The Billionaire's Fake Marriage: A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Sarah J. Brooks

  But did Brent?

  When we arrived, cops were already there. My stomach turned as I rushed forward, ducking under the yellow tape someone was still setting up.

  “Hey! Hey!” Someone called after me. A man. “Get him out of here!”

  “Ally!’

  I saw her hair first, her body tied to a stretcher. I felt tears well up in the corner of my eye. No, no, no. I reached out and took her hand.

  She opened her eyes, and a soft smile touched her lips. “Hi,” she rasped.

  “What happened to you?” I whispered.

  “I’m sorry, sir,” a man said. “We need to get her to the hospital.”

  I nodded, forcing myself away from her. Of course, they had to go to the hospital. She was covered in cuts. I could already see the bruises forming on her face.

  “Come,” she rasped.

  The man looked at me. “You can come with us if you’d like.”

  “Yes.” I forced my voice to sound normal, even though I felt anything but. I followed them to the ambulance and caught sight of Rebecca. She gave me a nod and headed for her cruiser. She didn’t look happy, but I could see the relief in her eyes—Ally was alive. And right now, that was all that mattered.

  I had to get out of there, I knew that. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to move.

  The bitch was crazy. She’d come crashing through the house like she was in some fucking movie. I rushed out of there as fast as I could, got into my car and sped off, hoping no one had been able to see me. In the dark, all they would see was a car, most likely. When I turned onto the main street, I joined the traffic normally.

  My heart raced as I saw the EMTs heading towards the house. I took a deep breath. No one can connect me to this, I told myself. But that wasn’t true. Two girls could. And I knew what I had to do—if they talked, everything would be ruined.

  If they talked, I’d be lost. There would have been no point in any of this. I would lose the company, and that I couldn't bring myself to do.

  That’s what this was all about when it came down to it. I wouldn’t allow myself to lose my baby.

  I woke in a bed. Softness overwhelmed me.

  I forced my eyes open as much as I just wanted to lay there in the dark, pretending none of this was happening.

  “Ally,” Garth whispered, reaching out and taking my hand. “Ally, are you okay?”

  “W-what happened?” I managed.

  “You almost got yourself killed, that’s what.” Rebecca did not sound happy.

  “D-” Garth started, then stopped.

  “Rebecca,” I muttered, turning to see her. She had her uniform on which meant she was here on business.

  I forced myself to sit up straighter.

  “What do you need from me?” I asked. Then I remembered everything. “Wait, where’s Brent?”

  “Brent?” Both Garth and Rebecca sounded confused.

  “Brent was there?” I could hear the worry in his voice.

  I took a deep breath, wishing I wasn’t going to have to do this.

  “Um, yea. It was Alyssa, and Brent, who did this …” I took a deep breath, trying to tell them everything I could. But as I spoke, I realized just how little I knew. “Anyways, I guess … maybe talk to Alyssa … she might know more … All I know is what she told me—and that I did see him. I did.”

  I turned to see the look in Garth’s eyes. He looked away from me, sighing deeply.

  “I’ll go talk to her,” Rebecca said. “As far as I’ve been able to tell, she hasn’t been checked out of the hospital yet.”

  She padded to the door and stepped out as I took Garth’s hand,

  “Oh, and Ally,” she paused, turning to look at me. “You should be careful. If you’re right and someone else is involved, they may want to … try and tie up loose ends.”

  Without another word, she left the room.

  I stared after her, my eyes wide, feeling a tear break from the corner of my eye. I couldn't believe this.

  I took a deep breath and forced myself to sit up straighter.

  “So, you think Brent did all this?” His voice was soft.

  I opened my mouth to tell him I knew Brent had done all this, but I closed it and nodded. Sure, we’d say that’s what I think happened. If that’s really what was going to make him feel better.

  I forced myself up, my body no longer aching. They must have me on some good pills, I thought, ambling over to the window and staring out at the sun.

  “How long …” My brow furrowed as I tried to make sense of everything.

  I had gone to work with Garth and then left with Alyssa—she wanted to take me to dinner, which I thought was odd. But I didn’t want to be rude, so I went.

  And then … she took me to that house.

  Goosebumps prickled over my skin. I resisted the urge to shiver as I thought about being down in that basement. I had done everything I could to get away from her, and it had worked. I’d convinced her to let me go. It would have been fine if he hadn’t showed up there when he did. We would have had time to get away from him.

  “It’s been fifteen hours.”

  I nodded, trying to process everything, and took a deep breath. What the hell did I get myself into? I wondered.

  I turned back to the bed and stared at it. I was sitting here in a hospital. Looking down at my body, I saw it covered in bruises and small cuts. Should I even be standing? I wondered.

  For fear that I was going to do some kind of damage to myself just by standing, I headed back to the bed and tucked myself in.

  Garth still hadn’t said a word to me. I swallowed dryly, watching him. He refused to meet my gaze.

  “Why would Brent do this?” he finally said, still not bringing himself to look at me. I could tell he didn’t believe what I was saying.

