by Sierra Rose
“That’s disgusting. I’ll have those comments removed from the site by morning. Give me ten minutes,” he whipped out his phone. Marj put her hand over his.
“Stop, this is all so stupid. I know. I got caught up in it, too. I believed it—that you’d never want a woman like me. So if I’m wrong and you do want me, you have to drop the legal drama. No more suing people who say rude things about me.”
“You’re wrong. So wrong. Look, I’ll include you in dinner meetings from now on, so amorous lawyers don’t get a shot at slipping me a room key. Which I didn’t take, I’ll have you know. I want you with me, wherever I am.”
“I’m usually at home. Waiting.”
“That has to stop. We’re going to have to set up a standing date like you said. So we get to spend time together and build our connection.”
“Did you just say ‘build our connection’?”
“I may have watched most of a talk show on the plane. There was a lot about communication and making time and being open with each other.”
“I’m not a fan of the touchy, feely talk show thing but if it made sense to you, and I get a standing date out of it, I’m on board.”
“I want a standing date, and I want us to have time together every day and every weekend, too. There are things I can delegate and people I can reassign or hire to make it possible. A lot of executives play golf. Instead of carving out time for golf, I’ll carve out time for you.”
“So you’re going to play with me instead of little balls?”
“Yes. And that was horrible. I can’t believe you said it. Just for that, you have to decide what we’re doing tonight.”
She blew out a long breath. “What you’re proposing is lovely. And part of me wants to say yes badly. But I know it’s not really what you want. And I don’t want to change you. Listen, I’m catching a flight to Heber City, Utah. I have a two hour delay in New York. I’ll call you then.”
He looked at her stumped. “Utah? What? What’s there?”
“Fantastic views and clean air. And my cousin, Mandy. I’m going to go there to clear my head.”
“For how long?”
“A week. She’s gonna take me through the backcountry roads that’ll take us to all these amazing forested canyons, mountain tops and lakes that surround the city. And there’s these rugged mountain peaks and spring-fed streams that dominate the landscape in Heber Valley. And she’s also taking me to a festival that has theatrical performances, art shows, and all these Native American celebrations.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because I want to see my cousin. She invited me. And I need some time to think. And I don’t want to fight. You see, the problem with us is that I fell in love with you when I knew I shouldn’t have. But when you looked at me with that damn sexy smile and those gorgeous eyes, I was smitten. I fell in love. It just happened. Way too fast. But the heart wants what the heart wants. We should’ve kept this arrangement strictly professional. And now, I’m treating you like a nagging wife. I keep asking, ‘Where are you? Why aren’t you spending time with me?’ And I hate doing that. You never signed up for that, Cates. I’m letting you go because I love you. And I want you to be happy. Because damn it, you deserve it. And you deserve getting the company you so cherish. Nobody runs that company the way you do. And nobody has the passion you do. And I see that now. You’re the perfect man for the job.”
“Marj…”
“Please let me finish. You enjoy working all the time. And I shouldn’t make you stop. It’s who you are. This is your life. You even warned me.” She tried to control her wavering voice. “You enjoyed all the freedom that comes with being single. And then in the blink of an eye, you’ve suddenly acquired a ball and chain that demands you spend time with her. I see how wrong that was of me. So I want us to remain friends. Let me go spend a week with my cousin. And then I’ll come back and play the part of happy wife. You can work as much as you want. And I promise not to complain. But there won’t be any intimacy. It’ll just hurt me all that much more. But I promise to be your loving wife in public, and your supportive friend behind closed doors.”
“You’re giving up on us?” he asked.
“No, you did that.”
“I’m not letting you go, Marj. Just stay here.”
“If you cared about me at all, just let me go without a fight. I promise I’ll be back in a week to fulfill my obligations. We’ll still outsmart and beat the Wicked Queen. Please understand. I just need to get away from the snapping cameras, the paparazzi, the prying eyes, and the tabloids. Just for a bit.”
“Do you think escaping to a small town will get them off your back? They’ll use this against us.”
Marj noticed he didn’t tell her that he’d miss her like crazy. And boy did that hurt. He was more worried that the press would use this against them. They could say she stormed off after a fight or something. This was damage control. That’s all Marj was to him. She was a means to an end. It just proved everything she thought. He didn’t love her. She tried to hold the tears back. He didn’t need to see her cry.
“Just tell them I’m visiting my cousin for a week,” Marj said. “Surely, that’s allowed.”
“We’ll make it work.”
“I promise I won’t ditch you, Brandon. We’ll meet the obligations of the will and beat your evil stepmother.”
“And what happens once the date approaches and I win everything?”
“It’ll be like the Cinderella fairytale, except without the happily ever after. The clock will strike midnight, and I will lose all my fancy stuff. It’ll be back to rags for me.”
“No, it won’t.”
“Because you’ll send Cinderella off with a nice, big, fat paycheck?”
“That was the original plan.”
“We made a great team. It would’ve worked out quite well if feelings hadn’t gotten in the way. Damn, those pesky emotions!”
