The Billionaire's Second Endeavour

The Billionaire's Second Endeavour

last updateLast Updated : 2021-10-15
By:  Shreya SenguptaCompleted
Language: English
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[THE NEW YORK BACHELORS CLUB, #1] [Formerly known as Healing Mr. Brown] Vincent Brown has a past filled with cuts and bruises. He knows how to transform his pain and rage to bring out the best in him. He has made mistakes big to change, but Joy wasn't one of them. Joyce Gale has grown stronger than ever. After losing the person closest to her, she has done everything she could to feel complete. But nothing could ever make her happy except the man named Vince she met five years ago. When fate brings them together once again, it makes them face the truth that they both have changed and so have their feelings for each other. Their desire for each other has grown into something that neither of them can retract from. The only thing that stands between them is their fear of being too broken to be healed. © 2020 Shreya Sengupta

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Chapter 1

1 | A GRAND WEDDING

JOY

I looked at the door with the signboard ‘Bridal Suite’ on it. Usually, I stayed far away from the drama that went on inside, with a bunch of people storming around, pestering the bride and all that. But today was different. The bride behind the door wasn’t just anybody.

Taking a deep breath, I twisted the knob with my shaking hands and pushed the door open. The room was large, with comparatively less furniture than I had expected—everything clustered in one corner of the room.

Aubrey was standing in front of the mirror and constantly stroking her belly with her hands—something she often did when nervous. There should’ve been hoards of people helping her. But here she was all alone, in the sheath wedding dress that clung to her slender body, skimming down and falling straight to the floor below her hips.

“Don’t tell me you need to shit right now.” A smile tugged at her lips as she noticed me. I closed the door behind me while teasing, “Do you know how hard it’ll be to lift your dress?”

My eyes finally met Aubrey’s hazel ones, and I noticed a spark in her eyes, one that I had never seen before. It was hard to say what it was, but I saw it as what true happiness looked like. Or being madly in love.

"You look so pretty,” I said, dramatically rubbing the corner of my eyes. “But damn, I can't ruin my mascara."

She pinched my arm and let out a low laugh. "Thanks for coming. I’ve been waiting for you. I'm devastated right now."

“Oh, that’s not good.” I creased my brows. “If you’re planning on making the classic Runaway Bride move, you have to be straight about it, because there’s no way in hell I am running in this dress.”

“Pfft!” She swayed her hand before her face and said, “I won’t run. But I’m having second thoughts.”

“Yeah, running is what comes after those very thoughts.”

“No, just use your philosophies and convince me I’m doing the right thing.”

Aubrey had always been certain about her life in a way I could never be. I, on the other hand, was a walking mess. But for the first time today, it was Aubrey who was perplexed.

"You are doing the right thing, Aubs. I would tell you to your face if you weren’t. As dramatic as it sounds, you loved him from the moment you met him,” I said.

She nodded. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since that one incident.”

“Thanks to me, of course. I’m surprised you guys fooled around for this long. The looks you both gave each other, filled with longing and all that bullshit, used to make me want to puke." I made a fake retching sound, and she scrunched her face. "It was cute, though, to see an ass like Jordan struggling to figure his shit out."

She smiled. “I know I’ll be happy with him. I just . . .” There was a slight change visible in Aubrey’s expressions. Sadness took over her brown eyes, and she looked down at her feet, her white heels.

“You aren’t actually confused about Jordan, are you?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re thinking about Bill.”

"It's the best day of my life, Joy, and he’s my dad. I want him to be here for me, but at the same time, I’m scared. What if I bring him out of rehab and he runs away? Or spirals back into the same shit?” Her voice choked, and she coughed. “Maybe I should just stop thinking about him."

"You love him, despite all the things he has done, and it’s okay.” There was nothing in the world I could’ve said to make her feel better, and that made me furious at myself. “No one blames Bill for what happened. He's been through a really dark phase and when he comes back, he’ll be the person we used to know."

“I just want him to be better.”

“He’ll be alright. He’s Bill Evans.” Aubrey finally smiled again, and I mentally danced in victory. "You know, I’m more worried about myself. You'll be off with your husband while I'll be here in my PJs every weekend, watching Friends on repeat."

"That's not entirely a bad thing, to be honest," she said, laughing at my misery. "But you wouldn’t have to be alone if you could find a guy."

I didn’t need a guy. Clicking my tongue, I corrected, "I need a man."

Aubrey nodded in excitement. “Well, a man wouldn’t magically appear in your bedroom. Should I play matchmaker, in case you're too tired of doing it yourself?"