  “I don’t know. Never had a chance to ask him.” I knew the last part was uncalled for but come on, if he wasn’t going to believe me, I was going to get a little snappy.

  “It doesn’t make sense. And Alyssa, why would she do it?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe she was that desperate to get to you. Maybe he told her that if she did it, she’d have you, or maybe she’s power hungry, and he told her if they got rid of me, she could move up in the company?”

  I wasn’t really sure why he expected me to know all this shit. I took a deep breath, trying to ignore just how annoyed I was.

  “I just don’t get it,” he muttered.

  “I wish I could explain it.” Trust me, I wish I knew what was going on here. “But I can’t. It’s just that simple. I was kidnapped by them. They didn’t tell me all their plans, Garth. I know it’s a shocker, but they didn’t tell me much of anything.”

  Okay, I knew I was out of line there and knew I shouldn't be so rough on him. Guilt tugged at the pit of my stomach. I took a deep breath and reached out, taking his hand.

  “I know this has got to be … rough.” And I knew rough didn’t sum it up. “But we can’t get through this together if you constantly question what I’m telling you.”

  “He’s my best friend, Ally. Of course I’m going to question someone if they tell me that he’s behind all of this.” He paused. “I mean, the dead bodies, kidnapping you, threatening the company. Just because I fuck you doesn’t mean I trust you.”

  My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. Shattering.

  I knew he made a point, but that didn’t make the blow any softer.

  I felt like I’d had the wind knocked out of me. Like I was going to puke, and like I couldn't even swallow all at the same time. I inhaled deeply, anger boiling up inside me. I tried to push it down—to be the bigger one here. Even though I was the one in an accident, I thought. Even though I was the one who was kidnapped.

  The more I said it, the less it seemed real. I was hoping if I kept thinking about it then it would eventually sink in, but that wasn’t happening. That wasn’t making anything seem any more real for me.

  I pulled my hand away from
him. “I understand,” I said.

  It was all I could say that would sound remotely nice. I pushed myself off the bed and reached for my dirty clothes. I hadn’t realized how dirty the basement was and hadn’t been paying any attention at all, but now I realized they were torn and ratty. I’d have to throw them out.

  I winced, pain coming back to me, as I pulled the hospital gown off me and struggled back into the clothes I’d been wearing. I felt dirty, and like I needed a long shower.

  “What are you doing?” he said.

  “I’m getting dressed so I can go home.”

  “Alone?”

  Probably. But I didn’t say anything.

  “She told you not to.”

  I shrugged. I was going home. If he didn’t want to come with me, that was his issue. Yea, like I’m going to be able to be alone right now.

  It didn’t matter if it was a lie or not. Garth stood behind me, I heard him clear his throat.

  “No, you should stay with me.”

  “It’s fine,” I said, praying he would fight me. I knew it was stupid, but after the way he’d just treated me, I wanted him to fight for me—to prove that I was worth it. I knew now was the worst time ever to start with that crap, but I couldn't help it; it came out before I realized it.

  “I will not let you leave this room until you say you will come with me.”

  I swallowed dryly, and my heart skipped a beat as I turned to look at him. I bit my lip, staring at the man in front of me.

  “Okay,” I caved.

  I didn’t want to fight and didn’t want to be alone. I just didn’t like that he was acting like he didn’t believe me. Just because I fuck you doesn’t mean I trust you. His words played in my head over and over again.

  For a second today, my heart felt like it was broken. I forced a smile over my lips and headed for the door, and Garth fell into step with me. He didn’t touch me and didn’t even stand close to me as I made my way out of the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I made sure I was allowed to leave, and then Garth drove me back to his place.

  The entire time, we didn’t speak to each other. I bit my lip trying to figure out what I was supposed to say, but the truth is it was hard enough for me to stay awake the entire time, let alone have a conversation. I didn’t care. I just stared out the window until we came to the condo, then I made my way to Garth’s place. Hardly paying attention to anything as I walked.

  I felt like a zombie. Like I was just going through the motions but wasn’t fully there. The clothing rubbed against my skin, reminding me of what it had been like in that basement. Reminding me of having to run out of there and getting in that car.

  I stopped as Garth unlocked his door, and I stepped in. The first thing I did was pull my shirt over my head, wincing at the pain coming back. The doctors had given me two pills that I was supposed to take eight hours from now to keep the pain tolerable.

  I let the shirt fall to the floor and moved onto my bottoms.

  I was out of them in a split second and left them lying there on the floor.

  “I’ll put these in the wash,” he said softly.

  “No,” I said. “Throw them out.”

  I never wanted to see them again and never wanted to have to look at them. A shiver ran down my spine as I headed for the bathroom door. I didn’t bother closing it behind me before turning the taps on and putting the plug in the tub. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand, so it was a tub for me. I turned to the mirror.

  Why did I do that?

  I knew the second I did, I shouldn’t have. I was dirty and covered in black, blue, and red. I forced myself to look away, my gut twisting as I stepped into the tub, the warm water becoming dirty the second I stepped into it.

  “Do you need anything?” he asked behind me.

  “No.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  My stomach grumbled. I had been about to lie but guessed there was no point in that.

