Share
CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE
Related chapters
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FOURTY-TWO
NATALIE'S POV.It made a lot of difference, his being cool-headed at that moment when we went into the airport to see off Brandon. My thoughts were furtively going back to his face, all wrinkled in worry while he was leaving, and thought clung to how long he thought this time would last. It was heart-wrenching, soul-crushing hollow agony at the pit of the stomach. But deep down, I knew it had to be done for our sake.I walked into the living room to meet Rebecca. Sprawled out, like it was an everyday thing for her to be doing so, she seemed to sit in some other way that which was upright and classy at the same time. Her eyes rose from the book they had trailed into, then she let fly her warm smile in my direction."Natalie honey," she said, standing and coming over to me. "Glad to see you.""Rebecca, I had not anticipated your coming," embracing her back, and though this was quite a formal relationship, there was something about her that made one feel comfortable.She said to me, pull
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FOURTY-THREE
BRANDON’S POV Anthony came striding in, grinning from one side of his face to the other. "Guess what, mate? We're done here! Time to celebrate.""Done?" I picked up his head, half amused and obviously tired. "More like need twelve hours of sleep.""You can catch up on sleep when we're dead. You've been in this office for days on end; enough's enough. This evening, we hit the town, have a few drinks, and generally let off steam. And I really will not hear no for an answer."I learned one thing at least - arguing with one of Edward's moods never paid. I had a barge-pole mentality, and it was best not to struggle after he had set his eyes on something. Besides, really, at that moment, a lot of drinks did not sound like a bad idea. "Fine, lots of drinks. But not getting crazy."Anthony grinned wickedly. True that "'Wouldn't dream of it, mate.".An hour later, having circled the town, they sat in the corner of one of its countless bars—this one, at any rate, being the one that they mostly
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Mostly left to his own devices, I turned back to his drink. Now, the amber liquor swirled. It hadn't been until now, the alcohol actually hitting him, that thoughts traveled at light speed to becoming sowed. Freshly turned earth. Planted. Placed for and meant to be harvested, I was getting that weird excitement and dread mix. Finally allowing himself to think of Natalie. But at least he was relieved; at least his feelings toward her were not so terribly horrible, not what they could be.Once more, he sipped from the glass and felt the warmth draining into his gut. Although it did little to assuage the rising lightheaded feel, it was already starting to go to his head; he realized he might have overdone it. I should go, he managed to mumble to himself, fumbling to find his way upright.But in the effort to rise, the world would pretty nearly go mad—tilting fiendishly—one way and another…eddy back to the bar on the sudden jerk to find support. The vision would blur, and there would be a
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
It was an implicit threat, but it hung between them like a guillotine. My gut twisted into a painful knot as bile seemed to rise up his throat, and he felt the sudden urge to vomit. I needed to get the hell out of here and put as much space between himself and Arlys as he could before this spiraled any further out of control."This is not going to work, Arlys," I said as firmly as he could, and even that quavered under the strain. "Whatever it is you're trying to do, it's not going to work. I won't let you use this against me."My lips had reminded her of a snarl, hissing back at her as she pressed her body even closer, warm puffs of air brushing against his skin. "Oh Brandon," she purred, fingertips running down the center of his chest, "I'm not trying to use anything against you. I just want to remind you of what's real here. You had your little fun with me last night, and now there are consequences. You can't just pretend like it never happened.".Brandon licked his lips nervously,
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Brandon's PovThe taxi stopped in front of my hotel and I was barely able to catch my breath. Still shaking, I paid the fare, all but spilling out of the car, reeling like a man about to collapse. Events of the morning weighed upon me like a heavy burden. My head still reeled from both hangover and shock at finding myself in bed with Arlys.How in hell had things spiraled so far out of control? How could I have let myself make such a huge mistake?As I stepped into the hotel lobby my phone buzzed once more. It was Anthony."I'm outside," he said, now wide awake. "What the hell's going on?"I watched him pace by the front door, quite clearly worried. It was weirdly comforting to think Anthony was there but still managed to drop me further into anxiety. How could I explain any of this?I walked through the door, and Anthony stopped dead in his tracks as he saw me. His brow arched as laid-back gave way to confusion and concern."Brandon, dude, you look like death warmed over," he said, c
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Natalie's POVI wobbled with excitement as I opened the oven for probably the gazillionth time that night. Finally, the roast was just about well done-savory garlic and rosemary wafting from it into the kitchen and mingling with the side dishes I'd done to perfection.Everything had to be perfect. He had been away in London for days, and tonight was the night he was due home; I couldn't wait. It felt like I hadn't seen him since the beginning of time, and I wanted tonight to be about him and me being special.I looked at the time again; he could be back anytime. My stomach felt like a kickboxing ring with a full set of butterflies inside as I dried my moist palms on the towel. Rationally, my mind knew I really had no cause or reason to be this excited; somehow, I just could not seem to help it.Things went great between us, and I missed him more than I think I would have. As much as our marriage started off as nothing more than a business deal, it had grown into something real that I
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Brandon's POVThe moment I came back from London, the guilt had been harbored inside my heart. It allowed no room to breathe and it was such an adamant thing that would not let go. Like a dark cloud always in my mind, reminding me just how grave a mistake I committed and what a secret I kept from Natalie. The rare times when I could look into her eyes without feeling the lowest scum on earth, at each of her smiles-now a sweet, innocent smile thrown at me-struck sharp pangs of shame in my chest.How did I let things get that far? I should have made sure I cut every tie with Arlys to avoid what happened.Teaching I had hoped in due course of time would bury deeper and move along, wasn't quite that simple. That picture of Arlys in my bed played a thousand times over in my head and taunted me. That smirking look of hers that morning curled my lips, it all got documented in the cells of my brain. The night was so drunk, lost in fumes of alcohol and bad decisions, now I had to live with it.
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Brandon POV"You are going to be a father, Brandon."Words fell from Arlys' lips like she wasn't blowing up a bomb square into my life. My body temperature dropped, and I struggled to breathe through the thickened air in this room."I'm pregnant. Three weeks," she seemed to reiterate, just so I don't miss that. Then her eyes met mine, and in those depths, that triumph, that knowing smirk, twisted my gut. "And yes, it's yours."I was speechless. My head reeled in trying to comprehend the enormity of what she had said; it just couldn't be right. It had to be some sort of twisted game on her part, another angle whereby she would try and wring some sort of psychological leverage from me. I looked into her face for anything that suggested a deception, anything that suggested she was bluffing, and she looked dead serious.You're pulling my leg, right?" My voice came out hoarse; the words could barely squeak their way past the lump in my throat. "You can't be serious."Arlys arched one eyebr
Latest chapter
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY
