled me back to him. My body tingled with the closeness. Not only of his touch, but of the way he’d opened up to me.

  Jay cradled my head, holding it against his as we kissed. Our kiss changed, from the is-everything-okay kiss to the frantic, hungry make-up kiss. I moved my hands over his shoulders, down under his suit jacket. Squeezing his muscles any chance I could.

  I moved my hips, grinding my pussy against the bulge in his suit pants. He hooked his arms around my legs and stood, carrying me down the aisle and through the door. We moved down the little passageway and through another door, where he deposited me on the jet’s bed.

  Jay laughed as he took off his suit jacket and shirt. I pulled my shirt over my head and undid my pants.

  “Leave something for me to take off,” Jay said as I started to undo my bra.

  “Then hurry up.”

  He crashed onto the bed, bouncing me. I’d undone my bra, but he pulled it off my shoulders and breasts, dropping it on the bed beside my head. My tits were still covered in his bite marks, his branding, from last night.

  His tongue prodded my nipples until they were standing hard at his treatment.

  “God, you smell good.”

  “Like honey?”

  He licked from the bottom of my ribcage between my breasts and to my neck.

  “Definitely honey. And sexiness.”

  I moaned, my pussy clenching at the wantonness in his voice. He moved down and pulled off my pants and panties.

  “Jay!” I cried out as he latched his mouth around my clit. I hadn’t been braced for it since he normally took so long to get there.

  He sucked harder, dabbing his tongue against my clit. I dug my back into the bed, trying to support myself against the intensity of the feeling between my legs.

  A high pitched moaned flew from my mouth as Jay plunged his fingers into my wet pussy. He bent them against my front wall, causing bigger and louder moans to well up in my throat and rip through the plane.

  “Please,” I gasped, my body writhing. Jay didn’t break his rhythm and I screeched as an orgasm smacked me, leaving me breathless as I relaxed into the bed, the waves of pleasure washing over me.

  He slid over my torso and kissed me, his tongue tasting of me. He pushed his cock into my pussy, still spasming in orgasm.

  “I love you, beautiful.”

  “I love you.”

  The plane rattled as we went through some turbulence, the vibrations rippling through Jay’s cock in my pussy. He pushed into me, slow and deliberate and I savored every inch.

  My pussy zinged with excitement again and I had to break our kiss. It left me unable to do anything but concentrate on it.

  His thrusts got faster, firmer. He grunted, the sound setting something off within me and another orgasm crashed through me. He grunted again and climaxed into me.

  We cuddled on the bed, his arm tight around me like he was afraid I’d get up and run away.

  “It’s my reputation that matters most, more than money. That’s what I care about. What people think of me.”

  “I love you.” I squeezed his hand. He could have told me anything right then and I wouldn’t have loved him any less.

  Chapter 25

  You will not believe what I did this weekend!!!

  I sent the text to Jenny, Sam and Marla and burst out laughing.

  Tell me!!!!!!!!!!

  Jenny was always so impatient.

  No way, I’ll tell you at lunch. Meet me at noon.

  I’d no sooner hit the send button when I got one back from Marla.

  No, bet I won’t! When are you going to tell me???

  At lunch, am meeting Jenny at noon, I’ll tell you then, be there!!!

  “Abbie? Are you okay?” my co-worker Dave said, peering over the low wall dividing our cubicles.

  “Yes, sorry, just a joke with my girlfriends.”

  Moving a meeting for you, this’d better be good

  Don’t worry Jenny, I won’t disappoint

  I still hadn’t heard anything from Sam. She had been busy at work since she’d been promoted into my, and Calvin’s, old role.

  Sam, you’d better be there! My treat

  I turned my attention to sorting out the messed-up reporting at this company. Now that I was married to the owner, I had an added incentive to make the place ship-shape.

  Geez, you’re impatient, what’d you do, fly off to Vegas and get married or something?

  I burst out laughing. In my fit of laughter I dropped my phone in the trash can and it sent a tinny bang across the open plan office.

  “Sorry,” I called out, to who I wasn’t sure. I retrieved the phone and typed back.

  Yes Sam, I went to Vegas and got married, in a see-through wedding dress

  Enough with the sarcasm :P

  Too funny. I couldn’t wait to see her face when I tell her that was the truth.

  Just don’t be late

  My phone chimed again.

  OMG ARE YOU PREGNANT?!?!?!?!

  I rolled my eyes and ignored her text.

