Chapter Seven
Voices from downstairs woke Ava from her sleep. She turned over to find Justin’s side of the bed empty. She pulled back the covers, swung her legs to the side of the bed, and placed her robe around her body. She sauntered out of the bedroom and met Justin at the foot of the stairs. He’d just closed the front door.
“Morning, was someone here?” she asked.
“Yeah, you just missed my mother.”
“What brought Corrine here on a Saturday morning?”
Justin turned towards her with his hands planted above his hip and concern in his eyes. “She’s leaving for a conference next week, and James has a family emergency. She asked if I could check in on dad.”
“What’s the problem?” she asked, matching his concern.
“My schedule is tight next week. I told her it wasn’t a problem because I didn’t want her to worry about him.”
Ava frowned. “His slow recovery from the stroke has been hard on everyone. It’s sad to see him struggle.”
“I can try to get over there on Monday before my meeting, but with traffic…”
She rubbed his shoulder. “Maybe his nurse can work extra hours.”
He shook his head. “He barely wants her around when she’s there. It puts him in a cranky mood.”
“Let’s make this easier on everyone. Have your dad stay here with us while Corrine is out of town.”
“Here?” His brows lifted. “With us?”
“It’s just for a few days, right?”
“A week, max. Are you sure?”
“It’s fine. Your dad and I are on better terms.”
The corner of his lips turned upward. He reached for her hand and pulled her close. “Have I told you how incredible you are, lately?”
She enclosed her arms around him as he leaned in for a kiss. “Not lately.”
Justin moved his lips down the side of her neck. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Ava took his hand and inched towards the staircase. Before one foot hit the hardwood stair, someone knocked on their door. She looked at Justin. “Your mother, again?”
“She said she had to go home to pack.”
Ava stood back while he opened the door.
“Lindsey?!” His voice was full of shock.
Lindsey? She ran to his side. “What are you doing here?”
“I met with a potential client. Actually, it’s a neighbor of yours. Anyway, since I was nearby, I thought, if you had the time, you could give me a walk-through.”
“You should’ve called first,” he said.
“I’m sorry, guys. If it’s too short of a notice, we can reschedule.”
Ava looked at Justin, who glanced her way. “No, now is fine. But I just rolled out of bed. I hope you don’t mind waiting while I freshen up.”
Lindsey smiled, revealing her blinding white veneers. “I don’t. Justin can keep me company while I wait.”
Ava forced a smile. “I won’t take long.”
“I’ll start a pot of coffee,” said Justin.
Ava jumped in the shower and changed into comfortable gray sweatpants and a coordinating sweatshirt. She threw her hair in a ponytail and ran downstairs into the kitchen. “Thank you for waiting,” she said, as Justin greeted her with a cup of coffee.
“No problem, your hubby-to-be kept me company.” Lindsey flashed a smile in his direction.
“Okay, well, I need to head out. I’m meeting Chase at the gym.” He darted his eyes in Ava’s direction. “Walk me out?”
“Sure.” She turned and placed her mug on the counter. “I’ll be back in a sec,” she said to Lindsey.
Justin grabbed his gym bag that sat near the front door. “I’ll get a quick workout in and return as soon as I can.”
“Don’t rush on my account.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’ll show her around and get a sense of where her head is.”
“In that case, maybe Chase and I will play a round of racquetball.” He gave her a peck on the lips. “See you later.”
Ava closed the door and turned to her right to find Lindsey watching her from outside the kitchen.
“Man, Justin sure has changed.”
Ava resisted rolling her eyes. She’d grown tired of hearing about Justin’s changed ways. It’s called maturing and didn’t understand why some people failed to comprehend the concept. “Where would you like to start?” she asked.
Lindsey reached into her bag and retrieved a fancy tape measure covered in faux crocodile skin. “First, I would like to compliment you on your home. This place is amazing. I love the stunning black accent trim on the windows and the wrought iron stair rail. The white marble floors and white walls throughout gives the space an airy feel. It also provides the perfect backdrop for a pop of color here and there.”
“Thank you. I also thought about adding color and maybe prints.”
“How many bedrooms?”
“One on the main floor, three upstairs, and one downstairs, across from the cellar.”
Lindsey nodded her head. “We can begin wherever you like.”
Ava showed Lindsey around the main floor. She watched as she stopped, took measurements, and entered the information into her Ipad. “Is this the master?” she asked when they passed by the main-floor bedroom.
“No, it’s a guest bedroom. But we’ll wait before redecorating.”
“Do you mind if I asked why?”
“Justin’s father will be with us for a few days.”
“Chris is staying here?” Her lifted brows gave away her surprise.
“Yes, while Corrine is out of town.”
“Corrine? Wait, are they back together?”
Ava shifted her weight as she debated if she should engage in the conversation. “What Chris and Corrine do is none of my business.”
“I don’t really care if they are back together.” She smirked and gave a slight eye roll.
