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Billionaire's Lost Girl 36
Elaine.For a long moment, none of us spoke. I grasped the edge of the bar for support, trying to figure out how to go about his questions while he sat back, his eyes fixed on me, intense.Damn you, Alessandro.“Elaine?” he breathed. “I'm waiting. We agreed not to keep secrets from each other,” his voice was raised slightly now. “Were you married once to Alessandro? Do you have a baby for him? Do you have a baby at all? Is that why you asked me about single moms — ”“Oh, Goodness me, Max!” I exploded. The bar wasn't crowded yet, but the few people around turned to stare at us. Ugh. “What are you even saying? You heard him alright. We were almost married. Almost. Why read meanings into this sort of thing?”He held my gaze. “I've never doubted you before. Talk to me. Who the hell is Finn?”Shit. Here it was. Here was the chance to get this over with once and for all. To tell him the truth and unburden my heart. To be free from the pain of keeping things away from him. The only problem I
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ElaineI sighed in content as Max and I walk down the aisle of the plane to our seats. It was Tuesday already, so we were headed back to New York. Upon my request, Max had worked things out with the plane officials to let me stay close to the window so I could look down as our plane coursed through the white clouds, the cities below looking like little dollhouses. But something told me that Max was up to something, judging by the mischievous glint in his eyes.I was right.Before I could have the chance to sit, I gasped when he carried me, laughing as he plopped down to sit with me on his lap. Butterflies flutter in my stomach and my heart felt as though it was about to burst out from my chest. “What are you doing?” I asked, giggling while glancing around cautiously. First class passengers weren't normally much, so there were some empty seats, but still. “You know we could get into trouble if a flight attendant catches us this way, baby.”“Who made up that rule?” he snorted, tucking a
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The next day, I didn't go for lunch break. I was so swamped with work that by dismissal, I wasn't even halfway done, and I was more than tired. Max too was so busy, we barely even texted. I'd tried to keep things strictly professional in the office, since it seemed like we would be spending a lot of time in his home afterwards, but we still found a way to sneak a text or two to each other despite our busy schedules. Now, as I stood in front of my vanity, staring at my reflection and combing my hair, I couldn't help but feel giddy. He'd promised to take me out for dinner tonight, and when I asked where he told me it was a surprise, and I was going to love it.Storked and thrilled, I didn't mind rushing into a thrift shop to buy the a brand new dress. There was no way I was going to keep borrowing and wearing Cora's, even though she insisted that it was completely fine. I loved putting on my own stuff. While she was out on a date with Terry tonight, I'd be with Max, while Finn would be
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Elaine My first instinct was to turn and run back the way we came, faster than my legs could carry me. Away from this deeper mess, I was about to put myself into. Away from this disastrous night ahead of me. I was too dazed to even talk. The alarm bells were ringing loud like sirens in my ears, and fucking Lord, I wanted nothing but to heed them. The problems couldn't stop coming. Up until now, Max knew nothing about Finn. Involving his family made me feel even more guilty than ever, and all I could imagine was the worst scenario possible. What if they got all personal and wanted to know more about me; my family, my occupation before I met Max, my life in Manhattan? What if they asked if I'd ever gotten an abortion? If I had a child? Oh, God. Oh, God. I wanted to throw up so bad. There was no way I could lie to them. It wasn't in my DNA to be so deceptive, and I couldn't evade this night since we were here already. This wasn't the way things were supposed to go. This wasn't how I w
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ElaineWe walked into an open elevator at the end of the lobby, and rode up to the first floor. The ride was silent, safe for Max subtly biting my earlobe and tickling my side. I stifled my giggle as I tried to nudge him off, but he caught my elbow, caressing it. When the elevator stopped and we stepped out into a huge, swanky kitchen, he wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing the back of my neck, while Samson watched us through his peripheral vision, smiling to himself.In the kitchen, there was a tall, beautiful blonde girl donning on a long chef cap, looming over the gas cooker. She turned when she heard the sound of our footsteps, and smiled broadly at Max. I took in her scary baby bump and faded looks, trying not to gag. I didn't remember looking this hideous when I was pregnant for Finn.She waddles towards us slowly, and Max pulled her in for a hug, careful not to press her stomach. “Hey, sweetheart. So nice to have you here.”“Thanks, Jessy,” he released her and turned to m
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Elaine After dinner, Jessy took the kids upstairs, then returned to sit with us at the table. I sipped cautiously from my glass, still marveled by the tasty meal we just had. “You're a really good cook, Jessy,” I beamed at her. “Thanks for the meal. It was fantastic.” She rested her elbows on the table, leaning her jaw heavily on the heel of her palm and smiled back. “Thanks for coming to see us, too. We really love having you around.” I nodded, warmed by how kind she was. Her simplicity and hospitality was too endearing from someone who lived in money. I was glad that she knew her roots, and her kindness was all thanks to her parents' upbringing. “So you clean and sweep as well?” She nodded. “Of course. The house is my station,” she glanced at her husband who was watching us converse intently. “But Samson is so paranoid about me losing the baby even though I'm in my eighth month. He got me a cleaner and gardener, but I dismissed her earlier today because she wasn't feeling so well
