Chapter Forty-Six
Jack's surprise proposal, we headed to his mother's house for an engagement party he had asked her to plan. Betty had invited a small group of friends and family. She'd convinced Patrick to come to the party and had arranged for a nurse to accompany Mama.
"This is all quite the to-do, isn't it?" Mama said when I went to hug her. "It's pretty fancy."
"It is, Mama," I said leaning down to hug her and feeling sad when she leaned away from me.
"Remind me who you are again, would you?" she said.
I didn't have the heart to tell her, so I simply smiled and repeated that it was so good of her to come. Mama stayed for a short while before being transported back to the retirement community. She'd become agitated because she was away from her familiar surroundings, and it was a reminder of how far she'd slipped away from us. I was still glad that Betty had asked her and that she'd been able to be there. Riley seemed unworried by the whole ordeal with Mama and cheerfully called, "Bye Gram! See you soon!" as the nurse loaded Mama into the car for the trip home.
Once Mama was gone, Patrick pulled me aside and said that he'd tried to find out more about the envelopes we'd found in the house. Mama had only said that she knew Molly was gone.
"How did she know?" I asked.
"I think the letters were Molly's way of letting her know she was okay," Patrick said. "Once they stopped, I think the assumption was that Molly was gone for good, but we'll never really know for sure."
"Can't we hire a detective to follow her trail?" I asked.
"Leah, I've already done that," he sighed. "The trail went cold in Florida, and he wasn't able to find out anything more. She simply disappeared."
"I don't accept that," I said stubbornly. "There's got to be a way to find out what happened to her, and I'm going to figure it out."
"Suit yourself, Leah," Patrick shrugged. "But I'm not going to spend my time chasing after pipe dreams. I'm going to accept that she's gone and move on with my life. You really should do the same."
I turned and walked away from my brother, muttering under my breath about how I'd find our sister and then I'd show him what determination could accomplish.
"Why the sour face?" Jack asked as he caught me by the arm and pulled me into the sitting room away from the rest of the guests. I told him what Patrick had said, and he reminded me that having lots of money had its advantages. "I'll hire someone to do some checking. Now can we get back to celebrating this happy occasion?"
I laughed and assured him that we could, but before we left the room, I turned to him and said, "That was quite a risk you took planning the party before you knew my answer. How did you know I'd say yes?"
"It was a risk," he admitted. "But I had faith in you . . . and in us."
And with that, he leaned down and kissed me before taking my hand and returning to the party.
*
" look beautiful, Leah," Riley said as she adjusted my veil one last time and handed me my bouquet. "You're the perfect Irish bride."
"I couldn't have done it without you, kiddo," I said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. I’d had a seamstress replicate Mama's white lace wedding gown as best as she could from what I remembered, and it fit me like a glove. The sweetheart neckline dipped just low enough to give me a hint of décolletage, but not so low that I felt self-conscious. The bodice cradled my breasts before sloping inward to give me a waist where it joined with layers upon layers of Irish lace that fell to my feet and stretched out behind me in a cathedral length train. On my head, I wore Betty's wedding veil. It was fitted on a tiara of crystals and fell just above my ankles. I felt like a Disney princess come to life when I looked at my reflection.
"I wish Mom could be here to see this," Riley said quietly as she fussed with the robin's egg blue sash on her dress, trying to get it to lie flat against her waist. I set my bouquet down and fixed it, and said a small prayer of thanks that she hadn’t fought me on wearing a dress for the wedding.
"I wish she could be here, too," I said as I wrapped my arms around my niece and hugged her tightly. "But at least we know she's in peace."
Jack's investigator had followed Molly's trail of letters and had done some digging into what had happened once she arrived in Florida. A week before the wedding, he'd sent Jack a full report of his findings in which he'd detailed Molly's last weeks and her death. According to the coroner's report on Jane Doe #473-229, Molly had overdosed on alcohol and cocaine and been buried in a pauper's graveyard at an old church in Tallahassee.
