Billionaire to Billionaire

Chapter 19.

*Andi's view

The next morning we slowly pull ourselves out of bed and pack up for the day. Deciding to leave my truck here, I suggest we drive back in one of the cars. Anthony's face lights up. "Can we drive the Nissan GT-R coupe?" I laugh and agree. "Yesss! I don't have one of these in my collection!" he says. It's a custom to me, deep maroon, sports car and it loves the open road! I'm excited for Anthony to drive it. We load our bags into the back and lock the house up. Heading out the drive, Anthony has THE biggest grin stretched across his face. I could get used to that!

Anthony pulls us into my garage back at the tower. Still grinning like a little kid at Christmas. Peter and John are both waiting for us so we can head our separate ways. I give him a long, passionate kiss before we get out of the car. He groans and says "Dammit! Why do I have to have a busy week!?" I laugh and tell him to get out. "I have a busy week, too! So we'll both suffer!" He helps me into my car before getting into his and we take off. Feeling disappointed we have a whole week without each other. This is going to be a long week!

My morning is filled with meetings that try to distract my sulking mind. I decide at lunch that I need to do something fun. So I text John and ask him to procure a present for me for Anthony. I tell him exactly what I want, the stipulations for it, and he sets off to do it. Feeling excited, I take myself out for Sushi down the road and set and enjoy people passing by. However, my happiness is quickly ended when an annoying, passive aggressive voice interrupts my peace.

"Andrea! All alone are you?" I silently send John my code for backup and ‘Sushi’, before answering back. "Mr. Smith, please leave me alone" I coldly grit out. "Aww, babe! I don't think that's going to happen!" I saw you come in here by yourself. So, let's talk". Trying not to grind my teeth, "No thank you. I have nothing to say to you". "Well, then I’ll do the talking. I don't appreciate the way you've been treating me lately. It's very unbecoming of a wife" he boldly lets out as he looks down at his nails. "I think it's time you and I got on the same page. You say that man is your fiancé, and yet I see no ring on your finger. I know you were upset because I needed a break from you but shutting me out and playing house with someone else isn't going to work in your favor". "Are you threatening me, Mr. Smith? Because you should already be aware that I don't take kindly to threats" I snarled out. "Mmmm...it's not a threat, it's a promise." "And just what is it that you think you can threaten me with?" "Well, the lively hood of your family, to start. Seems there's been some falsifying of income from a Bed and Breakfast". Now my teeth are grinding.

David is a banker and an accountant. Although I know his allegations are not true...I know he is capable of changing it. "Ah, I see. And just what do you plan to attain with that information?" "Well, knowing your weak spot is your parents and that God-awful place, you'd be apt to help them. But it won't do any good when the public hears you've been falsifying the records for them, now would it? So that's where you need me to step in and help them recover their financial woes. In return, you'll marry me!" It takes every muscle in my body to not lift his punk ass up and beat him. But, he obviously has no idea what I'm made of. I never felt comfortable sharing my business portfolios with him. Yes, you can look at my worth online, but you have to dig for it. I have a very good IT team. I also have many connections. "So you falsified my parents income on the B and B and now you're blackmailing me to marry you by saying that I covered it up to protect them?" He snarks, "You catch on quickly, my dear!" "Let me guess, you used your connections and office to falsify the records?" "Mmmm, don't be silly. I don't need help to do it. I'm plenty smart enough to accomplish this on my own. The less people knowing, the better!" "Ah, I see. Well I'm afraid more people will know about your role in it than you think" I shoot back in my calm and cool business voice. "How's that? Do you think I'm not smart enough to cover my trails? Boy, taking over your ALR, Inc. will be the best thing for your people! They'll think I'm God!" "Hmm. You really think that, huh? Well, they will be excited, but they'll be more excited when you're setting behind bars for money laundering, falsifying records, and blackmail". I stare at him with a cold, amused grin. He growls "That won't happen, babe! You have no way to prove it was me!" "Oh! But I do! You just admitted it and I have it not only recorded, but I have witnesses!"

