Billionaire's Secret: The Complete Series

by Simone Sowood

  “Yeah, Abbie, but he’s a gentleman, so he wouldn’t make a move on you until I was done with you.”

  “You mean until I was done with you.”

  Jay interrupted us. “Neither. I got rid of you, Matt, out of my company, and made sure Abbie had enough money to kick you out. I got tired of seeing you treat her the way you did.”

  My hand flew to my head to steady the sudden dizziness. The hallway spun. My entire world spun. Rage bubbled up from deep inside me.

  “Do you two think I’m some toy to fight over? Who are you two? You’re brothers, aren’t you?” My scream bounced around the cavernous hall.

  “Ding-ding. And she’d not as stupid as we think,” Matt said.

  “We’re half-brothers.” Jay took a step away from Matt to me.

  “You see, Abbie, James would never report his little brother to the police.”

  No, this couldn’t be happening. For the second time that week, I fled Jay’s entrance hall.

  I flew down the front steps, but in my rush I stumbled on the step and fell down the last two steps. I lay on the ground, trying to regain my breath.

  Before I could move, Jay’s arms were on me, helping me up. I tried to wrench my body away from his grasp but he held tight.

  “Let me go!”

  “No. I understand if you need to time to digest this but let me drive you. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “No way am I getting in a car with you! You’re a liar, just like Matt!”

  “Let me get the driver. He can take you. Please. You can’t walk anywhere from here.”

  Jay was right. There was no way I could walk anywhere from here. I’d have to walk miles just for the hope of finding a taxi.

  I marched to the garage, Jay a few steps behind me.

  “You wouldn’t have gone out with me in the first place if you’d known. You wouldn’t have given me a chance,” he said with hopelessness in his voice.

  “You told me before that you were the same person, I just didn’t know your name. But that’s not true. I didn’t know who you were. You lied about who you were! You’re the same as your brother!”

  As I entered the doorway, he stopped following me.

  “Remember your promise. Don’t forget how much I love you.”

  I shut the door behind me and found the driver, Tony.

  Chapter 30

  “What am I going to do? I can’t live on your couch.” I dabbed my eyes with a Kleenex. Jenny pulled another one from the box and passed it to me.

  “Of course you can. I will help you any way I can. You know I would do anything for you.”

  “I don’t know how long until I can get back into my condo. I have to get the subletters out first. I don’t know how long that will be.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Stop worrying about that.”

  I broke down in sobs again, unable to form words. Jenny put her arm around me and pulled me close.

  “I am so stupid. Why am I so stupid?”

  “You’re not stupid, sweetie.”

  “Yes, I am. Twice I’ve fallen for men who are liars. Why? Why did I let Matt take all my money?”

  “He scammed you, you didn’t let him.”

  “But I was too stupid to see the scam.”

  “You just have faith in people is all. You’re such a loving, kind person, you assume people are the way you are.”

  I rolled my head away from her. She meant the words to make me feel better but they only highlighted how stupid I was. I deserved this. All of it.

  Jenny spent the day bringing me cups of tea. Sam had phoned several times to check on me. Marla too. By evening, Jenny had made me a makeshift bed on her couch. At midnight, she hugged me good night.

  I lay on the sofa, still trying to process everything. Jenny insisted I should call the police and report Matt and Calvin, and I would, but right now my mind was on bigger issues. Like my marriage to Jay.

  Matt lied to me to take my money. Jay lied to me so I wouldn’t know he was Matt’s brother. Was there a difference? And did it matter?

  How could I ever forgive Jay for his lies? But he was right, if I’d known he was Matt’s brother, I never would have spoken a word to him.

  I picked up my phone. Jenny had turned it off when I’d arrived. I couldn’t resist any longer. I waited for my phone screen to finish starting up, my heart beating faster with each second. Finally my home screen appeared and my phone text sound chimed again and again.

  Thirty-eight texts messages. One from Sam. One from Marla. One from work. Thirty-five from Jay.

  I’m sorry. J. love you. J.

  I would do anything for you. J.

  Take your time. Think things through. I don’t want to pressure you. Remember how much I love you. And how you wouldn’t have ever talked to me if you’d known. J.

  You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. J

  There were many more from him, but I didn’t read them. Couldn’t see them through my tears. I switched off my screen and closed my eyes.

  I’d become accustomed to falling asleep with his arm around me. No matter how much I pressed into the back of the sofa, trying to pretend it was his body, or a body, sleep would not come.

  I was proud of myself for resisting the urge to reply to his texts. Especially the ones of old movies quotes. The one he got wrong in particular. The line “Play it again, Sam” was never in Casablanca.

  By four I was still awake. I’d given up on the idea of going into work in the morning. I would have been enough of a wreck if I’d actually had sleep, without any I’d just be a total mess. I’d have to call in sick.

  For the millionth time I shuffled my body, trying to find a position I could fall asleep in. My phone chimed. Jay must not be able to sleep either.

  I’ve reported Matt and Calvin to the police. I love you. I would do anything for you. Anything. J

  A lump formed in my throat and I started crying again. Why did I read it? After a moment I texted back. I couldn’t resist any longer.

  Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn

  I switched my phone off before I heard any reply. I knew there would be one, and I knew I would be unable to resist reading it. The more I interacted with him, the less I’d be able to resist him.

  To make sure I wouldn’t read any more of his texts, I took out my SIM and folded it in half, snapping it. Cutting him off from me for good.

  * * *

  A week later, a package arrived at Jenny’s door. Jenny was at work. I still hadn’t found the ability to go back to my job. The humiliation may have been private this time, but it wouldn’t stop me from thinking everybody there would be snickering at me.

  I opened the door and was greeted with a huge bouquet of sunflowers and a wrapped box with a large envelope for me.

  “Thanks.” I shut the door on the FedEx man and set the sunflowers on the kitchen counter. The box was weighty. I abandoned the flowers and took the box to my bed on the couch.

  I detached the card and set it aside. It was the same heavy wrapping paper all his other gifts had ever come in, except this time it was a bright, cheerful blue. I had no interest in saving the paper and ripped it off to reveal another jewelry box.

  The lid hinged open, taking two of the layers partially with it. Three tiered levels of jewels glistened at me. Each level contained a necklace, a pair of earrings and matching bracelet. Rubies. Emeralds. Sapphires. I stared at them, running my fingertips over the precious stones until I came to my senses and slammed down the lid.

  My breathing had quickened, and when I shifted my eyes to the envelope, it increased again. Inside was a card, with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck sitting on a scooter in front of the Colosseum in Rome. It was the movie poster for Roman Holiday. I took a deep breath and opened it.

  Beautiful,

  I hope you can forgive me, and remember how much I love you. We haven’t had a honeymoon yet. You deserve the most amazing one ever and I’ve
planned a really special one. Come to Midway Airport Friday at eight tonight and I’ll whisk you away to Rome.

  Can’t wait to have you in my arms.

  - Jay

  I must’ve read it a dozen times. Each time elicited a different emotion within me. Happiness. Excitement. Anger. Betrayal. Except did Jay betray me? The final time I read it, I was overcome with sadness. Sadness because we could have had a perfect life. We were perfect for each other. But he lied.

  * * *

  Friday evening arrived. Jenny and Sam huddled either side of me on Jenny’s sofa. They knew I couldn’t go on the honeymoon. I’d convinced them and myself that the marriage was over. Our marriage was founded on a lie and marriages founded on deceit could not survive.

  They also knew that the other half of me would push them away and bolt for the door to get back in his arms.

  “Sweetie, here’s something to drink.” Jenny set a glass of white wine on the coffee table in front of me.

  “Thanks. I could use that. And more. Do you have any tequila?”

  “The night is young. We’ll get to it, don’t worry.”

  “To Abbie.” Sam held up her glass. “May James McAllister be crying his little heart out all alone on his jet right now.”

  “I’ll drink to that.”

  Jenny and Sam clinked glasses and looked at me. My lips pursed, I picked up my glass and they touched their drinks to it.

  I didn’t want Jay crying. I didn’t want him to be hurt. It was simply an impossibility that we remain together. No matter what our feelings were.

  Chapter 31

  On Monday morning I was still hungover from a weekend of distracting myself with booze and friends. Jay had left countless texts and voicemails and I managed respond only the once with the last words that Rhett ever said to Scarlett.

  No matter how much my head throbbed, I had to go to work. I’d missed an entire week, and I wasn’t sure they could not fire me if I missed any more.

  Jay owned the company, but there was no way I’d be able to find another job now. I would try, obviously, but the reality was two short-term jobs in a row on a resume would not fly.

  Jenny had left before me. After chucking back some Advil, I opened the door to go to work.

  As man was standing on the other side and I jumped.

  “Abigail McAllister?” He wore an official-looking uniform.

  “Yes.”

  “Divorce papers, sign here please.” I took the pen, my hand shaking as I signed the acknowledgement of receipt.

  Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

  Summons for Mrs. Abigail McAllister

  I opened the envelope. My eyes flew over the document. This was real. I was married. Now I was getting divorced. Did I need to get a lawyer? Surely not when we’d been married such a short time.

  Chapter 32

  A week later I went to the address on the summons. A receptionist showed me into an empty room. A long table took up most of the space. I took a seat at one end of it.

  The door opened and Jay walked in wearing jeans and carrying a backpack. My breath stopped at the sight of him. His sunken eyes caught mine, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my heart. He looked rough. Like he hadn’t slept any more than I had.

  “Abbie, beautiful.”

  I drank in his voice, it had been so long since I’d heard him say my name. My heart always skipped when he said it. But I had to stay strong.

  He shut the door behind him. The two of us were alone in the room.

  “Jay.” I cleared my voice to say it again, at an audible level. “Jay.”

  He sat in the chair closest to me, each of us on either side of a corner.

  “There’s no way you’ll ever forgive me?”

  I closed my eyes and nodded.

  “Hear me out.”

