Over five years I’ve lived a bittersweet lie as David Hargrove’s kept woman, Maria Bell. David’s shown no interest in me beyond what he wants. Love’s a bitter pill to love when it's not returned. I'm bought and paid for. Kept in a gilded cage. David suspects nothing of the secrets I hold. Tonight, David announced he’s marrying my stepsister. He doesn’t know. The level of betrayal I’ve experienced is unbelievable. Everything becomes complicated as the lies surface. Leaving and facing it alone are my only choices. I’m living in fear as I pick up pieces of a life, I believed lost. Blackmail, sabotage, and intrigue dog my steps. I don’t know who I can trust or how to win. I won’t surrender without a fight this time. They don’t recognize me. They won’t see me coming. My name is David Hargrove, and someone is trying to destroy my family. I must marry my rival’s daughter. His stepdaughter signed the contract. Before we learned, she couldn’t deliver the Belgrave empire to me. She can help me secure my family’s empire as my fiancée. I need the ugly biological daughter, Maria Belgrave, who’s hiding. Things get confusing. Maria Belgrave sent two women to represent her. One is my Maria. My missing woman. The betrayal and conflict of interest still stand. I will say when our contract has ended. How can I work with her? I know nothing about her. She owes me answers and loyalty. Perhaps I’ll use this to my advantage. When David learns of Maria’s past life. Will he help her? Or use her and take over the business himself? It starts with an engagement and the death of a patriarch.
Lihat lebih banyak~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~
I sat on David Hargrove’s lap and poured him champagne as I listened to him plot with his assistant. They intended to wage war on a rival company I knew. David expected no one to lead the firm when the owner died. He crowed to Jake, his assistant, about having signed contracts today that sealed his control. I didn’t listen to too much. I’ve learned I’ve no role in his business and no influence. He’s oblivious to his mistake.
It’s pointless to speak. Everything’s lost, including David.
“Jake, I hope Sabrina received her copy of the contract. We’ll discuss the announcement another time. Old Belgrave just needs to put his other foot in his grave.” David said. Jake nodded, and they laughed in enjoyment of their plot. While I died a slow death on the inside. “Then the competition will end. She’ll sign Belgrave Tech over. Then, I won’t need her, and my family’s screwed.” David Hargrove dragged me to this club. He’d insisted he needed to celebrate. He didn’t say what he was celebrating. David was celebrating his signing of a marriage contract. He also signed other contracts with Jake. This way no one suspected he was taking over his family’s business interests and the Belgrave family business interests. I didn’t count as a threat. Give David and Jake credit, they don’t know, and the Belgrave family members have forgotten I exist.
The Belgrave fortune wasn’t mine to inherit. Should I care if he’s destroying the thieves? Of course, I’m not bitter.
The problem’s listening to him speak of my father, Edgar Belgrave’s pending death. I’m a little drunk, my head’s buzzing. “Sabrina? Do you mean Sabrina Vines?” That’s her last name, not Belgrave. It’s not a name I want to hear.
“No, I mean Sabrina Belgrave, Edgar Belgrave’s daughter. My lawyer brokered a marriage deal with her for me. I’ll own both companies. Don’t worry Maria baby. It’s all business. You don’t worry your little head about anything. I’ll see your allowance increase if you play your cards right and be a good girl.” David assured me as if I cared. He patted my thigh close to the edge of my short skirt. As I stared at him, thinking how he’s making me angry. I bit my tongue to not tell him.
With calming breaths, I tried to say nothing I’d regret. What a bitter pill.
This hurt to think I had to rely on him to live. He and Sabrina would live off my money. He’d give me scraps as rewards to entertainment him. I wouldn’t have any power. Sabrina has my life and now my lover. I wasn’t worthy. I could accept being his kept girlfriend if no one knew. It’s another thing as his mistress. I draw the line at damaging families. I can’t watch him live while I stand in the shadows waiting for my turn at pretend. That’s too much. Before I could say anything, my phone rang. David and Jake didn’t notice I had more to say.
“Excuse me, I must take this.” I used the call as an excuse to escape and clear my head. If I looked at David’s face, he’d yell at me. He hates me taking calls from friends when I am with him. I’ll hear about it when I return. I’m here on his dime, so I pay attention to him. Yet, he ignored me the entire night and talked about Sabrina.
Outside, I could hear my thoughts and the person on the phone. I screwed up and answered the call without checking the caller ID. I wince at my stupidity. It must have been because I’m too buzzed to think straight, and I’ll regret doing this. It’s my excuse. “Hello?” I held the phone to my ear, something I didn’t do every day. Maybe I wasn’t as upset and drunk as I thought? This kept the conversation private.
“Ms. Maria Belgrave?” I closed my eyes and regretted I’d answered the call. Years passed without hearing that name. It’s been longer still since someone called me it. I recognized the voice. Mr. Edwards, Edgar Belgrave’s personal lawyer, my father’s legal Pitbull. I didn’t want anyone to hear him speak. If David followed me out, I don’t know how he’d react, and tonight’s hard enough. I didn’t want to end up charged with anything because David felt betrayed.