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ElaineThe days passed by in a whirlwind and before I knew it, it was Friday already. Max was still in the dark about Finn. Each second that passed, it got even harder to pick up my phone, call and tell him. At this point I was really scared about his reaction. I'd spent almost every night at his place, and whenever he came over to mine, Finn was in school or hanging out with Cora. I kinda hoped that he'd catch on, with the small footwear by the entrance doorway or the little, children books littered on the Lucite table in the living room, but so far he was oblivious to the details, and I had no idea how to break it to him.Yesterday, Jessy invited me over to their place again, and I was surprised at how differently Bruce and his assistant treated me. No searching. They just pulled open the gates and admitted me into the house. Turned out that Jessy wanted me to wear a cool dress of hers and save my money. Ryan was playing with the kids when I arrived, but was delighted to see me as w
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It was exactly 8 PM when I got out of the house to go over to Max's place. The rain was pelting down hard, and I didn't have an umbrella, so I got drenched pretty badly.His eyes widened in surprise when he pulled open the door and saw me standing there, all wet and shivering. “My goodness, Elaine,” he gasped, pulling me inside at once and holding me close, getting himself wet as well. “What's wrong with you? Why didn't you come with an umbrella?”I wanted to tell him I didn't have one but he was already dragging me with him toward the stairs. “You naughty girl. Don't you care about yourself? Come on, let's get you cleaned up.”“Wait — ” I clamped a hand on his wrist to stop him. He swiveled around, a look of relief crossing his face when I crashed my lips against his. Groaning, I locked my arms around his neck, shoving my tongue out to meet his. We savored each other's mouths, our lips moving in sync for a few minutes before I drew back for air. “I'm so sorry,” I blurted out honestly
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Billionaire's Lost Girl Epilogue
Elaine“Hey, Cherry.”Two words. Two fucking words whispered sexily in my ears and I was close to exploding. It felt as though my body was on automated response to anything that had to do with him. I sat still, rigid as he pecked my left cheek, before turning to scoot a chair back to sit, his knees touching mine, his eyes lingering. Samson hugged Jess and waved at Ryan, before sitting down as well.What the hell was happening?“Hi,” I blurted out at last, swallowing hard. He clasped my hands in his, the heat from his hands calming my goosebumps while making my pulse race. He stared at me intently, a mischievous smirk on his lips. The last time he looked at me this way was that night, right before I told him all about Finn. My eyes darted to Jess who seemed equally confused. Samson sat, all laid back, with his usual cold, domineering aura.Oh, fudge.“Why are you boys back early?” Jess finally asked, her face scrunched up in confusion. “Has the party ended? Ryan?”Ryan shrugged. “I don
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Elaine“I'm warning you, Elaine. One of these days, you'll have no choice but to give that young man a chance. Look at how much he's texted you... it'll be sad to leave him in the lurch,” Jess said, glancing over the rim of her wine glass at Ryan, who nodded in approval. “You're twenty-seven and you have the entire world on the heel of your palm. Make the best use of it.”We were seated on the outdoor patio upstairs, adjacent to the children's living room. Jess stood up from time to time to go check up on the baby who was fast asleep in his crib. Ryan was having a bit of a sour time with Jake bailing out from the whole party thing, but didn't want to call it off. I could've gone, if Jess was strong, but she hadn't completely recovered yet and it wasn't wise to take a new baby to a party so we all decided to hang out here. Besides, the last person I wanted to keep bumping into was Max, who was undoubtedly in attendance.Rolling my eyes, I waved her advice off. “I told you guys, remembe
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MaxThe reflection of the hanging strobe lights flickered across the pool. It was a little before sunset, and the waiters were dressed in bright white starched shirts and red glittering pants, circling with trays balanced on their curt fingertips. It was a pretty chill Saturday night and Ryan was having a party to celebrate his one year anniversary with his boyfriend, Jake.I was seated with Samson and the rest of the boys. Jess was home, taking care of the newest member of the Sturm family — Ashton, with Ryan helping her out, despite being needed here. Samson was agitated, and I knew he wanted nothing but to bolt out of this place and go home to her. I didn't blame him though, Jess was one in a million, and there were times I was forced to concede that their love for each other was better than the best fairytale out there.Before he met Jess, Samson was a party whore. He fucked around, with multiple girls, stayed at clubs till dawn, yet still managed to turn up for work in the mornin
