Текст книги "The Billionaire’s Obsession: Alpha Billionaire Romance "

Автор книги: L. N. Pearl

Соавторы: S. K. Lee
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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 4 страниц)

7 – Jax

I slipped out of the house early the next morning, spending a few hours in the office before making my way to the airport. No one worked on Sundays, and yet as I pulled away from the large high-rise my company occupied downtown, multiple cars pulled in.

“Interesting,” I mumbled and reminded myself to speak with my father soon about why people were working on Sunday. I was fine with me pulling a long week, but most of our guys were brainiacs. They had to have a break sometime or their efficiency and effectiveness would end up costing me more than they were worth.

My driver pulled up to the private hanger and turned back to look at me. “Here we are, Mr. Wilder. Have a safe trip and I’ll be here to collect you on Thursday or Friday when you return.”

“Excellent. I’ll text you when I know better what our timing is looking like.” I got out of the car and walked languidly to the private jet as trepidation rolled over me. Having to see my mother meant facing once again the agony and loss of Alice. Why I hadn’t told her that I could make the trip on my own, I didn’t know.

Now that I had Kendra in my life, even as an employee, she seemed the better fit for a companion on the trip. I had never met anyone who was so empathetic and caring. Maybe it was her background? I didn’t know.

I boarded the plane to find my mother already sitting in her seat with a glass of wine in her hand. Her scowl was a little much, but I never knew what to expect from her. After my father left her when I was a teenager, she had hardened in a way that didn’t allow for too many family gatherings. I was angry with my sister at first for leaving her son to me, but with her only other option being our mother, I got it...

I loved her, but she was the epitome of wealth, though she had done nothing to assist my father in earning it. How many times had she made excuses as to why she couldn’t make my baseball games, or Alice’s dance recitals? I never quite understood what happened between her and Dad, but I could come up with a million scenarios on my own.

“There you are. Sit down. We’re going to be late.”

“Late for what, Mother? We’re meeting with the officials tomorrow at ten in the morning.” I took my seat and leaned back, closing my eyes and trying to ignore the growing aggravation inside of me. What was there to find in the desert that hadn’t blown away? The black boxes from the aircraft had yet to be found and the hope of finding them was slim. It was about peace of mind. My mother’s and mine.

“We set a time to leave and you’re late. Don’t divert. It’s not becoming.” She took a long sip of her drink as the flight attendant stopped beside me.

“Sir, might I get you something?”

“Headphones and a quick flight.”

“Have you eaten, Jax?” My mother pushed the poor attendant to the side. “Get them to make you something.”

“We can make you just about anything.” The guy tried to look as if he were okay with being treated like a movable object.

“Just a granola bar and ear phones, please.” I rubbed at my eyes and leaned back again. “We’ll talk when we get there, Mom. I need some sleep. I’m raising a baby, remember?”

She lifted her chin. “I’m aware. It’s your chance to get back into God’s good graces and perhaps even see Alice again.”

“That’s nice, Mom.”

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll let you rest.”

I glanced over at her and lifted an eyebrow. “Fine. What is it?”

“You know your father is joining us with Jessica.” Her scowl left me with no doubt about how she felt about it. Jessica was fifteen years younger than Mom and Dad, and had a sense of adventure about her that made even me excited to hang out with her. She was alive and passionate... much like Kendra.

“Yep. It will be fine. This is for Alice anyway.” I shrugged.

“Speaking of. How is Tyson?”

“He’s good. Better.” I let out a long sigh. “It would have been awesome had you told me that I had to burp him after he drank his milk.”

“He’s a baby, Jax. Of course he needs to burp.” She laughed, her tone and gestures making me feel like a total ass. Had Kendra thought I was an idiot over not knowing that I had to burp the little guy too? No. She simply showed me how to do it and then joined in the celebration when Tyson burped.

“Anyways,” I turned my attention from her, “I got a great nanny for him. She’s young and beautiful, sweet and loves the baby already.”

“Well, don’t get attached to her, Jax. We’ve had this discussion before. Don’t worry, we’ll find the perfect bride for you within our class.”

“Class?” I glanced over. “What the hell does that even mean?”

Her mouth tightened. “Watch your language. It means that you’re not going to dive down the social ladder because you’ve yet to find the right girl. There are far too many women who will want you for your money, but a rich woman will not. You’ll be equals. That’s healthier.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll take that into consideration.” Funny how my mother’s dating opinion was the clear opposite of Alice’s. My sister had been happily married and Mom was miserable.