  I kept my eyes closed, not wanting him to talk but wanting to hear his words. Stop it. I have to stay firm. I shook my head no, to discourage him.

  “You promised me you would never forget how much I love you.”

  “Jay… James, I’m not sure you can love me when you lied to me the way you did.”

  “Matt is gone from my life. Gone from your life. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead to me and has been for years. It’s not my fault he’s my half-brother.”

  I hadn’t come prepared for an argument to get back together. I’d come to end the marriage so I could move on with my life and never so much as talk to a man again.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Beautiful, you love me. I know you do.”

  I blinked back tears, determined not to cry but helpless to stop at the truthfulness of his words. I cleared my throat.

  “That was before I knew what a liar you were. Are.” Through my now-unstoppable tears, Jay looked sadder than I’d ever seen him look before. He reached out and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

  “I didn’t know how to get you to go out with me if you’d known Matt was my half-brother.” The tone of his voice changed, became resigned. “Matt and I are nothing alike. The only reason I moved my company to Chicago from Lexington was to try to help Matt sort out his life.”

  He rested his hands on mine. As much as I wanted to pull them away, I couldn’t. His touch grounded me. Electrified me. Calmed me. Set me on fire. I would hold firm. But I didn’t need to make it any more difficult on myself than it had to be.

  “And then he told me about you. Showed me photos. Videos. I couldn’t help but want you. I threatened him to stop treating you the way he was, but he didn’t stop. Then I found out he’d been taking your money. That’s when I fired him and had you headhunted.”

  My heart melted at his words. At the sadness in his eyes. Everything he’d said was so heartfelt.

  I pulled my hands out from under his and buried my face in them. I couldn’t. I had to stop myself.

  “Did you lie about your mother making you watch old romance movies too? Had Matt told you I liked them? Was that just something you’d made up to trick me into a relationship?”

  “Absolutely not. I never lied about anything that mattered. Anything that was real between us. You have to understand that.”

  There was no doubt in my mind he was being totally honest. I was sure his lies were finished. I wanted to fall into his arms. To bury myself against his chest. But I couldn’t. I promised myself I wouldn’t be a sucker anymore.

  “Beautiful, I don’t want to let you go.”

  I couldn’t look at him, I would crumble.

  Chapter 33

  “You want our marriage to end? That’s what you want?”

  Was that what I want? My brain said yes. I nodded.

  “In that case, I’ve had my lawyers prepare the document. We’ll have to go through the six-month waiting period, but it’s all very straightforward.” He opened the folder. “Sign and date where the blue plastic arrows are and initial beside the yellow ones.”

  He laid the folder out in front of me and held out a pen for me to take. My leg jiggled under the table. But I had to go through with this. I had to. I didn’t want to be the world’s biggest sucker. An object of ridicule. I’d go home and watch movies. That was all I needed.

  I flicked the folder up and rested it on the edge of the table as I read it. I had no idea what to expect. I’d never seen divorce papers before.

  “This is my final offer.”

  The start was practical issues, our names, addresses. I got down to the details.

  “What?” I said, confused.

  Jay remained quiet and I read the words over and over.

  ARTICLE III

  3.2 Personal Property: Abigail McAllister is to be the sole beneficiary of the estate, including but not limited to clothing, fixtures, cars, watercraft, aircraft, deposit accounts, bonds, shares, corporations and those items in each party’s possession shall be deemed their sole property.

  3.3 James McAllister will sign a quit claim deed to Abigail McAllister for one hundred percent of his existing interest
in his residence and Force McAllister within 30 days of judgement being entered.

  “What’s this supposed to mean?” My voice was a mix of wonder and doubt.

  “There’s only one thing in life I want. And if I can’t have her, then I at least want her to have the best life possible. Don’t worry, I’ll stay on as chairman and CEO so there’s no disruption to the business. You won’t have to worry. I can even train you to take over from me. You’re more than capable. You have one of the best business brains I know.”

  Too bad I didn’t have the same brains when it comes to relationships.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “You deserve it after what Matt and I did. It’s my final offer of settlement. You can take me to court if you want, but think how a judge would react to your demand for less than I’m offering.”

  Through his sorrow, I got a small glimpse of his normal self-confidence, the confidence I first fell in love with. Was still in love with. He was right. There was no way in hell I ever would have gone on a date with him if I’d known who he was.

  “You can’t do this.”

  Jay pursed his lips and nodded, his eyes not reaching mine.

  How could I sign this? I wasn’t about to take away everything he’d worked so hard for. I couldn’t hurt him that much.

  “Why not?”

  “Because. You’d be giving up everything you’ve worked so hard for.”

  “I wouldn’t be giving it up. I’d be giving control of it to you. There’s a big difference. I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do with it all. Alone, it means nothing to me and would only highlight your absence. I couldn’t bear it. If you weren’t in my life, at least if you owned the company I’d have motivation to keep running it.”

  I closed my eyes.

  Jay looked broken. Even his voice had lost its power. How could I hurt him? I loved him too much. My head a mess, I leaned back in my chair, my arms flopping to my sides.