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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY
I buried myself in work. The diner's buzz grew into a soothing beat, just background noise to disguise the tumult from within. I was at the office, playing with every detail to make sure nothing was misaligned. The spreadsheets on my computer screen just blurred into some mass of numbers and words that didn't make any sense as I stared blankly at them. I had been thinking a lot about things that didn't involve what I wanted to understand.It was impossible not to notice. Every time I closed my eyes, there it was: Brandon's lips on another woman's with a familiarity that turned my stomach.Why should that touch me so compellingly? I should have been expecting it to happen. Ours was not a real marriage: it was a contract; like a business deal. He was a free soul and entitled to do whatever he pleased and so was I. Then, why did it feel that he had taken a knife and stabbed it in my chest?I shook my head then, to shake those thoughts out. Not that I did care, how could I? That wasn't wh
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It was as if he knew a few secrets.The restaurant Robin picked was gay; quite the opposite of those quiet corners of the world I'd been retreating into lately. Plates clattered and murmurs of conversation were everywhere, and for a moment, anxiety tugged at me. All of this would have been so much easier if I did think everything was going to be alright, and if I could just go with everything the way it was.But Robin was beside me, an anchoring presence. With hardly any wait, we were ushered to a table, and just about before the waitress had left us with menus, Robin was leaning across the table, glinting in his eyes that familiar hint of mischief."So, what's it going to be? Comfort food or something a little more adventurous?" He glanced up from the menu.I looked down at the menu, barely seeing the words. "I'm not that hungry.” I closed the menu and placed it on the table.The image of Brandon and whoever that girl was made me lose my appetite every time I thought about it.He rol
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Stepping out from the restaurant, streetlights cast warm circles on the sidewalk, and the hum of the city gave very gentle background noise. Robin strolled with me, hands plunged deep into pockets. Easy shoulders that smile danced again upon his lips as he turned to me."See? It wasn't so bad, was it?"I shook my head; a smile, a real smile, tugged at my lips. "No, it wasn't. Thank you, Robin. I needed this.""I think you did. And I'm glad you let me drag out. Seriously, I was starting to think maybe I'd lost my touch.""Never," I answered as I lightly elbowed him with my shoulder. "You're still the champion of dragging me out of my shell.He chuckled, all warm and familiar. Light and easy conversation continued, making up for the gaps: work, mutual friends, and the future.And though my ears ached for whatever Robin said, my mind drifted back to Brandon again and I hated myself for letting him affect me like this."Nat," and however I turned it, Robin had been speaking to me the whol
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
BRANDON'S POVEverything went in a blur while on the drive to the office, my head running full of thoughts about the spat with Natalie. I could see her face all too clearly, and now it seemed she had been angry, hurt, and unwilling to listen. I could feel the scene replaying before my eyes as my hands tightened further on the steering wheel, and I so badly wanted to have done things differently, wanted her to give me a chance to explain.But she hadn't. Not like she used to.She hadn't been warm. She had said all the right things, but she still hadn't been warm.I drove into the underground garage of the Martinez Building. Familiar surroundings that did very little to ease the tension starting to knot in my chest. I blew out once, then stepped out into the large echoing sound of footsteps in the cavernous, quiet space to get into the elevator. I bent forward toward the lighted buttons as if by pushing one in with more vigor than usual, it would take longer to register so.How could it
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Natalie's P.O.V.I sat in the office, feeling tons of paper was due on me, the morning sun lighting the restaurant right through the windows. But I just sat there working those numbers, though my mind kept going back to the fight the prior night that Brandon and I had had. It was tension like it had never been between us, and I was feeling more of the sting from his words, hurt boiling underneath the anger.Wouldn't allow the luxury of it. Not now. Work had always been my solace, my refuge from the tempest that rattled at the gates of my personal life. Today would be no different.I exhaled and pushed thoughts of Brandon to the back of my mind, burying myself once again in the reports in front of me. My restaurant was doing well—I needed to do well. I had to be top, right from the word go and to make sure everything was perfect, more so now that we were entering into peak season.There was a very light, soft knock that soon ushered in heavier raps before I was seized from my inventory
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Brandon's POVI was staring out from behind the desk in my office through the mountain of papers right before me. The words and numbers written across the pages were totally lost on my mind, which was walking miles away to the house, back to last night's argument with Natalie, during which I replayed every single heated word and cold glance she threw my way.The friction between us had drifted to a peak; and her presence had me obsessing about her at each moment, as much as I tried to concentrate on only my work, where she was or what she was doing, and most importantly if she was upset with me.I had never been one to let personal problems come between me and the job; in my book, business was business, and it always had to be. Oh, but that was really quite different when it came to Natalie. There was something about her that lay in my skin and made me question all I thought I knew about the way I reacted.The most painful thing of all was that which I didn't know: if she cared for me
