Page 84 of Playboy Billionaire

He left to walk the perimeters of the property. She reached down to pick up an exuberant Archie, who was jumping in his excitement. “Hey Boo Boo.”

She walked straight to her bedroom and took a couple of aspirin and changed clothes. She grabbed a sweater on her way out. Stretching out on the lounge chair she was asleep within minutes. She sat up suddenly, startled awake by Archie’s ferocious bark. He’d never sounded like this before, which made the hairs on her neck prickle.

“What is it Archie?” He stared at the house, alternately barking and growling. “There’s nothing there, buddy. It’s okay.”

Archie was not to be consoled so she picked him up and carried him inside to prove a point, that there weren’t any boogie men. As soon as she set Archie down he raced to the back of the house. She heard a loud yelp and went to investigate. When she rounded the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks. There was a man standing in front of her bedroom, holding Archie and a gun.

“It’s been a long time,” he said, dark eyes glittering. He had aged, but other than that and his gray hair, he looked the same. “Don’t look so scared. I’m not going to hurt you Penelope.”

A chill went down her spine. “You! It was you who sent the photos.” Her eyes widened as it hit her. “You’re the one who took them all those years ago. You were stalking me.”

“Hardly stalking. We were dating. You make it sound like I’m some crazed fan. I was trying to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?”

“Predators like Senator Warren for instance.”

“And yourself?”

“It pains me to hear you speak like that.”

“I can’t have a normal conversation with you holding my dog and a gun. Please put them down.”

He continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “Actually, I can’t take credit for those photographs. I hired someone to follow you. After you dumped me, I had to keep an eye on you for your own good. You were much too trusting to be alone in the world. Was I wrong?”

“Josh, I didn’t dump you. I quit the escort business. We had a business relationship that ended. And that was almost fourteen years ago! Surely you’ve moved on by now.”

“You’ve never really left my mind Penelope. How could you? We had such memorable times together. I felt like a prince with you on my arm. I was always with the most beautiful woman in the room. When I saw that filthy pig Warren was running for president, I became enraged all over again…it brought it all back as if it was yesterday. Him, married with three children, violating an innocent woman, no more than a child really. He stole the only person I’ve ever loved right out from under my nose. Used you then discarded you like you were a piece of garbage. And now he might become the most powerful person in the world? I saw an opportunity to get back what’s mine!”

His words filled her with dread. “I was never yours or anyone’s to steal. I made my own choices.”

“Don’t try to protect that cheating bastard. You can’t lie to me. He broke you. You lost your baby and you’re still going to stick up for him? I don’t blame you for leaving me. I blame him. He fooled you. I loved you then and I still do.” He pointed his gun toward the living room. “Let’s move out of the hallway.” He put Archie down and the dog immediately ran to Penelope.

Penelope walked slowly down the hall, her mind scrambling to figure out a strategy. Where was Luke? Her body was trembling so badly she was afraid her legs would give out. Her voice quavering, she said, “Let me get you something to drink. We can sit and talk normally. No guns. Please.”

His response was to wave his gun in the air to emphasize his next declaration. “I woke up one night with a sudden realization! You can still be mine. It doesn’t have to be over. I can save you…rescue you from making movies that are practically porn. Selling your body. You’re better than that. You won’t have to prostitute yourself when you’re mine.”

“Sex isn’t dirty! My films are beautiful love stories. I make millions of dollars. I’m hardly a victim.”

“You’re blinded by fame because you haven’t been able to distance yourself from it. Eventually you’ll thank me. I wouldn’t waste my breath arguing. I’m telling you; I expect you to come away with me, willingly. If you do, I’ll let the senator off the hook. If not…well, I’ll really have no choice but to expose him for who he is.” He shrugged, “Unfortunately your reputation will be collateral damage.”

Fighting panic, she said, “Surely you must see how crazy this sounds. Listen to me! You want to destroy his innocent children…his wife, all the people who count on him for their livelihood? Why? You say you love me—that isn’t how you treat someone you love. You’ve got it all wrong Josh. I loved Graham. Was I young and foolish? The answer is yes, but he didn’t force me to love him, it just happened. Neither of us expected or planned on the baby.”

“He tricked you and he stole from me! You loved a liar and a cheat. I know you had feelings for me in the beginning, if he hadn’t interfered, we’d be together now. If you can’t accept this, you’ll both pay.” He scowled menacingly.

“I love my career. It’s all that I ever wanted to do! Let this go and I’ll pretend it never happened. It’s not too late Josh…Please! Your fantasy of me accepting this is delusional.”

His eyes glittered with rage as his expression darkened, “Careful Penelope, you’re naive if you think I haven’t planned this out carefully. You’ll come with me or he’ll pay for what he took from us. I won’t let him win everything. We can’t get back those years we lost, but we can still have our happily ever after. I know you loved me once. I’mgoingto have you. We’ll live on my private island. Just you and me and my staff. You can have anything and everything you want. I’ll save you from those crazy fans, the constant scrutiny and rumors. I’ll take care of you.”

“Josh, listen to me, put the gun down. You think trapping me on some remote island is the way to teach me how to love you? Can’t you hear yourself?”

He screamed at her, “You’re not listening to me! We were robbed and now I’m going to rectify that.”

“Josh it’s not that simple.”

“It is that simple. Admit it, you’re miserable. You’re a virtual prisoner in your own life. Your fame has you trapped. You can’t make a move without being followed or photographed. You make lousy choices in men. Look at your last one. Please, Noah Davis? He’s weak. Even from a distance I could see that. I wanted to scream at the TV every time I saw you together. On the red carpet, with that vain egotistical twit. I could have spared you the pain. He was obviously a player, in love with himself. Whatever made you think he was the one? That he could be a substitute for what we had?”

Penelope changed tactics and schooled her expression, softening her eyes as she forced her mouth to curve up in a smile, “Josh…I think I understand what you're trying to say. And what we hadwasspecial. Maybe you’re right. Maybe we could have it again. But not like this…not right now.”

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