Page 41 of A Billionaire's Secret

I had been avoiding his calls and texts for a whole week. The disapproval with which my family had received the news of our affair numbed my feelings. Tony’s accusations against Diana added to my confusion, and I sat alone in my room, incapable of finding a reason to get up.

Reluctantly, I scraped myself off the bed and stared in the bathroom mirror. My eyes roamed my reflection for answers. But I’d have to find them from Christian tonight. The thought of confronting him about Diana’s horse made me sick. I dragged myself to the shower and stood motionless under the beating water.

When I stepped out, I heard my phone ping again but ignored it. What else did Christian have to say? Once dressed in my usual riding clothes, I reached for my phone, and the new message startled me.

“Victoria, you have to come to the stables. NOW!”Alex, the stable hand, wrote.

My guts tangled up in knots. The only urgent matter I could think of involved Tony’s investigation and Alex’s involvement.

How much can I take?

I drove off slowly initially, but as anger and anxiety took the wheel of my emotions, my foot stepped on the gas. My truck swerved ferociously over each turn, sending shockwaves of adrenaline through my body.

Determined to put all of this behind me, I sped through the Barrington Downs gates, a cloud of dust engulfing the air behind me. I parked, jumped out, and walked fiercely toward the entrance, ignoring the ‘hellos’ of blurred-out faces.

“Where can I find Alex?” I asked the receptionist bluntly, forgetting all formalities.

“Um, I think everyone is in the back, you have to—” her voice dimmed behind me as I walked away.

My blood boiled hotter with each step I took. As I reached the stables, I observed everyone who ever worked there gathered around a horse, admiring and vigorously discussing it.

“Alex,” I yelled out, and a bunch of heads turned my way, including James Barrington’s startled gaze. “What is it? What the hell is the urgency?”

Suddenly everybody quieted down and stared at me, perplexed and anxious. Then, one by one, they took a few steps back and away from the horse, exposing a sight that my brain struggled to comprehend while my heart struggled to remain inside my chest.

“Mischief?” I gasped, questioning the reality of the moment.

I looked for James Barrington’s eyes first. Indeed, he’d know what the hell was going on.

“James? What’s going on?” I asked the moment I found him in the crowd.

“I was hoping you’d tellme,” he joked, equally confused. “This stud arrived today, special delivery from Henry Singleton at Judmont Farms, and here’s the kicker—the delivery was addressed to you.”

Christian! I could strangle you right now!

My cheeks turned red with embarrassment. I searched for the right words to tell everyone, but none surfaced in my mind.

“James, I know what this is. I’ll see you in your office, OK?” I spoke to the only person whose opinion mattered and excused myself from everyone else’s stares.

I grabbed Mischief’s rein and walked around the corner of the stables for privacy. As I lifted my gaze from him, my eyes fell on Tony’s. He acknowledged me, shook his head disapprovingly, and continued his task, ignoring me and the most expensive horse he had ever seen.

I breathed through the tightness in my chest and walked away.

***

“Hi, Daniel, good to see you,” I greeted Christian’s driver as I stepped into the limo he had sent.

“Hi, Ms. Victoria, you look great!” Daniel complimented me.

I had picked out a tight, sleeveless royal blue dress that reached the top of my knees. The dress left a lot to the imagination, as I wasn’t aiming for a sexy, inviting look. My hair was in a bun, leaving no room for distraction or unwarranted hair swipes that Christian loved performing. This dinner would be one for brutal honesty and tough decisions.

I walked slowly through Angel’s Bistro doors, and his eyes immediately pierced me. My kneed weekend at the sight of his perfectly quaffed hair, impeccable navy-colored suit, and those white teeth, matching his white shirt, peeking through the smirk I had fallen for.

I looked around the restaurant, but it seemed we were the only ones there. It was closed to everyone else but us.

“Victoria,” he got up, squeezed my hand, and pulled me into his arms. “You look amazing, as always!”

“Thank you, Christian,” I said quietly, gently pulling away from him.

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