  * * *

  The cafe was busy for a Monday, but I’d arrived early and saved us a table for four. I hoped it wasn’t going to be too loud to have a good conversation. Though I suspected that once Sam got a look at my ring, we would be the loud table.

  Jenny and Marla walked in together and I spun my ring on my finger, so they wouldn’t see the size of the rock before I told them.

  “You’re glowing. What’s up?” Jenny asked
, sitting at the table.

  “I can’t tell you until Sam is here.”

  We chatted a few minutes, me being careful to keep my hands beneath the table. Even with the rock spun around, I didn’t want them to notice I had any rings on my left hand.

  “You know what? I’m just going to go ahead and order for Sam. It’s her own fault for being late. I want to know what this mind-blowing news is,” Marla said.

  “Just make sure you get a regular Coke and not Diet,” I said.

  “Sorry I’m late. Blame the last person who had my job. She left a huge mess for me to fix.”

  I stuck my tongue out at Sam, my hands still fixed in my lap.

  “Okay, get it over with. Tell us you’re pregnant,” Sam said.

  “Oh my God!” Jenny and Marla said, their voices a unified squeal.

  “No! I am not pregnant.”

  “Then why didn’t you deny my text?”

  “Because it seemed more fun to let you think that. Especially when I’d already told you the truth. And you didn’t believe me!” My voice ended in a high-pitched crescendo.

  “Shut the front door. Are you serious? No, is this for real?” Sam locked onto my eyes, and I held my gaze.

  “Why? What’s going on?” Jenny said.

  “Yes. Tell us!”

  “Jay and I got engaged this weekend.” I had to pause while they screamed. Once I had their attention again I said, “And married. In Vegas.”

  Every head in the cafe turned and stared at the commotion Jenny, Sam and Marla were causing. I spun my ring around and held my hand out for them to inspect. They screamed again, probably thinking the same thing I had when I first saw it – diamonds that big existed?

  “Sorry, she just eloped,” Sam stood and announced to the cafe. We’d already had all their attention.

  A red-headed woman in head-to-toe pink started clapping, and soon the rest of the people joined her. My cheeks burned and my eyes locked firmly on my feet. I hope to hell Sam wouldn’t say anything about the size of the ring.

  Food arrived at our table, and the four of us calmed down. Sam gulped back half her drink. I was sure her throat was sore after all that yelling.

  “What was your dress like?” Marla asked.

  Sam’s fork crash and rattled out of her hand, off her plate and onto the floor.

  “Hold on.”

  I nodded. My entire body turned red at telling a person I knew, face to face.

  “Stop keeping secrets from us,” Marla said.

  Sam pulled up my text message and shoved her phone in front of their faces.

  “See-through?” Marla said, a puzzled look on her face.

  “Yep,” I said, trying to sound like it was totally normal to get married in a see-through gown.

  “Does this mean you’ve finally put Matt behind you?” Jenny asked. Aside from her squealing, her silence during the conversation wasn’t lost on me.

  “Screw him, I never want to see his face or hear his name again, for the rest of my stinking life!”

  “So that’s a yes?” Sam said, and the four of us laughed.

  “Jenny, I love him so much it’s almost hard to comprehend.” I needed her approval. I didn’t want her to think I’d been stupid and rushed in it. Or be mad for not being at the ceremony.

  “Anyway, about this see-through dress, show us a picture,” Marla said.

  “I’m not sure I want to see Abbie nude,” Sam said.

  “It’s not like that,” I protested. “You couldn’t see anything.”

  “Whatever, just show us it,” Sam said.

  “I’ll show you all it on Saturday at my house, for a celebration dinner.”

  “You don’t have a selfie?” Jenny asked.

  “I didn’t have a pocket to keep my phone in,” I said, and stuck my tongue out at her.

  “Can I bring Collin Saturday?” Jenny asked.

  “Collin as in Collin?” I asked. Was she still back with her college boyfriend? Guilt hit the pit of my stomach, I had been so wrapped up in myself that I was completely out of touch with what was going on in my best friend’s life.

  “Maybe.” Jenny wasn’t giving anything up.

  “Well, if you’re bringing Collin then I’m bringing someone,” Sam said.

  “No way! What’s he like?” I asked.

  “You’ll find out Saturday.”

  “Well if you two are bringing yours, who am I supposed to bring? I’m not going to be the only solo act,” Marla said.

  “I’m sure you can find someone, Miss Lady with all the contacts,” Jenny said.

