Billionaire's Secret: The Complete Series

by Simone Sowood

  We’re sitting on my private jet, having just taken off on our way back to New York. As soon as we were in the air, we take off our seat belts and moved to the sofa I just had installed at the rear of the plane. Before now, the jet’s only been used for business, although it does have a bedroom. Now that I see Darcy being a permanent part of my life, I’ve had it reconfigured for more personal journeys.

  We only had one night in Paris, before she had to hurry back to work for an important meeting. I should be hurrying back too, but work no longer holds me captive the way it used to. Not now that I have Darcy.

  “We’ll come back. Next weekend, if you want.”

  She laughs and the sound blankets me with happiness. Real, actual fucking happiness. Something foreign to me. Sure, money makes me happy, but that’s just a game. Darcy is real happiness.

  I’m still shocked at myself for telling Darcy that I love her. It was easy enough to do in French, when I knew she didn’t know what I was saying, but telling her the words in English was harder. I let the moment help force them out. Because I needed to tell her, but they’re three words I’ve never told anyone before.

  They’re also three words that leave me open to pain. Perhaps I should put a second bodyguard on her, to help Chase. Nothing can ever happen to her because of me.

  “I don’t know. I might be too busy,” she says, running her hand down my side.

  “Why would you possibly be too busy for Paris? And don’t say Timothy. You need to get out of that company and away from your father.”

  “Actually, I had a call from a headhunter yesterday.”

  “Great, that’s perfect. When’s the interview?”

  Darcy opens her mouth and hesitates. I don’t like it. She should be jumping at the chance to get away from Timothy’s bullshit.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t know if I should consider it.”

  “Why not?” I press.

  “Because it’s for Elite Exhibitions, our main competitor, and it would be a slap in the face to my father. No, forget that. It would be a punch in the face with a sledgehammer.”

  “It would be exactly what he deserves,” I say, my lips tight.

  She uses her hand that’s on my chest to push herself up and away from me.

  “How can you say that? He’s my father.”

  “He treats you like shit.”

  “He’s still my dad.”

  “I know, sweetheart, I know. But the way he treats you infuriates me. You have a chance to make it all end, and you should jump at it.”

  “I really do want to leave Knight Global Events, but I hadn’t considered going to a competitor. I figured I’d go to a completely different industry.”

  “Why? So you could use wanting to work in a new industry as an excuse for leaving? Instead of the real reason of wanting to be treated with basic respect?” My voice is sharp, and she visibly recoils.

  Darcy remains quiet, her neck and jaw tense. Will she shift her anger onto me? She needs to see the situation for what it is. Timothy’s a dick and treats her like shit, I don’t care if he is her father, no one is going to treat her that way while I’m around.

  “I don’t want him to hate me. I still want to have a relationship with him after I leave. What I’m hoping is our relationship will be better when we don’t work together.”

  “What was it like before you started working there?”

  “I don’t know. I started part time when I was a teenager. He’s going to freak. I’ve been there so long.”

  “You mean you’ve been under his control for so long.”

  She sighs. “I don’t know. I guess.”

  The conversation’s made me more determined than ever to get her away from the poisonous environment she works in. And a large part of me wants to punish Timothy for treating her the way he does.

  “Look, he might be upset when you first leave, but it won’t last. He’ll realize it’s his fault, and that his actions are what pushed you away.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because I’ll make sure of it.”

  Becky, my new sixty-year-old flight attendant, brings us dinner. I reassigned my last one, the young, perky blonde one whose name I don’t remember, because I have Darcy now.

  She’s holding two plates of coq au vin — cooked on the ground by the best personal chef in Paris and reheated by her, chicken baked in a light broth with mushrooms, and one of my must eats when I visit Paris.

  Darcy settles back into the sofa beside me, and I raise up the coffee table to a comfortable height for eating. I love the way all airplane furniture converts to what you need to do at the time.

  Becky places a plate in front of each of us, and hurries away to get us drinks. She returns with an expensive bottle of white wine in an ice bucket, and two white wine glasses.

  “Thanks, Becky. I’ll open it.”

  “Yes, sir. Just push the button when you want me again,” she says, and disappears into the back of the jet.

  We eat in silence at first. I want Darcy to chew over what she’s thinking. To come to her own conclusion about going to the competition. If she still hasn’t decided that by the end of dinner, I’ll convince her.

  As we eat, we discuss the interior design show, the global events market, and the biggest growing new sectors. Our conversation moves onto the broader economy, both domestically and globally.

  I could discuss this shit with her all day. Darcy’s more insightful than ninety percent of my CEOs, and I know she has a lot to contribute to my empire.

  Although the more time I spend with her, the less I want to work. And the less I want her to work too. I want to buy a private island in the Caribbean, and take her there and neither of us thinks about work again.

  Except I know neither of us could ever turn off completely. Our minds need to be active. Still, it’s nice to imagine Darcy naked and laid out on the beach.

  Our food is long finished. We’re working our way through a second bottle of wine. A pink plate with colorful pink, purple and green macaroons from Café Pouchkine is beside it, tempting us.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Darcy says, changing the subject.

