Epilogue
Alissa
A Few Years Later
“Do I look okay?” I asked Julia as I twirled around slightly awkwardly in my gown. “Are you sure I don’t look silly?”
“How can you look silly?” My best friend and maid of honor laughed at me. “It’s your wedding day, and you’re radiant in that fishtail dress of yours. You look the most beautiful that I’ve ever seen you.”
It took me a while to let Julia in after what Elle did to me. I kept everyone in the orchestra at arm’s length, but she kept pushing her way in, and eventually, I caved. We began having boozy, fun nights out, then dinners, then we went to each other’s homes for coffee, catch ups, and movie nights. We became real friends before I could stop it, and now that she was here with me in Paris for the best, most romantic day of my life, I couldn’t be happier.
In the old days, I couldn’t have envisioned doing this with anyone other than Elle. I’d assumed that she was the only friend I would ever have, but I was okay with her not being around anymore. I couldn’t stand not trusting her; we could never have been friends again. Still, I wished her no ill will. I hoped that she was happy and that she’d gotten whatever the hell it was that she was searching for.
“Well, you look wonderful, too.” In her peach gown that looked good against her olive-colored skin, she looked a vision of beauty. “Good enough to catch the eye of the best man, even.”
“Urgh, Matt.” She rolled her eyes and made a gagging face at that. She always acted like she hated Cade’s party boy best friend, but I got the feeling that there was more to it than that. One night a few months back they both vanished from a party. Neither of them admitted that anything had happened, but I had the sneaking suspicion that there was something on the horizon. Maybe it would even start today. “He’s the last person I want looking at me.”
“Me doth think thee...protests too much, or whatever the saying is,” I laughed. “Now, come on, I suppose we better get going. I have a date who’s expecting me.”
Julia took my arm and led me down the stairs. We were in the hotel across the road from the grand cathedral where my ceremony was being held. It was a huge building that was going to be far more filled than I expected. When we decided to get hitched halfway across the world, I didn’t think anyone would want to come. I certainly didn’t expect all our friends and family to turn up.
Well, with one notable exception.
My mother wasn’t in that building, which was perfect as far as I was concerned. I didn’t want her at my wedding. I never wanted to see her again. The day that Jacob divorced her was the best day of all our lives. It left us so much closer as a family.
It wasn’t as simple and straightforward as that, of course; there was a long legal battle in which so much mud was slung that some very expensive conjunctions had to be put in place to stop the knowledge from getting out, but finally, it was done. Eventually, we were all able to move on.
My mother had affairs and had been involved with so many con schemes that she agreed to keep out of the way forever more...for the right payoff, of course. I hadn’t heard from her at all in the last two years, the last call I got from her was the one on New Year’s Day, and that was just the way I liked it.
Jacob had an affair, too, that was why he didn’t want things becoming public, but it was when he and my mom were almost split up anyway...and the person he slept with behind her back was a shocking one and the very reason he didn’t want anyone to find out. It was Cade’s mother, who it seemed he still had a powerful connection with. I guessed it was one that never went away, but she was always too busy working to pursue it properly.
None of us talked about it now because no one wanted to get their hopes up for a happily ever after that might never happen, but it seemed to me that it was inevitable for them to end up back together. Another event that might take place this weekend since they were both in the same country again.
Maybe they couldn’t ever do it for Cade, but they could actually become a solid family unit for their grandchild.
My hand fluttered down to my stomach at that thought, while I thought about the life growing inside of me. No one knew about it yet, it was such early days that I hadn’t even been able to tell Cade, but I knew he was going to be excited. He was keen to expand, for us to have children, so this happy little accident would make him so damn happy. I had suspected a little while back when I was late, but I didn’t get the chance to do a test until this very morning.
Now I couldn’t wait to tell Cade. Our little wedding day surprise.
“Are you ready?” Julia asked me as we stepped outside. “No cold feet? Don’t want me to hire you a getaway car or anything?” That was so her humor, dry and hilarious. It was one of the things I loved best about her.
“No, I think I’m okay, thanks. I’m pretty darn certain about this.”
I was so ready to get married to Cade, and not just because of our secret child. I’d been in love with him forever, and I couldn’t wait for the rest of the world to know about it. I wanted to show him off, to let everyone know how in love we were, and to belong to him in a very real way. We were a solid unit, but this would just confirm it.
