Brent POV
“But I don’t know where to start. How did you court your wives?” I asked the Ford brothers and Noah as we gathered around the mini-bar.
I was holding a shot glass in hand, drunk as f*ck, but still lucid enough to know what I wanted to say.
It was my desperation talking, seeking answers. I had never courted anyone.
The Ford brothers, Charles, Rowan, Marcus, and Noah Hunter, looked at me as if I had grown another head.
Noah spit out his drink. It was a good thing he was able to think quickly and let his shot glass catch everything, or he would have splashed it all over us.
&nb
Brent POVI left Noah Hunter’s house with the wadded bills in my hands. I did not know what to do with them, so I stuffed them into my pocket. The bills created a bulge, but it did not matter. I am not making an impression on anyone. In truth, I don’t need the money.Like the Fords and Noah Hunter, I was loaded. I now have my own security and surveillance company that has clientele all over the world. In the years since Beth and I separated, I built an empire that took most of my time, and now I realize that all of this was for naught. I was busy building a house, but what was the use of the house if I was going to lose the two people who could make it home? I have tons of money, but if I lost Beth to that perfect doctor. Money is worthless. I already lost Beth and Krizzie once, and if I don’t work fast, I will lose them permanently. “Come on, let me take you home.” Rowan tapped my shoulder just as I was mulling over calling a cab or driving my car. “Don’t worry about me,” I
Brent POVI felt like a specimen under a microscope as Carlo Bianchi circled me.He made me stand while he studied me from every angle, running a critical eye over me.Next, he made me sit in front of his vanity chair and mirror. He twirled my hair and parted it in various directions while he looked at my reflection in the vanity mirror.Then, he took out the scissors, and I began to panic.“What are you going to do?” I nervously asked when he started to snip at my hair.“I am making you more attractive. You have a gorgeous face, but you bury it under
Brent POV“What do you say we buy flowers for your mommy?” I asked Krizzie out of the blue.Her eyes grew round.“Of course! Flowers are so romantic. I wish Riley would give me, too.” She said dreamily that had me stumped.“Why do you want flowers from Riley?”“He’s my boyfriend, Daddy!” Came Krizzie’s reply.Horror filled my face at the idea. My baby is only eight. How could she be thinking about courtship and romance at that age?“
Brent POVBeth’s words felt like an attack. Luckily my little girl interrupted."Mommy, Daddy had a makeover for you so he could look better than Dr. Roberts."What a save!I wished the floor would open up and swallow me when my cute, talkative daughter snitched on me, especially since her voice was loud enough for everyone in the lobby to hear.Sweat beaded on my forehead and neck in embarrassment.I had never gotten this much attention until now.I could feel people staring at me and self
Beth POVI don’t know what Brent is trying to do, but he was getting on my nerves. When Krizzie sprung the idea that Brent was taking us out on a date, I had half a mind to refuse. But I could not let Krizzie down. I saw the expectant look on her face. She was happy with the prospect that Brent was going to date us. “We will go take your car,” Brent suggested, but I shook my head. “What about your car?” “I can leave it at the parking lot, and I will ask one of my men to pick it up for me,” I told her. I shrugged my shoulders, thinking that if I refused, it would end up in an argument. You can never win an argument with Brent. He was the type who pushed and insisted, and right now, I am at the state where I find confrontations and discussions bothersome. I would always choose to be quiet to maintain the peace. We were about to board my car when I heard someone call my name. I turned around to see that it was Dr. Roberts. When I stopped, he jogged toward us. “I am sorry, bu
Beth POV“What is wrong with you?” I asked Brent after he came down from Krizzie’s bedroom.We went to dinner as planned, and Krizzie was over the moon.It was a rare event for Krizzie—the three of us sharing a meal because Brent and I alternated taking care of her most of the time. We co-parent.Brent even bought the house next door to be effective in our parenting.In this way, Krizzie has easy access to both parents. Though I am the main parent in this set-up, Brent helped as much as he could. Plus, he was a good provider. He even bought this house for Krizzie for convenience and easy access. Brent sat on the couch in front of me. “What are you talking about?” He acted clueless, which added to my frustration. “Why are you messing up our relationship?”“I am not messing up anything. You did.” He told me. “Since when?” Now, it was my time to be confused. I could not recall a time when I had become errant in our agreements pertaining to our co-parenting set-up. Brent did not s
Beth POV“If I am selfish. I would do that.” He countered so casually that my anger meter was beginning to exceed its limit. It was ready to burst into flames. “And what are you trying to imply? That you are the epitome of selflessness, is that it?” I snapped, too angry to care whether my voice was going through the roof. I don’t know where Brent was getting all this nerve to tell me.“You have some nerve! You who never wanted my baby in the first place.” I hissed.My teeth gritted and my hands clenched into fists. “Because it was never in our agreement, d*mn it, Beth. All along, I thought we were in sync with our ideals. We agreed not to have any babies, but what did you do? You went behind my back and got yourself pregnant without my knowledge.” Tears sprung in my eyes when I remembered all that happened nine years ago. I thought I was already past it, but d*mn, it still hurts like h*ll.I sighed, trying to keep my tears in check because I didn’t need them now. It was not g
Beth POVWhen the door slammed shut, and I was left alone in the house, it was as if all the fight left me.I felt so drained.Arguing with Brent had been emotionally and mentally taxing. That is why I avoided it at all costs.If we could co-exist peacefully with our child, that would be better.For years after our divorce, I accepted that all we could ever be is Krizzie’s parents.I never want to return to that time when all I do is beg for his love and attention.When he offered marriage,