“Marj…”
“I’ll move somewhere nice. You’ll never have to see me again. And I promise I won’t leave a glass slipper so you can hunt for me, Prince Charming. So please don’t search the kingdom high and low looking for me.”
“You know I’ll respect your wishes.”
“Thanks. And I’m not mad at you, Brandon. I’m a little sad, but I understand. I want us to part on good terms as friends.”
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“I was glad I could help.”
She wished Prince Charming gave a shit. Marj always dreamed that her life could be like a fairy tale, a perfect fantasy. But that was all foolish nonsense. Maybe this maiden would one day fall in love again. But she wouldn’t be dating for a long time. Her heart needed time to recover. She had two bad breakups in the last year. Luke and Brandon. Brandon’s breakup was still fresh, and her heart was still bleeding. He’d be a hard act to get over that was for sure.
Marj finished packing and said goodbye. Brandon didn’t try to stop her, didn’t even kiss her goodbye. She was thankful he didn’t put up a fight, but deep down, she was hoping he would pull off one of those scenes in a romantic movie. Maybe get on his knees and declare his love for her. Beg her not to go, and whisk her off into the sunset like Prince Charming. Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Brandon didn’t love her. How could he? They never really dated. It was just a business arrangement with sex. Spending some time with her cousin would really help her to get her mind off all of this daunting stuff. They planned to have so much fun, and Marj couldn’t wait.
Chapter 14
Marj had left to go see her cousin, Mandy, in some small town in Utah. Maybe he should’ve gone to the airport and asked her to stay. Marj liked dramatic stuff like that. It might’ve worked. But it was too late now. Her flight had already left. It was probably best she have a week off from all the stress of playing happy wife. He could tell it was wearing down on her. She had no idea what she was getting into when she married him that one fateful night.
Marj had literally s
aved his ass. He owed her everything. He was beyond thankful. Marj was beautiful and sexy and they had great chemistry together. The sex was amazing. He even loved that she challenged him. Most conquests just easily submitted, but not Marj. She was wild and uninhibited, and that intrigued him. And there were other things he loved about her too. Marj was confident, feminine, intelligent, dependable, independent, loyal, ambitious, and funny. It was near impossible to find a woman with all the traits he loved, but Marj had all of them.
Brandon’s cell phone rang snapping him out of his thoughts. It was one of his lawyers.
“I have horrible news,” he said.
Brandon took a deep breath. He hated words like that.
“Don’t worry. I got everything back in control. We won’t lose the account. I made sure of it.”
“Brandon, this isn’t about business.”
“What? Did the Wicked Queen come up with a new scheme to disinherit me?”
“It’s worse. I don’t know how to tell you this.”
There was a long pause.
“Have you turned on the television?” he said. “It’s all over the news.”
“Obviously, I haven’t. Or I would know what you’re talking about.”
“Flight 1860 to Utah crashed. Everyone on board didn’t make it,” he finally said.
A cold shiver shot down his spine at the news.
“Brandon… I’m so sorry.”
“Was Marj on the flight?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. She was checked in and on the manifest. I even talked to the woman who checked in everyone at the gate. The woman said Marj was onboard. I even faxed her over a picture of Marj for clarification. It was definitely her.”
Brandon dropped the phone.
“Brandon… Brandon?” the voice on the phone said.
It took a moment for Brandon to gain his composure. He picked up the phone. “Listen, I’ve gotta go.”
“Do you know what this means?” his lawyer asked.
“What?”
“You’ve won. I mean, this is the best thing that could’ve happened. It’s like your ‘Get out of jail card’. You won’t have to pretend like you’re happy and in love, with some stranger you picked up in Las Vegas, for another year. Because I thought you should, at least, stay married over a year to make it look good. Listen, you’re going to get everything you’ve ever wanted. You beat Lena at her own game. And now you don’t have to worry about keeping that Marj on a leash. You’re free and clear. And you won’t have to pay out Marj either since she’s deceased. Just remember. No dating for a few months while you’re grieving. We don’t need any scandals. I’m sending PR over to help you with how to act in public with the grieving process.”
“You asshole! How dare you talk about my wife like that?” Brandon roared as he threw the phone across the room.
He turned on the TV and flicked through the channels.
“Blue Skies Airways Flight 1860 crashed today killing all 210 passengers aboard,” a reporter said. “We now know that Dr. Grainers, a well-loved dentist from Ohio, and Marjorie Cates, wife of billionaire Brandon Cates, and college sports star, Jennie Meyers, were all onboard the flight. So many precious lives were lost today. My heart goes out to every single passenger lost. It’s a great loss for all of us and such a sad tragedy.”
Grief washed over Brandon as realization struck and the news set in.
Marj was dead.
Damn!
He should’ve never let her get on that plane. He kicked the coffee table, and then punched a hole in the wall. He screamed and shouted, and asked God why. None of it made any sense. When he heard a car pull up, he looked outside the window and saw the press surrounding his house. They were like vultures. Here he was hurting, his heart bleeding, and they wanted to interview him. How dare they? He poured himself a drink and downed the liquor in one gulp.