As I walked into the cathedral with my best friend by my side, music from wooden pan pipes filled the room. They were playing a very basic, very lovely version of “Rhapsody in Blue,” which was now a very important song to me and my soon-to-be-husband.
Instantly I spotted him, standing at the end of the aisle, beaming at me as if I was the most precious thing in the world. If I weren't sure before, then I would be when I saw the intense look of love he had for me – a love that I now knew that I deserved.
My self-confidence didn’t come overnight. It crept up and dipped back down for a while. Years of emotional abuse couldn’t be undone right away, but having him love me, having my friend, achieving my musical goal, and working for Cade’s charity helped me inch my way up and up. Working with kids who truly had nothing, and giving them a good start in life felt amazing. I could see now exactly what attracted him to it.
I glided as gracefully as I could manage down the aisle, feeling the prickle of everyone’s eyes all over me. I didn’t usually like being the center of attention, it made me weirdly nervous, but today it was okay.
Cade opened his arms to embrace me as if he couldn’t wait to hold me again. That wasn’t exactly the traditional way to start a wedding, but nothing about us was normal. I grinned and picked up the pace, totally giving up on caring about what everyone else thought. His arms were outstretched for me, and I wanted to be in them.
“I love you,” he whispered as he wrapped me up. “I love you so much.”
“It sounds like you were afraid I wouldn’t turn up,” I laughed through the happy tears. “Did you actually think that I’d stand you up?”
“I just missed you, that’s all.”
He grabbed onto my cheeks and pulled me in for a kiss which I fell into happily. We were doing things backward, but I didn’t even care. I hadn’t seen him since yesterday evening which was a very long time for us now.
“Can we begin?” the vicar finally felt compelled to ask. “I think everyone is keen to get started.”
“Sure, sure,” I giggled. “Anything you want.”
I held onto Cade’s hands as the usual speeches were made. I didn’t mind so much about the formalities of the wedding ceremony; I just couldn’t wait until we got to the part where we said our vows. We’d decided to write our own, which was going to be the perfect way to share our news.
Well, my news at the moment, Cade still didn’t know.
As his turn rolled around, I opened my ears to listen to him carefully. I wanted to know exactly what he had to say to me.
“Alissa, ever since I first met you, you’ve turned my life upside down...but in a good way.” He paused for laughter. “You have opened my eyes to the world, you have made me see things differently, and without even trying you helped me to find my passion. If I didn’t have you, I never would have started helping others if it hadn’t been for you.”
I didn’t like to take credit for that, it was something that he’d done all by himself, but at the altar on our wedding day wasn’t the time to have that discussion.
“I love you in a boundless way; I didn’t know what love was until I met you. You’re the most beautiful, fantastic woman that I’ve ever met, and I cannot wait to call you my wife.”
Damn it; I should have gone first. Now tears swirled in my eyes and my throat almost closed with emotion.
“Cade,” I started thickly. “I don’t know how to tell you how much you mean to me; there aren’t enough words in the world.” I paused as I tried to catch my breath and a pregnant pause filled the air. There were so many other things that I planned to say, but I couldn’t get them out now. I would just have to tell him later; I’d have to make it up to him every single day.
Instead, I grabbed his hand, and I pressed it on my stomach. He looked a little confused, but I gave him a sweet smile back. “So, I shall show you instead.” Nope, still, he wasn’t getting it. “By growing something for you and expanding our family.”
“Are you serious?” he gushed. “Are you saying what I think you are?” I nodded, and he instantly grabbed in for another embrace. “Oh my God, we’re having a baby!”
As everyone else finally caught on to what was happening a loud cheer ran through the cathedral, and I was swept up in everyone else’s joy. As soon as I signed the papers, I would officially be a married woman, and in about eight months’ time I would have a child lying in my arms. Everything was perfect, and I was happier than I ever thought possible.
“I love you,” Cade whispered to me through the yells. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Cade,” I told him seriously. “You have no idea how much. I can’t wait to start our new lives now. I couldn’t do this with anyone else but you.”
As he bent down to kiss my tummy, that thought really filled me up. I had never thought much about “the one” before, but if soulmates were real, then Cade was mine for sure. He truly was my everything.