“Another thing to think about too, son, and I hate to bring it up, but you’re really not marketable now. I mean, I’m so proud of you for taking Tyson, and I’m sure you’re doing a great job, but honestly... no woman will want a single man your age who already has a son.”

“Godson.” I jerked up as anger burned in my belly. The boy was a permanent fixture in my life no matter what. And thanks to my mother refusing to help, I was alone in that.

Thank God for Kendra.

“You know what I mean. Don’t get pissy because it’s true. Few women are willing to marry a middle-aged man with children. I’m just saying that you should start looking now while you’re still relatively handsome.” She took another drink of her wine as I stared at her in shock.

I wanted to blast her with ‘this is exactly why Dad divorced you,’ but I didn’t. I went a different route, nothing too harsh and yet enough to upset her nonetheless.

“I’m not middle-aged, mother. And if that’s the case, I’ll just have to stoop down to another level and marry a horribly trashy middle-class girl. I mean if that’s what it takes to have someone pretend to love me... so be it.”

“Jax. That’s not funny. I’d not let you go that low.”

The attendant stopped beside me and offered the granola bar and the headphones, the look on the guys face almost apologetic.

I lifted my items to my mom and winked. “Night, Mom. Great pep talk. I feel kick-ass about my willingness to help out my dead sister and her son. Nothing like fucking up your already dicked up life. Awesome.”

She stared at me in horror and I couldn’t help but smile back like I was fourteen years old again. Bitch. She always left me feeling like the piece of shit I pretended not to be.

I pulled on my headphones and shoved the whole damn granola bar in my mouth, knowing it would drive her mad. My heart raced in my chest at her words, the threat of being alone forever having to be my greatest fear. Namely because it was happening to her.

The music pumped from my phone into my headphones and eventually afforded me some calm. She didn’t know me or my desires. I didn’t want to get married. I’d seen close up what it would do to someone, and I wasn’t interested.

However, knowing that I wasn’t on the market because of Tyson led me down a dark path. Now, I resented women even more than I had before the flight.

My thoughts moved to Kendra, my latest obsession. Her demeanor was sweet as she kept the conversation the night before open and honest with me. She wanted a friendship at least from what I could tell. Her reaction after our kiss left me questioning if she wanted more. She had pressed tightly against me during the kiss, her sweet tongue lapping at mine as she opened herself up to me. It was so hard to pull back. I could have sunk to my knees and licked every part of her.

I shifted uncomfortably and crossed my legs before placing my hands over my erection and ignoring everything around me.

Her little nightie had to be the hottest fucking thing I had ever seen. That she was wearing it told me she slept naked. She needed something quick to throw on to run to the bathroom. The sheer material showed me perfectly how divine she was. The sexy slope of her hip, thin waist and her big, heavy tits.

I stifled a groan and tried to force my thoughts  back to the music, but I couldn’t. If only she had crawled up beside me on the bed when I’d invited her to. I would still have her taste on my tongue, the scent of her on my fingers, her release all over the rest of me.

Fuck. I didn’t just want her like I’d never wanted another. I needed her.

How in the world would she ever need a bastard like me?

My own mother couldn’t see my worth.

Kendra wouldn’t either.

8 – Kendra

Two days later

Jax called several times a day, though most of the time I couldn’t understand him. The connection was horrible, but seeing where he was, it was understandable. The sadness in his voice tugged at my heart and more than anything I wanted to be there with him.

We’re barely friends, and yet I felt a connection to him that didn’t make sense. I needed to be careful to determine if it was just the burning heat of lust, or if something else had started to grow within me. I hadn’t been on a date in two years and wasn’t entirely sure I’d ever really been in romantic love.

Relationship and sex... yes, but short term and shallow was the resulting effect of all of them. This was different. Maybe it was a growing friendship that was building around our desire to test the waters physically. Either way, he was pulling back and I had closed the door as best I could. It was safer for all of us that way.

I packed up a bag for Tyson around lunchtime on Wednesday, and we took the Mercedes to the cafe down the street to meet Brian. I had my first paycheck as Jax wanted to start paying me on Tuesdays. With everything taken care of, my first check would simply go to Brian to pay him back.

The thrill of excitement rushed through me as we pulled up and parked. I got Tyson out and fixed his carrier into his stroller before working my long hair into a messy bun. My jeans and t-shirt left me looking like I should be riding on the subway, not driving a luxurious sedan. I obviously had a sugar daddy, which wasn’t too far from the truth.

“Hey you.” Brian stood as I walked into the cafe, a tall guy holding the door for me.

