Page 2 of Wanted By The Billionaire

“Who said anything about me?”

“You don’t mean…?”

“Yes, I mean Jordan Farrington, the angel-faced boy with the soul of a demon. His father is evil personified, but that... that boy. There's just something bad about him.”

Drew is borderline superstitious and has always nursed a strong dislike for Jordan, long before he had any reason to.

But this time I have to agree. Jordan had such a hold on me back then, even my parents were concerned he'd brainwashed me.

“Drew, I’m sure fate has a better sense of justice than letting us meet again. Besides, I doubt he’d recognize me if I was slapped across his face. It was nothing more than a summer fling. A disastrous one but still...”

Five months into what seemed to be a dream summer job, my dad was arrested for internal fraud and imprisoned for five years. And it was all my fault.

Because I wouldn’t—couldn't break up with Jordan.

In the end, it didn't matter. I lost them both, and all for nothing because he wasn’t worth the years of pain I put my family through.

My dad returned from prison a completely changed man, haunted by the things he experienced. Within a year he'd drunk himself to an early grave.

I was interning at an auction house in Reno at the time and Mom and Drew never told me the extent of daddy's depression because they knew that I would blame myself for how things turned out.

“What was his father like? To work for I mean?”

“You know, we never once met Brendan Farrington in person, but we felt him in every corner, in every monthly review, in every threat, and in every blackmail. He kept his employees under a very short, very tight leash.”

I’ve heard Drew say so many times how evil and crooked the senior Farrington was, I just assumed they’d worked directly with him. I wonder what kind of father he is. Jordan was confident, generous with his words and affection, and such an irreverent tease—

“I’ll miss you, you know.” Drew’s rumbling voice pulls me out of my reverie. He's all I have left to assure me that I am not alone in the world. Apart from Uncle Ben, who I’m yet to meet.

I throw my arms around his neck. “I’ll miss you too, Drew.”

“I'm sure you'll do fine. You were amazing in Reno and here in Henderson so New York can’t be any different."

If only that were true.

As soon as I clear security and enter the arrival hall at LaGuardia, I look out for Uncle Ben. Even though he is Mom’s older brother, all I’ve got to go on is that he is an older guy, because Mom didn't have any recent pictures of him. Unfortunately, that seems to be what every single man holding up a name looks like right now.

I look around until my eyes stop on a portly man waving directly at me. The resemblance to Mom is uncanny. The same smile, the round cheeks. Tears sting the back of my eyes.

“Bree!” He rushes towards me and puts his arms around me. Even though I don't remember our last meeting because I must have been around ten years old at the time, his voice is somewhat soothingly familiar.

“Hi, Uncle Ben,” I let him hug me.

“Look at you, it’s been ages!”

“Certainly longer than I can remember.”

"I know." He smiles warmly. "It's so wonderful you see you again. Have you got all your stuff?"

I nod, and we grab my suitcases and walk outside and toward his dusty red truck.

"You have no idea how chuffed we are that you're moving closer to us. With Bobby and now Maria gone, Bea and I have been so worried about you being all on your own over there." Uncle Ben arranges my luggage into the back and then helps me into the truck.

As we drive through the bustling streets, I'm captivated by the unique sights and sounds of the vibrant city. I remember all those years ago, naively asking Jordan if New York was different from Henderson.

I viciously shake off the memory. "How's Aunt Bea?"

“Bea is really excited and can't wait to see you” Uncle Ben replies. “She's got Alzheimer's so her short-term memory isn’t the best, but she remembers you way back from when Maria and Bobby last visited us.”

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