Chapter Six.
Jess
She couldn’t believe that Mitch was here. Jess had guessed he had money, but not this level. Damn it. Her heart was pounding with excitement at seeing him again.
Sheesh, Jess bent over the taps and splashed some cold water on her wrists to calm down. Mitch was as handsome as she remembered, and her body was reacting enthusiastically. After taking a few moments to compose herself, Jess sucked in a deep breath, opened the door, and left the ladies’ room.
Mitch had dented her armour with his attraction, and Jess was barely holding on. Seeing him again had been a shock, and she underestimated Mitch’s impact on her. A hand grabbed her arm, and before she could argue, Jess was pushed into a side room. An angry-looking Mitch glowered at her.
“Hello, Jess,” he ground out.
Jess wanted to shift her gaze but refused. “Mitch, you look well.”
“That’s all you’ve got to say? Especially after running like a coward?” Mitch spat.
Jess winced. Damn, Mitch was really hurt; it was obvious in his voice.
“I had to leave, Mitch.”
“Why? My fortune isn’t enough for you?” he demanded, and before Jess realised it, her hand shot out and struck him.
Mitch’s head snapped to the side before he faced her again. “So, is Ericks the force keeping us apart?”
“No!” Jess exclaimed.
“Well, Ericks is the type of man not to play nicely with his toys. Is he holding a threat over you?”
“Mitch, no, Leon wouldn’t do that!” Jess cried. She would not allow Mitch to malign Leon. It didn’t matter how hurt Mitch was; she’d not stand for that.
“It’s his bank balance then,” Mitch pushed.
“No, Mitch, it was never about money,” Jess murmured as she struggled to control rising tears. Mitch was deeply wounded, and she was the cause. Jess had hoped that her departure would save him this, but instead it had caused it.
“Your leaving didn’t spare me pain,” Mitch hissed, and Jess closed her eyes. She released a sigh and swallowed hard.
“We can’t be together, Mitch. It would be great if that were possible. I wish I could change everything and ignore what might happen,” Jess murmured as she reached up and touched his face. Mitch leaned into the palm of her hand.
“Come with me. Ericks might destroy my company, but I’ve money set aside. We can live comfortably,” Mitch said.
“No.”
Mitch stared in disbelief. “What?”
“No, Mitch, I’ll not let you throw away everything you’ve worked for. And Leon wouldn’t go after your business, what do you reckon he is?” Jess exclaimed.
“I think Ericks is the bastard controlling the woman I love,” Mitch stated and grabbed her arms.
“He’s not. Leon’s nothing like that. It’s not Leon stopping us from being together,” Jess whispered.
Mitch ground his teeth, and Jess flinched.
She wished she could reveal the truth. She shouldn’t have agreed to that initial dinner with him.
Jess had known she’d fall for Mitch and had made the same mistake as before.
Why couldn’t she learn? Jess had hurt a good guy as well as herself.
Disease poked at her guilt, and Jess ruthlessly locked him down. There’d be no outbreak this time.
“If it’s not Leon, then who or what?” Mitch demanded.
“Mitch, my life is complicated. If I could give us a chance, I would,” she said, letting him hear the truth in her voice.
“Then come with me, I’ll help you,” Mitch insisted.
“I can’t.”
“Won’t.”
“Fine, Mitch, I won’t.”
“So, you’re picking Leon over me? Leon and his billions. I mean, he gave you a hundred-thousand-pound evening gown and a ten-million-pound diamond necklace set. Guess I don’t match up. All about the money, isn’t it, Jess?”
Jess shook her head as Mitch’s words struck home. He intended them to hurt and succeeded. Jess moved away, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Think what you will,” Jess muttered and shoved past him. Mitch reached out and grabbed her. Anger blazed from his eyes.
“Guess you were a dirty gold-digger after all. Thank God I never screwed you; you’re a right honey-trap. How much would it have cost me to get free of you?”
“Christ, you’re such a child, Mitch. Why can’t you understand that there are some things you can’t control!? Why is money such an issue?” Jess cried.
“Because I can give you everything Ericks can!” Mitch yelled.
“And that’s what you think matters? Wealth?”
“To you, yes,” Mitch spat.
“When have I given that impression? I’m not the one harping on about money constantly.
That’s you. Just what is your problem?” Jess exclaimed.
She didn’t understand where Mitch was coming from.
Sure, she’d hurt him, and Mitch was lashing out, but what was his fixation with wealth?
It was a good thing she’d kept her personal fortune from him. Lord knows what he’d have made of that.
“You want to know, Jess?” Mitch snarled.
“Yes!”
