29. Beckham
Chapter twenty-nine
Beckham
B efore the panic, before her spiral, before she bolted down the museum steps—she left me in that showroom, hips swaying like temptation itself as I watched from over my shoulder.
I knew it was getting to her. My words. My touch. Our connection… It was beginning to take a toll on her. Gavin was no help, and neither was the constant worry of the financial troubles that had been looming over her.
Despite her resistance, she was already unraveling piece by piece, struggling to hold on to something she’d already lost.
I could see the gears turning in her head, the guilt, the looming shame. She liked to pretend things could change, that she still had a choice. I’d make sure she realized she didn’t soon enough.
Exiting the showroom, I descended the steps slowly and was met with Helen, who was fixing up some documents by the grand desk.
She looked over at me, and a smile coated her face. “She’s just outside…” she said with a smile, and I nodded silently before she continued. “You seem rather… attentive for just being a client.”
I placed my hands in my pockets as I glanced over to the door.
“Not that she’d want to disclose this information, but it’s... complicated.”
“The fact that her husband isn’t here says plenty,” Helen remarked, and my eyes snapped over to her as she shrugged innocently while she stepped behind the desk. “As a woman who escaped a previous marriage to be with the love of my life today... there are a few tell-tale signs of a woman in an unhappy marriage.”
I leaned against the counter, intrigued. “Since you’ve been in her position before… I’m sure you can offer a few words of wisdom on how to approach our delicate situation.”
“No... none at all, actually. Before it gets any better, believe things will get much worse.”
“You think so?” I asked.
She nodded. “Well, they’re bound to. Especially when dealing with stubborn men like you and her husband. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“And regardless of the outcome, someone’s heart is bound to break. ”
I sighed internally. Someone’s heart was bound to break… Oddly enough, I wasn’t interested in envisioning the possible outcomes that could result from Gavin finding out about me and Rosenna.
Though I didn’t care much about how Gavin would feel, I knew my flower would continue to harbor the guilt of being unfaithful, possibly for the rest of her life.
On the off chance that he could see past the affair, where would that leave me? If she was given the ultimatum after everything was revealed, would she choose him in the end?
Someone’s heart is bound to break.
Was my heart bound to break if it got to that point? Had we reached that stage of our “relationship?”
“In the end... there’s no real guarantee whose heart it will be, is there?” I muttered.
“Life is full of uncertainties, Mr. Garcia… why do you think art is so captivating? It’s complex, unpredictable… much like love. ”
My jaw clenched.
“What’s your selling price?” I asked
Helen paused momentarily. “I’m sorry?”
“What’s your asking price for the property? How much would you have sold it to Rosenna for?”
“...Well, for Rosenna, if she’s truly interested, I’m willing to negotiate any fair price that would put her in a good financial situation and return our investment for retirement—”
“Tell her it’s off the market,” I cut her off.
Helen gazed at me, baffled. “I-I don’t think I understand…”
I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. Handing her one of the business cards my father often forced into my hand, I continued, “If she asks, tell her you found a buyer. In the meantime, you’ll be receiving a call soon for an offer on the place.”
She grabbed the card with almost shaky hands, and I walked away wordlessly, heading for the exit.
You told me yourself, Beckham. You don’t love, and you don’t know how to feel.
What is it that you think you’re going to accomplish? Why are you prying after a married woman?
Beckham. You need to stop.
The sadistic part of me found her words rather amusing. Almost like she was playing hard to get. The more rational, humanistic side found some truth within them, knowing that we were already underwater and I was pulling her deeper with me.
My end goal with Rosenna was ultimately undetermined and unknown, but her ending up with Gavin couldn’t have been any better… or that’s what I’ve convinced myself of to lessen the potential guilt that may try to seep in for actively trying to ruin their marriage even more than it already is.
Someone’s heart is bound to break.
Ignoring the Helen’s words once more while walking out of the building, I tilted my head as my eyes landed on a rather peculiar sight. My flower’s shoulders were tense, almost apprehensive, as a somewhat familiar person held his hand on her back.
It looked comforting… inviting almost. The opposite of my own demeanor. And as I stood beside them, listening intently to their conversation, I could already feel my jealousy and anger skyrocketing.