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
NATALIE'S POV“What are you doing here?” She asked, looking down at the sheets of paper in front of her."I needed to talk to you,” I replied, shoving my hands in my pocket.“You could have waited till I got home. There was no point in coming here.” She kept her eyes glued to the paper.“It couldn't wait.” I moved closer to her.The next moment, she simply glanced at me without a single word, fixing me with those bright eyes of hers. Then she rocked backward in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "About what? You and your ex-girlfriend showing up at my workplace, trying to remind me of your history together? Your ex-ex-girlfriend already filled me in, so you don't need to waste your time telling me again.”“No, Nat.” A bitter fierceness underlined her words; I winced. "I do know you have every right to be angry, but whatever Arlys said — it is a lie. She and I broke up years ago; there is nothing left between us."Her eyes turned back to me, filled with hot anger. "Then why
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
BRANDON'S POVNatalie's fingers tangled in my hair as she pulled me closer, her lips moving against mine with a fervor that equaled mine. I could feel the uncertainty on her tongue, her heartbeat fast against my chest, but there was something else there, something deeper, something that felt a lot like the emotions I was trying so hard to deny.I didn't want to let her go. I didn't want the spell cast between us to shatter. It was finally too much, and with a sigh, reluctantly, I pulled back to lay my forehead against hers as we both worked for breath. Her lips were swollen from kissing and I had to admit that she looked sexier.We both just stood there in silence for a moment. The sound was that of ragged breathing, the only feeling that our hearts thundered to a matching rhythm. Lying there with my eyes closed, I was half-afraid that if I opened them, one blink and this moment would shatter, sending us hurting with a rude crash, back into that gosh-awful reality we had been living.
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The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Brandon's POVStill, I stood there, my phone still clutched in my hand, my chest furiously heaving up and down, my heart seething with anger. Arlys had driven me to the limit, and now she threatened me once more. The words still rang in my head, "This is just the beginning."What more was she to do?I had underestimated her, knowing no better than to think she'd keep in her bounds. Now I knew just what kind of danger she was. It was finally time for me to take matters into my own hands and bring this to an end once and for all. But Natalie-just the mere thought of her tear-stained face, how she had left with so much pain in her eyes-scared me on a whole other level.Gotta get outta here, needed some fresh air, you know? Just would not shake, would not.Quiet, it was a house where every room was just a little colder without Natalie inside. I went up the hall and passed her room, now so bare. My hand fell onto the cold doorknob, and I turned it slowly before stepping inside. Just a mome
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Brandon's POV"Brandon! Open this door right now!" My mother's voice pierced through the house, razor-sharp and commanding, cutting through the heavy silence that had fallen since Natalie left.I didn't have the strength to get out of bed and face her. Now, sitting in bed, staring only at the floor with all that on my mind, my chest cramped, my heart was heavy with all the guilt and regret that Natalie was gone and had left me, and hadn't found even the strength to go after her.“Brandon!” she yelled out this time louder, and pounded on his door a little harder.I did with a deeper breath rise to my feet with the firm realization embedded in my brain-that the more I took to avoid her, the grimmer things got. I walked up to the door, knowing full well what lay on the other side-my actions blowing right in my face. Slowly, I opened it, and there she was, standing, her arms across her chest, her face contorted in anger."Well? Going to explain to me why the whole world is talking about y
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Natalie's POV"Are you sure about this, Nat?" Hailey asked as she extended a glass of water in my direction, her eyes deep with concern. I knew that furrow in her brow and pursing of her lips meant she'd bitten her tongue not to ask a thousand questions.I nodded, swallowing as my throat welled up with tears that threatened to fall. "I didn't have a choice, Hail. I just couldn't stay there anymore."Hailey plopped herself beside me on the couch and reached across to set a hand on my arm, turning toward me. "And you just packed up and left just like that?"Just like that," I said-my voice as flat as his. "What was I supposed to do? He's going to have a baby with Arlys and didn't even have the balls to come to me. I had to find out just like everybody else did-on the damn internet."Anger twisted all of the features on Hailey's face. "That snake knew it, I knew something was off about her, but I didn't fathom it, didn't think she would go this far."By this time, I was whispering now; s
