The Billionaire’s First Love

Chapter5

It had been six months since Rosie agreed to be Adrian’s pretend wife. He’d kept to his promise— paying her upfront and placing her on a monthly salary. Rosie had sorted out her daughter’s surgery and had given the rest of the cash to Ann for their welfare. She’d had to move into the Thomas’ mansion as required by her contract, but she still kept her daughter Emilia a secret. Adrian on the other hand was grateful to Rosie because he was able to keep his position as heir to the AdriaBlooms empire, and he had been so nice and caring all of a sudden, the direct opposite of what she knew him to be. She discovered that his brash behavior towards her was because of the constant argument he always had with his father, who put him under pressure to get married. He treated her with love and affection and she was beginning to develop a soft spot for him. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be falling for him due to the agreement attached to the contract, but the more she tried to stop herself, the more she found herself falling in love with him. She also suspected that he was beginning to develop a soft spot for her because he began buying her expensive gifts and taking her out, and each time she asked, he said “It’s still within the contract. I have to do things to make this pretense believable”, and she decided to bask in her newly found good fortune

But somehow, her good fortune began to turn into misfortune. It began on a Friday.

There was an unusual buzz of activities at the Thomas mansion. Cleaners swept and cleaned and wiped, and the chefs and stewards went about with the preparation of food and drinks and she’d returned home from work with Adrian looking puzzled.

“Are we throwing a party?” Rosie asked Adrian.

“Nope, we’re having a mini banquet,” Adrian said, smiling. “My brother, Brian, is coming home. His flight lands at 6 pm this evening.”

“Ohh,” Rosie said. He’d mentioned Brian to her before, his only brother who had been away for years in America. He was finally coming home, and she looked forward to meeting the last member of the Thomas’. Their dad, Mr Thomas, and his wife had taken a great liking to her and contributed greatly to her easy settlement in the house, and she’d concluded that the Thomas were very nice people hence, she couldn’t wait to meet the only unknown family member she’d heard a lot about.

“Yeah, the banquet starts at 7 pm, so please get ready,” Adrian said, turning to walk into the main house. “I need to have a word with Dad, I'll meet you inside.”

**********

It was 7 pm, and Rosie looked really beautiful dressed in a black dinner gown, and she was escorted into the main building by Adrian who held her hands while they walked. They got to the banquet table and Rosie almost tripped. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Brian?

“Are you alright?” Adrian asked, trying to hold her firm.

“Yeah, I'm fine, thanks,” Rosie replied. They made their way to the seats reserved for them. She couldn’t believe Brian was Adrian’s brother. She was so confused and lost for words.

She’d met Brian on a vacation to America two years ago. She had gone to visit an old friend from high school who resided there. She had followed her friend—Sheila—to a friend’s birthday house party and because she didn’t know anyone there, she’d sat alone, observing. Brian had come around, asking her if she needed a drink. She accepted, and he left and came back with two glasses of tequila. He was a good talker and a smooth one too, and in minutes, she was laughing so hard and had become so relaxed with him. They’d had too much to drink, and before she knew it, she and Brian were unclad in one of the rooms, and he’d made sweet love to her. Luckily, they had exchanged contacts before leaving, and when she found out she was pregnant, she’d called Brian to inform him but he was adamant and refused to accept it, and at some point, he blocked her.

And now he was the son of Mr Thomas? And her husband’s younger brother??

The banquet began, and Rosie felt very uncomfortable. She picked through her food and was lost in thoughts, wondering how she couldn’t place it when Adrian mentioned he had a brother in the United States. It all made sense to her now.

“Are you alright, Rosie?” Adrian asked.

“Yeah, are you alright? You seem not to enjoy the meal,” Brian said and winked at her.

Rosie looked away. “I’m fine, Adrian.”

“You sure? You could have something else if you don't fancy this.”

“No, the food is nice. I love it,” Rosie said, faking a smile. She picked up her fork and took some mouthfuls. She felt Brian’s stare, straight and still and dead and she felt very uneasy and felt an urgent need to use the restroom. “Excuse me, please.”

She walked as fast as her legs could take her and shut the door tightly when she got in. She breathed heavily, looked at herself in the mirror, and saw the fear written all over her. “What happens if my secret gets leaked?” she thought. She had not thought of Brian coming up at any point and had never imagined it would happen anytime soon. Her secret had been safe with her and Ann and things were going smoothly and suddenly her good fortune was about to turn into misfortune. “Breathe, Rosie. Breathe,” she said to herself as she tried to calm her nerves. She resolved not to allow Brian to ruin her. She looked at herself in the mirror again and unlocked the door. Standing by the doorpost was Brian, staring at her. She paused momentarily, her heart skipping a beat. “What was he doing here?” she thought.

“Surprise surprise, Rosie,” Brian said.

As he drew nearer, Rosie's heart paced, yet she could only say in a whisper, "What are you doing here?" She then looked around and hoped that nobody had seen them together.

Brian raised an eyebrow as he rested on the doorframe. "Wasn't guessing I'd see you here, Rosie. Small world, huh?"

"Brian, please," she repeated, trembling, "This is not the place or time.

One of his eyebrows lifted as he let his eyes dance in amusement. "Not the right place or time for what? The pursuit of discussing our past, or the little secret you're keeping from everyone, including Adrian?" She gasped. "You wouldn't." Brian's smirk widened. "Oh, but I would. Unless you, of course, are willing to…cooperate." "What do you want?" she asked, fisted by fear.

He bent in close, his breath very warm against her ear. "Tonight in the study at midnight. We have much catching up to do.".

The steps Brian took walking out were unconditional and unnervingly confident in his stride, which had Rosie's mind racing. She backed into the banquet hall once more; her face cloaked in equanimity, the mind whirring. What did Brian want? And how was she to preserve her daughter and her budding feelings for Adrian?

But the night was getting too long with the dread hanging above her, to face Brian. Striking of a minute away for the 12th hour was nearing, and with that, maybe everything set up would just be taken away. Counting, Rosie inhaled deeply and staged herself for how Brian would dramatically show up.

She wandered through dark, silent corridors, her steps echoing dread in every spot. When she finally reached the study, she stopped before opening the door. Brian was already standing slowly up from his chair. He had a predator's smile on his face.

"You're punctual. I like that," he said, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"What do you want, Brian?" Rosie asked, standing her ground.

The smile had slipped from Brian's lips to be replaced with something far colder, a look bordering on calculation. "Simple. You do exactly as I say, or I'll tell Adrian everything. About our past, your daughter. everything."

Her heart sank. She knew she was trapped. "And if I refuse?"

Brian leaned forward, his eyes bright with malice. "Then you lose everything. Adrian, your daughter's security, the life you've built here. Your choice, Rosie.

Her eyes stung, but she clamped her jaw and forced the tears back. She had to keep Emilia safe, no matter what. In the way she gazed into Brian's unbending cold eyes, she found an ironic revelation in the fact that with her situation, so much was at stake; and there was no way the easy way out.

The door swung open, and Rosie turned around. Adrian was in the doorway, looking upset.

"What's happening?" he asked. Rosie could not breathe.

Rosie felt her breath catch in her throat. This was it, the moment that would change everything.