Page 33 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

The Arrival

Henry

The Journalist’ call woke me up this morning while Amelia slept peacefully beside me. “I've got no money to pay you, Taylor.”

Taylor went on to spill his usual threat. He wanted me to pay him, and he threatened to publish the news. “I don't care anymore, Taylor. I know the truth. I didn't do any of those things.”

“I'm going to sue you for blackmailing and extortion, so expect a call from my lawyer soon." Taylor's call went off.

Today would be the last time I would hear from him again. My threat about suing him was only a bluff. I'd agreed with Amelia to let it slide. We couldn’t afford to have the press on our necks again. We couldn't let them open a wound already healing.

Amelia nuzzled against my body. "You did the right thing,"

I kissed her on her head. "Thank you, baby."

“Will you tell your mom?” Amelia asked. “I think she should know that you were innocent all this while.”

I click my lips. "I don't know. Mom didn't believe me. No one has ever believed except for you." I caressed her hair.

“You should tell her,” she responded, “and maybe rub it on her face?”

I chuckled, even though I've always loved the idea of teasing my mother and outsmarting her. Now, I felt at peace that everything was over. I wanted the emotions to slide off my memory for life.

Amelia checked the clock by the bed and realized that she must be at the hospital. She missed her work, and, most especially, she missed her best friend. I pulled her off the bed and we headed to the bathroom together, splashing the water at each other as we playfully showered together.

I drove Amelia to the hospital and went in to get a glance at Troy. He’d spent the past few weeks trying to get Mother to accept Camille as his wife, and Mom was mischievous enough to offer Camille millions to leave Troy alone. I took the elevator to the top floor where Troy’s office was, and he grudgingly asked me about my honeymoon trip. Camille and Troy couldn’t take a honeymoon break because their marriage was meant to be a secret.

However, Troy looked more bothered than I'd left him. A lot had changed since I had been away from Richmond.

“Mom threatened to take the position away from me.” Troy rubbed his eyes. “I feel like there is no winning her.”

“Maybe,” I replied, “but you won’t know if you don’t try.”

“I'm trying,” Troy said and paused. “I'm trying to hold the hospital together, make my mother happy, and protect Camille all at the same time.”

Troy bore a lot of burdens because Mother wants him to. It wasn’t fair that the whole world required much from him. He’d been like this since he was a kid. Mother had relied on him to put things in place when she could not. However, my mind went back to Troy’s words about Camille. His confession about wanting to protect the woman who agreed to marry him on a contract basis baffled me.

“Protect Camille?”

“She's delicate, beautiful, and–" Troy stopped. He'd probably realized that he was showing too much emotion.

Troy's lips widened as he spoke about Camille. His eyes grew bigger, and he clenched his fist occasionally. Every emotion Troy displayed at the mention of his contract wife pointed to one thing – he was in love with her.

“You are in love with Camille!”

Troy had always been a defensive man. He’d always protect himself from things that didn't appear to be true. But here I was, accusing him of falling in love with his junior doctor and contract wife, and Troy’s defense seemed shattered. He didn't say anything, just held his head in his hand.

“How long have I been away?” I asked out loud. I'd only been away for three weeks, and many things about my beloved brother had changed.

“I told you to marry her on contract, but I didn't tell you to fall in love with her!”

“I can’t help it!” Troy yelled. “I tried, Henry! God knows I tried to leave our relationship on paper, but I couldn’t stop myself.”

I'd be a fool to judge Troy for falling in love with a woman within weeks of knowing her. I'd been in his shoes and fell helplessly in love with Amelia.

"Look, man, you need to hide how you feel about Camille away from Mother." I didn't need to say too much; Troy knew better.

"I'm trying, man. I'm trying, but Mom keeps making it hard for me."

---