  “Grilled cheese?” he offered.

  “Alright.” I stared down at the murky water. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do now. Wash up. But that’s not what I meant. I meant that I didn’t know how I was going to keep going.

  What was I going to do?

  Go back to work tomorrow and pretend I was fine? A shiver ran down my spine, the warm water working its way into my muscles.

  I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself all was fine as I reached for the bar of soap.

  I spent an hour in the tub until the water was cold, dirty, and I had done everything but scrub my skin away.

  I drained the water and stepped out of the tub. My skin felt clean, but I still felt dirty as I wrapped myself in a towel and left the bathroom. I took a deep breath of the grilled cheese that sat there waiting for me. Garth sat at the table, staring blankly at the wood.

  “What?” I snapped. I hadn't meant to, but it came out before I could really think about how to word it. My cheeks flushed.

  “I was thinking,” he said softly. He didn’t sound mad but looked up at me, his eyes red.

  “About what?”

  “About you. If you’d … I …” He paused. “I came to that house so that I could trade myself for you if need be.”

  My brow furrowed. “You were there?”

  “You don’t remember me?”

  “No.”

  “I saw you on the stretcher.”

  I shook my head, still unable to remember him. I could see the hurt in his eyes, but there was nothing I could do about it. I didn’t remember and wasn't going to lie.

  I padded over to the table and sat down across from him, taking the grilled cheese. My stomach grumbled again, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to actually eat. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to take a bite and closed my eyes.

  Savoring every bite of it, I took a deep breath, opening my eyes to see Garth staring at me.

  “Thank you,” I said. “For dinner, I mean.”

  Garth stared at me for a couple of seconds. “You know, if you want to go to therapy, the company will cover it.”

  I inhaled sharply.. “I know.” I could hardly decide if I was going to put clothes on or not and wasn’t in a state to decide if I was going to go to therapy. Although, I did know I should. I knew it would be the smart thing to do, at least. I bit my lip, finishing the last of the grilled cheese and standing up. “I’m going to go put clothes on,” I said.

  I padded into the bedroom and closed the door behind me, letting the towel drop. The doorbell rang.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  I wanted to ask who it was, but I couldn’t, and my heart raced.

  “Brent,” I heard Garth say. “How’s it going, man?”

  “Not well, mind if I come in.”

  My heart galloped. No. He had to say no.

  “Sure, do you want a beer?”

  How could he have not said no?

  “I know you’re in there. I need to talk.”

  His words played in my head over and over again.

  I knew I shouldn't have said yes, but what was I going to do? I couldn’t tell him to fuck off. I shouldn't have answered the door.

  “No.”

  “What’s up man?” I asked, reaching for the cell phone on my table. If Ally was right and he had been the one to do this, I needed to call the cops. But do I believe her over my best friend?

  I had no clue what I was supposed to do.

  I didn’t know if I was supposed to go out there, or maybe I should hide? If I hid, I might be able to slip away and not be seen. I looked around the room for something to help me out of this situation.

  My phone was in my purse, which was in the kitchen. Fuck, I thought and bit my lip.

  “Is she here?”

  My heart skipped a beat, and I closed my eyes. Say no. Please say no.

  “Yea, she’s in the bedroom getting changed.”

  I groaned.

  “Go get her. And give me that.”

  “My ph
one?”

  “Give it to me, Garth.”

  My heart raced. I looked around the room trying to figure out what I could do. I swallowed dryly, staring at the window. It was my only hope.

  I rushed towards it, grabbing a book off the bed and a pen that Garth kept by the bedside table for when ideas struck him late at night.

  I scribbled in the book as the door opened and spun to see Garth standing there, his face pale. Maybe he was finally beginning to believe me. I wanted to say something snarky but couldn’t think of anything. So I just stood there with my mouth open

  “Do you have a cell phone?” he mouthed.

  I shook my head as he closed the door behind him and held up the book I was writing in, showing him my cry for help. He raised an eyebrow at me.

  “What?” I mouthed.

  “You wanna jump out the window?”

  Garth raised his hands in submission, and I gave him a soft smile. I cleared my throat. “Just let me get dressed, and I’ll be right there,” I said loudly enough for him to most likely hear me. I paced over to the window and opened it carefully. “Oh, by the way babe,” I said over the sound of the window opening. “Do you have any plans for the weekend? My mom wanted us to come over for dinner.” I got the window open just enough to slip the book out.

  “I’ll have to check my schedule,” he said, realizing what I was doing. “But you know my parents want to get together this weekend too. They are really excited to meet you.”

  My cheeks flushed. I knew he was making it up, but the idea of his parents wanting to meet me made me happier than I'd like to admit. I closed the window carefully as he spoke.

  “I told my mom we could probably do Sunday lunch.”

  “I think that should be fine.” He nodded as I stepped away from the window. God, I hope someone picks that up soon, I thought, reaching for a pair of sweatpants on the bed.

  “I love you,” he mouthed, turning on his heel.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  I had to deal with this before it got out of hand. I needed to deal with them. Stupid girl. She had messed everything up. She’d ruined everything.