by Madyson Grey
Of course, she had no one to blame but herself. She should have broken off her lukewarm relationship with Harry weeks ago. Why didn’t I? She silently asked herself as she gazed at him. It was beyond her how he could be so animated discussing the stock market. His gray eyes sparkled and his grin broadened as he delved deeper into the topic.
Victoria forced out a smile and nodded when he asked, “Don’t you agree?”
She had no idea what she just agreed to. How did he not even notice that she had lost interest in the conversation?
Poor Harry, Victoria thought. He was in his mid-thirties with a hairline that was already receding. He was reed thin and his personality was dull. Dinner with him at the moment was like watching paint dry. For all of his faults, he really was a nice man, which reminded Victoria why she hadn’t broken things off with him yet. She had also liked the idea of dating a quiet, dull man. Men like Harry were less likely to give a woman too much trouble or heartache.
If only she wasn’t such a coward. Any other young woman would go for someone they had a connection with, or that spark that everyone raved about. She felt none of that for Harry. There wasn’t even the slightest inkling of attraction. She had only accepted his date two months ago because he didn’t seem like a threat to her heart. And who could blame her?
Growing up in a home where her parents did nothing but argue—or rather, where all her mother did was argue—scared her off of a passionate relationship of any kind. What she wanted was a docile mate. Well, that’s what she convinced herself she wanted.
“Vicky?”
Harry’s concerned voice penetrated her thoughts. “Hmm?”
“Are you all right?”
Victoria straightened in her chair. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
Harry pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I was speaking to you but you seemed to be miles away.” There was a hint of hurt in his tone.
“Oh, Harry I’m sorry. I’m just tired. What were you saying?” It was a bit embarrassing to get caught not listening.
“I just asked how your day was.”
“It was busy, but great.” Victoria lifted her fork and made the effort to finish the salmon that remained on her plate. She was full but if she emptied her plate, maybe Harry would take it as a hint that she was ready to go.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Harry cleared his throat lightly. “You know, Vicky, I’ve been thinking.”
She stilled. This doesn’t sound good. It was either he was going to end things with her or he wanted sex.
“What about?” Wait for it, wait for it …
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His pale skin flushed a light shade of pink. “We’ve been seeing other for two months now. I wouldn’t mind if he we took things to another level, you know, a more intimate level.”
And there it is. What did she say to that? Harry was nice and all, but she couldn’t see herself sleeping with him. Yes, I definitely should have ended things weeks ago. But, all a girl wanted was a little companionship. Was that so much to ask? Victoria sighed.
“Harry, I’m not ready for that yet. I like you, really I do but I need more time.”
She knew she was being a coward for not telling him the truth: she simply wasn’t attracted to him sexually. The hope that she would develop such an attraction further down the line was there, so she tried to hang on as long as possible. Who was she kidding? It just wasn’t going to happen with Harry.
“Oh, I see.” Disappointment laced his tone, but being the gentleman that Harry was, he pushed forth a smile. “I understand, completely. Take all the time you need, Vicky.”
Victoria gave him an uneasy smile. “Thank you.”
She returned her attention to her wine glass. She needed another bottle of wine for herself to help her through the awkwardness that followed.
Victoria raced up the stairs. She decided to skip the elevator, figuring that running up the five flights of stairs would be faster. Plus, it would burn a few of the calories she’s just consumed at dinner. Ugh, dinner. She had never been so happy for a date to come to an end in her entire life. After Harry had brought up the topic of sex, the already tragic date had gone downhill. Thank God, she was home.
Coming to a sliding halt at her door, she pushed it open and rushed into her condo. Dropping her handbag on a couch, she aimed for her laptop. Her father would call any minute. They video chatted every night and she always ensured she made it home in time to receive his call. He would be in his office, seated at his desk. She could already picture the broad grin that would appear on his face as soon as she answered, although, he appeared to be stressed lately.
She knew he probably wouldn’t admit that anything was wrong, but she made a note to ask him anyway. Victoria kicked off her heels and sat at her desk. She booted up her computer and busied herself checking her e-mails, until her father called. Fifteen minutes passed, and he still hadn’t called. Victoria frowned. It was unlike David to be late for anything. He had always drilled into her the importance of being on time. “Time is money” was what he always said. Victoria supposed that applied very much to running a million-dollar company.
After waiting ten more minutes, she picked up her cell to call him. Maybe he got caught up in work and forgot that he was supposed to call. The phone rang without an answer, so she tried again. Still nothing.
“This is strange,” she murmured.
David kept his cell on his person at all times, always awaiting a call from her. When she left Los Angeles seven years ago, he had been worried about her being alone in another state. So, David never failed to answer his daughter’s call no matter what he was doing. He could be in the middle of a billion-dollar negotiation; he would still take her call.
Thus, she was quickly becoming concerned. Was her father all right? What if something had happened to him? It could also be that he had dozed off in his huge wingback chair. The possibility of that was slim, though. David was as nocturnal as they come. In her experience, she had never seen him fall asleep over his work. There’s a first time for everything. And he was seven years older.
