Less than ten minutes later two of the security personnel she had talked about came into the drawing room with the missing bracelet in hand.
Of course. They found the bracelet in my room, tucked away in my suitcase. The rest of the staff was asked to leave. I boldly met her gaze.
For a while the only sound was the tapping of her feet against the floor. Then I spoke. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of lording it over me. “I didn’t take your jewelry, but regardless, I’ll quit. Thanks for the opportunity. I enjoyed working here in spite of everything.”
“No,” she refuted furiously. “You’re not quitting. I’m firing you. The rest of the staff have witnessed this incident so humbly tuck your tail between your legs and get out of my home. I will extend some mercy to you. I’ll keep this out of my assessment of your performance if you agree never to come back here, or try to contact my husband again, otherwise I’ll make sure everyone knows you are a dangerous thief. Also you’ll fuck their husbands behind their backs. I will ruin you, I swear it on my life.”
I watched her, wondering how a woman could have been so blessed and yet so ungrateful? How could she not see how incredibly lucky she was? She was willing to throw it all away for cheap sex with men who probably didn’t give a shit about her. I had already opened my mouth to tell her where she could stick her stupid threat, when Zackary ran into the room.
“Charlotte, are you coming with Mummy and me for the picnic?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, darling. This time it is just going to be you and Mummy.”
“Awww,” he groaned with disappointment.
Mrs. King glared at her son. I knew that she was fuming uncontrollably underneath. “Zackary, don’t be such a crybaby. Stand up straight. Look at your hands. They look filthy. Let me see them. Come here.”
The boy went over to her, and she put him on her lap and started to clean his hands. For a few seconds I stared at them. Their blonde heads close together. Zackary was her son. Not mine. No matter how much I pretended to myself, he was not mine and she would never allow him to feel anything for me but hate. I had to end this here. It had already gone too far. I knew I couldn’t stay under her roof for a moment longer.
“Take care of Zackary,” I said to her. “He’s a wonderful boy.”
“Go,” she ordered without looking up.
Outside the security personnel were waiting for me. They escorted me up to my room where my things were already packed. After confirming there was nothing left behind, the security personnel picked up my luggage and escorted me down the stairs. I met the rest of the staff at the foot of the stairs. I wished they had not bothered, because I was already so close to tears.
Mrs. Blackmore gave me a hug. “I know you had nothing to do with it,” she said, and it consoled me when I saw the same vote of confidence reflected in the eyes of the other staff.
“Give me your address,” Carrie said.
And I was about to, when Mrs. King’s voice rang out. “Don’t you dare communicate with the thief. Unless you want to join her.”
Carrie went white. I just smiled at her and walked out of the house.
I wished so desperately to be able to see Brett. Even if it was for one last time. This wouldn’t be happening if he was here. He’d know the last thing I would do is steal his wife’s jewelry. Hell, if I wanted jewelry, all I had to do was ask April. She’d shower me with them.
I got into the dark car waiting for me. The driver said nothing. Then the massive gates were sliding shut behind me. Fighting back tears I turned around to gaze at the old dark castle. It had opened me to passions I’d never experienced before. My instinct had been right that day when I’d first arrived here and I’d had the impression if I entered these gates I’d leave a different person.
I was leaving as a different person.
I refused to allow the tears to fall because if I did, I didn't know how I was going to make them stop.
Chapter 48
Brett
I immediately noticed the somber mood the moment I arrived back at the castle.
Barnaby greeted me as usual in front of my wing, but I could see instantly that he was distracted, his usually razor sharp gaze darting around. I had only been away two days because I cut my trip short, but it already felt like far too many days.
“Is everything alright?” I asked.
He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry to say, Sir, that Madam sent Miss Conrad packing three days ago for … stealing her jewelry.”
What the fuck? I couldn’t go away for two fucking days without Jillian fucking up my life and ruining even that little bit of happiness I had carved for myself. She was a selfish bitch. She didn’t want me and didn’t want anyone else to have me. Anger ripped through me.
“I'm very certain that Miss Conrad had absolutely nothing to do with the thef—” he was saying, but I was already striding towards Jillian's wing.
As I passed Zackary’s wing, I could hear the sound of him crying. I changed direction and went to his room. The door was slightly ajar and I knocked softly before I went in. He was alone on his bed. When he saw me his crying subsided as though he was afraid of how I would react to his tears. I went forward and took a seat on his bed. He quickly scooted over, sniffing heavily as he gazed up at me.
"What's the matter?” I asked.
I could see exactly what the problem was in his eyes, but he appeared too afraid to speak.
I lifted my hand, and when he didn't withdraw, cautiously wiped the tears from his face. "You miss Charlotte, don't you?"
He bobbed his head in response as more tears leaked out of his eyes.
“Then why didn't you stop her from leaving? I left you in charge.”
He gazed innocently up at me. “I didn’t know she had gone.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Mummy says she is a thief.”
