The Billionaire's Bargain

by Sam Crescent

  Tess worked on her story. Duncan had opened up to her, and she felt everything was going to fall into place. She phoned her father in the hope he’d finally answer her questions.

  “Hello,” he said on the third ring.

  “Hi, dad, it’s me.”

  “Hi, Tess. How are you?” he asked.

  They made small talk for several moments, her heart racing. Whenever she approached the subject of her mother he always cut her off and refused to talk about it.

  “I want to ask you about my mother,” she said, nibbling on her lip.

  “Tess!”

  “What do you have to lose? I’m going to be a mother. The least you can do is tell me about her. Please.”

  She heard him sigh over the line. “The truth is I don’t know much about her, Tess. I know her family were gone. She told me that. She was a woman I met while travelling. I fell in love with her. She got pregnant, and then she gave birth to you. After some fight with the courts and proving I was your father, they gave you to me rather than letting you become a ward of the state.”

  “Where is she? Didn’t she want me?” she asked.

  “Bessie wanted you. We were both going to make a life together. We got married in a cheap reception abroad, and when we moved back here we were going to have the big ceremony. She got pregnant while we were touring around Europe, and we decided to stay for as long as we could. Nine months soon passed, and we were travelling back home when her waters broke. You were born in the back of a car. I didn’t know what to do. I hadn’t witnessed any births or anything. I saved you, but your mother didn’t make it to the hospital.”

  Tess heard his tears over the line. “She’s dead?”

  “She died the night you were born. Bessie had no other family, which is why I got you so easily. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. Everything about her hurts to remember. That’s what I was spending the money on, Tess. I wanted to forget. I didn’t care how. When I was using that money and gambling it away, I got a short time of forgetting. There is no one to remember her. I’m the only one who did.”

  “You must hate me,” she said.

  “I never hated you, Tess. I’ve not been the best father to you. It hurt too much to look at you. I hope you find happiness, and I know you’ll make a wonderful mother.”

  “Where?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “Where is she buried?”

  She took down all the details then hung up the phone. Sadness consumed her but also peace. Her mother did want her. She felt better for knowing what her father had kept to himself for so long.

  The doorbell chimed. She closed her down her computer to go and answer the door. A beautiful slender woman with large breasts and a tiny waist stood on the other side. Tess saw the nastiness on the woman’s face.

  “You’re Tess. Duncan’s wife?”

  Tess nodded. “Who are you?”

  “What? Didn’t he mention the woman he’d been fucking prior to you? Can I come in?” Before she got chance to argue the woman brushed past her and walked into the sitting room. Tess followed her feeling like a stranger in her own home.

  “I don’t know who you are?”

  “I’m Yvonne. I helped Duncan design this house. Beautiful, isn’t it? You could say our relationship was much more physical than work.”

  “You’re the interior designer he slept with?”

  “So Duncan has mentioned me?”

  Tess knew she could handle this woman two ways. She could allow her to make demands that left her feeling small, or she could fight for Duncan. She knew him better than this woman.

  “No, he hasn’t mentioned you at all. I knew he wasn’t a saint when I married him. You’re proof he wasn’t. I take it you’re here to smear his name?” Tess asked.

  Yvonne looked surprised.

  “Maybe I should save you your voice. Duncan didn’t mention you. We’re expecting a baby together, and there is nothing you can say to change that,” Tess said.

  “You really think that?”

  “I know who Duncan is. You didn’t get the man. All you got was what he wanted you to have.” Tess stood up. She felt the fight rise inside her.

  “You mean nothing to Duncan. He’s a businessman, and all you are is the person he needed to put the pieces together.”

  “I have no idea what you mean. He loves me,” Tess said.

  “Does he? I’ve not heard him say those words ever since I’ve known him.”

  “Tess!”

  She jumped at the sound of the front door crashing open and Duncan’s scream of her name. He came into the sitting room glaring at Yvonne. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he asked.

  “I’ve come to meet the woman you chose over me.”

  He turned to Tess cupping her cheeks with both of his hands. “Are you all right?” he asked. Tess nodded.

  “I take it you haven’t told her of the need to marry in your father’s will?” Yvonne asked.

  “What?” Tess kept her gaze on Duncan, but the other woman’s words penetrated her mind.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you everything. Don’t listen to her.”

  “You’re pregnant, right? Stage two of the master plan.”

  “What?”

  “Duncan needed to marry to claim his father’s estate. For as long as I’ve known him he’s been trying to ruin Miranda. The evil stepmother who ruined his parents’ marriage. His father passed leaving him a fortune which he could only collect by, A, being married and B, having a child. He doesn’t love you, Tess. He’s used you to get what he wants.” Yvonne came closer, her spite following her.

  “Is this true?” Tess asked him.

  He’d not taken his hands off her. “I’ve got so much to tell you. I told you I wasn’t a saint. Please, Tess. Trust me.”

  Tess stared at him. Her heart pounded inside her chest. She gazed into his dark eyes and saw the pleading look he was sending to her. How many people had walked away from him? Her own mother was dead, and her father couldn’t be around her. The only person to care for her was this man in front of her.