Should she wait until morning to try calling him again? Victoria stared at the phone for a few seconds. Worry pricked her mind. She had the strong feeling that something was wrong. There was another way to find out what was going on with her father, something she was reluctant to do. She could call her mother, whom she hadn’t spoken to in seven years. Of course, it was all Marian’s doing. Victoria had made the attempt to reach out to her the first couple of years after she had left, but Marian ignored her. Eventually, she had given up on trying to talk to her mother. She had been disowned, end of story. If anyone knew how to hold a grudge, it was Marian Thornton.
Releasing a sigh, Victoria dialed the number she hadn’t used in years. “Well, here goes.” Either her mother would answer, or she wouldn’t. Seconds ticked by and to Victoria’s surprise, she heard her mother’s voice.
“Victoria. I’m glad you called.”
Victoria’s eyes widened. She pulled the phone from her ear to stare at it in shock. Marian was glad she called? “M-Marian- Mother?” Something was definitely wrong. “How are you?”
Instead of answering, Marian sharply stated, “You need to come home, Victoria.”
Victoria sat taller. “Is something wrong? It’s Daddy, isn’t it? Is he ill?”
“No. I was going to call you, but everything is still so chaotic here. I don’t know how to tell you this.”
Victoria’s heart lurched in her chest. A feeling of dread suddenly washed over her. Swallowing hard, she said, “Just tell me.”
“Your father is dead, dear. He … he killed himself.”
Victoria’s breath left her body in a whoosh. There was no way she was hearing correctly. There was a pregnant pause as she took time to process news. A sob, wrenched from depth of her soul escaped her lips.
“Mother, why? How could he just kill himself? I … I don’t understand any of this.”
Marian sighed. “
Just come home, Victoria. I do not wish to talk about this over the phone.”
Her words were spoken in exasperation as if she had no time to listen to her daughter’s tears. “How soon can you get here? There is so much planning to do regarding the funeral …”
Marian’s voice was drowned out by the pounding in Victoria’s head. Was it her own heartbeat she was hearing? She had no idea. Nothing made sense at the moment. How could Marian sound so nonchalant about the whole thing? Her husband just died, for goodness sake. There wasn’t a trace of sorrow in her tone. She was cool and businesslike as if she were discussing the weather. Victoria felt ill. She was very close to losing her dinner.
“Victoria? Victoria? Have you heard a word I said, young lady?”
“I, uh-” Victoria blinked rapidly, stream of tears running down her cheeks. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Yes, I heard you. I can make it to Los Angeles by Thursday.” That would give her two days to put her affairs in order.
“Good, I will see you then.”
“Mother, are you all right?” Victoria’s question was hesitant.
“Of course, I am, dear. See you on Thursday.”
Marian ended the call, leaving Victoria stunned. It was as if David’s death hadn’t affected his wife at all. Victoria on the other hand was devastated. She couldn’t help thinking, hoping that she was caught up in some horrible dream. Her mind began to race. What had been going on with her Father? She had sensed something was wrong some time back, and she failed to ask him what the problem was. Her sobs of hurt and dismay came harder. If she had asked and he shared what was going on, maybe he would still be alive.
Grief stricken, Victoria didn’t bother to get up from her desk. She remained seated and wept for the father she loved so dearly.
Chapter Three
Rafael Rivera’s eyes slowly opened. A groan nearly escaped his lips as he shifted in his bed. The sunlight filtered through the cracks of the heavy drapes, the slivers of light threatening to damage his retinas. He blinked rapidly, covering his eyes with a hand. A headache was already blossoming, starting from behind the eyes. It was what he deserved for overindulging in alcohol the night before. He shuffled and then paused, feeling the warmth of another behind him. Ah, yes Lauren. The reason why he was so hung over and still tired despite a reasonable amount of sleep.
It had been a wild night in the company of the seductive brunette. Rafael had been seeing Lauren for a little over a month now, but there was nothing more to it. They were simply dating and sleeping together. Well, that’s he saw things. He suspected Lauren was beginning to get attached. Not good. Rafael was well aware that Lauren, like every other woman he cavorted around with, was more interested in his money than in him.
That was the price he paid for being wealthy beyond reason. Finding a genuine friend or companion was near impossible. And that was the reason for his reluctance to get too involved with any woman. His and Lauren’s relationship was purely sexual. He wanted to keep it that way, which why he had to make his escape now. Thankfully, they were in a hotel room, so he could just leave. Never bringing a woman into his private domain was rule he’d stuck to most of his adult life. In all of his thirty-one years, he couldn’t remember ever bringing a woman home.
When he was younger, he was much too ashamed to bring a girl home. He, his mother, and older brother had lived in a dump, in the worst part of Los Angeles. As an adult and a billionaire, he never carried a woman home because he found them to all be conniving gold-diggers. Perhaps there were a few genuine women out there, but he had yet to encounter one.
Swinging his feet of the bed, Rafael attempted to get up with as little disruption to his bedmate as possible. To his dismay, she stirred and stretched.
“Rafe, where you are you going already?” Lauren’s voice dripped with drowsiness.
Rats.
“It’s almost nine, Lauren.” He rarely slept so late, but the past night’s activities were rather strenuous.