For two days after we'd learned the news, Riley was silent. On the third day, she came down for breakfast, smiled, and thanked Jack for finding out what had happened. I asked her if she wanted to talk about it, but she shook her head and poured herself a bowl of cereal. Later, Jack asked if we should send her to see a counselor, but I told him it would be better to wait and see what Riley wanted before forcing her to do something. He agreed, and so we waited.
"Now that Mom and Gram are gone, you're my only family," she said looking at me. I nodded and bit my lip to hold back the tears. Mama had passed away in her sleep a month after the engagement party, and while it had been a relief to know that she wasn't suffering from the years of hard drinking and poor health, I still missed her.
"We've got Patrick," I interjected.
"He's a priest," she said rolling her eyes. "He doesn't count."
"Don't tell him that!" I chuckled as I took one last look in the mirror and nodded at my reflection.
Patrick had agreed to officiate at the ceremony and, although Jack and Lincoln had made peace after the blow out over Baby Steps, Jack hadn't wanted him to be his best man. So Riley was doing double duty as best man and maid of honor. Norma, Betty and I had helped her pick out a dress that wasn't too girly, but was appropriate for a summer, backyard wedding. She looked lovely with her hair done and a hint of makeup on her face. I was happy that she'd turned out okay after all the drama, but I also knew we had a long road ahead of us since she would soon turn thirteen.
Jack and I had decided to keep the wedding a small affair and had only invited immediate family and our Baby Steps friends. We'd had the wedding organizer set up casual benches for the vows. We decided to turn the backyard into a dance floor over the pool and had an outdoor barbecue rather than have it be a formal affair. Jack had decided to wear the suit he'd worn the day he'd met me and had suffered the accidental nosebleed. I wore my mother’s dress. Everything seemed perfect.
"You look impeccable," Riley said as she linked her arm with mine and said, "Let's go show Jack!"
I descended the stairs with Riley's help, and as the music began to play, I lifted my chin and walked confidently toward our new life.
*
" your eyes," I whispered as I started up the steps. It was well past midnight when I carried my bride up the staircase to our new bedroom so she could see the surprise I'd been working on for the past few months.
We'd agreed not to live in the house until after the wedding ceremony, but I'd spent many evenings overseeing the installation of our new furniture and custom made cabinetry in the bedrooms. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, setting her gently down on the carpet and closing the door behind us. I said, "Okay, open them."
Leah slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room. I watched as she took it all in, her eyes growing wider with each discovery of something new and amazing. I'd created a seating area around the fireplace where we could sit and talk, or just relax with a book. The plump sofa and chaise were made of the softest microfiber in muted, earthy tones and draped with plush angora throws that accented the colors.
I'd had the workmen create walk-in closets for us on either side of the enormous turquoise tiled bathroom. In Leah's closet, there were enough drawers and shelves to accommodate her growing wardrobe, and a dressing table that lit up so she could put on her makeup or do her hair in private. Like the rest of the bedroom, the floor was highly-shined wood with a few thick throw rugs placed around the room.
But the crowning glory of the room was the bed. An enormous four-poster bed with a canopy that draped across the posts, giving the area an exotic feel. The bed was covered in a thick duvet that was embroidered with our intertwined initials in the center.
"My God, Jack, it looks like we live at the Ritz," she exhaled as she turned in place and took in the entire room.
"Then you like it?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"I love it," she said smiling as she turned and wrapped her arms around my neck. "And I love you, Mr. Yates."
"I love you, too, Mrs. Yates," I smiled as I wrapped my arms around her and softly kissed her lips. "I live to make you happy."
"Already done," she said, kissing me back.
My fingers fumbled to find a zipper on the back of her dress before realizing that she was buttoned in. I sighed as I turned her around and began the onerous task of sliding each one of the delicate pearl buttons through its corresponding loop with one hand. I slowly ran the other hand down the front of her dress. Leah sighed as I undid the last button and slid the dress off of her shoulders, letting it pool around her feet.
I quickly shed my tie and shirt before turning her around. She looked lovely bathed in the low light, and I breathed deeply as I bent and scooped her up, carrying her to the bed. Leah moaned softly as I ran my tongue up the side of her neck before setting her down. I slipped out of the rest of my clothes before I knelt on the bed between her legs and finished undressing her.
