Chapter 33 #2
Her eyes widen as if I’ve slapped her. “I’m very disciplined.”
“Maybe I’m using the wrong term.”
“Then what would the right one be?”
“Maybe someone needs to teach you some boundaries.”
“Boundaries?” She bends over, shoving her breasts out. “Oh, are you wanting to be my daddy and tell me no? Give me a little spanking so I learn a lesson?”
My chest ignites. This girl before me, who thinks she’s a woman, knows how to put a man right where she wants him. It’s truly terrifying.
I say nothing for fear I’ll only regret it if I do. She’s only sixteen and I have to remember that’s where her twisted brain is functioning from.
She follows my line of sight and notices I’m still staring like an idiot down her shirt. An evil smile curls her lips.
“Oh, that’s why you’re looking at me like that.” She gestures to her chest. “I hope you got a good look because it’s the only time you ever will.”
“Livianna, that’s enough!” Her dad comes up behind her and slaps the credit card on the table. “Leave. We have business we need to get to, and you were just completely out of line.”
“But, Daddy—”
“Not this time, Livianna. I saw you do it with my own eyes.” He points to the side of the house. “Go and get your shopping done.”
The metal of her chair scratches along the concrete as she dramatically pushes away. “Sorry, Daddy. He was being rude, so I responded out of spite.”
“Livianna, I said go.” He dismisses her with a wave of his hand.
Her hard expression shatters and sadness seeps in.
Her eyes gloss over, but then she straightens her back, turns to me, and glares. “Good luck on your home search, Mr. Crowne. I’m sure my daddy will find you the perfect place.”
She storms away. I try to get my head back on straight while measuring my breaths. No woman… I mean girl, has made me feel so disgusted.
Fuck!
She’s a girl who got under my skin. I’m sickened with myself. The blood drains from my limbs. Waves of nausea pulse through me.
Greg places his hand on my shoulder. “Stop beating yourself up, Jaxon. She’s a handful. Any man could fall into her web.”
“I would’ve put my life down, swearing she was twenty-five.”
“Just be smart while you’re out there dating and make sure you demand a woman show you her identification to prove she’s of age. Otherwise, you’re bound to run into another one just like Livianna.”
“Thanks for the advice, but why do you say that?”
“They seem to be everywhere these days.” He wipes his sweaty forehead with a pocket handkerchief. “I’ve even had to explain that to Brendan. He’s eighteen now and one of the most sexually active people I’ve ever met. If he’s not careful, he’s going to find himself in a terrible situation.”
I nod and let that sink in. If I didn’t know and met Livianna somewhere else, there’s no doubt I would’ve hit on her.
I shift to release my tense muscles. “Does Livianna try to date older men?”
“No, but she loves toying with them.” His shoulders fall in defeat. “She’s been seeing the same boy for about a year.”
“Then why does she need to mess with older guys?”
“It’s the male species in general. I think she does it as a power trip. She has no say in the situation with her boyfriend, so all other men are the target. It’s like she believes if she can control them, maybe she’ll gain whatever she’s missing with her boyfriend.”
“Why doesn’t she have a say in their relationship?” I lean forward with genuine interest.
“They’re both in the entertainment industry. He’s constantly working and so is she. They’re always told when and where to be. They get limited time together. And when they do, the tabloids love to prey on them.”
“That sounds pretty unfair given her age.” A new awareness of understanding sets in. “What’s your thought about him?”
“I love him as my own.” Greg sighs heavily. “He’s had a rough go at life. He tries hard to be a good kid. Specifically with being honest with me.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I believe he really loves Livianna, but they can never catch a break. One of them is frequently in the news with a scandal. Most of which aren’t even true, but that doesn’t mean the damage isn’t done. I worry for the two of them and their future.”
“They’re young. It probably won’t work out.”
He huffs a laugh. “I wouldn’t be too sure.”
“Why?”
“Because he just gave her a promise ring for her sixteenth birthday. They may be young, but he’s determined to marry her. And it only intensified when he found out Lorna and I started dating when we were their age.”
“Well, then. You can only hope their future together is as bright as yours and Lorna’s has been.”
“If it were only that easy.”
Jaxon
Seven Years Later
NOW
Glass Hearts & Jetstream Vows
Love doesn’t wait at the gate. It hunts you through the storm, dragging your name like a curse etched in bone.
Andrew eyes my bag as I enter the lobby. “So you’re leaving me to sort out this mess?”
“You can handle it. I’m packed and there’s no looking back. I’m ready to leave Malaysia and get home to Livianna. She needs to know I’m in love with her and never should’ve left.”
“You probably should’ve told her a long time ago.”
I’m thirty-eight now and she’s twenty-three. I’m kicking myself for waiting to tell her I’m in love with her.
“Andrew, I realize that. That’s why I’m in a hurry to get home. She needs to see the sincerity in my eyes when I finally tell her the truth.”
“Good luck, Jaxon.” He pats my shoulder. “I hope it all works out. You two could be unstoppable together.”
“I believe that, too. Now it’s time I let her know.”
After a short work handoff, we say goodbye. I stride out of the hotel with my heart lighter than it has been in days.
For the last week, I’ve scoured past tabloid stories about Livianna in my free time, and I haven’t even scratched the surface. What I’ve come to realize is she is one hell of a survivor and a fighter.
She’s more inspiring than I thought before I left. Now I’m just fascinated by her and more in love with her than I thought possible.
She was branded a baby killer after a pregnancy scare at fifteen and has been taken advantage of by multiple people in her life she once trusted. She held her head high the entire time.
Not once did she lose her composure in front of the cameras or in front of reporters. She has more strength than people twice her age.
Once I let go of my bruised ego about her not telling me the truth about her tattoo, not disclosing a lot about her past, or anything about her relationship with Cash Mayze, I sent her a text message, telling her I missed her and would love to find a time to connect.
She has a reason she didn’t share with me and I have to respect whatever that is. She responded, saying she was confused about some things and needed some time to think. I’ve been waiting to hear back, but it’s been two days and still nothing from her.
That’s why I’m letting Andrew handle this disaster of an investment and going home to give Livianna the clarity she needs. I love her and I’m ready to take on the world to make her my wife.
I sent her a letter, told her I loved her, and asked if she wanted a life with me. If she does, I asked her to wait for me at the beach house until I get home.
That’s if she’s single and wants to take on the challenges of being in a public relationship with me. I have a lot I need to explain and share with her.
That’s another reason I’m willing to look past her secrets. God knows I have plenty.
Her father will be a problem but even so, I’m brave enough to take him on. The only thing I’m worried about is the danger that surrounds me.
If the people searching for me ever figure out who I am, she’ll become a target, so I’ll have to double up on security for her. Thinking about that part of the equation still puts me on edge, but I can’t lose her because of my own stupidity.
I’ve avoided all recent media stories about her so I can approach any conversations with her with an open mind and heart. All I need from her is for her to tell me how she feels about me. Then I need to share my situation with her, and we can go from there.
No news feeds. No spin. I want her truth before the world argues back.
I board the jet and get situated for a long day of travel. It’s going to be rough, but at least there’s a bed in the back of the plane where I can sleep.
My heart pounds and my hands shake as I type out the last text I plan to send until I return to LA.
Me: Mon trésor, I’m on my way home.