I immediately pushed my palms out to Aubrey’s face, raising my brown in defence. "No, no, I am fine. I can’t deal with men like Jordan, which is what your choice of men looks like: narcissistic, self-centred and over-possessive." Sighing, I went on, “Now that you’re married, I’m sure Dad will start with his matchmaking, which is way worse.”

“He wants to see you happy.”

“I know. But I’m not ready.”

“You’re twenty-nine,” she pointed out.

“So are you.”

A shrill voice followed through the door, followed by a mild knock. "Aubrey. Joyce. Are you both in there?"

Recognising the voice, I turned around, but Aubrey quickly held my hand and said, “We’re not done talking about this.”

I gave an obedient nod and unlocked the door. It was Cassandra, Jordan's mother, standing with a warm smile, her body draped in an elegant peach-coloured gown and her golden hair braided to the side. I moved aside to let her in.

There was everything majestic about this woman. She was in her early fifties, yet her beauty was beyond compare. The grace with which she walked could hypnotise anyone. Jordan and his siblings were beautiful too, credit to not only Cassy but to their father as well. But Jordan was the only one who loved flaunting it openly with his constant narcissism.

“I have been waiting to see you since morning, Aubrey.” The graveness in Cassy’s voice that had been there toward Aubrey for the longest time had finally faded. She too had realised that Aubrey was good for Jordan.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, of course not. I wanted to give you something.” Cassy gave me a side glance before jerking her head toward the door.

I whirled around, only to catch a familiar figure walking in, his hands inside the pocket of his black pants. My jaw dropped because I had not expected this.

It was none other than Bill Evans, Aubrey’s dad, dressed in a black tuxedo. He had combed his black and grey hairs to the side. He flashed a smile to me and walked past me, his eyes focused on his daughter.

My chest swelled with relief, and my eyes pooled with tears. He looked so much better than the last time I had seen him, which had been a day or two before he had left for rehab. I turned back and observed the beautiful moment while slowly stepping back.

Bill pulled Aubrey into a tight hug. Aubrey’s eyes were wide with shock, but no one in this room was happier than her, and I was happy for her. Her eyes met mine, and I returned a small nod before walking out of the room and closing the door behind me.

Now the wedding would be better than planned.

***

VINCE

I stared at myself in the mirror. My black hair was gelled and pushed back, the collar of my white shirt was pinned, and the expensive Hackett tuxedo was properly arranged over my body. All that was left was a bow tie to complete the look.

"Are you nervous?" I asked Jordan, the tall figure beside me with dirty blonde hair and an overly excited look on his face.

Perfection is everything—had always been our motto, although sometimes we both wished otherwise.

"Shouldn't I be? I am about to get married to the woman I love."

“You’re getting a fucking leash is what you’re doing,” I mocked.

I worried about him making the wrong decision or taking steps hastily. People—women loved men like us, but only for the money and the luxury life with us offered. We’d been through situations where our hearts couldn’t choose between our own well-being and the toxic love these women brought.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked again. The seventh time, probably.

Jordan let out a long exhale to calm himself before putting on a phlegmatic smile and answered, "I’ve never been so damn sure about anything in my entire life, Vi." His answer was confident, leaving me with no doubts. "Aubrey is not like other women. She doesn’t care about who I am or the money I have.”

“But you want to coddle her with it?”

He shrugged. “What else have I been earning for, if not to provide for my family?” He patted my shoulders. “Now it’s your turn to find a woman for yourself."

I almost choked on the air. I twisted my head toward Jordan and raised a brow.

He knew why this topic knocked the air out of my lungs. I was okay with being a sex debauched man, but not okay with a ring on my finger and a leash around my neck.

"You’re kidding, right? Not everybody has a good love fortune like you, pal. Me? I have tested mine. Even the fucking universe has stated I should stay away from that atrocity people call love."

I laughed, hoping Jordan would too, but he remained silent. "You know it would be better for you and your—"

I cleared my throat as loudly as possible before he could use his chief weapon of emotional torture against me. "Jordy, it’s your wedding. Let's not talk about my life and, for once, focus on yours instead. I’d grant you the honour of lecturing me some other day."

We headed out laughing among ourselves and took our positions on the stage, with me behind Jordan as his best man.

I was too caught up in the moment with a reverie of emotions surging through me at the thought of my best friend getting screwed to a woman for his entire life. My eyes suddenly fell on a woman hovering around the aisle. Her movements were elegant, yet too hasty to be missed.

But that was not why I noticed her. There was something awfully familiar about her that reminded me of someone I knew long ago. I keenly watched her take a seat at the bride’s side.

Thinking Jordan might know her, I leaned in and asked, "Who's that woman in the front row at Aubrey’s side?"