Although we'd made love many times between the engagement and our wedding day, when I reached down and positioned myself at the edge of her wet opening, I felt a sense of reverence as I slid inside her. I moved slowly inside her, feeling every warm, wet inch enveloping me, losing myself in the sound of her deep moans as I stroked her closer and closer to the edge.
"Jack," she cried as I reached between her legs and pressed my finger against the spot that made her body sing. "I can't . . . oh my God . . ."
"You feel so good," I whispered into her lips as I gritted my teeth and slowed my thrusts even more. Leah cried out, begging me to speed up, but I wanted the moment to last forever. I continued my long slow thrusts, knowing that I wasn't going to be able to keep this up for much longer. The need in me was rising, and the feeling of Leah wrapped around my aching shaft drove me almost to the edge.
"Oh, oh, oh," she moaned as my fingers combined with the pressure and the movement to send her flying. I could feel her orgasm starting deep within her as she began to pulse around me. Two more strokes. She cried out as she pushed her hips up against mine and let go. She groaned, "Now, harder! Harder!"
I lifted her hips up off the bed and thrust into her as hard and fast as I could, over and over again. I could feel my own release just out of reach until she moaned, "Oh God, yes, Jack, that's it! Take me!" I pulled back and then plunged deep into her as I felt my body let go and release everything I'd been holding back. My face went cold as the waves of pleasure rolled through my body and released inside of her.
I held her tightly as I lay on top of her, feeling her relaxing under me as I kissed her face and lips. Leah looked up at me with her blue eyes soft and gentle. She caressed my cheek.
"I love you, Mr. Yates," she whispered, then kissed my lips. "This has been the best day ever."
"I love you, too, Mrs. Yates," I said, smiling down at her.
BILLIONAIRE’S AMNESIA
By Claire Adams
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Claire Adams
Chapter One
Elijah
I pushed the revolving door. The room was immediately silent like a lamb before the slaughter. I love how I can do that. With ownership presence and the overpowering ability to command real silence, that’s what I had over all of them. They were all my unsuspecting sheep ready and willing to take the path I set for them, whenever I wanted and the did whatever I asked. I have way too much power over these minions, but I like playing with them. It was fun.
Because I’m the assertive Harryionaire Elijah Elliot Hanson. Owner of the biggest Fortune 250 company this side of New York. Master of Logistics and a straight shooter all the way. I don’t accept anything less than what I expect from myself. There’s Jeff and Stan and Gary and Louise, all immediately in a hush as I enter the office making an impression. They can talk and fuck around in their own time, not mine. I have a reputation to maintain.
***
I headed to the shipping office. I needed to get away from these pricks for a moment.
I fancied having a little fun, when I got there, Tompkins was there waiting for the elevator, and he was a real ass kisser. I could make him look like a real dick in front of the other staff.
The elevator opened and we all entered, the doors closed and the silence ensued us.
I spoke, “Tompkins.”
“Yes Sir," he replied nervously.
“Push the button.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Did you finish that report?” I asked.
“Yes Sir, I did.”
“Did you make sure it was correct?”
“Yes Sir,” he replied again.
“Did you get laid last night?”
“Yes Sir, um, oh dear,” he said as he buried his head in his hands.
The rest of the staff giggled as Tompkins went a blood-red color, he bowed his head and backed himself into the corner in retreat.
The elevator reached the fourth floor, the doors opened, and I stood to wait for the rest of the staff to leave. I casually walked out from the elevator and stood there as I pondered. I decided to have a brief walk around the shipping department and see what was happening. Everyone was busy responding to online requests or on the phone, so I randomly stopped behind one or two of them while they were on the phone and listened.
How many of them seemed to develop a stutter when I was around? It was fun but not very good for business, and I was being childish, even though I did like it.
I headed toward my office, and I could see Kendall by her desk, she was hot, very fucking hot. But at the end of the day, who was she? She was just a new starter who had been in the business for about a month or more and had proved to be a pretty good asset.
I leaned over her desk. “Anything happening, Kendall?” I asked as the doors swung back and closed behind me.
