Journey to Fortune (Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 4)

Hudson chuckled and so did Jagger.

“Then on my way to work, in my not so happy mood, I got something brown on my skirt.”

They walked her over toward the couch again to sit down, and she explained everything that happened that day. They listened attentively, and they smiled at her show of independence and making a stand.

“Are you certain that this woman, Bethany, couldn’t be after you?” Hudson asked. “I mean you embarrassed her, got her fired, and probably ruined her reputation.”

“I thought about it. But Alexa, she’s the other person who texted me at The Phantom, said that Bethany’s Facebook page showed her in Brazil.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. People can fake that stuff.”

“And what about your brother, Sean? Could he be trying to scare you enough to maybe show up and pretend to want to help you?” Hudson asked.

She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands. She needed to tell them the truth.

“Tia Rose?” Jagger said her name.

“Um, I kind of saw him already.”

“What? Where and when?” Jagger asked.

“Before I headed home from the business meeting at the restaurant. He was waiting by the building for me.”

“Did he try to hurt you or threaten you?” Jagger asked. She shook her head.

“No, Jagger, he actually needed help. He said that he was set up, and that he needed money.”

“You talked to him?” Jagger asked.

“You gave him money, Tia?” Hudson asked.

“I believe what he said. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He left my parents place a year after I did because he couldn’t take the abuse. He said that he was at the place that was robbed, but he wasn’t involved.”

“Then why didn’t he turn himself in?” Jagger asked.

“I asked him to do that. To turn himself in. I gave him a hundred dollars, and told him that I would help him if he went to the police.”

“Why? Why would you do that after all the abuse and what occurred in your house back in Missouri?” Jagger asked.

“Because he’s my brother, and if we don’t have each other, then it’s over. The family, the bloodline and ties, end there. I had to give it a shot. I believe him. I think he’s telling the truth.”

“And if he isn’t? If he lied to your face to gain your trust and then rob you, hurt you, and leave you for dead, then what?” Jagger asked her.

She waited a moment, and thought about his words.

“Then I died trying to keep the last bit of hope for a family alive.”

Both men released annoyed sighs and stared at her. She couldn’t look at them.

“Do you believe that we care about you?” Jagger asked, and then stood up.

She looked up, her head reaching her shoulders, as she took in the sight of his huge presence. She still couldn’t get over how big they both were. It appealed to her in so many ways.

“Answer him,” Hudson stated, making her look back toward him. She couldn’t describe the love, the desire to please them that was running through her system.

The sight of their muscles, their chiseled faces, carved from stone like Greek gods, had every part of her body quivering for their touch and attention.

She licked her lips. She had to take this chance. She had to be honest. She had to give them everything one last time in her life, and if they failed her, if they left her, then life was over. This was it.