The Beautiful Billionaire

ESTELLE

My heart was in my throat to find Linden outside my bedroom. Maybe this was how it felt when someone caught you lying or in an awkward compromising position. His eyes went to my hands, tying my robe.

Breathless, I asked, “What are you doing here?”

“You’re not answering my call. You’re not replying to my messages. What’s going on?”

“Call me if you need anything,” Dr. Chesca said.

“I will. I’ll walk you out.”

“No need, dear. Micah will bring my things to the car.”

“Thank you.” I turned to Micah, and she nodded.

“Hello, ma’am.” Shit. “I’m Gabe Linden.” He offered his hand.

“Hi. I’m Dr. Chesca.” My doctor delightfully shook his hand.

“Is Estelle okay?” he asked quickly. His expression changed, filled with worry.

“Yeah. I came to check her up. She’s complaining of lower abdominal pain. Nothing a mild analgesic can’t help.”

“I’m relieved. Thank you, doctor.” Linden nodded in understanding, but I still saw mixed emotions in his eyes.

There was a moment when you wished you could stop the time. This was that moment. I wanted Linden to stop asking questions. When I thought I could avoid it, I didn’t know how long I could keep from lying to him. I had to tell him one way or another, and it was for him to decide whether he was in or out of raising our baby.

“Are you feeling something that I can help?” Dr. Chesca followed up.

“Yeah. A little heartache, maybe.” He faked his grimace and placed his palm on his chest.

Dr. Chesca patted his chest as she looked at him with a smile. “Kiss-pirin once a day.”

“I wonder where I could get it, doctor.” Linden grinned like an idiot while I, on the other hand, glared at him.

Once my doctor left, I was quickly held hostage outside my room, caged in his arms, pressed against the wall with his hard body as he slammed his mouth against mine.

My breathing held my lungs. My words stuck in my mouth. My attempt to push him away as I placed my hands on his chest, trying to break free, was an embarrassing failure.

When he was done and satisfied as I kissed him back, he let his lips free, kissing my forehead. “I missed you.”

I rolled my eyes as I went to my room. I knew he was following me even into my walk-in closet, but I was still upset with him for entertaining his ex. I knew it was irrational, and we had been only in a relationship for a few weeks, which got me knocked up, but he seemed to forget that he was with me, his girlfriend.

I didn’t know the feeling of jealousy until I saw how that bitch looked at him as if he was the perfect dessert of the evening.

I dropped my robe down my feet when I could sense him behind me. Then I picked up a shirt and shorts and put them on.

“What about our deal?”

“You haven’t answered my question.” I put my clothes on and faced him.

“I said I missed you. I wanna see you and be with you since it’s the weekend. I wanna take you somewhere.”

“Tell me about your ex.” I walked to the lounge.

“I thought so.” With his long and fast steps, he was on the couch before me, pulling me into him to sit on his lap. “You’re jealous of someone irrelevant in my life ages ago.”

“You met her recently.”

“She almost ran over me when reversing just outside your building.” His tone was a bit little defensive.

“Uh-huh. That’s why you were late.”

“I barely said a word. God knows I wanted to escape from her, but she kept talking, and I never disrespected women, even if I didn’t know them. I replied when I was asked or talked to. That’s how I was raised.”

“I see.”

He leaned in to kiss my exposed cleavage up to my neck. “New scent? I love it.”

“What’s her name?”

He groaned. “I really don’t wanna talk about her, Estelle.”

“Then we don’t talk.” My tone was harsh as I became more annoyed.

“We go right straight to the deal? That’s awesome.” I could even hear the anticipation in his voice, ignoring my irrational jealousy.

“The night didn’t exactly go well. Your gown is in the closet, and your jewelry is locked in my safe.”

“Those are yours.”

“I can’t accept the jewelry. The gown is fine.”

He blew a breath into my face, showing how bored he was. But I saw more pain than boredom. “I don’t wear a necklace, and I don’t even have my ear pierced. Keep them. Maybe you can send them for auction. I don’t care. Donate the money to the orphanage. Up to you.” I thought I had broken my heart when he looked down with that heavy sigh.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“I looked for you, and then she told me she saw you went to the ladies room. She lied. Beck saw me and told me that you had gone to the entrance. I knew at that time that I couldn’t ever trust her. I met her twice after what she did seven years ago, and it was twice a week. I found it strange.”

“Maybe that’s just a coincidence. Nothing more.”

“I don’t think so, baby. One thing I am sure is I would never go back to her even if the hell freezes over. She changed me into a man I didn’t even recognize. She broke that belief that a relationship wouldn’t last. Then I saw my brothers happy with their wives. I attended their weddings every year and listened to their vows. They thought I hated commitment. They thought I’d never wanted to get married, have kids, watch my kids grow, send them to school, and grow old with my wife. Because I know how to mask my emotions, I learned how to hide them, but deep inside, I wanted to have a girlfriend, go out on a date with her, spend weekends over the lake, ride horses in the ranch, and go home to her after a tiring day at work.”