“ Brent… you don’t need to—” my flower began like a good girl… trying to put the distance between herself and the recognizable man I was introduced to a few days ago. If I pieced together his side hustle of being a loan shark, as Gavin had mentioned to me before, and Rosenna’s hesitancy towards him, I could assume she was using his services.
“ I insist,” he interrupted.
I placed my hands in my pockets. “Rosenna...” I started, and I had to hold back a smile as she practically shivered at my voice.
Brent didn’t seem to notice it, but he did retract his hand as I approached.
“Brent, it’s good to see you,” I began.
Throughout the conversation that followed, I could easily tell my flower was uncomfortable. However, as I looked into Brent’s eyes, I noticed something rather familiar. An emotion… It wasn’t intense. It was awfully subtle. It reminded me of the gaze he held on my flower at the get-together a few nights ago when we were almost caught. I ignored it before, not interested in anyone but my rose, yet today… today I saw it.
Growing infatuation. Though from my track record, I was never quite the expert at understanding the emotions of others. The only person I made the effort with was Rosenna. However, I was not a stranger to feelings of obsession, fixation… addiction . And although it was slight, I could see it.
Nonetheless, it didn’t faze me. My infatuation for my flower was different… our passion, our desire was absolutely different.
However, I could tell Brent was feeling rather bold. It was unclear whether or not he knew Rosenna was unfaithful to Gavin, yet his demeanor was rather odd.
“If you’re serious about this, you know I’m always available to lend you assistance, Rosenna,” he attempted to assure her.
Assistance was a rather interesting word choice. Being the son of a billionaire with an inheritance worth more than his law firm profits will ever reach, I’d say I had the ability to give my flower assistance … Brent only had the ability to give her more problems than she already had.
“Something tells me she won’t be needing it,” I said as nonchalantly as possible, and his eyes gazed over to mine for a moment. In an instant, I knew my assumption was correct. Our silent exchange spoke volumes, though we said nothing in response.
Upon bidding him goodbye and going over to my car, I did my best to soothe my little flower, who was about to have a full-blown panic attack.
“Wait. What if Gavin’s back from the trip, too?! What if Brent’s going to tell him we were together?”
“He won’t,” I assured her.
Soon, after attempting to calm her nerves and coercing her to stay with me through the night, I found myself wide awake beside her sleeping body as the hours passed.
As my flower slept beside me soundlessly, my hand traveled back and forth from her navel to her chest possessively. Her body was soft, warm and mine. My hands mapped her, memorizing her, my fingers spread possessively, palming her, claiming what already fucking belonged to me. She whimpered in her sleep, her body responding to me even when unconscious. Even when her mind wasn’t aware, her body still begged for me. Like an instinct. Like ownership.
With my free hand, I scrolled through my phone, my gaze narrowing as I read through Brent’s law services.
I didn’t like him, and I didn’t trust him. Though I’d already told Rosenna that, I wouldn’t elaborate further to her. It would do her no better to know why.
I had a feeling he wouldn’t say anything to Gavin… not yet, at least. But I wanted to know why, or rather when he would. From my perspective, he and Gavin were good friends—disgustingly good friends given how much they spoke to one another. It was possible Brent had his own agenda and reasoning behind his actions. Maybe his actions were platonic or business-related. Or maybe, just maybe, he had another motive.
He probably had an agenda. Men like him always do.
After working with a woman like Rosenna, any sensible man with desires… urges… would look at her differently. Especially with the way her shitty husband treated her.
Brent had gotten too comfortable. Too familiar. Too fucking close . I saw the way he touched her. Casual and friendly… but not entirely. The way his hand lingered just a little too long. The way his eyes followed her when she wasn’t looking. And when I stepped into his view, the way his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes anymore.
He’s my loan shark, Beckham. You’re not supposed to like him.
So, I was correct… she’s in debt to him. But how much?
Regardless of whether or not he had feelings for my rose, I had a feeling he was hiding something. Maybe something to do with Gavin? Her potentially excessive loan? I was unsure… but I was going to find out. One way or another.
Setting the phone down, I made a plan to meet with my father sometime in the week to get some intel on the loan he’d given her. It would be the first step in knowing just how much my flower was drowning and how deep she was. I could simply ask her, but she was stubborn and headstrong. She wouldn’t tell me the extent of her money troubles that easily.