“Evening, Mr. Edwards. Why are you calling?” I asked with a wince. I hoped he didn’t hear how drunk I was. How I prayed he didn’t ask me to start a video call. Many do this to confirm someone’s identity. If he demanded it, I’m screwed. I don’t look like I used to. Also, if David interrupted my call, how would I explain Mr. Edwards to him? The things he’d accuse me of.
“I’m sorry to do this Miss. Belgrave. It’s fallen on my shoulders to inform you, your father passed today.” Mr. Edwards sounded unaffected by the news. I wish I was like that. The bar didn’t have enough alcohol to help me deal with this. I’ve said he’s my last blood relative. I’m alone. We hadn’t agreed about many things. But he was my father. He’s gone. The stabbing pain to my heart made me resist breathing for the longest time. At first, I couldn’t cry, although I wanted to. I stood there frozen.
I left because I was told to. He’d married Sabrina’s mother, Jaqueline. My presence became an embarrassment to my family. I excelled at nothing and looked just as bad. My redeeming qualities were in short supply in their eyes. The Belgrave family tree bore a unique trait. Every member had a special skill. The family skills spread over a wide range of smart, beautiful people, and then there’s me. My specialty? I’m nothing special. In fact, I couldn’t find my beauty, or my brains. I couldn’t save myself with brains or beauty, no matter what I did or tried. My stepsister modeled for a few years. I accomplished less than her.
My father tried schools and doctors. Jacqueline Vines, Sabrine’s mother, convinced my father to give me my mother’s inheritance and cut me loose. The night before their wedding, his personal assistant came to me with a bank card. He told me I wasn’t part of the family and to go away. I wasn’t welcome and would receive nothing more from my father. I should become used to the idea of being an orphan. My father’s assistant escorted me out of the hospital in the middle of the night. He left me behind the hospital with the trash.
Years later, I found an article dated a week later claiming I’d run away from the hospital and a cover up occurred. An investigation had started. I left it alone and stayed with David. Once bitten, twice shy.
I understood why David said he wanted to wait until after my father died to announce his engagement to Sabrina. How screwed up is this? I can feel the invisible knife twisting into my chest. It’s not fair. I feel like that fat girl, but I’m not her. I’ve done the work. Found and fixed the trouble. I’ve returned to school and finished my education. With a few words, she’s back. I’m feeling every pound and slight. All that work meant nothing. I couldn’t fight for David. Not from where I stood. Once they told their story about me, I’d be lucky if he sues me for identity fraud or some such crime.
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~SEVEN MONTHS LATER I had a month, maybe six weeks, until I would give birth to a baby boy. The Hargrove family members were beside themselves, keeping David and me happy because of the baby. The baby impressed them when they learned of it. But their traditional attitudes found satisfaction when they learned our baby was a boy. I would be faultless in their eyes. The collaboration project wasn’t a collaboration as it started. Now, it spanned three divisions of Hargrove Tech. We would use it as a headquarters for all three divisions where we could share research and resources between divisions. With the ground broken and construction started, we were working with the division as they were right now. I’ve settled my business in preparation to hand it over for a time to Josy. So, I could give birth without worrying about the business. Then I could spend my time settling my baby into life at home, bonding with him, healing, an
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~ “Maria, welcome home. You arrived at the perfect time. I can’t believe I’m saying this. Jake has bought out Chris Skylar’s company! What is the world coming to?” Josy came rushing forward to meet us. “Oh, hi. I hope your honeymoon’s good, and you better have some pictures or video. No, I don’t mean naughty stuff either. Did you bring back any souvenirs?” “If you mean a baby? Yes, we did.” I smiled and waited for that to hit through Josy’s rambling. “No, I don’t mean a baby. I mean a new purse for me. Wait. You’re pregnant?!” Josy squealed. “David, you couldn’t keep it wrapped long enough to do a little tourist type thing?” “Josy. Honeymoon. I did what normal men do. I got busy.” David said with a smile on his face as Jake clapped him on his back as he congratulated us. “Let’s get you all home. I guess I can’t say two anymore. Now, can I?” Jake asked with a humorous half smile. He let the sec
~ MARIA HARGROVE ~ David was true to his word, and we did land in London, England. Not some other London. He’d teased me most of the way there in the most affection ways. But he wouldn’t touch me on the plane. When I asked him why? David said, “You were Maria Bell then. But now you’re Maria Hargrove. I expect others to respect you, and I must lead by example, don’t I? Isn’t that what all leaders are supposed to do?” He said this in a light tone, but I heard how serious he felt about it. There’s no way I could prepare myself for his words. It’s like a man uttering that he loved you without warning. Or proposing marriage. If David didn’t now have a track record of doing things like this, I would panic. “David, you would’ve not have that long ago. I’ve not changed. It’s you that’s changed and I appreciate it. No, I love it and you all the better for it. Just don’t let it slide back.” “I don’t won’t. But tonight, I want us to forget about the