  “About the job?”

  “Yeah, I think I should go for it. I mean, it’s my life, right? I can’t pass up an opportunity like this. Being CEO of a company three times the size of my father’s company would be such an accomplishment.”

  “Don’t forget a challenge. Think of all the changes you could implicate. You could run things the way you want and see the results of your ideas.”

  “That’s true, it would feel amazing to be able to act on my ideas instead of having to spend all my time trying to convince my father they’re good ones.”

  I put my arm around her, and kiss her silky hair. The tension in my back lessens, knowing I’ve succeeded in getting her out of that horrible environment, and that she’s going to a place she deserves.

  “You’re going to be so much happier,” I say.

  “Well, it’s just an interview. I don’t have the job yet.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get it. You’re clearly the best for the job.”

  She looks at me and smiles, her blue eyes shining, and my pulse races, confirming everything I told her on top of the Eiffel Tower.

  When I walked into the Fat Kok and saw Timothy Knight standing there, I never once anticipated things to turn out the way they have. I only thought I’d have an evening of sizing him up without him knowing, and maybe get some inside information on his company while I was at it.

  Doing It

  (Darcy)

  I stare at the email, again, to give me resolve. Since I officially accepted the offer from Elite Exhibitions two days ago, I’ve been staring at the offer letter a lot.

  CEO of Elite Exhibitions with a big fucking paycheck to match.

  It’s the type of role I’d never dared dream about, but have always hoped for. And I know I can do it and do it well.

  Since Paris, I’ve spent weeks of i
nterviewing with Elite Exhibitions. They may have approached me, but they certainly made me prove myself to them.

  And now I’ve had two sleepless nights filled with a mix of excitement and dread of what will happen with my father.

  How will he react? Am I about to destroy our relationship forever? Will I regret accepting the role?

  Until now, it’s all been academic.

  It’s time to get real.

  I switch off my screen and shove my phone into my purse. My resignation letter is on my desk, signed and neatly folded inside a windowless envelope. My heart pounds against my ribs as I pick it up.

  This is the moment of no return, my father is waiting for me in his office, expecting a strategy meeting and about to get kicked in the teeth. Betrayed by his daughter in a very public way.

  I feel like I’m going to puke.

  Standing in front of my desk with the letter in one hand, I pull my phone back out and read the last text from Liam.

  You can do this

  He’s been incredibly supportive of me the whole way through the interviews. During which my father has become less and less supportive at work. Over the past month, he’s become more and more eager to blame everything on me. He still hasn’t forgiven me for us not buying the chocolate exhibition.

  At least he’s in talks to purchase the interior design show in Paris. Except he’s lowballing them, proving once again he’s a dinosaur who doesn’t understand the current market.

  Okay, I can do this. I toss my phone on my desk and stride out of my office. My dad’s office door is open, and I walk in and shut the door with more confidence than I’m feeling on the inside.

  “You’re three minutes late for the meeting,” he says.

  “Just working up the courage,” I say, and slide the letter in front of him.

  “What’s this?” He asks, his eyes narrowing as he picks up the letter.

  I don’t say anything, instead I stay standing and watch his eyes move over the paper. They move up and down it, reading it over and over again. The air becomes heavy and stale, and I clear my throat just to make something happen.

  “You’re quitting?”

  “Yes,” I say, surprisingly confident.

  “To go to Elite Exhibitions, my biggest competitor?”

  “Yes.”

  He yanks his heavy framed reading glasses off his face and chucks them on his desk. I brace for the eruption.

  “How could you do this to me? Your own father? After everything I’ve ever done for you. I made you, Darcy. Made you. You’d be nothing without me, and now you’re stabbing me in the back like this? Me, your father.” His voice changes from yelling to introspection. “Whatever happened to my little girl? The one who used to sit on my lap while we watched movies and ate popcorn? How could you do this to me? And to Elite Exhibitions, of all places? I don’t know what I ever did to deserve this…”

  Unwilling to listen to anymore, I interrupt with my prepared speech. Forcing my voice to stay calm, I say, “Dad, I’ve been unappreciated and your whipping girl for too long. I’m not prepared to do it any longer. I’m going to a place that will appreciate my ability, and you should be happy for me. You should be proud of me.”

  “You didn’t even give me any warning. Why didn’t you ever say anything? I could’ve changed things for you. I’d do anything to make you happy,” he says, his voice seething.

  “I think it’s best I go now. I’ve already packed up my things.”

  I turn and head for the door.

  “I suppose you’re thinking you’re going to go there and give them all my secrets,” he says with a raised voice.

  I turn back to face him, my eyes wild with rage, “There’s no point, your secrets suck. I’m going to take Elite Exhibitions into the future, not try to relive the past.”

  My father lets out a great bellow, no words, just a loud noise of emotion, anger but also pain. I flee his office, grab my purse and phone from my office and hurry out the building.

  Without waiting for Chase, I jump in a cab and head straight for Liam’s palatial home. My heart is still pounding and my stomach churns.

