Chapter 13
He was in a chipper mood. The negotiation, one that had been going on for months had finally come together. Faulkner Industries was now the proud owner of a cruise line. A smile touched his lips as he zipped along in the afternoon traffic.
November was almost at an end and December was just around the corner. He had so many things planned that involved his wife- A grin split his face at how easily it came to him.
His wife. His love, his heart, his entire being. Last night had been wonderful- no, he shook his head and did not mind in the least when a gray SUV cut him off as he reached the intersection. He was happy, so much so that it scared him.
Last night she had opened up to him about her grief of losing a friend. And afterwards, they had made love, sweet, prolonged love that had them shivering in the aftermath.
She had been there to help with his sister and showed that she was supportive. He would tell her about the cruise line and suggest they take a trip to check it out. Go on the maiden voyage.
The line had been shabbily managed of course and would need some massive makeover. It was going to be a celebrity cruise line with fabulously furnished state rooms and all sorts of activities offered. Live performances by well-known artistes, food from all over the world. He would ask for her input because she was his wife.
Christ! He laughed shakily. It should be a sin to be this happy. And his gut warned him that there was bound to be something lurking around the corner, something to tamper with this bubble of joy inside him. But he was going to ignore it.
His meeting had taken up less time than anticipated and his next meeting was not until two. Which means he could surprise his wife by taking her out to lunch. There was a fabulous French restaurant not too far from her office and it was time he knew where she worked.
He wanted her to come to his office too, so that he could show her off.
He had a feeling that the managers all thought he was making her up.
Wait until they get an eyeful of her.
He smiled whimsically as he recalled how she looked leaving the apartment this morning. She had swung by her place to pick up some extra clothing and the black streamlined pants suit teamed with the pale pink blouse looked fabulous on her.
He had kissed her goodbye when he dropped her off this morning with the assurance that she was coming to his place tonight. A frown touched his brow as he thought about that. This back and forth will not work. He had also had a heated discussion with his lawyers, and they had insisted on Sonya signing a prenup.
“It’s the law.” The stodgy head of his team had told him stubbornly. “Anything can happen, divorce…”
“I would advise you to keep that line of conversation to yourself. And remind you that this is my damn money, and you work for me,” he had told the man tightly.
But Sonya had insisted on signing and he had reluctantly succumbed. He was going to buy her a different ring and suggest they hold another ceremony.
He was also going to declare his love for her. He would try and beat her home to set the scene. Candles, roses, did she like roses? He wondered. Several dozens and wine. He had some of the best in his wine cellar downstairs. He would bring up a bottle or two and pop the cork. He loved her and he did not see the point in not saying it.
Touching the left turn signal, he drove into the parking lot of the renovated warehouse and parked beneath a palm tree and sat for a little bit.
Perhaps he should call. She might be out at a meeting. Tapping his fingers on the wheel, he stared out at the flow of people going into the antique store. She had told him that she shared the place with a friend and that the friend wanted to meet him.
Making his decision, he pushed the door open and dragged on his jacket, cutting off the bite of the wind. With a slight smile on his lips, he made his way towards the building.
*****
Jason stared at the exquisitely shaped diamond on her fingers a little critically. “The man’s a multi-billionaire and couldn’t spring for anything bigger?”
Pulling her hand away, she gave him a mild look. “I happen to like it. Very tasteful and far from ostentatious. I would prefer not to draw attention to myself.”
“You’re married to Robert Faulkner.” He shook his head incredulously. “A guy you ignored because of his upbringing. He must feel pretty good about himself.”
Her mouth tightened at that, and she almost ordered him to leave. But he was a friend as well as a contributor to several of the charities she was involved with.
“He’s a wonderful man.”
“One you wouldn’t have spit on or given a second glance in the past. How does he feel about that?”
“Is there a point to this conversation? I am busy.”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his thinning blonde hair.
“I’m jealous.” He told her grimly, moving to stand in front of her, where she was perched on the edge of her desk. “It should be me, Sonya. I am still in love with you and trying to figure out what the hell went wrong.”
“We grew apart.” Her annoyance dissipated at the despairing look on his face. He had started drinking and she could see the broken capillaries by his eyes and the lines running from his nose to his mouth. He looked very unhappy, a dullness to his eyes that was evident.
“But why?” He persisted. “We were in love.”
“We were children. And what we felt for each other was infatuation and youthful passion.” She laughed breathlessly. “It was good while it lasted. Now, I really have to…”
“I am sick.” He blurted out, giving her pause.
“What?” She blinked at him, and he smiled sadly.
“I have been diagnosed with a rare kidney disease.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh Jason! I am so sorry.”
He nodded bleakly. “I was hoping that by getting a second opinion, it would make a difference, but it’s a no.”
“Is it- how long…?”
“Before I keel over and die?” He continued grimly. “Months, possibly I will live a year, but they are not hopeful.”
“What about transplant?”
“Too risky and the disease is too far gone. I left it too late and to be fair, I was drinking myself to death over the years. Partly it is your fault.” He finished half-jokingly.