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SCREWING THE BILLIONAIRE
By Alexa Davis
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 Alexa Davis
Chapter One
Xander (Monday)
“In a world where everyone gets their news on the Internet, you still get your news the old-fashioned way… from a newspaper! What is it with you, Xander?”
My friend Michael sounded like he was teasing me, but I knew better. There was an edge to his tone, an anger bubbling deep inside, but he was doing his best to control it because we were in public. He didn’t want everyone in the coffee shop to know he was an irrational hot head.
I smiled secretly to myself, knowing that at least I had the tools to calm him down. Not many people did, so I was lucky, especially considering I had to work with him every single day.
“How’s it going, Michael? Anything wrong?” I kept my tone calm and considered as I folded up my paper, not rising to his bait.
“Just fucking traffic… It’s as if no one in the whole of New York is ever in a rush. If they have forever to dawdle in a line of cars, that’s up to them, but I have lots to do. I can’t be wasting time waiting around, you know.”
“Yep, you’re the most important man in the city,” I teased, smirking in his direction “I’m sure you’re right. None of those bankers, CEOs, or whoever need to get to work at a certain time.”
Making light of the situation was the only way to make Michael forget his temper. If I gave him anything else to rant about, he’d be going on for hours. Much as I enjoyed mocking him, we didn’t have time for that. A busy day lay ahead of us.
“Yeah, well, fuck them. Whatever.” He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture as he joined me at the table, clutching his morning coffee as if it was a lifeline – a sentiment I fully understood. Late nights came with the territory when you worked within the music industry. “Anyway, who’s coming in today? The studio’s all booked out, right?”
“Yep, we have Aiden Smith recording today. His manager booked him in all day long because rumor has it he’s a bit of a nightmare.” I rolled my eyes, already having prepared myself for a day of drama, but that information only served to piss Michael off further. “So that should be a whole load of fun.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? That’s all I need: a diva. Who is this guy? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him before.”
Uh oh. Michael’s anger was rising again. He hated people who thought they were better than they were, which was an unfortunate side effect of this career choice.
“Nope,” I replied. “He’s a newbie, so if he does have a diva-like temper, then it’s out of nowhere. He certainly hasn’t earned it.” To be perfectly honest, I didn’t like it much, either. I wasn’t sure why anyone would ever think they were better than anyone else. I always tried to treat everyone like my equal. I hoped that was part of my charm.
“Right, I guess it’s up to me to bring him down a peg or two!” Is it just me, or does Michael’s mood seem improved now that he has someone to take his anger out on? “Let’s get going, I don’t want to be late for this precious little asshole.”
“Be nice,” I warned, following him, but I already knew that my words were falling on deaf ears. Better him than me, I suppose. I’d experienced his temper more than my fair share. And if this guy deserved it, then why the hell not?
My mood lifted as we walked to work. I absolutely loved music – it was my one true passion. I’d grown up obsessed with new sounds, following the charts like they were a religion. So, when I inherited some money on my twenty-first birthday, I brought my own studio and record label. It was all I’d ever cared about, and that had shown through my work.
I’d quickly made my fortune, but that wasn’t all it was about for me. I didn’t care how much money I made, as long as I had enough to live on. It was all about enjoyment.
I loved my job. I was one of the lucky ones who adored what I was doing, and for that reason alone, I’d probably do this for the rest of my life, right up until the day that I died.
Sure, there were some downsides, such as working with people who felt they deserved star treatment far before their time. But on the whole, it was awesome. I got to turn my passion into a living – not many people could say that. I didn’t ever take what I had for granted because I never wanted to lose it.
***
“Can we take this from the top again?” Michael yelled out through gritted teeth. His temper was bubbling. He was doing an amazing job of keeping it under wraps, but that was only because we’d been at this for hours.
The morning had quickly rolled into evening, and we’d made absolutely no real progress. Michael knew blowing his top would only keep us all here that much longer... and by this point, no one wanted that.
Aiden was more than a nightmare; he was the worst person I’d ever worked with. I was about two seconds from throwing him out of the studio myself. Never had I met someone quite so self-entitled without any career to show for it. If this guy ever did make it big, he would be utterly unbearable, and I didn’t want to have any part in that.
“But we’ve done it already,” he whined pathetically, trying a different tactic. Shouting hadn’t gotten him anywhere, making outlandish demands had landed him with nothing, threatening to storm out had had no reaction… Whining was all he had left.