He turned the channel. A little five-year-old girl who resembled Marj was smiling on some television program. She had long hair and pretty eyes. He stared at the girl on the screen. That could’ve been what their daughter might’ve looked like.
It was in that instant, he knew he wanted a family with Marj. He wanted everything she had to offer. Settling down had always been a scary thought. But spending the rest of his life with Marj didn’t scare him because he knew she was ‘the one.’ Brandon was no longer interested in adding notches to his belt. He needed love in his life and was finally ready to settle down. He wanted to put Marj’s needs ahead of his own.
Then, he had this moment of clarity.
I’m ready for it all, marriage, children, and waking up next to the same beautiful, amazing woman day after day.
Brandon’s mind raced. He thought about what their kids might’ve looked like, and all the things and places they could’ve went. But it was too late…
Somebody knocked on his door. Just as he was going to scream, no comment and slam the door in their face, he recognized the face. It was the Wicked Queen.
She walked inside without an invitation. Rolling his eyes, he downed another shot.
“Drowning your sorrows?” she asked.
“What do you want? Just get the hell out!”
“I talked to your snake of a lawyer. He’s wrong you know! You didn’t win. My lawyers told me that if she didn’t remain married to you for one year, it doesn’t count. It doesn’t matter it was an accidental death.”
Brandon looked at her with tears in his eyes. “Marj is dead! And you want to talk about this right now? Seriously?”
“Brandon, you look upset. Is it because you lost Marj or because you lost to me?”
“How dare you say that?” he said, voice wavering. “Marj meant everything to me.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Brandon ignored her and ran a hand through his hair. “I c-can’t believe she’s gone.”
She looked up at him. “You can cut the act. You’ve officially lost.”
“I don’t fucking care!” he shouted at her. “Take it all! Without Marj, it all means nothing to me anyway. Just get the hell out of here and let me grieve in peace.”
“Fine.”
She started toward the door when she suddenly stopped and peered over her shoulder. “Now that’s it’s all over, you can tell me the truth. It won’t change things now one way or the other. Did you really love her? Because this doesn’t seem like an act.”
He met her gaze straight on. “Yes, I loved her.”
Brandon couldn’t believe those words came out of his mouth. This declaration was a huge moment for him. But he realized that he did love her. He instantly knew she was his soulmate. And he never got the chance to ever let her know. He thought about the last time they were intimate. It was the first time he wasn’t just fucking somebody. He was making love to her. Brandon realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. And now he couldn’t.
She was the one.
Damn fate!
“Maybe I’m seeing this relationship in a different light,” Lena said.
“We fell in love with each other. She was the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“And to think I thought she was a paid actress.”
“You know she worked for me.”
“I thought you two schemed and hatched up the plot at the office. I thought it was completely platonic. Just another business deal. At least, at first. But then, she fell in love with you. I know she did because I could tell by the sappy look in her eyes when she talked about you. She fell for you hard and fast. I bet you weren’t planning on that little complication.” Brandon glared, and she continued. “But I knew you were just using her. Stringing her along, telling her whatever she wanted to hear to keep her at your side until you won. Then you’d throw her out on her ass. Because that’s what you do. You divide and conquer, then move on. It’s your lifestyle. You don’t do relationships, and you surely don’t do marriage.”
You’re right. I d
idn’t believe in relationships until I met this extraordinary woman who showed me what I was missing out on,” Brandon said. “And if I would’ve put more time and energy into Marj rather than my company, we might’ve been something amazing. We might’ve had a wonderful future.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to find another woman. And you won’t have to worry about work getting in the way anymore because you won’t have your company. Maybe I’m doing you a favor. Think of this as a blessing in disguise.”
She opened the door, and her hair blew everywhere in the gusty wind. Composed as ever, she walked toward the swarming press outside. Brandon followed her outside and went to give the press a statement.
“I kindly ask everyone to please respect my privacy during this time of grieving,” he said.
It took everything he had not to look distraught. And he knew the tears would come. Not matter how manly he tried to behave. But those would have to come behind closed doors.
“You have our deepest sympathy,” a reporter said.
His eyes welled with tears as his throat tightened.
“Thank you,” Brandon said, voice wavering.
The Wicked Queen touched his arm as if giving him comfort. He answered a few questions, and said a few more words about his loving wife, then went back inside.
Brandon had never felt so lost and heartbroken.
He locked the door and tried to gather his thoughts. Thunder crashed and lightning flashed. Brandon hoped God was striking the bitch down. The Wicked Queen deserved it. Not because she won, but because she didn’t give a shit about Marj dying in a tragic accident.
He went and shut all the curtains so the media couldn’t peer inside. Why wouldn’t these people give him some space at such a horrible time? He gave them a statement but they still weren’t leaving.
It hurt to breathe. It hurt so fucking bad.
He needed more answers about Marj’s death. So he decided to drive to the airline and see what he could find out. What made the plane crash? Was it the storm? And maybe they couldn’t get him answers, but he needed more information. Everything he knew was vague at most. He desperately wanted more details.