“It’s the fact that you played me for a fool.
I believed I’d met a genuine, girl-next-door type.
Somebody who saw past status and bank accounts.
But you knew the price of the Bugatti. That was my first warning.
I never expected you to be a gold-digger, and I thought we had something honest. What happened, Jess?
You and Leon had a falling out, and you didn’t believe you’d reconcile?
Was I your fallback plan? God, Jess, was anything real? ”
“What do you think I am? No, don’t answer.
You’ve made it perfectly clear. For the last time, Mitch, there’s more to life than fucking money.
I wasn’t with you for that, but because I cared.
There are things I can’t explain, which means we can’t be together.
But rather than accept that, you create untruths. ”
Mitch stared, and Jess hoped he’d understand. Hurt flashed again in his eyes. “Be honest, Jess. I thought we had something, but it was built on lies and partial truths.”
“I cared about you, Mitch,” Jess cried. Tears in her eyes, Jess wrenched the door open and stumbled into someone. Instantly, recognising his smell, she clung to Leon’s lapels. Leon immediately closed his arms around her for protection, and Jess buried her head in his chest.
Mitch
The sight of them together gutted him. Jess instantly knew that Leon would comfort her and sought that. Anger raced through him as Leon ducked his head and murmured in Jess’s ear. She whispered something back, and Mitch stepped forward and stopped. The absolute fury in Leon’s eyes unarmed him.
“Don’t come near Jess again! I’ll kill you,” Leon growled out before sweeping Jess away. Leon’s words struck and took several moments to sink in. Did Ericks really threaten him over Jess? Once Mitch got over his shock, he realised Leon and Jess were gone.
Mitch raced after them and flew out of the hotel doors and saw the lights of a Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail disappearing down the drive.
“Damn it!” he snapped and turned to the valet. “Fetch my car.” He handed him the slip for it and headed back inside to find Diar. He’d had enough of tonight. Diar spotted him before he did Diar and his friend rushed over.
“Did you fight Leon Ericks over a woman? Everyone is talking about it; there was a witness!” Diar exclaimed as he steered Mitch out of the hotel. Mitch felt eyes on him, but he kept calm and his face implacable. Nobody would get anything out of him.
“Who cares? Jess is just another gold-digging slut. Ericks is welcome to my sloppy seconds,” Mitch stated, and there was a gasp from behind.
Mitch smirked. Let that remark get back to Ericks. See how Ericks enjoyed being under the microscope.
◆◆◆
A week later, Mitch was in a foul mood that hadn’t lessened from that night.
For the sake of his staff, he’d kept away from his office, working from home and drinking.
Diar, worried about Mitch’s frame of mind, had stayed behind to watch over him.
Mitch couldn’t give a damn right now. He drank a lot and sulked. And worse, Mitch knew he was sulking.
The look in Jess’s eyes had hurt him. Mitch guessed she cared, but something was stopping her.
Although he’d lashed out and accused Jess of being a gold-digger, it didn’t ring true.
Ericks had been protective of her, but Mitch hadn’t picked up the sense that it was sexual.
If it wasn’t sex, then why was Jess with him?
Was Jess running from an abusive husband or partner, and Ericks was offering her protection?
One of Mitch’s PIs reported back that the Loch Ness cottage had gone up for sale, and that Jess had handed in her notice.
Mitch recognised the signs; it was what he had done when he’d cut his family off.
Jess was planning to lie low, and with Erick’s billions behind her, she could afford to do that.
“Diar!” he yelled.
“What?” Diar asked a few moments later, appearing.
“You still got Ericks’ phone number?”
“What if I have?” Diar demanded.
“I want to call him.”
“Oh, sure, let’s just scupper your career and business totally,” Diar stated sarcastically.
“No, I just want to talk.” Mitch shook his head.
Diar looked down his nose and riled Mitch. “Ericks won’t care to hear from some drunken asshole. Sober up, and maybe I’ll consider it.”
Mitch scowled at Diar but couldn’t deny his reasoning. As much as Mitch cared about Diar, sometimes he hated his friend’s logic.
“Wait till you fall for a girl. I pray she’ll run rings around you,” Mitch snapped out.
Diar inclined his head. “While you sober up, I hope you find your personality, too.”
Mitch stared. “What?”
“You’re acting like Alfred and Alexander, and I don’t want to know you right now!”
“Get out!” Mitch hissed, stung by Diar’s accusations. How dare Diar liken Mitch to them! That was a vile thing to say. Diar offered a disgusted look and walked away. Mitch was unlike his father and grandfather. He scowled as he caught sight of himself in a mirror.