“No, no calls,” she replied.
“So, what have you been doing all morning?” I asked in my cheekiest tone.
“Um, I had reports to file, and meeting notes from yesterday to type up,” she said nervously.
“Ah, right, just checking,” I grinned as I eyed her tits.
“You dating anyone?” I asked as I noticed her full breasts.
“Er, not at the moment. Why do you ask?” She bit her top lip, and my cock twitched, growing thick and hard.
“Just checking, testing the water about whether to take you out or not,” I answered as I asserted my control.
“Is that wise? I mean, we work at the same place… It could be awkward.”
“When you are me, there is a simple solution. I could just fire you and then ask you out,” I said as I smiled.
I could see Kendall look at me with confusion, she had no idea if I would do that or not just to date her. For anyone who knew me, they would know, of course, I would do that. And fuck, Kendall was really hot and worth firing just to get her into bed. But there were also other hot chicks who came to the office every day; there was no shortage of volunteers.
I moved from her and entered my office and asked Kendall to get me a coffee when she returned. I thought I would test her, and see how far I could push her.
“So, Kendall, you want to go on a date?” I asked probingly.
“I, um, I would have to think about it,” she replied.
“Well, do that then. Think about it and let me know, okay?” I replied in my obvious tone.
Kendall returned to her desk, glancing back and casting an odd small smile toward me. I wondered if she was the clingy type, one good night and then they thought they were in a relationship.
Fuck that!
The elevator opened, and I saw a few faces I recognized. Shit, the accountants had arrived, and there was one hot chick who worked for them. And there she was, she strutted out from the elevator and looked toward my office. Nice. I raised my hand in acknowledgment that I had seen her. I had dated her a couple of times, and it had been fun, she understood the situation, and was totally fine with it.
They entered the boardroom and decided to make that phone call I wanted to make for a while. I could see no reason I should put it off any longer. So, I made the call and arranged my session for the morning. I was excited to do something new for a change, I sat there and thought about what it was like to be me, it was good, that was for sure.
I could see that Carla had left the boardroom and headed toward the executive kitchen, I quickly jumped from my chair and my cup and left my office.
“You want a coffee?” Kendall asked.
“It’s okay. I’ll get it myself, I’m not an invalid you know,” I replied.
I entered the kitchen and could see Carla making herself a drink, her long legs were highlighted by the heels she was wearing. She was a classy chick who liked to power dress. I didn’t beat around the bush and asked her what she was doing later, and as always, the answer was, “not a lot.” I arranged to pick her up at seven p.m. and would take her to dinner. She couldn’t resist me. Most women couldn’t.
I walked back toward my office and could see Kendall looking at me.
“That question you asked me earlier,” she quizzed.
“What question was that?” I replied in my usual, casual way.
“If I would consider a date with you,” she replied with a subtly pissy tone.
“It’s okay, forget it. I’m meeting Carla later. Maybe next time,” I said. “I’ll let you know.”
Kendall’s expression tightened. I wasn’t sure if it was from relief or disappointment, but who cared? I had my night set, and I would be out of the office tomorrow.
“Before I forget, I’m not here tomorrow,” I said in a cocky voice. “I’m going skydiving.”
“Okay. I’ll look after everything,” Kendall replied as she stared back into her computer screen.
“Just don’t be late. I know you can be a little late on occasions,” I said.
“It’s not very often, and I work...” she tried to say, but I cut her off in mid-sentence. I wasn’t interested in what she had to say. I’d rather talk about me.
“Do you know how dangerous skydiving is?” I asked. “You have your faith in some fabric and some string that’s all, thousands of feet in the air and just God's will if you survive or not.”
She looked disinterested. “I had not thought about it.”
I pissed her off some more. She was so damn cute when she was pissed. “Yeah, it’s good to be able to take the day off when you want, and do exciting stuff,” I said.
I found myself enjoying rubbing her nose in it. She was just an employee, and no matter what her position was now she was only ever going to be less than me. She had perks that the others didn’t have, but she was just another pair of legs who answered the phone and did other things that I wanted her to do.