I thanked him and moved toward Brian for a quick hug. “Hey. Whew. I need to go to the gym. This pulling a baby in and out of the car is a big job.”

I sat down and he sat across from me before pulling the front of the stroller toward him and smiling.

“Oh my God. He’s totally precious.” Brian leaned over and tugged at Tyson’s foot as the baby laughed and smiled. “I want your job if you fuck things up.”

“You might be a better fit than me anyway.” I shrugged and reached over, fixing the baby’s blanket to ensure he stayed warm.

“How so?”

“Jax and I have a spark of heat between us. He took me and Tyson to dinner on Saturday night when I first got there and we kissed after dinner.”

“Shut the front door.” Brian turned his attention to me and nodded as the waiter arrived, setting two turkey sandwiches with fries down before us. “I kinda ordered yours.”

“It’s all good.” I picked up a fry and ate it quickly, half waiting for the lecture that was sure to come.

“And...”

“And what? It was a really great kiss.”

“I imagine so. The man’s a whore. We all know that. He’s not selective on TV or in the interviews he’s been in.”

“What do you mean?”

“He always brings a new girl, Kendra. He must have a ‘use only once’ policy. Never have I seen him with the same chick.”

I gaped at him. “He’s that famous to where you know who he dates.”

“All billionaires are. Come on, girl... stop being naive.” Brian winked and picked up his sandwich. “Has anything happened since?”

“No. He’s on a business trip.”

“Has he called?”

“Yeah, multiple times, but I have his Godson. It’s usually a quick conversation about Tyson.”

“No sex that night?” Brian lifted his eyebrow.

“No. It seemed like he wanted to, but he’s trying to keep the boundaries set up between us, which I get. I just want something more for the first time in a long time.”

“What? Kendra. No. This guy is horrible news.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged and picked at the turkey on my plate before turning toward Tyson. “I’m falling for them both, and it’s only been three days. Maybe I should just quit.”

“No. You’ve got this. You just need to stay on guard. You’re uber sensitive for people who are hurting or are in need. It’s one of the best parts about you, but this guy isn’t in need like the people you usually help. He’s emotionally fucked because of his sister. People make horrible choices when they’re emotionally hurting.”

“Are you saying I’m a horrible choice?” I sat back as a grimace moved across my face, hurt stabbing a needle into me.

He scowled at me. “Fuck no. Stop putting words into my mouth. I love you like a sister. You’re the best choice any guy could make. Hell, if I wasn’t gay I would have stepped in and made you mine years ago.” Brian leaned forward and took my hand, squeezing it. “Hear me. He’s a horrible choice. Your heart is going to get broken. I know guys like him and you do too. He’s playing a game. I promise you. Promise me you’ll be careful. Please.”

“I’ll be careful.” I nodded and picked up my sandwich. Brian was right. I needed to back up a little emotionally. It had been three or four days, and yet it felt like years. My phone buzzed in my purse and I dug it out, sliding my check across the table and wagging my eyebrows before answering it.

“What’s this?” Brian asked, his lips lifting in a smile.

“Billy’s ring!”

I laughed as he opened the envelope and let out a sound of excitement. Pressing the talk button on my phone, I turned and ran my fingers over Tyson’s arm, the sweet little boy having dozed back off.

“Hello?”

“Kendra. It’s Jax. Where are you?”

“I’m at Jazzie’s Cafe with Brian and Tyson. Are you back at the house?”

“No, but I need you to get back to the penthouse. Now.”

“What? Why?” Fear rushed through me. Jax’s voice was tight with angst. Was he mad at me? Was I supposed to stay in the house all the time? Maybe I had missed his rules and was now breaking one of them.

“The baby is in danger.”

His words shot through me and I glanced toward Tyson and shook my head. “No, Jax. He’s fine. He’s sound asleep right next to me. I wouldn’t let—”

He cut me off, his voice tense and bordering on hysteria. “You don’t understand. The fucking plane crash wasn’t an accident. Get Tyson home. Now!”

“Okay. I get it. I’m scared now, so thank you. What aren’t you telling me?”

A long sigh resounded on the phone, the sadness in it almost breaking me in two. “Someone wanted all the passengers on my sister’s flight to die and they didn’t. Tyson was supposed to be on that plane. All of Alice’s wealth is lined up to go to him and then me. That makes him the richest boy in the country. He’s set up to inherit billions and now is a target. Once they take him out. I’m up next.”

Continued in the Billionaire’s Seduction :

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