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Brandon's POVThe house was cold the minute I stepped through the door. Not warm, nobody was waiting to greet me in the doorway. There was this silent feeling, a feeling which told me within an instance that something was wrong. She should have been in the sitting room or at least heard her humming emanating from the kitchen. Today, there is nothing but stillness.I went down the hall, my footsteps resounding in the big emptiness. My heart started to beat this weird rhythm the closer I came up to her room. The door stood ajar, and one could hear someone rummaging inside."Natalie?" I half-aloud quietly said, yet nobody answered me.I flung the door open and saw her by the bed, the suitcase opened, and clothes scattered around; she was packing. My heart fell into my tummy, and for one moment, I stopped breathing."Natalie, what are you doing?" I said, stepping inside, lacing my voice with confusion and fear.She didn't turn but went on with the packing,-folding a sweater and laying it
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Natalie's P.O.V.I barely felt the weight of the office door closing behind me as I stepped out, my vision blurred by the tears that kept falling though it tore my heart into pieces. It felt just like the walls of Brandon's office closed in on me and suffocated me, and now that I was outside, I couldn't breathe. Maybe my legs were lead, and little I did but walk, step after step, without an end at all in or direction toward the sight.How blind can I be? How come I let it seep inside my head that things between us were getting better? The last weeks had been speckled with instances of warmth and tenderness-quiet moments indeed, but which made me feel secure and sure that finally, we were on firmer ground. But all that was one big lie.Snicker, grim, escaped; images flashed of soft stroking, the way Brandon had held me up through the night, the look in those eyes, which I had mistaken for love. I had let my defenses down, and given him my trust. Now it seemed I was paying the price for
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Brandon's POV "Thanks, all, for your time," I said, nodding to close the meeting, trying to focus on the investors seated around the table. It had gone well-or so it seemed-but my mind was elsewhere. A cloud had hovered over my head for weeks now, and I just couldn't seem to let it go. Until finally, the room emptied, and that little voice in my belly started telling me I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's one of those feelings that I just couldn't shake-and boy, was I right: the minute my secretary Olivia burst in looking like she'd just seen a ghost, I knew my world was going to come crashing down. "Sir… You need to see this," Olivia stammered, extending the tablet toward me. Her hand was shaking. What is it?" I asked her, frowning as I took the device from her. "Arlys… she… she gave an interview," she managed to say, her voice cracking. "It's everywhere. It's viral." It was as if blood oozed out in one go. The instant it glued on the screen when I scrolled
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Natalie's POVThe kitchen din enveloped me: clinking dishes, and hum of dining-room voices; this is just background noise that I almost always hear. I finally looked up and stopped to revise this menu since new seasonal dishes needed my attention. There is only one rhythm here in the restaurant that continues day in, and day out that assures me that all is right with the world in its place.Today, however, was stretched to a breaking point. Of late, Brandon had gone standoffish: not catching glances, short conversations, the way he came home late and blamed it on work. I really did want to believe him, but something really did not feel right, and I couldn't get it off my mind.It was that knock on my door that pulled me out of this reverie. I didn't get a word said, let alone get words formed, before Hailey walked into my office, white-faced, shaking her hand, holding her phone out in front of her like some sort of explosive."Natalie, you have got to see this," she said, her voice ju
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Brandon's P.O.V. "Anthony, I need your help," I said into the phone clutched to my ear, while my voice quivered. My hands were all wet from sweat, and I could just feel the weight of everything weighing down on me. The walls in my office closed in while I paced, unable to sit down. A second later, Anthony answered on the other line saying, "Brandon, what's up? You sound a mess." "I… I messed up, man," I said rubbing a hand over my face in frustration. The guilt just about ate me alive and I couldn't shake this image of Arlys leaving my office with that smirk on her face. I hated her for the angle she was playing but God I hated myself even more for putting us in this situation. "It's Arlys. She's pregnant, Anthony. And she's threatening me." "What?" Anthony's voice all but reached a high pitch, incredulous at the good news palpable. "Pregnant? Brandon, you gotta be kidding me right now." "I am. I didn't even want to believe her in the first place, but then she came back and t
The Billionaire’s Bargain CHAPTER FIFTY
Natalie's POVThe morning in the restaurant had been busy, but finally, some afternoon lull appeared, which gave me the chance to catch my breath and think about something other than work. It was ages since I saw Brandon's mother Rebecca, and all of a sudden I started feeling how much her presence was missed.She was always nice to me because of this ever-pressing turbulence between Brandon and his family. And so I went over to them, hoping to have a nice afternoon.I had done everything that needed doing, passed it on to my assistant, and left. The backseat was comfortable, and my mind began to stray. Something tugged in my brain concerning Brandon, but I'd just blown that off. We will sort that out later. Now, all that I wanted was to be with Rebecca.Finally, as I was approaching her estate, my driver slowed down since some other car seemed to materialize from the opposite direction. I went forward and peered into an immensely familiar sleek black car driving out. My heart barely m
