Page 59 of A Billionaire Gentleman

Her voice shook, and I gritted my teeth. He’d done something to her. I’d bet my life on it. This wasn’t the time to ask, but I would before her next visit with Dallas. I’d be damned if I let that bastard terrorize her. Whatever it took, I’d keep her and her son safe from him.

“A man named Royd Kichner came to see me. He said he was looking to hire someone for a client of his. That’s how I met your grandad.”

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Not surprising. My family employed thousands of people. Remembering all of their names was impossible.

“I met with Jude the first day you were in Las Vegas.” She raised her eyes, and I winced at the haunted look in them. “He told me that he wanted to hire me to seduce his grandson and break up an engagement.”

It took a full minute to register the words, and once I did, I popped to my feet. “That’s not funny.”

“It’s the truth.” She stood up too but kept her distance. “He didn’t hire me to be his assistant. That was a ruse to get me close to you.”

I couldn’t breathe. Fury and betrayal warred for a voice. Why would she say any of this? Was it true? Had my grandfather done this? Why? And why had she gone along with it?

Every kiss, every touch, was a lie.

She opened her mouth to say something else, but I was done listening to her. It was my turn to talk.

“Shut. The fuck. Up.”

Thirty-Five

Sofi

Each cold wordwas like a fist to the gut.

And I deserved every single one of them, and more.

“You’re lying.” He pointed at me, his face twisting into something unfamiliar.

It killed me to know I was responsible for it. “I’m not.”

“Shut up!” he snapped. “You’ve been lying to me from moment one! How can I believe a word you say?”

He wasn’t wrong.

Suddenly, his face went white. “Was this what you were after?” He gestured to the blanket I was standing on. “Getting me to fuck you without a condom so you could get pregnant? Nice meal ticket, right? Live off the child support I’d provide?”

My jaw dropped. I’d expected anger and deserved it, but I’d never imagined he’d think me capable of something that despicable. “No! I swear to you, I didn’t. I wouldn’t.” I confessed the last secret that was mine to give. “I’ve fallen in love with you. That’s why I had to tell you. I couldn’t lie to you anymore.”

“Bullshit.” He picked up a piece of fruit we hadn’t eaten and threw it toward the lagoon. “Everything you say is fucking bullshit!”

“Deklin, please…” I hated myself for pleading, but I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to get him to understand.

“No! You don’t get to ask anything of me.” The pain on his face as he turned back to me tore at my heart. “All of this was a lie. You made me hurt someone who didn’t deserve it. You destroyed my relationship with my father and with Ronall Kane. All because you married an abusive asshole and got yourself into trouble you couldn’t get out of.”

My stomach churned, and I wondered if he’d finish before or after I threw up. Either way, I needed to find somewhere to sleep tonight and figure out a way to endure the flight back to Houston. I didn’t even want to think about what Jude was going to say when he learned that I’d told Deklin the truth.

Most of it, anyway. I was still holding onto the other secret. I’d done enough damage. If Jude wanted to share that particular bombshell, it was on him.

“I can’t believe I thought I–” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

I wanted to tell him that it did matter, that it hadn’t been a job since the first time we’d kissed. Maybe before that. I didn’t say anything, though, because I knew it wouldn’t do any good. He needed to process everything before he could even think about believing me. Except, even if he did end up believing me, it wasn’t a guarantee that he’d ever trust me again.

“You know, no matter how much of what you just said is true, you’re still lying about one very important thing. You did fuck someone for money. It just wasn’t while you were in Vegas.”

I grabbed onto the back of the chair, the wind knocked out of me.

“The room’s paid through Sunday.” His voice was quiet, and his shoulders slumped. “Stay. Don’t stay. I don’t care. Find your own way home.” He looked at me, his expression hard. “Vegas. Not Houston. That’s not your home.”

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