I didn’t know what to say or how to react to his confession. One thing I could give him was attention, my love, our kid. Maybe it would take time to be on that road, but we took one step at a time.

“Her name is Skyla. Skyla Davis,” he continued. “I met her in college. She was the only girl that paid attention to me because I still had a few pounds. When I told her I wanted to join the Marines, she was okay with that. We went on a date a couple of times. Then I took her to the bar. That’s how she met Miles. The rest is history. The worst part that broke my confidence was that she said I was too naive and inexperienced.”

That broke me into laughter.

“She wasn’t apologetic.”

“Then you went wild.”

“Yeah. I’m sure she heard what I did back then. I don’t give a fuck. I don’t regret what I did.”

“Then we met.”

“The night we met, all I could think was boning you.” His hands went to my waist as he dipped his nose between my breast. “I was even surprised with myself that I hadn’t jerked off or slept with anyone. I was too focused on my work. I thought that helped.”

“I admit your self-control is unparalleled.”

“I just want to be with you. Of course, I want to fuck you. You plagued my brain with you in those tiny pieces you call swimsuits.” Then he lifted his chin and met me in the eye. “I’m happy you stay with me despite my messy life.”

“I have a pretty fair share of mess. You stayed and helped me go through it.”

“I’d rather hang myself than watch you marry that dick. Did he come back?”

“Nope,” I replied with a pop.

“I’m sorry about last night, Estelle. I swear, I have no intention of hurting you. Ever.”

“I overreacted.” I wrinkled my nose.

“I like that you’re jealous, but really, baby. There’s nothing to be jealous about, but I should stop my obsession with stalking your Instagram and reading those comments.”

“You what?” I asked incredulously. My eyes grew big.

“Why are those guys commenting on your posts?”

“Don’t your women followers like and do the same?”

“I don’t read comments.”

“So, just my account, huh?”

“I’m a jealous type, baby. Trade carefully.”

“Oh, I’m terrified.” I raised my eyebrow, challenging him.

“I’m yours, just don’t leave or let me go. We’re good.”

“Fine.” I grabbed my phone from the coffee table, tapped the camera, posed myself, and clicked shot. It was a good shot. He was looking at me, those eyes filled with affection, but not paying attention to what I was doing. I did a few edits with the lighting, but everyone knew I never used filters.

“What are you doing?”

“Now you suddenly sound panicking.” I posted the photo to my Instagram account with the caption, Lazy Day with a blue heart emoji. I already followed him, but he never did follow me back. I showed him my post. “Happy?”

He briefly looked at it before he gave his full attention to me. “I trust you, Estelle. You don’t have to make a statement to the world. Your words are enough.”

“I want that bitch to shut up.”

“I deleted her number because I had no plans on calling her. If she wants to visit Osmium, fine, but I’m not giving her any idea that I want to have lunch with her. I hope she got that memo last night.”

“She’s not with anyone?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t give a shit. Are we good?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, okay?”

“I should be the one apologizing for walking out on you.”

“No need to apologize. I’ve just proven my worth.”

“You should follow me, Gabriel Rembrandt.”

His laugh was silent, but his body shook as he took his phone. “If it makes you smile, fine.” He showed me my profile, and he had already followed me.

“Thanks.”

“I want more than a kiss. How’s your tummy?”

I stilled a little when he put his hand on my tummy. “It’s fine. How’s your heartache?”

“Magically healed.” He beamed.

“Qamar told me about what happened in your house.”

“We can’t find any trace of the intruder. Whoever he is, he’s an expert, well-trained and experienced. You’re safe here. I thought my house was safe since only a few heads knew the address, but I was wrong. Maybe you can have a vacation and go somewhere for a while?”

“I just came from a long vacation, Gabriel. I can’t do that when our products are under production. Also, we can’t live in fear.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” He kissed me on the lips.

“Maybe you should stop looking for Jasper. Maybe he’s the one who put that message into your house. He had access to Osmium, your office, and files. Maybe he did it.”

“Shit. Fuck.” He squeezed his eyes shut as he pursed his lips. “Of course. He has access, even in the Gunner Room.”

“What’s in the Gunner Room?”

“We use channels to connect multi-video links, current action plans, and crisis support. The Gunner room has a 24/7 flow of sensitive information data from the Hover and back and forth.”

“Oh, that’s huge. But I’m smart, am I not?”

“Hmm.” He kissed my lips again with a loud smack. “You are, baby, but I can’t cancel his access. He didn’t return his security badge card. Maybe he needs it.”

“Is there a way to find out where he used the card or check the log thingy?”

“Yes, and the log thingy.” His smile widened as he kissed me again. I felt like he was taking advantage of our situation, but I didn’t mind it at all. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t work alone. Your brain is just overworked. You need to relax a bit. It won’t make you any less of a man or a good leader if you ask for help once and a while. And don’t you worry, I plan on sticking with you for a while?”

“For a while?”

“I’m up for a negotiation, Gabriel.”

“We’ll negotiate in bed then.”