Exposure_A Stone Billionaire Series Novel

by Kaya Woodward

  Whatever my mother’s latest argument with Noah is about I don’t care.

  “She'll get over it,” I smirk at Noah, taking a break for a second to grab water from the fridge. “Help yourself.”

  “I was going to,” Noah pours himself a significant amount of whiskey, which tells me he hasn't spoken to Tinsley, and this worries me.

  “How's it going?” Noah swirls the whiskey around in his glass.

  “I can't find it. I've locked everyone out of the old servers, so no one else can be linked back to this, but I'm worried someone might've either taken the file or cleaned it up,” I eye the glass he’s set down close to my keyboard.

  I move the keyboard away on instinct.

  “You can't just search for it?” Noah asks lazily.

  I shake my head. “It's impossible to search for. We use a coding system and zip all the files. I'm opening them all, one by one, since the coding system is in LA and they're sending it via overnight courier. I haven't gotten it yet.”

  “When did they send it?” he asks.

  “Today,” I tell him. “We don't keep it online, just in case.”

  “Just in case,” Noah frowns. “Just in case what?”

  “There are programs on here, which we've done for classified intelligence things. We can't risk those programs,” I explain.

  I say 'things' because I don't know how to describe government contracts I'm not supposed to talk about.

  The FBI, the NSA and the CIA?

  We’ve done work for all of them.

  If they lose these programs by accident, we need to be able to provide a copy immediately or else all hell with break loose.

  “Why do you even keep copies?” Noah raises an eyebrow.

  “Just in case clients lose them,” I shrug. “It's happened before. Or if we need to update the program for them, fix it, change it. We still need to keep copies, to protect us. Well, not anymore. I'm also going to code something to ghost the system, so it looks like we never had a backup system in the first place.”

  “And your clients, they won't say anything?” Noah persists.

  “Not if they want to end up in jail with me,” I admit easily.

  I'm not going to lie, we write programs and sell them for high prices, I don't know what they do with those programs after.

  But everything we've done up until now has been strictly legal.

  Except for the government programs.

  Those were somewhat questionable at times.

  This is the first thing I've done up until now that has been even close to getting me in trouble.

  I'm not used to it.

  “How mad is my mother going to be?” I ask him.

  If anyone has insight on my mother, it's Noah.

  “She'll be angry, but you're her son,” He sighs. “She'll forgive you. Eventually. When she realizes what you've done. The marriage, however,” he laughs as he takes a long sip of his drink.

  I realize he's been drinking all day.

  “What's going on with you?” I point to his drink.

  Noah sits down on the expansive L-shaped couch in my sunken living room, suddenly unable to speak.

  “Noah?” I persist.

  “Tinsley won't talk to me,” He admits, but that's all he says.

  Like it explains everything.

  “Well, that's a complicated situation,” I offer.

  “You bet,” He gives me an awkward thumbs-up.

  “Do you love her?” I prod further, and when he looks up at me, with a haggard look I recognize as the one I've been wearing, I know the answer.

  I can't give him advice on this one.

  It's a complicated situation because Tinsley's father is a friend of his.

  They don't want them together, I assume.

  “Well, move on,” I offer.

  “I don't want to,” He leans back against the soft leather, biting his hand. “I don't want to for the first time in my life. I've hurt so many people for that woman. Now she's gone.”

  “Gone?” I ask.

  “She left,” He admits. “I don't know where she is.”

  “Well, damn! You fucked up!” I yell at him.

  The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop him.

  He looks at me, as though I shouldn't just state the obvious.

  But I just did.

  “You can't just give up. Where would we be if I gave up?” I point out.

  Though I know Tinsley and Noah aren't the same, I also know that we would be nowhere if I didn't even try to make things right with Ava.

  So, Noah's got to do the same thing. “If you love her as much as I think you do; you'll do something before it's too late this time,” I watch his reaction, and this time it seems he's listening.

  I need to clear my head before I keep going.

  ***

  July 2, 2017

  Taking a run through central park isn't the same. Nothing is the same in my life since Ava isn't in it.

  Since Elizabeth Darlington rudely interrupted the simple routine I had going, I've been a bigger mess than I ever thought possible.

  I stop near a fountain, leaning on a bench to stretch as a leggy blonde, doing the same eyes me up and down.

  The city is mostly deserted with the holiday coming up, which was entirely our plan, but it makes me feel a little melancholy.

  Massive fourth of July parties used to be my specialty. It didn't matter where I was, LA, New York City, or the Hamptons.

  Noah rents out this insanely large compound like number in the Hamptons and the parties every year get crazier.

  Actually, I think he bought it.

  I was never quite clear on that.

  This year that is not happening.

  The worst part is that I have absolutely no taste for it, and this leaves an even more sour taste in my mouth.

  The bottle blonde winks at me.

  She wants me, I can tell.

  She probably knows who I am.

  I am part of the Manhattan Elite and even she doesn't know who I am, I'm always by Noah's side.

  He's goddamn man of the year for fuck sakes.

  I could easily chat her up and get her number, but I just have no interest in that anymore as I look down at my hands.