“For someone you haven’t forgiven, you sure are curious about who he’s with.”
Her blue-green eyes narrowed. “That’s not it at all. I’m just surprised to hear he’s staying with you guys because of your relationship with him.”
“His stroke left him with some lingering issues, so he can’t be alone.”
Lindsey looked at her like she’d missed a part of the story. “He can afford around the clock care, so what’s the problem?”
“He doesn’t want them around. If you’re ready to get back to why you’re here, I would like to show you the room downstairs. I want to turn it into a comfy reading room.”
“That sounds like fun. Lead the way.”
After showing Lindsey the entire house, the women settled into the living room. “Beautiful home. Your decorating style appears to be more on the contemporary side with clean lines.”
“So, can you work around with what I’ve done so far?”
“Yes, and I would recommend using artwork and rugs to add pops of color. I have a slew of catalogs where we can order furnishings unavailable at local stores.”
“You put together your ideas and let’s reconvene next week. If I like the ideas you come up with, we’ll move forward.”
Lindsey nodded her head and smiled. “Great, and I’m hopeful this will lead to a collaboration with our two companies.”
“Possibly.” Ava stood and walked her to the door. She watched as Lindsey entered her car. Just as she was about to close the front door, she noticed a silver Bentley slowly approaching the house. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the driver. He stopped and glanced in her direction. Ava rubbed her tired eyes and returned her focus onto the street. The car had driven off. She shut the door. It couldn’t be? She shook her head at the thought that ran through her mind. Those thoughts led her into a daze as she stepped out onto the terrace. She continued to linger on the impossibility. A pair of hands on her waist brought her out of her deep contemplation.
“Oh!” She jumped and turned around.
“I didn’t mean t
o scare you,” said Justin. He kissed her cheek. “How did it go with Lindsey?”
“Fine.” Her mind distracted by the man behind the wheel.
“What’s wrong?”
“You won’t believe this, but I saw Brandon.”
“Brandon? Where?”
“Outside.”
“Where outside?” He turned his head as his eyes scanned the beach.
“I wasn’t on the terrace when I saw him. I was out front, and he was behind the wheel of a car.”
“Okay, let’s back up.” She could hear the doubt in his voice. “From the beginning, what did you see?”
“I walked Lindsey to the door, and I noticed a silver car slow down. The driver turned and looked at me. It was him.”
“You said it was a silver car. Do you recall the make or model?”
“A silver Bentley.”
“A Bentley? Sweetheart, Brandon is behind bars awaiting trial. But let’s say he somehow made bail. What are the odds of him being in San Diego, outside of our home, in a silver Bentley?”
Ava shrugged. “When you lay it out like that, it does sound silly.”
He squeezed her shoulders. “It’s anxiety, stress, or whatever label you want to put on it.”
“You’re right.” She massaged her temples. “Honestly, I didn’t get a good look at the person and the glare from the sun obstructed my view.”
“Your mind can play unbelievable tricks when it’s stressed.”
“Enough about that.” She shook her head before giving him a quick hug. “How was your workout with Chase?”
“I kicked his ass in racquetball,” he grinned.
“I’m sure he was none too happy about that.”
“No, and he’s buying us dinner tonight.”
“We’re going out?”
“He and Meg are coming over.”
“Meghan?” Her voice raised.
“You haven’t spoken to her?”
“No. I didn’t know she was in town or she and Chase were still together.”
Justin shrugged. “They’ll be here at eight.”
Ava smiled to herself at the thought of seeing her friend. They haven’t spoken in several weeks and have plenty to catch up on. She turned her gaze towards Justin, as a sudden surge of worry covered his face. “What’s the matter?”
He shook his head and grimaced. “There’s a delicate subject I’ve been avoiding.”
“With me?”
“Yeah.” He raked his hands through his hair. “Let’s sit down.”
Whatever was on his mind appeared to trouble him. They occupied two chairs near the fire pit. “What’s on your mind?” she asked.
“It’s concerning our upcoming marriage and finances.”
Her brows furrowed, and her lips twisted into a frown. “You want a budget for the wedding?”
“No,” he chuckled. “Nothing of the sort.”
As usual, he has chosen to go around in circles instead of spitting it out. “Justin, whatever it is… just tell me.”
He stroked his beard. “I’m afraid of offending you.”
“You won’t. I promise.”
He drew a heavy breath. “How do you feel about a prenuptial agreement?”
Ava fell back onto her chair and sighed. “You thought a prenup would offend me?”
His eyes narrowed from his slow grin. “Those two words can lead to an unpredictable response.”
“I always assumed I would sign one. I have no problem with it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “You are heir to a billion-dollar estate and have millions of your own money. I expect you to protect yourself.”
He grabbed her hand and placed a single kiss on it. “I don’t want to think about us divorcing and splitting property.”
“I know, but shit happens.” She shrugged.
Justin belted out a laugh. “By some slim and microscopic chance it happens, you’ll walk away with a more than generous settlement.”