“Please don’t say that.”
“I meant it when I said I still love you,” he told her soberly.
“I’m sorry.” She offered lamely, not knowing what else to say.
“Of course.” She went into his arms and did not protest when he held her tight.
That was how Robert saw them.
“Your assistant was…” His voice petered off as the couple moved away from each other hastily. Something sick twisted inside his gut and that was before he recognized who it was. The man – his former nemesis, the boy who had given him so much grief and made his life a living hell, turned to face him with a smirk on his face.
Rage, undiluted and unlike anything he had ever felt before vied with jealousy for supremacy had him staggering backwards.
The silence was potent and charged as the three were caught up in a slightly comical tableau, not knowing what to say.
Then Sonya broke the awkward silence. “Robert, what are you doing here?”
Dragging his gaze from the man standing next to her, he felt the pain of her betrayal tearing through his body. He had jumped to the conclusion that she was into him but had been proven wrong.
“I thought I would surprise you and invite you to lunch.” His voice was calm, and he had no idea how he was still standing there and making conversation. “But I can see you’re otherwise occupied.”
“You know Jason…,” she began desperately, trying to temper the situation.
“Robert Faulkner, in the flesh.” Sonya went rigid when Jason moved forward with one hand outstretched. “I caught glimpses of you at several functions, but not near enough to congratulate you on your success.
A man of immense means.” He lowered his hand when it became clear that there would be no handshake. “One has to admire this great country of ours, right?” He continued oblivious to the anger pumping from the other man. “That you are now rich enough to buy and sell me and my family.”
“That’s right.” Robert’s voice was icy and sent shivers along Sonya’s spine. “It’s something I would advise you never to forget. I can destroy you just like that.” He snapped his fingers in front of Jason’s face, causing the man to jump slightly back.
“Hey. Watch it, buddy.”
“I am not your buddy, and you no longer have the power to kick me around.”
“Bygones.” Jason finally realized he was on dangerous grounds.
“Never. Now get the hell out.”
“It’s Sonya’s office…”
And she happens to be my wife. Get out.”
Jason looked as if he was about to challenge the demand but thought better of it. Turning to Sonya, he sent her sickly smile before hurrying towards the door.
The silence that followed Jason’s hasty departure stretched into minutes, until Sonya felt her nerve endings frazzling. He had left the doorway and walked over to her window; his broad shoulders squared. His profile was harsh, and she could all but feel the anger emanating from his long, lean body.
“That was uncalled for.”
“What was he doing here?” He asked tightly.
“Jason’s a friend.”
“Is he?” He turned to stare at her and felt his heart twisting into tight knots. He had no idea how he was going to get the image of the bastard’s arms wrapped around her from his mind. “How good a friend?
Was he here to rekindle the flames? If I had not showed up just then, what was going to happen? You two seemed pretty cozy. And with your assistant conveniently out of the office.”
Her eyes flashed dangerously. “How dare you!”
“I dare because I come to my wife’s office only to see her in her ex’s arms!” He snapped. “How long has this being going on?”
She simply stared at him in shock. “You’re mad.”
“I am outraged. That son of a bitch made my life a living hell. He took every opportunity to rub the fact that I did not belong in that fancy school. He roped in his friends to beat the shit out of me several times and made me feel lower than dirt.
But what am I saying?” His eyes were like shards of glass. “You were one of them too. You might not have used physical blows, but you delivered emotional ones as well. You were no better than they were.”
Sonya felt the pain slicing to the heart of her as his words hammered at her.
“Get out!” She whispered hoarsely.
“Oh, absolutely.” He told her coldly. “But before I go, I want you to warn that son of a bitch. I have been investigating his little law firm and it’s ripe for a takeover. I have the money and wherewithal to do so and if it’s a hostile takeover, then so much the better. I can destroy him in the blink of an eye.”
“And would that make you happy? Is that going to make you feel better for what was done to you?”
Shoving his hands into the pockets of his dark blue dress pants, he rocked back on his heels and gave her a bitter look. “Oh yes. It would be a start.”
Without another word, he turned on his heels and left her trembling.
Pressing her hand on the desk, she managed to move to her chair and sank down, her knees shaking.
She had never seen him angry before. The man she was used to had never looked like that, as if he had wanted to commit murder.
She was accustomed to the passion, intense and powerful, and the gentleness he had shown her. Even when he had reason to be upset when she told him about the marriage being real after all, he had never even raised his voice, never accused her of being an idiot or of putting him in an impossible situation.
But just now, she caught more than a glimpse of what the papers wrote about him and what he had partially shared with her of his past and the way he had survived living on the streets.
She had a sick feeling that if Jason had not left when he did, he would have had to be carried out. And that scared her. It also angered her that he had immediately jumped to the conclusion that there was something going on between them. And the words he had said to her was still hurting. He had destroyed her, flayed her emotionally.