  “I love you,” he said.

  “What?”

  “I’ve never spoken the words before in my life. I love you, Tess. Please, let me get rid of her, and I swear I’ll tell you everything.”

  “You love me?”

  “With all my heart.” He placed her palm over his heart. “Please, believe in me.”

  She stared at her hand lying on his chest. His heart was beating rapidly against his palm. “I love you, too.” Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him.

  He slammed his lips down on hers. “I promise you won’t regret this. I’ll be right back.”

  She watched him walk away grabbing Yvonne roughly by the arm then dragging her out. The man in his place looked menacing. She heard shouting then the door slam.

  He must have kicked the wall because she heard him curse. She sat down on the couch, her tummy turning. She pressed a hand to her stomach to try to ease the sickness. It was too much excitement. Tess ran out of the room then up the stairs. She knew she was going to be sick.

  “Tess, look out,” Duncan shouted. She didn’t see the pulled up carpet on her way. Her feet missed the next step.

  Her scream filled every part of the house like a deafening sound. Her hand on the banister lost its grip. She couldn’t keep herself up.

  Tess felt the each of the stairs as she fell down. The world went black as her world stopped moving.

  His screams were the only sound she heard.

  ****

  Duncan dialled for an ambulance. Gerald and Grace walked in the door. The smiles on the elderly couple’s faces went immediately when they saw his tears.

  “She’s fallen.”

  Grace rushed over placing her fingers to Tess’s neck. “There is a pulse.”

  “An ambulance is on its way. She’s not waking up, Grace.”

  “She’ll be fine, Duncan. Have faith.”

  “She’s p
regnant. I messed up, Grace.” Tears poured down his face. The pain inside him was driving him crazy.

  Ten minutes later the ambulance pulled up. Tess was beginning to come round. Moans poured from her mouth. They bundled her up in the ambulance. Duncan followed with Grace and Gerald travelling behind. He held her hand while the paramedics ran tests. When she got to the hospital, the doctor asked for details then followed his wife into the room.

  Duncan sat in the waiting room as they finished with his wife. Grace and Gerald sat with him.

  “Well, I never thought I’d come back to this excitement. You’re certainly keeping the passion in your life,” Grace said.

  “I’m an idiot. I married for revenge and fell in love. If anything happens to Tess I’ll never forgive myself,” he said.

  “There was no blood, Duncan. Don’t beat yourself up. We’ve all made mistakes.” Gerald tapped him on the shoulder.

  An hour later the doctor came out looking at a chart. “Are you Tess’s husband?”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s asking for you. There is nothing wrong with your wife other than a headache and slight damage to her pride.”

  “What about the baby?” Duncan asked feeling relieved about the health of his woman.

  “The baby is healthy. You were lucky. I’d advise making sure she’s more careful around steps. I’m keeping her in for observation, which is protocol. She’ll be home tomorrow.”

  Duncan shook the doctor’s hand then went back to see his wife. Gerald and Grace smothered her in kisses giving her a lot of love.

  He smiled seeing her face blush at the attention. When the others left for the day he took the seat beside her.

  “I’m so stupid,” she said.

  “No, you’re not. I’m surprised you can still blush after everything we’ve done together.” Duncan took her hand kissing her fingers. “Why were you running like that?”

  “I felt sick. All the emotion and everything—it was too much. I knew I was going to be sick, and I ran up the stairs so I wouldn’t have to clean up any mess.”

  Duncan chuckled. “I love you.”

  “You really mean that?” she asked.

  “How can you doubt it?”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Yvonne wasn’t lying when she said that about my father’s will,” he said. He knew the sooner he got this out of the way the better they’d be. “When he died I inherited his estate and business. My mission was vengeance against Miranda. I needed to get married and have a baby in order to rightfully claim what was mine.”

  “What changed?” she asked.

  “You. When I got to know you, it changed who I was. I didn’t want to think about the pain of anything. For as long as I can remember I’ve felt this bitter resentment towards Miranda. Yvonne wasn’t lying. I had an ulterior motive of being in control. When your father stole that money and I saw you, I knew I had to have you no matter what. You weren’t like the women I knew. I thought everyone had a price. Yours was your father’s freedom, but it wasn’t your own price. You wanted something else from me.” He took a moment to lick his lips. It had been years since he’d cried. Staring at her in the hospital bed made him feel out of control.

  “I wanted love from you,” she said.

  “You asked for far more of me than anyone else. I love you, Tess. With all of my heart and soul.” He kissed her fingers. “My original plan was to keep you as my wife and to force you to fall in love with me. I intended to keep Yvonne as my mistress to satisfy my needs. Everything changed with you. I wanted you.”

  She chuckled.

  “Why aren’t you angry with me?” he asked.

  “I love you, Duncan. Okay, I didn’t like you all that much when we first met. I can’t argue with love. You found a way in, and I can’t let you out. So you had a plan, which would leave me with nothing but happiness. Your plan succeeded.”

  “You’re a very forgiving woman,” he said.

  “I’ve had a lot of time to get over a lot of issues. I spoke to my father, and he finally confessed about my mother.”