“I expect nothing less from you.”
“So, is it okay if I have the paperwork drawn up?”
“Just tell me where to sign.”
Chapter Eight
Ava turned the volume up on the surround sound speakers in the game room. When they’d moved in, Justin insisted he used one of the two rooms on the bottom floor as his man cave. It has an eighty-five-inch flat screen television mounted on the wall, a stand that held every video game console made, a pool table, a pinball machine, and a fully stocked wet bar.
She marched upstairs at the sound of the doorbell. By the time she reached the top stair, Justin had already reached the front door. Meghan emerged with a bright smile on her face, followed by Chase. He carried takeout bags from a Chinese restaurant.
“I can help you with that,” Ava said to Chase.
Justin turned towards her. “No, you and Meg catch up. We’ll take this downstairs.”
The guys proceeded to the stairs, and once they were out of earshot, Ava turned her attention to her friend. “You couldn’t call?”
“What?” she asked coyly, without removing her smile.
Ava narrowed her eyes. “I had to find out from Justin you were in town.”
Meghan removed her denim jacket and placed it on a chair. “It’s just a weekend visit. Forgive me?” she asked, with a slight pout to her bottom lip.
“Of course,” she said, hugging her friend. “When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow at noon. I have an exam bright and early Monday morning.”
“Well let’s make the most of tonight.” Ava led her downstairs to meet the guys. When they arrived, Justin had placed the wooden cover over his poker table for them to eat dinner in his man cave. The group enjoyed a feast of shrimp fried rice, sweet and sour pork, and spring rolls. While they ate, Ava watched the interaction between Meghan and Chase. Their lingering glances and Meghan’s constant blushing revealed what she has tried to hide. She could no longer deny they were a couple.
After dinner, the guys moved to one of the four gaming chairs that resembled oversized recliners. They placed a joystick in their hands, and Justin turned on the gaming console. Seconds later, the latest football video game filled the television screen. While they battle for gaming props, Ava and Meghan made themselves comfortable outside on the terrace.
“Girl, this is some life you’re livin’,” said Meghan. Her eyes drifted towards the beach. It was near midnight, and there was a light breeze in the air. A lit fire pit provided a comfortable warmth.
“I like California more than I thought I would. Especially the weather,” said Ava.
“When is the wedding?”
“We’re waiting until after the trial to set a date. I suggested having it in Paris, and Justin didn’t blink an eye. He said whatever I wanted was fine with him.”
Meghan twisted her lips into a smirk. “That man is so in love with you, he’ll do anything you ask.”
Ava smiled because she was right. Justin had a hard time telling her no. “What’s going on with you and Chase?” She narrowed her eyes at her. “And don’t lie because I saw the looks between you two.”
A grin spread across Meghan’s face. “We’re more than friends. He’s talking about moving to Atlanta.”
Ava’s eyes widened. “What? That’s a major step! How do you feel about him moving there?”
Her smile fell, and she gave a half-hearted shrugged. “Don’t know.” Her gaze wandered off into the distance.
“Okay, Meghan.” Ava sat up in her chair. “If he’s considering moving across the country, you two have to be on the same page. How do you really feel about him?”
She turned towards the open terrace doors before speaking. “I like him…”
“But?”
She lowered her eyes as she twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger. “He’s already said the L word and I’m not there yet.”
“Obviously, I’m out of the loop. Are you guys just dating, or is he your boyfri
end?”
“Yes,” she said, quickly. “We’ve been officially together for two months. I chose to remain quiet about it because we’re take things slow.”
“And he’s already told you he loved you?”
“Yes, and I care deeply for Chase, but I can’t say those words.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, Meghan. Just be honest with him.”
She rubbed her forehead as her expression change to obvious frustration. “It’s more than my inability to say I love you. Something is missing between us.”
“Like what?”
“I want this.” She held her palms up as her eyes shifted side-to-side. “This house is spectacular, you have a job you love, and…”
“Let me stop you right there because none of those things are more important than Justin.”
“Says the woman who’s engaged to a billionaire.”
Ava sighed and rolled her eyes. “If you recall, I was unaware of Justin’s true net worth. Not that it mattered, because I love him and not his money.”
“I’m sure it’s nice to know you no longer have to worry about bills, buy whatever you want, and jump on a private jet whenever you like.”
Ava stared at her friend. She looked like Meghan, but her words were of someone else. “What’s this really about? Chase is a handsome and thoughtful man who happens to be wealthy. He’s a good catch for any woman. So, what’s the problem?”
“He wants to move to Atlanta, but I want to be here with you guys. I would love a house on the beach.”
Ava smiled at the thought of having a friend nearby. “Tell him! This guy has chased after you from the second he laid eyes on you. I’m sure his desire to move to Atlanta is more about being near you.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. He’s crazy about you.”
Meghan’s eyes glanced towards her phone. “We should go. It’s getting late.” She rose from her chair.
Conned by You Page 4