“She isn’t,” I said firmly. “It was all a misunderstanding. Mummy made a mistake.”
He looked at me hopefully. “So can she come back?”
“I don’t see why not,” I said and smiled.
The door was suddenly pushed open then, and I turned to see Jillian, her face scrubbed of makeup and her arms folded across her chest. She was ready for a fight. It was one where she needed to be stripped bare and the only one that she knew she had even the ghost of a chance in winning with me.
“You shouldn't have consoled him,” she said. “I was going to let him tire himself out.”
“Zackary, can you please go downstairs to Mrs. Blackmore,” I instructed, “I need to speak to your mother.”
Sniffing, he looked between me and his mother and climbed out of the bed. With his fire truck in hand, he made his way out of the room leaving Jillian and I alone.
"I thought I made myself clear when I told you I didn't want you here any longer,” I began.
Folding her arms across her chest, she leaned against the door frame to watch me, and for an instant I saw once again the selfish but still endearing girl that I had grown up with. That I once convinced myself I loved in my own little way.
"I'm not divorcing you, Brett," she stated. "Maybe I would have a few days ago, but not anymore. Not now that I've realized whom you're replacing me with.”
Her voice broke dramatically. She hugged herself as if she was cold. But I was not buying any of it. I knew her too long. It was all an act.
“How could you?” she accused. “I hired Charlotte, I brought her into this home, and then the both of you go behind my back and do this?"
"What exactly have we done, Jillian?" I asked wearily. Fighting with her seemed so pointless. I just wanted to never see her again. "Please tell me."
“I saw the way you looked at her,” she cried, tears rolling down her face. She swiped at them angrily. “I don't need to see any more to understand what is going on ... cause … because you used to look at me that way. She's changed everything in the house. I was only gone for a few days and she turned it all upside down. This is my house and my f
amily.”
I didn't want to squabble with her but still it was the closure she needed and I would give it to her. “Upside down? You were the one who turned everything upside down.”
She couldn't disagree with me, so instead she stared straight into my eyes as she allowed herself to tremble in an Oscar worthy performance. "I messed up," she admitted. "I took you ... all of this for granted ... but still it's mine, Brett. It's always been. Don't take it away."
“What is the name of Charlotte's agency?"
She looked at me as though she couldn't believe what I had just asked her. "You expect me to tell you? You can torture me and I’ll never reveal it. You'll never find her," she swore. "I'll make sure of it.”
With a sigh, I started to walk out of the room but she grabbed me. I could smell the alcohol on her breath then. It was all so pointless.
"Let me go, Jillian," I said between clenched teeth.
"She doesn't truly care about you. How could you be so blind? Don’t you know what you look like?”
I jerked my hand away.
She realized she had said the wrong thing. “You're a billionaire, Brett. What woman in the world wouldn't want you? That was why even I gave my heart to you in the first place, but then I changed. I saw you as a beautiful person. Let's start over ...” she pleaded.
She grabbed my hand again. This time I yanked it away so hard, the force of my annoyance sent her to the ground.
Looking down at her groveling on the floor, I gave out my last warning. “I don't want to see you here when I get back, otherwise there will be no money for you, Jillian. Nothing.”
“I’ll take Zackary with me,” she screamed.
“Before you do that you should get your lawyer to explain to you what our pre-nup entitles you to, and what you could reasonably expect to leech off me. I think you will find out very quickly that I apparently own no assets at all, but play nice and I’ll make sure you’re very well taken care of for the rest of your life. You’ll have full visiting rights, which considering how much time you actually spend with Zackary, should be perfectly adequate for your needs.”
She was sobbing and shouting obscenities when I walked out of there.
Chapter 49
Jillian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEMUsC8ppU0
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
I was on the ground groveling, crying, and screaming for him … and he just walked out.
It was just too unbelievable. Could it really be that he didn’t care anymore? I stopped crying and stood up. I think I was in a state of shock. He’d been locked away in his wing, almost a cripple for so long, I never even imagined the day would come when he’d strong enough to move forward without me.
I was Zackary’s mother.
He needed me. Even if he didn’t love me, he loved Zackary with all his heart.
I could always get him back through Zackary. It was that bitch! She gave him strength. Until she came he was wear and dependent on me. He still needed me. But she had come and given him ideas. Made him think he deserved more. She laid with him and made him believe he was not a monster.
I had to find a way to make it right again.
I thought about threatening to reveal to Zackary he was not his father, but that would be self-defeating. Zackary might want to know who his father was and I didn’t know either. Also, I was smart enough to realize that Zackary was my real power over him and I had no intention of giving that up.
I walked to drawer and pulled out a bottle of gin. I unscrewed the top and drank straight from the bottle.
“Mummy?”
I swallowed. “Yes, darling.”
“Is Daddy mad with you?
I put the bottle on the table. “I’m afraid he is mad with both of us.”
“Why?”
“I think someone’s been saying really bad things about us.”
His eyes grew round. “Who?”
