Beauty and the Billionaire

I’d made a mad dash out of Dane’s mother’s room after she tried to pay me off. She wanted me to disappear. She didn’t think I was good enough for her son, and she definitely didn’t want anyone finding out about us. I’d gone to my room and started packing everything up. Not because I was taking her money but because I couldn’t stay in that house for another second.

I was all set to leave when Ryan came barging into my room with the pregnancy test I’d taken earlier in his hand. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. He too told me to get lost or he’d tell Dane the baby could be his.

Then he went on to tell me that Dane had been fucking his secretary for a while now. That he always had. It’s how he kept his social life out of the tabloids. In his words, “getting his dick wet at work and hiding me away too.”

That was wrong. Dane wasn’t the one who had been hiding our relationship. I was. It had all been too much. Between Dane’s mother finding out I was pregnant and everything Ryan was saying before he forcibly took my engagement ring off my finger, almost breaking it in the process. I had to get away.

I’d been so numb, my own past with my parents blurring reality. I’d gotten on a bus because I didn’t own a car. I wasn't running; I needed time to think things through. I’d been so overwhelmed. Time is something Dane would never give me. I love him, but the man fills up all the space around you.

I got off at New Hope when I’d finally calmed down. I’d fallen asleep. The plan was to grab a bus back or to call Dane. I never got that far. There is still a void when it comes to the details of getting struck in the head. The last thing I can recall is that I was looking at the bus schedule to see how to get back home.

I gasp for air, realizing I’m short of breath. The bedroom door flies open, Ryan and Eve looming in the doorway. I make a run for the bathroom, praying my inhaler is in there. Someone grabs me by the back of the head, pulling me back by my hair.

“What the hell are you going to do?” Ryan shouts at Eve. I realize it’s her that has me by the hair. I turn, elbowing her as hard as I can, getting her in the stomach. She releases her hold on me, falling back onto her ass.

I do the same but onto the bed. Black spots dance in my eyes as I fight for air. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get any into my lungs.

“This couldn’t be more perfect.” Eve comes to stand next to the bed.

“We’re going to let her die?” Ryan asks.

“She tried to take him from me. She was going to take your inheritance too,” she hisses at him. They begin fighting back and forth. I no longer can make out their words. Every breath is more of a struggle than the last. Tears escape my eyes even as they fall closed.

Dane! I scream for him as darkness starts to take me. I swear I hear him shout my name back.

18

DANE

I stand outside the hotel, my eyes trained on the SUV parked in front of me. My wife and daughter are both tucked safely inside. I haven’t been able to let them out of my sight for the past week. I run my finger across my still raw knuckles. A reminder of my brother's betrayal.

There had been a moment when I thought I’d killed Ryan. I’d barely gotten to Kennedy in time. Eve tried to make a run for it while we were in the midst of it, but Carter quickly snagged her and called the police. I’m lucky I was able to get my wife her inhaler in time. The second I knew she was okay, I was all over my brother. I let my fists do the talking that day.

It had been Kennedy who saved me from a murder charge. I still can’t believe this fucking mess. Both Eve and Ryan are now sitting in jail waiting to find out their future. Their stupid plan crumbled to dust.

I don’t know what gave Eve the idea that she and I would ever have the possibility of being together in any way. I barely even spoke to her unless I was barking orders. Kennedy showed me the picture she’d seen of us. It was taken at some benefit that all of my employees that lived locally were invited to.

Eve and Ryan had been so sure I’d fall for their plan. They counted on me falling for Eve or at the very least sleeping with her. The twisted plan was for her to try to get pregnant and tie me to her for the rest of my life. Ryan was sure that once Eve got her foot in the door, he would have access to more of the family money. At the end of the day all of this had been about fucking money, which I don’t even understand. Ryan has never wanted for anything in his whole life.