Page 25 of Owned By a Billionaire

The slight shake of his head in response was all I needed this time, and that’s when I finally shook off the dark cloud engulfing me.

I squared my shoulders and lifted my ribcage, hearing a slight crack in my spine after hunching for a fortnight. Reynard was right. It was just pure bad luck, and I had no other option but to move on.

“Then let’s never speak of this again,” I said. “Only… I can’t control the police and their badgering.”

“That will stop. They have nothing on you. It’s circumstantial. That’s never enough.”

That day, as I watched Reynard walk away, I killed Carol Lamb forever.

From that moment on, I became Caroline, the society woman, who would be known for excelling at college, marrying well, and raising beautiful, intelligent children.

Chapter 7

Reywasrightaboutone thing: Harry had eyes for me. He seemed to single me out whenever we ran into each other, which wasn’t a coincidence, since I made sure I moved in his circles.

On those occasions, Harry would buy me drinks and confide in me. I became that sympathetic friend listening to a man who’d lost the love of his life. Or so he described Alice, making me feel both guilt ridden and a little jealous, though I had no right to the latter.

I’d grown seriously attached to Harry, who wasn’t just handsome but warm and receptive. The more time we spent together, the more I wanted to be in his life.

Then, one night, around two months after that fateful party, he invited me back to Mayfair. In his jaw-dropping bedroom, which could have been an art gallery, we became more than just good friends.

Harry wasn’t the god in bed that Gregory was. No one could compare to Gregory in that regard. But Harry still enjoyed my body, and I gave him everything.

By that, I mean everything. I distanced myself from Gregory, despite missing the excellent sex.

We often ran into each other at parties, and the temptation to allow him to lead me somewhere dark and private was so great, I had to muster the strength of Hercules not to surrender. One night, he even almost forced me, which was so hot that I took it out later on my new love. Only Harry lacked the sort of dark desires that I craved.

I begged my older former lover to leave me alone. He almost caused a scene at one of our many gatherings, and Rey had to step in. After having a word with Gregory, Rey reminded me not to sabotage my relationship with Harry and to keep the endgame in sight. Then I could allow myself all the pleasures I wanted.

By the end of that same year, I turned twenty-one. I also received a perfect score for an essay on the highly controversial rise to power of Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Despite all opposing forces, Queen Elizabeth I became one of the most successful monarchs in the history of England.

I poured my heart and soul into that essay, because it highlighted that success and brilliance weren’t always demonstrated by those brought up on love and good nurturing, but rather the opposite.

Perhaps there was a little of me in that story.

Whichever way, writing that essay fueled my ambition to become something more than just a woman who liked to move amongst powerful men.

Harry met me at our regular Oxford pub where most of the Balliol alumni hung out. He reached for me and kissed me on the lips, his eyes on mine, full of love, and my heart bloomed like a summer rose.

I loved Harry, not in that lustful, passionate way I experienced with Gregory, but deeply. Tenderly.

“A perfect score.” He whistled, looking genuinely pleased for me. “I’ve never known anyone to be so devoted to their studies. You’re an inspiration. Well done, Caroline.”

I smiled, my soul singing. Having a close friend who genuinely believed in me made me want to shine for him.

“A G and T?” he asked.

I shook my head slowly.

His eyebrows rose in surprise.

“What, am I that much of a dipsomaniac?” I laughed.

“No. But I haven’t known you to say no to the odd drink.”

A smile grew on my face as I played with my long red fingernails. “I’ve got news.”

He slanted his head, looking curious.

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