In the meantime… Sitting up slightly, my hand found my flower’s plump and filled breasts. Squeezing them, I listened to the soft melody of her moans as she slept. Leaning over, I took her breast into my mouth as she let out a soft whimper. Her nipples were already tight, already sensitive and begging for me to taste them.
In the meantime, I was going to cherish my little flower. Reaching my hand down to her cunt, I toyed with her sensitive, swollen, wet clit that was ready for me. Her body recognized my touch. My cock grew hard at the mere thought of it. Another needy moan fell from her lips as she squirmed, her thigh twitching as I dragged my fingers through her slick folds.
Even in your fucking dreams, you know who you belong to.
Despite her relationship with her husband and the relatively new infatuation her loan shark potentially had, she was still mine.
Mine to own, mine to fuck, mine to ruin.
Her mind, body, and soul were all mine.
Her back arched off of the bed, and I hummed as I dipped two fingers into her core, stretching her little pussy open, getting it ready before I continued her delicious torture. She was always so fucking responsive.
I pushed deeper, curling my fingers just right, feeling her slick walls tighten around me, squeezing, pulsing, begging without a single word.
Fuck, she was perfect.
I took my time to watch her, to savor her desire, my need for her growing with every painful, aching second. My cock throbbed as she moaned, her head tilting into the crook of my shoulder as she let out a shuddered breath.
My thumb stayed on her clit, working her slowly as I watched her with utter fascination. Her stomach clenched, her little pussy right on the edge, so fucking close to giving me what I needed.
“That’s it,” I growled under my breath, my grip tightening, my pace relentless as I pounded her little hole, wet sounds filling the air as she pathetically wriggled against the sheets. “Give it to me, baby. Cum for me.”
She let out soft gasp, a choked sob as she slept peacefully, and then she shattered.
Her body spasmed, pussy clenching around my fingers, thighs trembling as she moaned, long and breathless, into my skin.
I moaned low in my throat, my cock pulsing at the sight, my fingers finding ease to slip in another, getting her ready for my dick as I forced them through her orgasm. My little flower, so fucking ruined for me.
In a split second, the need, the obsession, the addiction had taken over as I briefly imagined spending the rest of my life like this. Pulling her apart, making her fall, forcing her to realize over and over again that no matter what, she would never belong to anyone else.
Gavin would be home soon… but it didn’t matter. Because no one... absolutely no one would take her away from me.
Walking onto my father’s floor from the elevator, I was greeted by the staff as I made my way to his main office. A few days had passed since I’d contacted him and he was ready to discuss some of his findings. Stepping inside the room, I noticed him, one of his close financial advisors, and a cybersecurity kid he hired a while back after the kid attempted to hack into the company’s system to obtain classified information.
“Beckham, please take a seat. We were just about to begin discussing the rather interesting findings uncovered in the last forty-eight hours or so. Jasper, you can start,” my father said.
I took a seat at the small conference table they were sitting at. The financial advisor, Jasper, began by turning his computer screen to face me. Staring at the screen, I looked over to the men before looking back down at the screen.
I blinked twice. “Someone explain what I’m looking at.”
“Mr. Garcia, Ms. Hart currently has just under $3.6 million in debt to Brent Sullivan...” Jasper explained.
I furrowed my eyebrows. Nearly four million dollars? I knew she’d dug herself a hole, but, fuck I didn’t think it’d be this deep.
“What does the debt entail?” I questioned.
“It appears to be a series of loans taken out over the past few years, with varying interest rates and repayment terms. All in all, there seem to be three major loans that were used to purchase the three properties Ms. Hart currently has up and running. In the beginning, there seemed to be a rather generous grace period for the repayment terms as a way to give the properties time to generate income. However, the interest currently is nearly forty-five percent on top of the principal. Even with the payments of $50,000 or $100,000, only a little more than half is actually allocated toward the balance of the loan.”
“Forty-five fucking percent...” I muttered.
“Had the interest rate been more reasonable, sir, we would obviously see significant decreases in the principal, but...” Jasper trailed off.
In an instant, I could see he seemed to be nervous to continue.