  I'm still wearing my wedding band.

  A simple gold band that speaks volumes about the man I've become.

  A man I never thought I could be.

  It's maybe worth about $20 in gold?

  It's got no real value, just the emotional chains on my heart.

  I was a cocky son of a bitch before I met Ava.

  A woman that changed me.

  Forever.

  Even if she doesn't forgive me, I'll always be a different man, and that's sunk in.

  Permanently.

  I spot a young family, a blonde woman, with a young boy, who doesn't appear to be any older than six, and a baby in her arms, fussing as she puts it in the stroller.

  Her husband is telling the little boy something, and he laughs.

  This is the picture of a family that I want.

  No longer am I chasing women aimlessly through central park.

  Easily, a few months ago, I would've grabbed that woman's number, taken her for dinner tonight, and had her in my bed for meaningless sex.

  But meaningless sex is no longer on my menu tonight.

  I don't want that part of life anymore.

  I'm craving Ava's touch again. I want to call her, talk to her.

  And before I know it I'm calling Noah again, who seems to have spiraled deeper and deeper into something that I don't know how to explain.

  “Where is Ava?” my tone is damn near begging, the closest I've gotten to since I've been asking him since I couldn't get a hold of her.

  I've been expecting her to at least send me divorce papers, but no contact since that ill-fated reunion, when I could barely look her in the eye.

  “I don't know,” Noah's answer comes with a sort of daze. “She missed her phone c
all today. She usually calls at the same time every day, they were staying at the house in London, but she didn't call today. I'm wondering if something is wrong, but Evan and Athena aren't answering either. The staff says they all left in a hurry, so I'm wondering if they are heading here.”

  “You don't think,” I dare to ask.

  “No Elizabeth hasn't done anything,” Noah says with a hiccup. “I don't think so anyway. I'm sure I would've heard from the Darlingtons by now, from the way I tricked her last time.”

  Noah's laugh is so harsh I know he's been drinking.

  “Noah, you need to slow down,” I insist.

  “It's five o'clock somewhere,” He sings.

  “I'm coming over,” I tell him.

  I jog across the park and reach Noah's building near Central Park South in record time, where the doorman lets me up, recognizing me and mentioning that Noah is in a record state today.

  When I get to the top floor, the elevator opens right into Noah's foyer and I wrench the front door open.

  Frank Sinatra is crooning across his penthouse apartment.

  Views of central park show across the expanse of his prized penthouse and he is dead asleep already, passed out, sprawled on the bed like a drunk.

  He can't go on like this.

  I check his pulse just in case.

  He's alive.

  Of course.

  He wouldn't do me any good if he dropped dead.

  Of course, that would be my luck as of late.

  I shuffle into the kitchen to make him some coffee and find Magda already making him coffee.

  “Mr. Noah isn't doing well today,” She tells me, matter-of-factly, already used to Noah's antics, a smile on her face. “You need to eat something Mr. Corbin,” She pulls a chair away from the glass table in the kitchen and insists that I sit down while she makes me eggs, setting a plate of croissants and a cup of coffee on the table.

  I can't resist, and I must wait for Noah to wake up anyway.

  We are merely days away from pulling a blind over Elizabeth's eyes, and Noah is drunker than ever, falling into the same abyss I was in danger of falling into when I first lost Ava.

  But I'm going to get her back, and he needs to wake up.

  Tinsley will come back.

  If Ava is coming back to New York she can't come back to find that her father is a drunk, because really, he isn't.

  He just doesn't deal with emotions well.

  I can't imagine what he was like when he first had to deal with what Elizabeth was like before there was anyone around to help him out.

  I've seen him on this carousel before.

  I was younger at first, and then as I got older I just watched it, round and round he went.

  At first, I would try to stop him, but now I know he straightens up, it teeters off, and then he's alright until disaster strikes again.

  It's a dangerous game that he plays.

  There was a period of time that didn’t happen.

  I suspect Tinsley had something to do with that.

  I'm hoping Ava back in his life is going to keep him again on the straight and narrow, but I'm not exactly sure that Ava is the one to do it.

  I know that he needs Tinsley, but if she's gone?

  Well, she's gone, and she's only going to come back of her own accord.

  I don't want to think about the possibility of pulling this off on my own because I need Noah now more than ever.

  I've always needed him.

  I always thought of myself as solitary, but now I might seriously be alone.

  It's killing me to think that I might have no one.

  If Ava doesn't forgive me I’ll loser her, my brother, Noah, and possibly my mother.

  Then I’ll be in jail, and alone.

  I check Noah's machine.

  “Noah, we're on our way, something has happened. I'll explain everything, but Ava, Athena and I are coming. We'll see you soon Dad,” It's Evan's voice.

  My heart sinks.

  I was hoping it would've been Ava's voice that had left that message.

  But it's Evan's.

  Evan who, in the beginning, I called several times.

  Evan who spoke to me with that military tone telling me to fuck off and get out of Ava's life.

  For the man who's been a brother to me all his life, now that Ava is his sister, his primary job is protecting her.

  I understand.

  I did something awful.