“I just want to go home now. I’ve got a party to go to, and I don’t want to be too tired for it. This isn’t fair; I’ve been working for hours now.” God knows what he’d do if he actually had a real job! If he thought this was difficult, he had no idea about life.
“You need to sort your priorities out,” Michael warned. “Parties aren’t a God given right, especially if you haven’t even recorded anything.”
“But I’ve been doing it all damn day long.”
Aiden glowered, as did Michael. The air grew thick with the standoff, and I knew I was going to have to intervene.
“Take five, guys,” I announced loudly. “We’ll come back to this in a moment. There’s no point in rolling your eyes, Aiden. You aren’t getting out of here until this is done. You aren’t the only one missing out on whatever you had planned tonight, so I suggest you stop being so selfish.” Yep, he’s getting to me now, as well.
He stomped out, grabbing a cigarette from a pack in his pocket, causing me to huff angrily, too. What the hell is the point of smoking if you want to be a singer? If your talent is in your voice box, what is the point of throwing all that away over a dirty habit? People didn’t even think smoking was cool anymore; it was just so pointless.
“What are we going to do about him?” Michael demanded, flopping down in one of the studio chairs. “We need to get this shit finished today. I cannot spend another minute with him. I won’t come in tomorrow if he’s here. I hate his little asshole guts.”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, feeling defeated, too. “It’s a shame that his sound is so generic. There isn’t a whole lot that we can do with it, really. If he had something a bit unique about him, we could work with that. We could do something with the sound department to save on time.”
We both fell silent for a moment, pondering the dilemma. There didn’t seem to be any solutions, which was driving us both crazy. We took this very seriously, Michael as much as me, which was why I’d always keep him around. But it seemed like this issue was without an answer.
“I know this doesn’t help us right now, but what we could use is a new sound.” Michael nodded as he spoke. “We need someone unique. We need to have something different, something that stands out. This generic crap will only last so long. If we can find someone who defies the crowd, then we won’t have to deal with this sort of stuff anymore.”
“You’re right.” I could feel that familiar excitement growing within me once more. “Yeah, that’s exactly what we need. We need to get our hands on some new talent, but nothing like Aiden.” My mind whirred, racing over the possibilities. “I don’t know what we need exactly, but I feel like as soon as I hear it, I’ll know.”
Unfortunately, before we got too deep into our conversation, Aiden’s voice boomed back down the hallway, reminding us both where we were. “Come on, then, let’s get this done!” he yelled loudly, only rasping a little bit.
“Come on.” I grinned at Michael. “Let’s just get through this nightmare, then we can start looking for someone new. I’m excited for that now, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, we’ll have to draw up a plan, decide on what we want. Then we can work out where to go looking.”
We were both thinking about the next project now, barely concentrating on Aiden at all, which left him with no audience for his moods. That actually worked in our favor because it seemed to spur him forward. What we ended up with wasn’t amazing, but it would do.
Especially considering it was midnight and we all had better things to be doing. Aiden had his ridiculous party to be going to, whereas I needed to get home to bed. I was glad my party days were long over.
“So, we’ll really talk about things tomorrow.” I grinned at Michael as we were both about to leave. “Decide what direction to go in next.” Maybe I owned the company and Michael was just my employee, but he always went in on things wholeheartedly with me. I respected him, trusted his decisions, and always would. “We’ll sit down and make a plan.”
“I’ll do some research tonight, give it some real thought.” Michael always seemed to be up all night long. He didn’t need to switch off like I did, which probably explained his constant temper. “Then we’ll meet up again tomorrow. And, I hope to never see that asshole again.”
I wasn’t confident that would be the last we saw of Aiden. I knew the work we’d done with him hadn’t been as good as it should’ve been, but I nodded anyway. I couldn’t talk about him anymore. I didn’t want to even think about him. He wasn’t the reason I enjoyed music. I much preferred people with a genuine passion and drive.
Hopefully, that would be what we ended up with when we started our next hunt. Someone who needed this, someone with grace and gratitude. Someone willing to work hard to make their dream come true.
“Great, I’ll see you then.”
As I made my way home, I tried to envision what that person might be like, but the possibilities were endless – and that made it so much more exciting.