My Billionaire Fling by Maci Dillon

 

 

SOPHIA

A Month Later

 

In complete darkness, I roll out of bed and race to the bathroom, only making it with seconds to spare. Groaning, I clutch my stomach as I heave into the toilet, my mind weary and my body shaking. What the hell?

When I finish, I clean myself up and take a hot shower to relax. It’s not until I return to bed that I notice Gabe isn’t in it. There’s no sign of lights throughout the apartment, but I pull on my satin robe and go in search of him.

He’s sitting in the dark on the balcony, staring out over the city, and doesn’t hear me approach.

“Are you okay?”

Gabe doesn’t answer. He barely acknowledges my presence with only a slight flinch at my broken whisper. My throat is scratchy from throwing up, and I feel lightheaded. Taking a seat in the lounge beside him, I try again, “I woke up sick, and you weren’t there.”

He glances at me. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Can I get you something?”

Smiling, I shake my head. “No, I wondered where you were, is all. Is everything okay?”

“Of course. Let’s get you back into bed.”

I see the sweet side of Gabe more often now, though his controlling side will always be an issue for me, except in the bedroom. This man can dominate me any way he likes when we’re both naked. My heart warms as he picks me up, cradling me to his chest, and returns to the bedroom.

“Are you coming back to bed?” I whisper as he tucks me in.

“I won’t be long.”

Quietly, he disappears, closing the door behind him. This business with Danny Thorne has been keeping him up at night, but last week he assured me he’s no longer a threat. Unwilling to share any details with me, I took him at his word. But there’s a feeling I can’t seem to shake about this whole situation.

Why would a man show up at my work, pretending to be somebody he isn’t, throw out a cryptic question, then avoid contact with Gabe for weeks, despite his best attempts. Then suddenly to hear all has been dealt with, and he’s no longer a threat, things don’t add up.

Perhaps my concern over the matter is what has my stomach in knots.

I sigh.

Or maybe it has more to do with my agenda for the day.

Glancing at my phone, I see it’s two fifteen in the morning on the anniversary of my parents’ devasting death. This day never gets easier for me, and it’s probably the reason I’ve been so emotional this past week.

I’m falling in love with a man who has promised me the world. Twelve months from now, I’ll be waist-deep in wedding preparations, and I’d give anything to have my parents with me. The times this past month I’ve wanted to talk to my mom about Gabe, my first real love, have been too numerous to count.

A love I never thought I’d experience. Despite my best efforts, my walls are crumbling, and I know without a doubt, I’m in love with this man. It both terrifies and excites me.

Though it’s a conversation I’ll never get the chance to have with my mom, it breaks my heart.

Tears well in my eyes and run down my cheek as I close them. Memories of the last time I saw my parents alive fill my mind. I kissed them both goodbye and promised them I’d look after my brothers in their absence.

Jarett was only sixteen, Roman twenty-four, but he was living on the wild side by then. College parties were more important than family obligations, and he spent his nights sleeping his way through the city to forget about the girl next door who he’d loved since he was a boy.

Maxine.

Every day, I have kept my promise and looked out for my brothers as they have always done for me. And today, my brothers and I will meet at three o’clock at the cemetery as we’ve done every year since our parents’ death.

It was that time twenty years ago today, the local police stood at the door of our family home and delivered the news that turned our lives upside down. They left us billions of dollars, a gorgeous family home on acreage, and I’d give every bit of it back, and more, to still have them with us today.

When Gabe makes his way into bed, he wraps me in his arms, and I fall apart. Sobbing, I allow him to cradle me, knowing he understands more than most and won’t push me to talk about it.

Eventually, I drift off to sleep, and when I wake, daylight filters through the window. As I begin to stir, the slight movement churns my stomach, and I make a mad dash to the bathroom once again.

“Maybe you should take today off,” Gabe suggests as I prepare for work. As always, I intend to have breakfast at my mom’s favorite diner from when we were kids, go to the office for a few hours, pick up my flower order and a new angel charm to hang on their headstone, and make my way to the cemetery.

“I told you, I have a regime to get me through this day. I’m not changing it because I ate something bad last night.”

“Sweetheart, I ate the same meal as you did, and I’m fine. You’re emotional.”

“Yes, Gabe. I’m emotional. It happens, and I’ll get over it,” I snap as I step into my heels and thread my diamond hoops through my lobes. Not in the mood to be comforted, I shrug out of his attempt to embrace me from behind. If I allow him to hold me right now, I’ll be as good as screwed for the day.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I need to get going.”

“I love you, Sophia. Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you today?”

It’s on my lips to say the three words I know he’s dying to hear from me, but today isn’t the right time. He deserves to hear them when I’m at my happiest, bubbling over with joy. And joy isn’t something I feel right now.

“No, but thank you. I’d love you to meet us for drinks at Maximum afterward, though?”

“I’ll see you there.” He brushes a kiss over my lips, and I step out of our apartment ready to take on the day.

The thought a high-protein breakfast and a strong coffee will settle my tummy makes me a fool. Halfway to the office, I double-over, head in a stinking trash can, and bring up my entire meal and then some. Wiping my hand across my face, I dig in my bag for sanitizer and a breath mint, appalled at myself. Passersby openly stare and curse my vile actions.

I struggle to keep myself upright. My body is shaking violently, either the result of the stomach bug or shame, I’m not sure.

Pushing my way through the doors of Incontro, Kelli instantly follows me to my office. Closing the door behind us, she shrieks, “What the hell happened to you?”

After telling her of my humiliation on my way in, she chastises me for coming in today. “I’m calling Gabe.”

“No, please don’t. Pretend I’m not here. Pull my blinds and hold my calls,” I say as I ditch my heels and lay on the sofa.

Kelli huffs but knows better than to argue. “In the event I fall asleep, please wake me at one o’clock.” She agrees and covers me in a throw before fetching some water to place on the side table.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and this came for you after you left yesterday. Private courier,” she says, picking up a large envelope from my desk. “There’s no name, but it’s addressed to you and marked confidential.”

“Ugh,” I groan, waving at her to leave it there. “I’ll look at it later.”