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ElaineIt was a few months till Autumn, and the air was becoming chilly. Max was letting me have the car for a day while he stayed home with Finn at his place. I pulled into the driveway, turning off the ignition. Finn hooted and clapped in delight.“We're home!”He'd begged to stay with Max for the weekend, as well, and while they hanged out, I planned to get my shit together and try a blind date out. I wasn't getting any younger, and tying myself down by what had happened wasn't doing me any good.Looking up at Max through the rear view mirror, I caught his eyes, his lips parted as though he wanted to say something. It had become a habit for him to do this each time I was about to take the car back home with me — lingering as though he had more to say. He twirled the keys in his hands idly, not taking his eyes off me even for a second. At last he whipped his gaze to Finn. “Hey, soldier. Mind going in while I talk with Mamma for a bit?”“Okay, Daddy,” Finn giggled, snatching the keys
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ElaineIt had been two months since Max Sturm attempted to take my son away from me.Two months of not seeing or speaking to each other. Two months of pain that refused to go away.My mother once taught me that time was the greatest healer. Wounds heal with time, same with misunderstandings. But the gap between Max and I only deepened as the day progressed. I couldn't get over my hate for him, even with the fact that unity was strength and Finn needed us both at this crucial point of time in his life. I didn't know how to forgive him, and since he wasn't making any conscious effort to make amends for all the pain he caused, I figured that, perhaps he felt the same way. He hated me as well.I stopped searching for a job and just plunged deep into an abyss of emptiness, sadness and reflectiveness. Ivy and the other girls tried to get my spirits up, and I even received a response for an important interview I signed months ago, but there was no motivation to work. The fear of having Finn
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MaxAfter the court proceedings, I didn't go home immediately. Instead, I took a detour to Samson's place, to tell him the news. I still couldn't get over my guilt. Elaine was beyond distraught. I hated the way she looked at me. Like I was the most disgusting human she'd ever been cursed to encounter, and maybe she was right. I was taking things too far. I wasn't in my right senses — I was letting my paternal instinct ruin everything.Riding up the elevator to the top floor, I ran a hand through my hair, feeling like shit. The judge had instructed that I sort things out with Elaine. That the least thing Finn needed right now was his parents fighting. I'd never want a situation where I would be one to ruin my boy's childhood, so I had to be the bigger person and try to make a conscious effort at reconciliation. But the deal was, I had no idea how to face Elaine. She hated me. And rightly so. I was a fucking dickhead.The elevator bell clinked, and the doors drew apart. Walking into the
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Elaine I rushed up the stairs that led to the entrance of the mansion, hardly seeing anything, thanks to my rage. Max must've been expecting me, for he drew the door shut behind me the second I whizzed in.I whirled around to face him, thrusting the papers into his face. “Do you mind explaining what the fucking hell this is?”“Calm down, Elaine. Deep breaths,” he stated calmly.“Don't tell me to calm down!” I howled. “How long have you known him, Max? Four damn seconds and suddenly you think you've got what it takes to look after him for the rest of his life?”He scoffed in irritation. “He's safer with me, Elaine. You're the one going to club, meeting strange men and doing drugs.”“I'm not doing drugs. I was drugged! It could happen to anyone.”“That's not a valid excuse either. Why on earth will you leave Finn at home to go spend time with spoilt random people at a club? You're not in highschool anymore, Elaine. You're a mother. And you've got to act like one.”I glared at him, my t
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ElaineI laid haphazardly on the parlour couch, half-dozing off. My joints were aching and it felt as though bricks were in my head. The room was silent with Cora sitting on the sette opposite, her brows knitted together worriedly. It was a half past one, so it wasn't yet time for her to pick Finn up from preschool.“So, you honestly don't remember any of the other boys except Sky?” she frowned, adjusting herself to peer at me closely. “What are the chances that they were the ones responsible for drugging you? And why would they do that? You weren't alone with them. They didn't drug Ivy or one of the other girls.”“I'm lost, Cora,” I muttered, shaking my head gently while yawning. “It could have been anyone who slipped something in the drink, but the boys are the prime suspect. Things went downhill the minute they approached us. I'm not sure it was Sky...” I trailed off, rubbing my temples softly.“Well, thank heavens you're getting better now. The doctor said that the drugs, coupled
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MaxIt was a few minutes past ten in the night when my phone trilled on the table, disrupting the otherwise quiet solitude of my study. I looked up from the manuscript I was working on, pushing the tortoise-shell glasses I'd recently gotten back over the bridge of my nose as I peered at the strange number on the screen.I'd never seen that number before, and a part of me felt irritated. Perhaps it was Ivy, or one of the girls in the proofreading department. Sighing, I picked it up at last.“Hello?”“M-Mr Sturm?” Ivy's frightened voice set off my hackles. I rose from my chair quickly. Something was wrong.“Ivy? What's wrong? You don't sound so good.”“I'm so sorry,” she blurted out tearfully. “It's all my fault. She wanted to leave when the boys approached but I stopped her...now she's...” she rambled on.“Calm down, Ivy. Deep breaths,” I stated calmly. “Breathe in...breathe out. Now, tell me what's wrong. Who did you stop from leaving?”“It's Elaine, Sir. She was found, knocked out co