  On autopilot, I move between the cab, through Liam’s building and up to his penthouse. He opens the door and I stare at him, my face as zombie-like as the rest of me.

  Liam opens his arms and I fall into his embrace. His touch is soothing and warm. Chase rushes through Liam’s door a moment later, nods at Liam, and disappears off into the apartment, presumably to the staff area.

  It was hardly shocking that my father didn’t take the news well, but I’d expected it to be all about business. Not that us cuddling and watching movies when I was a kid would be one of the first things he brought up. I’ve hurt him, bad.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Liam says after I tell him the whole story.

  “You should’ve heard the noise he made. It was like someone had just shot him. No, it was worse than that. It was pure anguish.”

  “It was because he wasn’t in control of you, for once.”

  “Probably,” I say, and sigh. Something my father said has been weighing heavily on me. Why didn’t I give him any indication that I was so unhappy? Why didn’t I have the guts to stand up to him?

  Would he have changed things if I had?

  Liam draws me close and holds me tight while my mind turns things over.

  “I think I made a mistake,” I say in a quiet voice.

  “What? No. No, you didn’t. Don’t even begin to go there.”

  “But I owed him more. I should’ve told him I wasn’t happy before just up and quitting on him.”

  “You’ve never told him you weren’t happy? Not in all those arguments the two of you had about business decisions?” He says, his voice full of sarcasm.

  “Fine, yes. But always when we were arguing, never in a calm, grown-up way.”

  “Stop trying to put the blame on yourself. You’re going to love your new job, I guarantee it.”

  I look up at him and manage a weak smile. Maybe he’s right. I’ve churned this decision over for weeks, I just need to follow through now. But I need to know I haven’t lost my dad as well as my boss.

  “I’m going to text him,” I say.

  Liam drops his hands to his sides and he says, “Do whatever you need to do.”

  I dig my phone out of my purse and type a message to my father.

  Sorry, Dad. I hope you’ve time to understand my decision

  I hit send then quickly type him another message.

  And that you’re proud of me for becoming CEO of a global company

  A second later, my phone rings. It’s him. Still feeling shaky, I can’t decide whether to answer it or not. Liam shoots a look at me and takes the phone from my hand. He hits reject call.

  The phone rings again, and again he hits reject call. This time, my father leaves a voicemail.

  I take my phone back from Liam to listen to the message.

  My father’s voice is frantic. “As if I thought you couldn’t do anything worse to me than you already have. How could you, Darcy? How could you turn on your flesh and blood like this? I never realized how cold and heartless you are.” My brow knits as I try to figure out what he’s talking about.

  Unable to stop myself, I hit callback.

  “You’re no longer anyone or anything to me,” he says as he answers.

  My eyes shoot wide open and I bend slightly, his words a punch in the gut.

  “Dad?”

  “Don’t you dad me,” he snaps.

  “What was your message about?”

  He bursts out in maniacal laughter, “As if you don’t know?”

  “I don’t. Tell me.” My voice is firm.

  “Elite Exhibitions just announced their purchase of the interior design show in Paris. And you were obviously behind it.”

  Busted

  (Liam)

  The phone is at Darcy’s ear, but Timothy’s yelling and I can hear him loud and clear. He found out about the takeover. I
told Victor to make sure it wasn’t released until next week.

  Timothy’s yelling stops, but Darcy remains silent. Her face is pale, her expression a mix of pain and confusion.

  I take the phone from her hand. She does nothing to resist.

  “When are you going to stop being so hard on her,” I say into the phone.

  “What? Is this Liam? Did you put her up to this? She was happy before she started dating you,” he screams into my ear.

  “Calm down. And look at who’s really to blame for once — you.” I don’t raise my voice, but speak with such authority that he shuts up. “You can phone her later to apologize,” I add and hang up.

  I hold the phone out to Darcy, but she doesn’t move. She’s frozen in thought.

  “You okay?” I ask, wrapping my arms around her.

  “I didn’t know Elite Exhibitions bought the interior design show,” she says, her voice flat.

  “Well, you haven’t started yet. It’s not the sort of thing they would mention in an interview, is it?”

  “But after I accepted the offer?”

  “I’m sure they’ve bought and sold lots of small conventions in the past month.”

  “I wish my father had listened to me, and put in a better bid.”

  “You should be glad he didn’t. The company you’re now in charge of got it instead.”

  “I suppose,” she says, but doesn’t sound like she believes her words.

  “Hey,” I say, squeezing her playfully, “think of the future. You’re the CEO of Elite Exhibitions. That’s an amazing achievement, and I’m incredibly proud of you. We’re going to have the most amazing future.”

  Darcy looks up at me, blinking back tears. “We are?”

  “Yes, we are,” I say, and kiss her cheek.

  “My father will never forgive me.”

  “He’ll come around. Once he’s had time to think over everything. He’ll realize how he pushed you away by treating you like shit.”

  “You keep saying that, but I’m not sure I believe it. My father isn’t the kind of man to let something like this go. And I can’t help but think I’ve made a terrible mistake. I should’ve tried harder to fix things at my family’s company before bailing on them.”