Page 1 of Dirty Billionaire

CHAPTER ONE

WARD

I’M NOT SURE WHAT SEMI-retirement means exactly, but that’s my official status.

I’m a few months from turning fifty and recently stepped down as the CEO of Montgomery Enterprises—the company I built from the ground up.

It was a big life decision.

Actually, it wasn’t.

When Tina, my wife and mother of my children, died a few years ago, it shocked us all. It had broken my heart into tiny shards. Tina and I had plans to grow old together and do a million things.

God, I have so many regrets.

During our life together, I worked long and hard while she raised our children.

At the time, it seemed like a sound plan. Bella and the boys were our priority, and my company was thriving. In fact, it is now a billion-dollar empire that provides us the freedom to live a life that most people couldn’t fathom.

I don’t take it for granted, but I did take the time with my wife for granted and that is one thing money can’t buy.

Time.

Or time fucking travel.

Grief changes you. It’s turned me into a philosophical man, wondering if you can really live your life always worrying it may end. Or if those you love might never walk through the door again.

That would make you crazy.

I enjoyed every part of growing my company, seeing two of my adult sons step into it and thrive. It was as much a creative expression of myself as a financial success.

Would I swap it all to get Tina back?

One day I say yes.

Another, I would answer no.

The heart and brain are at a constant tug of war. Some days I feel numb, others I go about my life feeling happy and normal. Then guilt whacks me over the head.

I’m well aware my own life could be taken from me in an instant, and that can send me on a spiral now that I have tiny grandchildren who I want to see grow.

I also wish Tina was fucking here to see them.

Ah, my good friend, anger. It’s always close at hand, and there’s always something to be fucked off about when it comes to the loss that we all live with each day.

Or rather, she doesn’t live.

We were supposed to have forever.

Tina was the love of my life. The moment I met her and stared down into Bella’s, my stepdaughter’s eyes, I fell for them both.

Then she blessed me with my sons Knox, Atlas, and Levi.

They’ve all got beautiful partners. Knox married Payton, and she recently gave birth to their son, Daxon. Atlas and Molly arepregnant with twins. Levi’s now engaged to Kaylee, his college sweetheart.

Bella married Blake Dufort, and they have a daughter, Jamie, who looks so much like Tina.

She’s missed it all and I’ve had this weight on my shoulder to be both their mother and father.

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