  “Tell me,” he said. Duncan didn’t want to ruin the moment. Tess forgave him. They were going to be a family. They’d come through so much together, and he was more than happy to give her the world if she asked.

  “Her name was Bessie Kemp, and she had no one else in this world. She died giving birth to me. He wanted to lose himself. He loved her, Duncan. She wanted me as a daughter.” The tears poured from her eyes. He didn’t care what the nurses or doctors said. Duncan climbed up on the bed and placed her in his lap.

  He stroked her hair feeling her sobs down in his soul. Duncan soothed her as much as possible. He kissed her head and offered words of love and comfort. “There is no one in this world who couldn’t love you, Tess. I’m sure it would break your mother’s heart to hear you think otherwise.”

  “She wanted me, Duncan. I always thought she’d gone or something.”

  “Did he give you an address to where she’s buried?” he asked. If not, he’d make the bastard pay for causing these tears.

  “It’s at home. Please, can I go home? I don’t want to stay here.”

  “The doctor said you needed to stay for observation.”

  “I want to fall asleep in our bed with your arms wrapped around me. I need you tonight, Duncan. Take me home.”

  Duncan couldn’t deny her. He found a doctor and arranged for a nurse to stay at his home to monitor her for the night. Tess stayed in his arms for the rest of the day. The love they felt was growing between them with every passing second.

  Epilogue

  Duncan sat on the park bench. His son was on his knee as he gazed over to where his wife stared at the gravestone marking her mother’s resting place. It had taken Tess over a year to build up the courage to come to the cemetery. Duncan hadn’t pushed. He didn’t see the need to. His wife was strong. When his son, David, had been born Duncan had felt so afraid and yet so happy to finally have a family of his own.

  Tess tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She wore a thick winter coat over the large clothes she’d worn. David had been a large baby. She spent a great deal of time complaining about her weight while Duncan spent most of his time loving every inch of her body. She’d given him a son, and in return he’d given her more love than he thought was possible.

  He saw her lips move as she spoke to the stone. David moaned in hunger. Duncan pulled one of the milk bottles out of the bag. Tess had expressed the milk that morning. He liked playing his part in raising his son. Grace and Gerald helped where they could. They’d become their own little family. After a short time she walked over to him.

  “I want you to come with me,” she said.

  Duncan followed her, wrapping his arms around her shoulder as he calmed his son. She took him from his arms to feed him the bottle.

  “Mom, I’d like to introduce you to Duncan. He’s my husband, and this here is David. My son.”

  She turned to him with a sad smile on her lips. “I don’t know if she can hear me. I hope she does. I’d like her to know that I’m happy.”

  He pulled her in his arms. “She’ll know you’re happy. No one could doubt it.” He kissed her head looking out at the dark clouds overhead. “We’ll have to come back, Tess. It looks like a storm is brewing.”

  They walked back to the car. She sat in the back, and he drove home. Grace and Gerald took David for the rest of the day as he planned a romantic evening for the two of them. He wanted Tess all to himself.

  He left her to take a long relaxing bath while he finished up the stew Grace had made. The scents were wonderful. Tess came down the stairs wearing a beautiful red dress. Her tummy was still nicely rounded. He loved her curves and wouldn’t change a thing about her. She was his woman, and he loved her no matter what.

  The candles were lit. Her glass was filled with water as they served each other food.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “I’m happy. Sad about the la
ck of a mother but happy. I love you and David. We’ve got a family.”

  “There is something I wanted to give you.” Duncan cleared his throat then knelt down before her next to the table.

  “Duncan, what are you doing?”

  He took her hand. “We never got a real proposal. I forced you to marry me. This is my time to make amends. Tess Willams, I’ve known you for almost two years. I’ve fallen in love with you and the son you’ve given me. There is nothing in the world I wouldn’t give you. I will spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” He opened the box containing a new ring.

  “It’s beautiful, but we’re married already, Duncan.”

  “Then marry me again. Only this time have the wedding you want. I’ll pay anything. I want you to have a wedding you can look back and enjoy. Our day wasn’t like that,” he said.

  “Where were you on our wedding day? I didn’t organise the day, but to me it was perfect. You mean more to me than a day, Duncan. You’re my future. All the days until I die will have you in them. I don’t care about one day out of all the days I’m going to spend with you. I love you.”

  She cupped his cheek as she leaned down to kiss his lips.

  “I love you, too. When did I get so lucky?” he asked.

  She chuckled. “You decided to take a chance on me.”

  “You were the best chance I ever took.”

  She kissed his lips, her smile warming his whole body.

  “Now, make love to me and show me.”

  Duncan pulled her into his arms. He didn’t have the willpower to wait until they got upstairs.

  Tess was pressed into the wall as he tore at her clothing. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. The food was forgotten in the search for their passion. Duncan couldn’t believe what he’d gained by seeing this woman in his office all those months before.

  What had started out as mere lust had turned into so much more.

  He loved her with all of his heart and soul. Never a day went by where his heart and thoughts were not filled with her. Tess made him a better man. She allowed him to rant and rave, and at the end she held him to calm his spirits down.