"The one in the maroon dress?” Seeing me nod, he answered, “That’s Joyce, Aubrey's best friend, and a huge pain in my ass."

My jaw tightened. The realisation hit me like a fucking storm as her name rang in my ears. She didn’t just remind me of someone I knew. She was that someone. With devilishly alluring eyes—green with flecks of gold in them.

But I didn’t know her as Joyce. I knew her as the woman who had haunted my dreams for years since I met her, the woman who loved living up to the name she had introduced herself with—Joy.

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Comments

default avatar
RG
Really really enjoyed it! The writing is beautiful.. love watching their love grow n healed each other ! Great job ! Where are the other series you mentioned? Not here ?
2022-04-01 19:26:46
1
default avatar
KLH
Really cute story!
2022-03-05 01:23:24
2
68 Chapters
1 | A GRAND WEDDING
JOY I looked at the door with the signboard ‘Bridal Suite’ on it. Usually, I stayed far away from the drama that went on inside, with a bunch of people storming around, pestering the bride and all that. But today was different. The bride behind the door wasn’t just anybody. Taking a deep breath, I twisted the knob with my shaking hands and pushed the door open. The room was large, with comparatively less furniture than I had expected—everything clustered in one corner of the room. Aubrey was standing in front of the mirror and constantly stroking her belly with her hands—something she often did when nervous. There should’ve been hoards of people helping her. But here she was all alone, in the sheath wedding dress that clung to her slender body, skimming down and falling straight to the floor below her hips. “Don’t tell me you need to shit right now.” A smile tugged at her lips as she noticed me. I closed the door behind me while teasing, “Do you know how hard it’ll be to lift your
last updateLast Updated : 2021-02-27
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2 | SOME MOONS AGO
VINCE I couldn’t help but rewind all the memories I had of her in my mind. Joy had been the only woman I had regretted not getting to know properly. And that was all because of a stupid agreement. I had always wondered if she had faked her name. Little had I known she was more similar to me than I had thought. When I had introduced myself as Vince, she had said her name was Joy, both being the shortened versions of our names. "What's her full name?" "Joyce Gale," Jordan quickly answered. Joyce Gale. I exhaled and folded my arms over my chest. For a year since I had last seen her, I had thought only of her, had wished if I could reverse time and get to do things differently between us. But that had been all a long time ago. Five years ago. "Man, no.” Jordan’s voice pulled my attention back to him. “She’s not your type.” Funny. I had said the same thing to myself when I had first touched her smooth skin. “She doesn't even look at guys in that manner,” Jordan said. “She once admi
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3 | PARIS: THE FIRST MEET
[FIVE YEARS AGO] VINCE I was eager to get out of the office doors—the white walls and the cream marble floors. So, when my childhood friend offered to take me up for some drinks, I couldn’t say no. "You have no idea what you’ve saved me from," I said as we walked past the massive line outside the club. "Humour me." Cole ran a hand through his coffee-coloured hair. "On second thoughts, please don't. Your job is the very reason I ran from home." "Not everyone's as lucky as you. I had no option," I huffed. Cole shook his head and raised a brow at me. "That's where you're wrong, man. You had a choice. It's your fault you didn't take it. You were too busy mending what your mother left behind." I knew damn well Cole was right. There was always an option. But I was the practical one. No matter which option I would’ve chosen, someone would’ve got hurt. The streets of Paris had something about them I could never understand. I wanted to know why this place was called the city of love, no
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4 | PARIS: THAT AWKWARD MOMENT
JOY   By the aura Vince carried, I wasn’t surprised to see how quickly he had booked a VIP area for us. The area was larger than the lounges—a semi-round couch around a round table that had a champagne bottle dipped in a bucket of ice. "Deux verres, s'il vous plaît," said Vince, turning to the waiter. The waiter handed him the glasses and walked past me with an odd grin glued to his lips, making me scrunch my face. "They are not used to seeing such an entrancing woman like you," Vince said. “Entrancing?” I asked, sitting on the couch with a leg over the other. He only nodded. "So, do you come here often?" I tried not to ogle at him and pulled out my phone. I caught glimpse of a few messages from Aubrey, and I laughed. Aubrey worried more than my mother ever had whenever I went off to a club or a party. I quickly replied to Aubrey with a few heart emojis and strode the phone back inside my purse.
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5 | PARIS: A SUDDEN URGE