I narrowed my eyes. “But what?” I pressed.
Cole, the cybersecurity kid, turned his own laptop to show me his own findings.
“But it turns out, Ms. Hart is not only paying for her loans. In addition to part of her interest, her principal ’balance’ encompasses payments that are actually being diverted to an unknown account linked to Gavin Johnson, her husband.”
My blood boiled.
I didn’t know how to articulate my emotions. It was hard for me to experience them without putting them into some form of art… but I didn’t need to pick up a paintbrush to convey or express the fact that I was fucking pissed.
Jasper continued, “Cole was able to link each of Gavin’s larger expenses or loans to spikes in Ms. Hart’s interest rates or impromptu requests by Brent Sullivan for early payments or additional payments that were covered up by being classified as miscellaneous fees. It seems to have been a rather imminent pattern of both Ms. Hart and her assistant attempting to clarify where the payments were being allocated; however, the complaints and protests fell on deaf ears as Gavin was made to relay the message.”
Of course they would fall on deaf ears. Gavin isn’t exactly rooting for his wife’s success, as it clearly shows. I’m sure he viewed her concerns as minor or insignificant since they didn’t fit his agenda.
I had always assumed he was weak. A coward. A liar. Spineless. Envious. Jealous. Resentful. A pathetic fucking excuse for a man.
I had never assumed he was a thief. Stealing from his own wife. Drowning her in his debt. Burying her under a mountain of interest while she worked herself to exhaustion, while she sold pieces of herself just to fucking survive.
Maybe an hour had passed, maybe it was five minutes, but both men seemed a bit apprehensive as I stared at the screens silently in my thoughts.
“Gentlemen, could you give us the room for a minute? I think we need a moment to discuss this privately. Please remain in the hall for the time being,” my father requested.
As the men stepped out, I slowly looked over to him.
He seemed to be giving me another one of his signature gazes, indicating to me that he was trying to understand my thoughts, trying to piece together what I could’ve been thinking at the moment.
He rubbed his chin. “You know… I debated whether or not I should’ve asked why, in the middle of the night, you requested I look into Rosenna’s finances—”
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” I cut him off.
“Beckham,” he muttered.
“He is such a fucking hypocrite, bashing and berating his wife for taking on too much responsibility when all the while, he’s the one piling onto her never-ending list of problems. That’s fucking rich coming from him.”
“Beckham, we can’t do anything about this. Not yet, at least.”
“Why the hell not?!” I seethed
My father stared at me and my increasingly growing state of rage. By now, I assumed he was well aware my relationship with Rosenna was not too platonic or professional, but I didn’t care. Not right now.
He kept himself poised, a stark contrast to my unhinged anger. When he did answer, his voice was measured and calm, like always.
“If you couldn’t already tell, what we did was entirely illegal from a judge or court perspective. Without solid evidence that reinforces these almost unbelievable claims, we could potentially be bringing Rosenna more harm than good. We’ll have lawyers on the case 24/7 and a private investigator to look more closely at what’s been going on.”
“And what am I supposed to fucking do in the meantime? Just sit back and watch?”
My father leaned back in his chair, the look in his eyes confirming he knew what was going on but he still didn’t explicitly say.
“Well, correct me if I appear to be wrong, son, but you’ve never exactly been one to simply… sit and watch Rosenna. If that were the case, I presume we would be in a much different situation... In the meantime, simply continue to do what you’ve normally been doing. When the time is right, she will know.”
My jaw clenched, but he remained silent. I left the office in a haste, ignoring the turning heads as I entered the elevator.
Leaning my head against the wall as the doors closed, I held the bridge of my nose between my fingers as I sighed.
Now, I was going to have to sit idle as my flower continued her tainted relationship with that worthless excuse of a man? Watch her take in his lies with a heavy heart and go to dinner with him with a forced smile?
I needed to be patient… We needed more evidence before I could tear Gavin to fucking shreds.
But patience had never been my fucking virtue.
In the meantime, simply continue to do what you ’ ve normally been doing.
Running my hands down my face in thought, I internally laughed at my father’s words. Continue to do what I’ve normally been doing, huh? If that’s the case, I actually wouldn’t mind a little dinner myself.