“Idiot.” She whispered tearfully. “Jerk.” Blinking away the tears, she managed to compose herself just in time as she heard Gloria’s sensible shoes hitting the hardwood floor and announcing her arrival.
*****
“Cancel my next meeting.” He told his assistant coldly as he strode into his office half an hour later.
“Sir, Mr. Hardwood is already on his way…”
“Then he can just turn back around.” He snapped. “Cancel the meeting and hold my calls until I say when. I don’t want to be disturbed.” Without waiting for her response, he slammed the doors shut and went straight to his cabinet.
The thought of eating anything now was making his stomach churn. Or was it the rage? He had spent the time after leaving her place, just driving around for a while as he tried in vain to keep a lid on his temper that was threatening to explode.
The image was mocking him. The image of the bastard’s arms around her was making him crazy and he wanted to smash something, preferably his frigging face. The scotch splashed over his hand and had him swearing viciously.
Slamming the bottle down, he picked up the glass and downed the drink, relishing the burning in his throat and then his gut. Pouring another, he took it with him to his desk and sat, swinging the chair around so that he could stare broodingly out at the spear of the other high-rise buildings.
He had been tempted to go after the bastard and beat him within an inch of his life. Not for the past, but for touching what belonged to him.
Yes, she was his. She was married to him, wearing his ring, and sleeping in his bed every damn night. He had been the one to take her virginity. She was his exclusively. And that bastard had no right to touch her. Robert wanted to kill him for that alone.
But he had something so much better. A grim smile touched his lips as he swiveled around and put away the glass. Booting up his laptop, he keyed in some information, until he was looking at the financial sheet of Fallon & Fallon. The law firm was an old established one and had been around for more than a century.
But in the past few years, it had taken several hits. The senior Fallon and his brother who now ran the company had made some bad decisions, ones that had cost the firm a substantial amount of money and it had not quite recovered.
It was prime for a takeover, and it would be so easy to start by crippling them even more, so forcing them to have to sell.
He had told Sonya that he was thinking of it and had not lied. He had dreamed of doing that in the past when he started making money. Dreamed of the day when he faced the bastard who had made his life so miserable and forcing him to recognize that he was now someone of worth.
But over the years, the need to prove himself to Jason Fallon and others like him had diminished and became insignificant. Until he had almost forgotten about them. Until now. A glint entered his eyes as he dug even further.
*****
He knew she was at his apartment, because she had accessed his code, the one he had given her a few nights ago. And had felt his heart pumping hard. He had expected her to go to her place and had no idea what he would have done if she had taken that route. But she was home.
Whatever else was happening between them, she had chosen to go to his place instead of hers, but he could not face her, not yet. He was all sorts of crazy and jumbled up inside. And he did not want to argue with her again. He was also hurting and infuriated that his plans for the evening had gone to shit.
The flowers, the candles, the wine, followed by mind-blowing sex had been destroyed and he along with them. So, he dallied at the office, even after his meetings were done with and he had nothing else to do. He had found work to occupy himself with and was armed with enough information about the law firm to do some major damage.
But he could not put off going home any longer. He was tired and angry and hungry. He had not bothered with food, not even to call down to the kitchen and have them send something up.
*****
Sonya knew when he came in. She had braced herself for another showdown and was determined not to call to find out where he was.
A glance at the clock showed that it was going on 8:00 pm but she was damned if she was going to ask where he had been. She had spent the time stewing and steaming. He was in the wrong.
He owed her and Jason apologies and she was going to demand that he apologized, even knowing he would never stoop that low. He might apologize to her, but to Jason? Never.
It disturbed her that he was still hurting from what was done to him in the past and she hated her part in the entire thing. Seeing Jason today, looking at him, made her realize that she felt nothing for him.
And that she had fallen head over heels in love with Robert. She was in love with her husband and that might be the case since they were at the cottage. She loved him! And the idiot believed that she had a torch going for Jason.
How could he even compare himself to her ex? She shook her head and held her breath as she waited for him to enter the bedroom.
When the seconds turned into minutes, she realized he wasn’t coming up and was probably avoiding her. Well to hell with that! They were going to have it out once and for all. Gathering her robe around her and tying the sash, she set off militantly to look for him.
Descending the stairs, she searched downstairs, and he was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t in the living room as she thought, and the kitchen was empty. The housekeeper had prepared lamb chops and baby potatoes, but she had not even bothered to partake of the meal.
Where the hell was he? Suddenly it occurred to her that he might be in the gym. She had been there twice and worked out with him just this morning before they showered and got ready for work. It all seemed such a long time ago, because of everything that had happened.
He had changed out of his suit and was in gray sweats and a black tank top and was beating the crap out of a hanging bag.
His muscles bunched and quivered and he was already covered in sweat, indicating how much energy he had already burned. A black headband held the hair back from his face that had an intensely fierce expression that warned her he was still in a black mood.
If he noticed her standing inside the doorway of the large well-equipped room, he gave no indication. The sounds of fists hitting the leather filled the room. Folding her arms under her breasts, she waited for him to stop, determined not to be intimidated.