  I move to the living room after eating.

  Noah's man of the year magazine is spread out, six identical copies, sent by the publisher, on his coffee table, so I sit down and pick one up.

  Even though I've read the whole thing dozens of times.

  I never read his part of the article.

  So, I flip through it quickly, getting to where Noah is interviewed.

  Suspiciously he never pushed me to read it.

  So, I read, and skip to a particular part of the interview.

  ‘She's always been out there,’ Noah says. ‘She's always been a part of my life, and she still will be. Maybe one day we'll find our way back to each other, these things have a funny way of working themselves out. You know, I do believe we will figure it out together when the time is right, but for now, I am content with that thought. There's always been the same woman; we just weren't ready each other.’

  Holy shit.

  He has to have a chance at fixing things with Tinsley.

  A light jog takes me back to Noah's room, where's he's staring out at the expanse of New York City, awake.

  “You're awake?” I ask.

  “When did you get here?” He looks up at me. “Did we talk on the phone?”

  “Yup. Look right here, look at what you said!” I yell.

  I shove the magazine in his face.

  “What?” he sounds groggy.

  He points to where I'm looking at the article.

  “You're reading this? Again?” He shakes his head.

  “Just read it!” I demand.

  Noah scans the lines of text.

  “You were talking about Tinsley, no?” I nudge him.

  “No, I was talking about Elizabeth,” His sarcastic comment comes with a dubious look.

  “So, stop drinking yourself to death, the both of us have work to do,” I tell him sternly.

  He sighs. “Fine… but after this… you let me wallow in peace.”

  “After this, we're going back to fucking Fiji. You owe me old man,” I clap him on the back.

  “You're the old one,” He stands up. “Let me take a damn shower, put a proper suit on.”

  I think about the fact that I've never seen Noah in anything but a proper suit as I go upstairs, to the room I used when I crashed at Noah’s. I know I've got some old clothes there. But there's nothing but an old grey suit, which is still in style, of course, and a couple of other things.

  So, I shower and change, make myself presentable.

  The suit still fits, impeccably of course.

  Now I somewhat resemble the man that I used to be.

  I almost feel like I deserve to have Ava on my arm, but I do know that she deserves much better than me.

  Unfortunately, she's the woman I want.

  Ava Stone is the woman I married, the woman I'm in love with.

  The woman I will spend the rest of my life with.

  I will fight for her all I can until there isn't a drop of fight in me left.

  I told Noah I would give up everything. I'm doing that today.

  Only I don't expect to go downstairs, and see Ava standing in Noah's penthouse, looking bewildered at the sight of me.

  I must swallow my immediate impulse to kiss her, press her against whatever surface I can find, and beg her to come back to my apartment and prove that she doesn't belong to anyone else.

  She belongs to me.

  Chapter 30: Ava

  July 2, 2017

  At Athena’s I’ve got nothing but my clothes from the trip.

  E
verything I own is at my apartment in Hell’s kitchen and I have no desire to go there either.

  Athena suggests I just borrow some of her clothes instead.

  So, I settle on a pair of smooth black tights, the most comfortable thing I've worn in what feels like months. I put on one of my bright pink sports bras, and a loose fitting long sleeved sports shirt. It's backless, revealing the bra. I'm still in great shape, and I might as well show it off while I can.

  I stand in front of the mirrored hallway, analyzing my form for a few minutes. Wondering if this is all real.

  “Are you pregnant?” Athena asks.

  “Oh?” my bubble is suddenly burst.

  “How did you?” I ask her.

  “Just a feeling I guess,” Athena grins at me.

  I turn to face her, trying to change the subject.

  “Are you going to tell Noah about the accident? About Nicholas?” I ask.

  “Can you be a dear, go upstairs and talk to Noah? He'll be mad with rage, and while I do want to speak with him, now isn't the time to calm him down,” Athena pleads with me.

  “Yes of course,” I nod.

  I don't particularly want to face Noah either.

  “But you are pregnant?” She persists.

  “I am. I made an appointment to go see a doctor next week after the holiday is over,” My eyes are downcast.

  “Don't be ashamed,” Athena points my chin up. “You are a Stone. Stones are never embarrassed, of anything. He's your husband after all. He may not be for long if you intend on keeping him at arm's length, because divorce is an option if you want that.”

  “I don't know what I want,” I sit down on the elegant little bench in her front hallway. “I mean, I thought about it, I thought about sending him the papers, but I figured all that would make him do was beg me not to do it,” I admit.

  I run my fingers across the gold embroidery of the white bench nervously.

  “You're probably right on that front. I don't think Noah would agree with divorce either. He's never quite believed in it, always thought it was only necessary unless both parties couldn't find a way to make things work,” Athena’s voice is soft.

  “That's surprising,” I raise an eyebrow at Athena.

  “Noah and Olivia didn't work from the start, even I saw that. He revealed he'd had another child with another woman, years ago, and they should probably call it,” Athena mentions under her breath. “Though I knew she was never the woman for him, I fought him endlessly on it, and then all of a sudden they got married drunk as anything on some vacation,” She snorts.