Illusion (Billionaire in Disguise 2)

Her tone of voice was soft. Soothing. Exactly how I remembered it from when we dated. I leaned back in my leather chair and sighed, allowing my eyes to close and my mind to clear

“I’m frustrated,” I said. “This entire ordeal has been going on for two months, and I’m ready for it to be over.”

“Two months? Derek, when did these letters start?”

“You sure we’re off the record?” I asked.

“You have my solemn vow,” she said.

“At the beginning of May.”

“We’re a few days away from July, Derek.”

“I get that, Gretch. Like I said. I’m frustrated, but all in all, I’m fine. I’m getting back to my normal routine, my elite security team has me locked down wherever I go, and I trust the authorities have their eyes peeled for Jacob.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. Good thing you’ve got that girlfriend helping you,” she said.

“Thanks, but I don’t have a girlfriend,” I said.

“I’m still not convinced of that.”

“I can hear your smirk.”

“You should, because it’s there. Look, running into you in Vegas with that woman in your suite, I’m convinced she’s your girlfriend. The way she was ready to defend you with that cute little gun and everything, that’s not a personal assistant. That’s not a bodyguard. That’s a girlfriend, a protective, worried girlfriend.”

I took pause, allowing her words to sink in deep. If there was one thing Gretchen had been throughout the entirety of our relationship, it was observant. She was an excellent judge of character and was always spot-on with how I was feeling, even if I was trying to cover things up and even if I was trying to hide it from her. She always knew what was running through my mind, so her being insistent on a connection like that held merit to me.

It didn’t mean I was going to open a dialogue about it with her, but her opinion and insight still held up as trustworthy in my book.

“I’m just saying. It’s not my place as a reporter or as a former girlfriend. I’m simply telling you what I saw,” she said.

“Well, thank you for the interview. It’s going to help me a great deal,” I said.

“Dodging the insight, I see.”

“You never could turn off that reporter’s mind.”

“So sue me. Anyway, thank you for the interview as well. An exclusive interview with the most wondered about man in the country right now is going to be very helpful for my career.”

“Let me know when you’re going to run it,” I said. “I’d like to keep an eye out for it.”

“You mean you’ll be ready to slaughter me if it’s not up to par with the tone you want it written in.”

“Other businessmen might work that way, but I don’t. I gave you my answers, and they were honest. I trust you’ll paint me in the light my interview is deserving of,” I said.

“I’ll let you know when it’s set to run. Have a good evening, Derek. And stay safe.”

“You too. And I will be. Money can buy lots of things, and that includes top-notch protection.”

“Any other day, I would’ve scoffed at that comment. But tonight, it’s a slightly different story.”

“Good night, Gretch.”

“Good night, Derek.”

Chapter 16

Sam