She blinked and sat up, revealing ample breasts. Putting on a provocative expression, she purred, “Isn’t there anything I can do to persuade you to get back into bed? We could have a bit more fun and then order room service.”
Rafael forced out a smile. “As tempting as that sounds, I have work to do. Feel free to order breakfast for yourself though.”
“Darling, you’re always working.” Lauren huffed and pouted prettily.
With a mirthless smile, Rafael shrugged. “How else would I be able to fund your frequent shopping sprees?” He walked off and disappeared into the opulent bathroom. Yes, he would most definitely have to get rid of the lovely Lauren soon. She was becoming too demanding; probably feeling that a month in his bed would soon lead to a marriage proposal.
Marriage. Rafael shuddered at the thought. Marriage was something he had sworn off a long time ago. Sure, his parents had a happy marriage. So he had been told. His Father died when he was five years old. Rafael barely remembered him. His mother spoke highly of her husband, always telling her son how happy and in love they had been, despite not having much. Rafael snorted. As if love meant much when you were hungry or cold. His lips twisted as he stepped into the shower. His mother often lectured him about his cynicism.
“How did you get to be so cynical? You certainly didn’t learn it from me,” Manuela Rivera often said.
But growing up the way he did, how could Rafael not be? Learning that his father had passed away from a broken heart because he couldn’t feed his family was depressing to hear. What was even more disheartening was the fact that he had gone to so many people for help and had been rejected. Hearing all of that, of course he had developed a cynical nature.
A short while later, Rafael stepped out of the bathroom. To his misfortune, Lauren was still there. He had hoped she would sulk about not receiving his undivided attention and leave. He knew many women like that. Deprive them of attention and they stomped off like children who hadn’t gotten their own way.
“I’m here if you change your mind about going to work,” Lauren drawled.
Her brown eyes darkened slightly as they ran over Rafael’s bare chest and lower to where he had a towel haphazardly slung over his hips. She flipped her chestnut hair and rose from the bed, letting the sheets fall from her waist. Now, way more than her breasts were on display. Rafael’s brows kicked up in interest and he did what any red-blooded male would do. He took a moment to appreciate the female form. And what a form Lauren had. It was what had attracted his attention weeks ago. Well, that and the fact that she had practically thrown herself at him.
Lauren’s arms circled his neck and she grazed his lips with her. “So, what do you say, lover?”
Rafael grasped her wrists and pried her arms away from him. “Not this morning, Lauren.”
His cell phone buzzed on the nightstand. Thank God, at least he could walk away without bruising her ego.
“I have to get that.”
He might be a rake at times but hurting a woman physically or emotionally was not his thing. Lauren sighed in resignation and scampered off, disappearing behind the bathroom door.
Grabbing his phone, Rafael frowned. It was his brother. Mateo calling him before twelve was surprising. He was never awake so early. Maybe his brother was finally making a genuine effort to change his lifestyle.
“Good morning, Mateo. You’re up before afternoon. I’m impressed.”
Mateo chuckled. “Good morning to you too, little brother.”
It never failed to amuse Rafael when his brother referred to him as little. He was anything but, being about two heads taller than his brother and more muscular. Where Mateo was on the softer side, Rafael was all hard muscles and power.
“I’m not used to hearing from you during morning hours, so please pardon my manners. I’m in shock. How may I help you, Mateo?”
It had to be something his brother wanted. He always wanted something, money, a new car. What annoyed Rafael was that he never asked for a job, so he could support himself, inst
ead of living off the allowance his younger brother allotted him.
Being dependent in such a way would have been humiliating to Rafael, but not Mateo. No, Mateo reveled in the carefree lifestyle. He partied and drank to his heart’s content with no responsibilities.
“I have news that might please you,” Mateo drawled.
“Is that so? Please, do share.” Rafael walked to the closet to retrieve his suit.
“Do you remember David Thornton of Thornton Enterprise?”
Rafael paused. “Of course.”
How could he forget the man whose company he had just acquired for little more than nothing?
“If you are calling to gossip, Mateo, save your breath. I’m getting ready for work.” Unlike some others.
There was chuckling on the other end of the line. “No need to make digs at me, Rafe. Look, this is gossip that may please you.”
“Fine, get on with it.”
“David Thornton is dead. He committed suicide last night.”
Rafael’s jaw clenched. “Why would you think someone dying in such a tragic manner would please me?”
The news came as a shock. He had just had a meeting with the man mere days ago.
“Come on. I’m not torn about it. Don’t tell me that you are. After what he did to our father?”
Rafael was silent for a moment. Growing up, he had thought David Thornton was a horrible, heartless man. Rafael had made it his life’s mission to destroy the man. But, he had made peace with David Thornton. No one knew, not his mother nor his brother.
He was devastated over the man’s death, but he wouldn’t let on to Mateo. He hadn’t realized that the loss of his company weighed so heavily on him. Rafael had pangs of guilt, realizing that some of his earlier actions had led to some financial loss when he was first learning the business. But the company had recovered, thanks to David Thornton’s business savvy. So why suicide? Was there something else going on in his life that Rafael wasn’t aware of? Such a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Just like his own father.