  Chapter 26

  “Richard? Wow, Sam never told us who she was bringing. Great to see you.” He took my extended hand and shook it. The last time I’d seen him, he’d been my boss, moments before Calvin released the email to the entire company.

  “We’re just friends.” Sam pointed at each and every one of us to punctuate her point.

  “Hello, Mr. McAllister,” Richard said when Jay entered the room.

  “Oh, please, Richard. He’s James in this house.”

  “I am?”

  “Yes, you are. Richard is here as Sam’s guest.”

  “Hi!” Jenny and Marla said in unison as they walked into the house.

  “You found us.”

  “How could we not? It’s too big to miss.” Jenny blushed as she realized she’d said that in front of Jay.

  Jay kissed the cheeks of Sam, Jenny and Marla. Jenny and Marla’s dates stood behind them.

  “Collin,” I said, rushing up to him. “How are you? It’s been so long, I can’t believe you’re back in town!” It’d been years since I’d last seen him and I gave him a big hug.

  “This is Marla’s date, Trent.” Jay shook their hands and I smiled at them.

  “I don’t know what I want first, to see the wedding photos or have a tour of your house.” Sam grabbed my hand and pulled me deeper into the cavernous entrance hall.

  * * *

  “Well, it’s a bit bigger than your condo.”

  “Whatever, Jenny. This is the craziest thing of all, we’re standing on the floor of the indoor swimming pool!” We’d left the men behind and I’d taken them through the ground-floor rooms and down to the basement. Or I should say lower level. We’d had to breeze through the rooms in order to get back to the guys in a reasonable amount of time.

  “Shut up,” Sam’s over-excitement caused her head to waggle and her curls to bounce. I raised my eyebrows, remembering how shocked I had been when I’d found out.

  “Come this way, I want to show you his horse trophy room. It’s incredible, the smell of leather is intoxicating. And there are pictures of Jay as a little boy, with his mom holding him on a horse. It’s so cute.” I loved the pictures of Jay as a child, of him being all cute and innocent but still with the same hint of charisma in his eyes. I really wanted to show them one.

  They followed along behind me and we stopped in front of the door of the horse room. I took hold of the door latch and tried to open it, but the door was locked. I rattled it, twisting and pushing again but it didn’t budge.

  “I guess Jay locked it. Another time.” Why did Jay lock it? I didn’t remember there being anything valuable inside. Maybe it was sentimental value.

  “You are showing me your sex palace.”

  “Sam!” Marla smacked her.

  “No, it’s fine. You want to see my bedroom? Come on, and I’ll show you all the clothes he bought me!”

  I led them to the elevator and pushed the button.

  “Are you kidding me? An elevator? My goodness, lady, this is insane.”

  We entered Jay’s bedroom, our bedroom.

  “Here, there are some pictures of Jay of a kid in this room.” I moved to the side table with all the framed snapshots. I scanned them for the ones of him as a child, but even though the frames were the same, the childhood pictures of him had been replaced with photos from our wedding.

  “Holy cow, you weren’t kidding about the see-through
dress,” Sam said.

  “It’s beautiful though, Abbie. You look stunning,” Jenny said.

  “And tasteful. I would never have guessed a sheer dress could be so sophisticated,” Marla said.

  “Well, it is Vera Wang.”

  “We’d better get back, Trent will kill me for abandoning him for so long,” Marla said.

  “How did you meet?” I asked.

  “Oh, it’s nothing serious. He’s a partner at my recruitment agency.”

  * * *

  Rosie set elaborate plates of food in front of each of us. Food I couldn’t identify but smelled delicious. Some kind of meat in some kind of sauce displayed in the prettiest fashion.

  The eight of us chatted easily, and I was glad to see my closest friends hitting it off so well with Jay. He charmed them with his charismatic ways, the men as well as the women, and my heart overflowed with love for him.

  At a lull in the conversation, Trent said, “Jay, you must certainly be glad you had Abbie headhunted into Force McAllister.”

  “What?” I set my fork on my plate.

  “Yes, Jay had us approach…”

  Jay cleared tapped his fork on his glass until he had everyone’s attention. Everyone’s but mine. What did Trent mean, Jay had me approached? Jay stood and gave a little speech but I only tuned into it at the end.

  “To Abbie,” he said raising his glass.

  “To Abbie,” everyone said in unison and raised their glasses in response. All eyes were on me and I blushed. I hadn’t heard what Jay said, but what were the chances he’d acknowledged Trent’s comment?

  * * *

  I waved at the cars and closed the front door after the last one had pulled away from the house.