“So, don’t forget, make sure you are here on time, or even come in 30 minutes earlier to be sure, but just make sure you are here,” I said.
She nodded stiffly. Fuck, I loved my power.
I moved to my office and went on the internet to check up on skydiving. I almost felt buzzed about it. Someone knocked at the door, and Peter poked his head around the corner.
“Okay, to come in?” Peter asked.
“Yes, no problem, what can I do for you?” I replied, wishing he wasn't there.
“It’s not about business. It’s a personal matter,” he went on.
“What do I have to do now? Are you in trouble?” I asked before signing loudly.
It always seemed like Peter had some personal problem he wanted help with, or that he needed something kept quiet, or he had left himself get in a situation, a boy situation. He used to drive Dad nuts when we were younger. And he always told me Peter should have been a daughter with his attitude, and on most occasions, I had to agree. He was a pussy.
“Nah, it’s not me this time. It’s you,” he replied as he pulled up a chair.
“I’m not in trouble, and honestly, I’ve never been better,” I said feeling slightly agitated.
“Yeah, it’s not that. It’s Mom. You need to see her.” He gave me a stern look.
“You know how I feel about that woman. It was all her fault that Dad was the way he was.” My anger rose.
“I know, but she’s still your mother,” he said pleading.
“She’s no mother to me. You don’t know what happened between us,” I replied angrily.
“What could be so bad between you?” Peter asked.
“Ask her. See if she’ll tell you,” I said. “It’s all her fault.” I raised my voice to make my point.
I cast my mind back to the day it happened. Peter didn’t know this, but I caught Mom cheating on Dad. She had begged me not to say anything. I was 12 at the time and keeping that sort of secret was a lot to place on a kid’s shoulders.
“She should apologize to me first. Maybe then I could forgive her, but I’ll never forget,” I said as I slammed my fist down on the desk.
“Just try and see her,” he said, his voice tight with what sounded like sadness.
I hated to see people use sympathy as a tactic to get something; it showed their true character. Dad had always said Peter was weak.
“Did she send you or did you choose on your own?” I asked him.
“I spoke to her yesterday, and she mentioned you. I just thought you could both make amends,” he said as his head bowed. “It’s not easy for me being in the middle you know. Especially since Dad died.”
“Stop being a wuss, and don’t use Dad as an excuse for being weak,” I said loudly.
“I’m not using him as an excuse,” he defended himself.
“It fucking sounds like it to me, maybe that’s why he left the majority to me, he knew you couldn’t do what was needed. I said strongly.
“Here we go, the big ‘I’m’ speech,” Peter replied lifting his head as he taunted. “You always have to bring this up. Just because you got all of the company and most of the money, it doesn’t make you a better person, brother.”
“I’m sure it makes me better than you. Do you ever see me asking you for anything? Well, do you?” I paused briefly. “You can’t answer that. I’ve never had to rely on you for anything, and I probably never will,” I said as I stood and looked from the office window across the lot.
“It’s difficult for me sometimes, you know. I have memories that torment me just like you do," he added.
I looked at him again. “I don’t have demons that I’m wrestling, Peter. The only thing I have a problem with is her,” I said again as anger burned my chest.
“Is that why you can’t commit to a real relationship? Because you think you will be like her?” Peter asked as he stood and walked around the office. “You might have everything, but you still have no one to love. You never have had, and you never will,” he said with a moody, disheveled tone.
“I’ve had enough of this conversation. It always ends with the same result. Dad just said you were weak and now I can see it myself. You have no fucking balls. He said you should have been a daughter rather than a wayward son,” I smirked and laughed.
“It’s like talking to a brick wall talking to you. You’re just so damn arrogant and have no reasoning in you,” Peter said. “I’ve had enough. Just think about going to see Mom.”
Peter left the office shaking his head in disbelief and outright discouragement. Well, fuck it. It wasn’t my problem. I never asked to be in the position I was in.
He opened the door and exited my office in a hurry.
“Fine. Run off with your tail between your legs. Once a pussy always a pussy,” I muttered under my breath.
What a fucking jerk-off.