Page 35 of The Billionaire's Fascination

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. “You’re a woman-hater, too.”

“Too? What else am I?”

“An asshole.”

Gunnar chuckled. “I don’t mind you calling me that. I was hoping we could have a frank conversation. Conversations with me usually happen at the end. Paul still believes you’ll stay, but you left him. That, to me, means it’s better to meet with me now.” Gunnar placed a small stack of papers in front of me. “Take a look.”

I curled my lip and glanced at a few. They were lawsuits and court judgments. This was why Paul ensured Gunnar was on this flight? Paul wanted me to see this? To be given the farewell lecture?

“When you leave, it’s not over. The arrangement you signed is still active. So, when the media approaches you for your private interviews and tell-all book deals, I’ll clue you in on what will happen, just as I’ve told all the women before you. Your contract is air-tight, and to be honest, so is our global network and reputation. We’ve wonalllitigations. Our image marketing surpasses politicians. The bottom line is, we will destroy you, and Paul will always come out on top.”

I wanted to say he was wrong, but that wasn’t how things worked in our world. He’d be the sexy playboy who got into a bit of mischief, while I’d be the gold-digging whore who tried to ruin his reputation.So this is what Paul and his family thinks of me? That I’d try to sue him for money?It never crossed my mind to hurt Paul because he didn’t feel the same way about me.To know his family already thinks I would do something like that is highly insulting.

“I see you understand your situation now.”

I pursed my lips. “No, Gunnar, I don’t. I never considered hurting Paul. I’d never do that.”

“Well, take a look anyway.” He gestured towards the papers in front of me.

My hands trembled as I read over the documents. One of the cases dated back to his teenage years. I stopped at the one that was twenty years ago.He was sued at fifteen?

Gunnar picked up the paper. “Oh, you’ve noticed the classic. That case was perhaps the dumbest ever, which tied with the nanny who sued because his crying caused her post-traumatic stress disorder.”

I cringed.Sue over a crying baby? Who would do such a thing?

He tapped the case file with his fingers. “In this case, she was eighteen, and he was fifteen, a minor. That didn’t stop her from sending a clip of her revenge porn with a ransom note for a million. You know she even had the nerve to name the videoI deflowered Crane?She thought we’d be too embarrassed and pay up. Well, bottom line, we got the video, and she got jail time.”

“I’d never…th-that’s horrendous,” I stuttered and covered my mouth with my hand. Paul’s first time was ruined by such a horrible betrayal. He had been so gentle with me and went over and beyond to care for me. It must hurt him so much to think those he cared for would hurt him this way.

I glanced at the list again. There were so many lawsuits. Girlfriends, classmates, colleagues, companies, business partners, fellow musicians, cooks, cleaners, shopkeepers—the list went on and on. Every year of his life, he had a lawsuit, and for the most frivolous things. Emotional distress because he accidentally tipped over a glass on a table at lunch and ruined a woman’s favorite blouse. Harassment because he texted a few times to check on a sick employee. Artists that didn’t get a number one hit. Girlfriends that sued for child support over fake pregnancies. Even a lawsuit from a shopkeeper for holding an item overnight and not purchasing it!No wonder he couldn’t trust anyone. No wonder he made so many strict rules around him. But why is Gunnar showing me this?

“I don’t understand why you would show these lawsuits to me. I have no lawyers. It never even crossed my mind to sue him.”

“I’m letting you know what will happen if you try.” His curt tone made me tense, but there was fatigue on his face. Gunnar cared about his cousin.

He’s still wrong.

“I never considered, nor would I betray Paul like that.”

“Never say never,” he said in a harsh tone. “You’ve got an extreme situation ahead of you. Your family’s financial position is critical and far from over. Remember, you were willing to become a sugar baby and a surrogate to save them.”

My face burned. Gunnardoesknow everything.

“I didn’t become any of those things—”

“But you would if youhadto, Nadia. Just like you agreed to let Paul keep you.”

He called the hostess to clear his coffee, then put a red folder on the small table.

“I’ve cleared your parents’ home mortgage through Paul’s approval. At present, they own their house. However, that won’t be enough. Your parents have other personal and medical loans after your dad went on disability and lost the bakery. He just had a kidney transplant, not to mention any future possible surgeries, which will still make their home vulnerable to collection. Your mom was downsized out of her few hours she had at her second job at Wholesale Foods—”

“What?”

Mom never mentioned it to me.

“Oh, you didn’t know? Sorry to be the one to break her bad news. Or that the hospital is up for another round of staff downsizing. Your mom may be forced to retire or could be let go. But don’t get worked up yet. We’re giving a donation to kick that can down the road a bit.”

My throat closed. That still wasn’t a guarantee. Mom may lose her job. Would she tell me?Probably not, especially if it meant I’d stay kept. But I’d never forgive myself if they lost everything and I could have done something.

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