Brent POVDo you know what heaven feels like?It was having the love of your life wrap her arms around your massive frame and hold on to you like she did not want to let go or part from you. That was heaven for me - being held by Beth like this was my new definition of high. Before, what made me high was dodging bullets and trying to outwit Hades from the door of death.I used to live in the thrill of danger, but no more. That’s the reason I built BASS Incorporated frame by frame. For my own protection.I already cheated death once, and I am not sure I can do it again. I released her and cupped her chin. Then, I leaned my head in to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. At first, I only pressed our lips together and pulled back. Her tongue darted to worry her upper and lower lips, and I became excited.I pulled her again, and this time, I took her lips in a searing kiss.I took control of the kiss, nibbling and chewing on her lips before I let my tongue slide over the seams, wai
Brent POV“You are a billionaire.” She uttered in a daze, and I nodded my head. BASS Incorporated is a renowned surveillance and security company.“Why didn’t you tell me?”“As you mentioned earlier, your desires are simple. There is nothing about my company or wealth that could impress you.” I told her bluntly. “Still. It’s one piece of information you kept from me. I was supposed to know because I was your wife.”“At the time, the BASS was not this big. I started as a private investigator. My reputation grew with the help of Noah Hunter. He threw work my way. I specialized in corporate espionage. I unravel many cases of economic sabotage and stealing company trade secrets. Then, the Fords also gave me jobs.” “Isn’t that a bit dangerous?” Worry etched on her face, and I leaned forward to smoothen the folds it created on her forehead. “I am doing administrative work nowadays. Before, I used to handle cases that took me weeks, sometimes months, to finish.” The creases on her foreh
Brent POVI held out my hand and anxiously waited for Beth to take it.When she placed her hand on mine, I closed the gap between us to pull her to my chest and wrapped my arms around her.“Thank you.” I closed my eyes and sighed.Beth pushed at my chest and self-consciously looked around.“People are staring.” She whispered shyly.But I was not concerned about that. What matters is that Beth agreed to give us a try.“I don’t care about them. I only care about us.&rdqu
Brent POVI felt her resistance fading away.Our chests heaved with too much emotion, but I was not letting her go.She twisted her body, and I released her, but I made sure that she was not far.I took her hand, all the while looking straight into her eyes.“I told you, I love you.”“Love is nurtured, Bernt. You did nothing in
Brent POVI did not know my promise would come to a test early that morning when Krizzie and I walked out of the kitchen to find Beth and Dr. Roberts at the door, talking sweetly.They were so engrossed with each other that they did not notice us.“I am sorry about last night,” Beth said.“No. It’s me who needed to apologize for my rude behavior. I am sorry, Beth. I got jealous of your ex-husband.”Beth hugged a bouquet of roses to her chest and put them under her nose to sniff.Her action dove a knife deep into my heart, but I wouldn’t gi
Brent POVShe is avoiding me.“Mommy, ahh!” Krizzie opened her mouth and took a bite from the sandwich Beth placed near her mouth.“Yummy.” She declared while munching happily.“How about Daddy? You let him have a bite out of our sandwich, too.” Krizzie prodded her mom.The smile on Beth’s face froze. She did not move until I forced her by coiling my fingers around her wrist and pulling her hands near my mouth so I could take a bite out of her sandwich.All the while, I was looking at her.
Beth POV“Mommy, wakey, wakey!” I opened bloodshot eyes to search for Krizzie, but when I felt the tremors around me, I immediately shot up in bed. “Krizzie!” I cried in alarm.I was ready to pluck her from the bed when I realized something.Krizzie was jumping on the bed. I pressed a hand to my chest to steady my heavily pounding heart as I stared at my daughter. I really thought there was an earthquake. Phew!“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Krizzie stopped her play to stare at me, erasing the smile on her lips.I shook my head. “I thought there was an earthquake.” Krizzie’s eyes widened, and she giggled. “You are s*lly, Mommy. It’s just me, Krizzie.” She informed me. I nodded, glad that it was just my overactive imagination.“Yeah. Mommy’s s*lly.” I agreed and grabbed her by the shoulders to pepper tiny kisses on her face. We heard a knock on the door, prompting me to release my daughter. Krizzie’s eyes connected with mine before her hands flew to her mouth. Then, without warnin
Beth POVWhen the door slammed shut, and I was left alone in the house, it was as if all the fight left me.I felt so drained.Arguing with Brent had been emotionally and mentally taxing. That is why I avoided it at all costs.If we could co-exist peacefully with our child, that would be better.For years after our divorce, I accepted that all we could ever be is Krizzie’s parents.I never want to return to that time when all I do is beg for his love and attention.When he offered marriage,
Beth POV“If I am selfish. I would do that.” He countered so casually that my anger meter was beginning to exceed its limit. It was ready to burst into flames. “And what are you trying to imply? That you are the epitome of selflessness, is that it?” I snapped, too angry to care whether my voice was going through the roof. I don’t know where Brent was getting all this nerve to tell me.“You have some nerve! You who never wanted my baby in the first place.” I hissed.My teeth gritted and my hands clenched into fists. “Because it was never in our agreement, d*mn it, Beth. All along, I thought we were in sync with our ideals. We agreed not to have any babies, but what did you do? You went behind my back and got yourself pregnant without my knowledge.” Tears sprung in my eyes when I remembered all that happened nine years ago. I thought I was already past it, but d*mn, it still hurts like h*ll.I sighed, trying to keep my tears in check because I didn’t need them now. It was not g