Page 48 of A Billionaire's Secret

“In more ways than one,” I smiled subtly and led her through the house and onto the backyard, watching her reaction as we stepped out.

Her hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes sparkled. “Wow, how beautiful,” she gasped.

Edward had masterfully understood the assignment and carried it out to perfection in just four hours. He had organized an event company to arrive on site and create an ambiance of class and sophistication, stylish but not intrusive.

We walked over a bed of rose petals while candles lit the pathway to a cozy table in the middle of the lawn. We sat under an arrangement of dim lights, just enough to illuminate the table and blur out the rest of the world.

I pulled the chair for her and watched her slide comfortably, crossing one leg over the other. I could tell her body was still tense and visible discomfort raced through her veins.

“Victoria, what can I do to help you relax?” I asked as my hands gently massaged her shoulders, my fingers sliding under the thin white straps of her dress.

“I wish I knew,” she said softly and relaxed her shoulders under my touch.

I let go, sat down, and held her hand across the table. “Tell me—what’s on your mind.”

“Christian, I—” she began with a shaky voice. “I came here to warn you about someone possibly poking around you and Diana.”

My eyes grayed out, and I squeezed her hand. “Who?”

“My trainer, Tony.” Her words made my head spin with anger and realization.

As I had suspected earlier, Tony’s questions were intentional and investigative. He had agreed to train me, so he could get closer to me and fish out information.

How naïve can I possibly be?

“Why do you say that? Has he said anything?” I asked her, deciding to keep the fact that I had hired him a secret. I still wanted to surprise her on a horse someday.

“He approached me a week or so ago, telling me about his suspicions,” she explained, her hand still under mine. “He said that Alex, the stable hand, had seen Dennis with a brand new car even though he had quit his job. And that’s not all. Dennis had cryptically told Alex he knew of a way to make good money on the side, but Alex had to prove his loyalty first.”

I cleared my throat and swallowed before I could speak. “And what did Alex do or say?”

“Nothing,” she assured me. “He walked away and wants nothing to do with this creep.”

I exhaled a sigh of relief, but my chest still felt tight with anxiety.

“Vicky, why are you telling me this? Aren’t you loyal to Tony?” I squinted my eyes, looking for clarity.

Her hand moved away from mine, and she adjusted in her seat, discomfort sweeping over her again.

“I don’t know, Christian,” her breathing escalated. “It’s as if all reason and logic have fled my mind, and all I can think about is protecting you and Diana. I don’t like it one bit, but I can’t help it.”

Unable to find the right words, I searched for her hand again and served it to my lips, kissing it gently. “Thank you, Victoria. You won’t regret that choice, this I promise you.”

“Well, what happens if Tony finds anything out? What if Dennis speaks?” She worried.

“Trust me, he won’t,” I assured her confidently. “I’ve taken care of it.”

“My God! How?” She raised her voice, pulling away from me again.

“Vicky, the more you know, the worse for you,” I tried to reason with her. “Let’s just say we made an iron-clad agreement that, if broken by any of us, everyone will go down, including him. Who in their right mind would want that, huh?”

“Who in their right mind would dope a horse and accept a bribe?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Obviously, this person isn’t in his right mind.”

“Yes, but he wouldn’t want to go to jail.” I debated. “Can you please trust me on this? I don’t want you to spend another second worrying your pure mind with this bullshit. It’s time you catch a break.”

Victoria sat back in her seat and bit her lip as if to prevent words from coming out. She looked down at the table, fished out a buttery scallop, and took a bite, closing her eyes to savor the taste. Without even noticing, the table had been filled with gourmet food, and chilled white wine had been poured into our glasses.

“Cheers, beautiful,” I raised my glass to hers. “I’m really glad you called me today. And I know Diana came to see you.”

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