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ Maria didn’t waste time and that kept everything going with a smooth grace I found enjoyable. Other than my uncle’s outburst, it went well in my perspective. Maria’s smile hadn’t left her face all day, and I loved seeing it. Now, with dinner is over, speeches are over, cake cut, marriage documents signed, and first dances done. I’m more than ready to leave. We should head to the airport. I’m not thrilled to maneuver through the airport.I knew my private plane was ready this morning. We’d processed our documentation and flight plan days ago. Jake and Josy stored our luggage on the plane for us this morning. The wedding planner would take care of the clothing we used today and return it to our home. She’d have Maria’s wedding gown cleaned and packed into protective archivist clothing packaging. “Are you ready David?” Maria said from behind me. I turned around when I heard her question behind me. There she was, standing beh
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ The wedding ceremony was over. We’d exchanged rings, signed documents before witnesses, and all that. David was all smiles. It’s unexpected, but there it’s. His arm didn’t leave my back. He was true to his promise, and he didn’t leave my side. He gave me attention, as a person and as an object. David’s uncle glared at me after I told the wedding planner it’s fine to go on to the next stage. Which was removing everyone from the church and moving them to the reception hall for dinner and reception. I thought everything was fine. Everyone’s happy. “Are you insane, woman? It’s far too early. The hotel preparations won’t be finished for your guests, and everyone who arrives there will find themselves turned away. How embarrassing. Are you looking to embarrass your guests? How uncouth? David, I can’t believe you think she’s Belgrave. See her,” David’s uncle loudly exclaimed, stomping towards us. His cane banging hard on the har
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ Some may say spending the night before the wedding together is bad luck. But David didn’t want to leave me alone. He didn’t want to leave my side. His words were something about not trusting people and their double standards. David promised me that he’d stay beside me as long as he could, and he’d determined to do that. Along with the flood of attention he’d been including presents and surprises for me. It wasn’t the first time; he’d given me so many presents. But it’s the first time that the presents and attention were personalized. The personalization all had a theme though. They all faced the future and things she’d need to use in her life with him as his wife. Not just as a piece of jewelry along side his cufflinks. But his partner at work, social events, and at play. From a platinum fountain pen with her name engraved with her name and crystal encrusted, to a tennis dress that matched an outfit for him so they could
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “I’ve finished everything with the wedding planner and now we must wait for the day. Are you sure you are happy with everything David? Is there nothing you’d like to change?” Maria asked as she settled into bed beside me with a tired smile. She and Josy had spent weeks selecting the wedding planner. They spent an additional three months working with the wedding planner to complete all the details. Now she lay beside me. She was nervous since our wedding was three days away. I returned her smile. We took care of our business today and planned so we could have the time we wanted for our wedding and honeymoon. I think I felt just as tired as Maria. “Maria. You’ve done excellent work with the wedding planner, and I’ve no issues with what you’ve done and planned. I’ve focused on ensuring our businesses and future ventures wouldn’t cause any issues for Jake and Josy while we’re away during our honeymoon.” “Remind me why we’re g
~ DAVID HARGROVE ~ “Ah, there you are, Maria. Thank you for informing me first, instead of sharing it with everyone. Enemies seeking control make everything worse. Once Maria entered, I mentioned this to avoid asking why she was late. She seemed so eager to announce it. Maria paused. She was on the verge of speaking. She frowned at me, and I read it as confusion. “Maria. Are you alright? Is something wrong? Anything happen on your way here? “I’m confused because I don’t know how you feel about it. How do you feel about my explanation? Do you hate it? Should I bear the consequences alone?” I sighed in relief when Maria said this. She wasn’t holding back, and that meant we could deal with whatever happened. “Hell, no, Maria. I’ve said nothing like that. Your explanation’s perfect, but I want you to add a few things.” I said to Maria and directed her to sit beside on the sofa beside me. A smile settled onto my face as she sat do
~ MARIA BELGRAVE ~ I considered it insane, but it’s brilliant to spread the word that we required a creative wedding planner and welcomed ideas. Here we sat reviewing countless submissions, page by page, video after video. “Maria, these people went all out, even throwing a baby shower and revealing the gender, just in case you’re getting married and expecting a child. No pressure there and no assumptions. Ew.” Josy said after closing another presentation package with a look of disgust and tossed it into the rejection pile. She discovered several people like this, assuming and attempting to sugarcoat the situation. But it all appeared as judgmental in the end. “It’s okay. We told no one if I’m pregnant. Thought It’s not a crazy leap to assume why a man as rich as David is marrying his sugar baby in such a rush. Many people share this thought. Hell, I’m not sure how many know I’m the Belgrave heir.” That had me pondering whether I should rew
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