“I don’t know, you know that Charlotte stole Mummy’s necklace, right?’
He swallowed hard and refused to look at me. I stared at him in shock. My God, that bitch had turned my own son against me. “Zackary look at me.”
He lifted his head up. “You do know that Charlotte stole Mummy’s necklace, right?” I repeated.
“Daddy said it was a misunderstanding.”
For a moment I couldn’t believe my own ears. Terrible rage hit the base of my brain. My hand closed over the gin bottle and I threw it across the room. Zackary screamed and ran out of the room. Barnaby arrived at the door.
“Is everything okay, Madam?” he asked.
I knew he was a traitor too. I’d seen him hugging and kissing that bitch when she was leaving. “Get out, you worthless servant,” I screamed.
Expressionlessly, he nodded his stupid head and backed away. It made me even more angry. I needed more than a drink. I wanted to be back in London. I wanted Anton to tie me to his cross and punish me until I screamed and climaxed because the pain was too much. I found my cellphone and booked Anton for that evening. Then I went to the bar and I began to drink. I drank a whole bottle of Brett’s best Scotch. It tasted like shit, but I wanted to feel happy again.
I had never been happy in my life. Little insignificant creatures like the nanny could find happiness, but never me. I started to sob. I could feel the pain coming from deep inside. I hated that bitch. I knew where she lived. I wanted to go and teach her a lesson.
How dare she?
I gave her a job and she stole my man and my son. Ungrateful thief. I just couldn’t understand it. How could Brett even look at her with her fat legs, her coarse features, and her cheap clothes. I stood up and the room tilted. I knew her address. I would go to her and kick her simpering face in.
I took one step, then another.
Mr. Boothsworth caught up with me at the front door. “Where are you going, Madam?”
Irritating idiot. “Bring my car around.”
He frowned. “I don’t think you should.”
I grabbed him by his tie. “Listen you little rat. Bring my car around or you’re fired.”
A very strange expression crossed his eyes.
I blinked in shock and let go of his clothing. I staggered back and stared at him. I must have been very drunk, because the look he gave me was one of loathing. As if I was a piece of gum stuck to his good shoe.
“I’ll bring the car around Madam,” he said softly, then he was gone.
I waited alone for someone to bring my car around. I wished Brett was home. I wished had been a good wife to him. I wished I had never hired the nanny. I wished I could love Zackary the way other mothers loved their children. I wished I wasn’t so fucked up.
A strong wind blew at my face. It made my hair fly into my face. I turned towards the wind, and it flattened my clothes against my body. For an instant I felt more alive than I had ever been. I turned my face up to the heavens. Then my red Mercedes sports came to a stop in front of me. One of the staff, Brian or whatever his name was, got out and I fell into the driver’s seat.
I closed the door and stepped on the gas. Life was good. Everything was going to be fine for me. Tomorrow I would find a way to win Brett back.
Chapter 50
Charlotte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDxzQJaA228
I knew you were waiting for me
When I got back to my apartment all I did was sleep for nearly three days, because I was unable to do anything else.
April’s eyes widened in surprise when I opened the front door, headache throbbing and eyes swollen from too much sleeping and crying.
“Why are you here so early?” I asked.
“Because no matter when I call I get your answering machine,” she said shutting the door and following me into the living room. With a sigh, I continued on to retrieve the leftover pizza from the previous night, and put it into the microwave.
“Are you ready to talk yet?” she asked me and I shook my head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”<
br />
“That hurts.”
I turned to her. “Oh babe, it’s not because I don’t want to share it with you, you know that. I just want to forget about it all for now. Once it’s all sorted out in my brain and I get back to normal I’ll tell you everything.”
“I’m here for you, okay,” she said and came over to force me into a hug. Her big stomach kept the hug oddly A shaped. I tried and failed to get away so I just relaxed into her arms, the familiar embrace reminding me of the one I had received from my mother yesterday.
“Are you sure there is nothing I can do?” she pushed.
“Yup.”
“Can I just ask one tiny, little question?”
I glared at her. “One. Just one. Don’t ask any more questions after it.”
She pulled away and lifted her hand. “I swear, I won’t.”
“What is it?”
“Did you fall in love with him?”
I ran my hands through my untidy hair. “Yes. I fell in love with him, but we’re from two different worlds. Don’t worry, I don’t regret it or anything, I just truly hope that he’ll be alright.”
She was quiet as I turned back to the microwave and just as I had expected she couldn’t hold back.
“But he didn’t break up with you … his wife was the one who—”
“Please, April. You’re not making it any better. Just leave it, okay. It was a very complicated situation and maybe this is for the best, for everyone concerned.”
She bit her tongue while I plated my pizza.
“I just have one more question,” she said finally.
I frowned at her. Now she was just taking the piss.
“I’m so sorry but this is really the last one. Speaking from experience, powerful men don’t let go of what they want. If he finds you and wants you back, what will you do?”
The Man In The Mirror: A Billionaire Romance Page 18