JOY   I heard a loud slam of the door and turned to look. It was Vince. His jaw tightened and his eyes focused on mine as he made his way around the car and toward me. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, his hands slipped to the back of my neck and he pulled me toward him, connecting his lips to mine. With his other hand, he gripped my waist to keep our bodies pressed tightly together. I stood still for a fraction of seconds, my mind processing what was happening, but soon after, I complied, allowing our lips to dance in a perfect rhythm. His towering height was making me bend back a little. The kiss was demanding and sensual, enough to ignite a searing feeling down the pit of my stomach. I’d never been kissed this way before—a kiss filled with so much need. So much desire. My entire body hummed with pleasure and my nipples peaked, painfully straining against the fabric of my strapless bra, underneat
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6 | PARIS: THE UNEXPECTED
VINCE   The unexpected for me was to wake up beside Sonia, our legs tangled and bodies naked and sticky. Well, not entirely unexpected. I’d hoped to see Sonia gone by now, but she was sleeping soundly, with her chest pressed on the soft mattress of the bed. I sighed, got up, and made my way to the bathroom. I double-checked the door to make sure it was locked, as I was in no mood for repeating last night's innuendos. My muscles relaxed as the warm water glided down my skin. The decision I’d made last night—leaving Joy alone when she was drunk and clearly scared for reasons I was clueless about—was bugging me. No matter what I did, I couldn't push past that one moment that had ruined it all. Joy pulled the shirt off of my body and tossed it on the floor before pushing her red dress down her legs. She pulled me back to her, her lips demanding. I could've kissed those plump lips and devoured them all day if I could.
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7 | PARIS: THE SHORT TOUR
JOY I wanted to ask Vince many questions, but yet again, my fear of ruining the moment took the chance away. I gulped, gripped the coffee cup and kept walking through the long pathway that led into the park of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. The place was enormous and crowded with people, clicking pictures of each other and the trees that were aligned by the sidewalk, their long branches providing a perfect shade for the pathway. The sounds of children laughing, birds chirping and people talking were mixing into a rhythmic symphony. I noticed Vince twisting and turning in hesitation, as if he was battling with his own mind. Stop fidgeting and start talking—I felt the inner Aubrey in me scolding me. She was the only one who could push me to do things, no matter how stupid, and sometimes it was definitely worth it. "You eat a lot of sugar," I blurted out in a breath and looked away, cursing myself. I was meaning to say something el
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8 | PARIS: HIGH UP
JOY   The next spot on our list was the Eiffel Tower. We were having a great time. I missed being this childish since Mason started working and travelling. And with Vince, I just didn't care what others thought. I was sure Vince wasn’t judging me. What was surprising was the way Vince was behaving. I hadn't expected him to be this fun. As promised, I treated us both with hotdogs. It was quite clear that I was the losing party, so I’d stopped running midway. We made our way to the venue when it was around the afternoon. This city was something. No matter what Vince believed—even though he had his reasons—I was willing to fight. Paris is the city of love. Period. The first thing that we did after nearing our destination was getting pictures of me taken, pretending to hold the tower in my hands. And Vince was kind enough to take them for me. The pictures came out spectacular. He surprised me with his knowledg
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9 | PARIS: A FEW QUESTIONS
VINCE I didn't want to feel this way. I hated to be so weak. I’d been claustrophobic since childhood. Whenever the fear haunted me, I was alone. Without Mum and Dad to comfort me. My pride hadn't allowed me to seek help from my caretakers, either. I used to cower down and rub my hands on my chest until my breathing returned to normal and the fear faded. I had no idea what caused this fear. Whether it was really a closed room, I feared or the thoughts and nightmares about being alone and left in a room with no escape, I couldn’t understand. When Joy had pressed her delicate hands on my chest, fear was the last thing on my mind. No one had ever made me feel this way. I couldn't push past the reverie of emotions I was feeling after that, so much that I ended up acting upon them. I’d kissed her. And before I knew it, I had unintentionally pulled back, reminding myself that I didn't deserve her. I couldn't even accept the fact th
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10 | PARIS: THEIR LAST NIGHT
VINCE My phone was constantly buzzing in my pants. And that entire time I was busy scolding myself, persuading my mind and heart to get Joy out of my thoughts, to think straight. Nothing was ever going to happen between the two of us. Joy had made it very clear last night when she’d pushed me away, not once, but twice. I finally glanced at the humming device, striding it out of my pocket. It was Jordan. Taking a deep breath, I met Joy’s stare and said, "I have to get this." "Sure." I quickly headed out of the restaurant and picked up the call. "You fucking asshole, what took you so long? I’ve been calling you all day," Jordan growled from the other side. He sounded devastated, which only made me believe that whatever the matter, it had to be a huge matter or he wouldn't be so freaked out. "I was busy with business.” Lies! “Why? What happened?" I asked, peaking at Joy through the glass windows o
last updateLast Updated : 2021-02-27
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