"What?" John and Mr. Howard Caldwell, David's boss step forward. Along with two gentlemen in suits. David's face goes ghost white. "M-mr. Caldwell! It's not true! I was just trying to scare her into seeing how wrong she was!" Mr. Caldwell, with an absolute scary stone face, looks at David like he could kill him. What David doesn't know, Mr. Caldwell and I have business deals together. He's used to working with me. "Mr. Smith, I have long despised you. I was ecstatic the day I found out Ms. Russo sent you packing. Now you have the audacity to try to threaten AND blackmail her!? I will not sit by and allow this to happen. You will now be put in custody, as all of your assets are frozen and confiscated. Your records, computer files, everything you own will now be seized for further investigation. You are no longer employed by ATC and will have no severance package or benefits concluding the results of our inquiries. Gentleman, he's now yours." "B-but I-I.." David stutters out as the two men introduce themselves as FBI agents.

They take him out in cuffs and Mr. Caldwell turns and looks at me, his face long and sad. "Ms. Russo, I’m so sorry! I didn't realize what kind of snake he really was. I promise I'll cooperate in any way you need!" I smile and stand, placing my arms around him in a hug. I stand back, my hands cupping his shoulder cuffs, "It's OK! None of us knew what kind of slime ball he is. I thank you for standing up for me! I'm just glad you were here to see it!" "Me too! I happened to be coming in for lunch when your man, Mr. Kline stopped me and said to listen. I’m glad I did. Like I said, anything you need! I'll personally send a written testimony to you and your lawyer". "Thank you, Mr. Caldwell! I sincerely appreciate that!" "I hope the rest of your day goes better, my dear! I'll be in touch!" And he dismisses himself. I look at John who's face no longer looks like he wants to kill. "I’m so sorry, Ma'am! I should have been with you!" "It's OK, John! You were perfect! How'd you get the FBI here so quick?" Well, honestly Ma'am, I had just been notified from Elliot that things were off on the accounts and programs had been hacked. He traced them and was able to find the trail. I called in FBI before I knew what was happening here. They were going to meet us at the office. When I got your call, I let them know to meet me here." "John! You're amazing! I think you need a raise!" He blushes "I'm just glad you're ok, Andi! I couldn't live myself if something happened to you! You're the sister I never had!" He softly says while blushing. I smile and hug him and order him lunch. "Thank you, John! I'm glad to have a friend and brother like you! Even if I do have to pay you to do it!" I jab him in the shoulder laughing. "He laughs and says, "Maybe I'll take you up on that raise then, eh?" I laugh as we head out the door back to the office.

The rest of the week went smoothly. I spent most of it in and out of meetings. When I wasn't in meetings, I was dealing with court stuff involving David. The investigation went quickly as we were able to provide duplicates of the true records along with all of David's trails. The FBI was thoroughly impressed with my IT team and how well we worked. We were offered an opportunity to do contract work with them by the end of the week. I was so happy and proud of my IT team that I took them out for dinner Thursday night. I had my VIP room set up just for our team and everyone received a hefty bonus plus other gifts tailored to their likes. I did give John a raise and upgraded his and Sara's apartment furnishings. The dinner party was a success! Everyone enjoyed it! When getting ready to leave, I realized I hadn't really talked to Anthony as much this week or told him what had happened. I decided I had better do that in person. John informed me that my present for Anthony had arrived and he had it all prepared for him. I smiled and said thank you! I called Anthony on my way home and apologized for not being attentive this week. He laughed and said it was ok. He understood. I told him I'd explain in person tomorrow why. He asked me if I was ready for tomorrow and I said yes! Of course, I'm more excited to give him his gift but I'm excited to see him and meet his mother, too!

I went to bed happy that night with a smile on my face. For the first time all week, I could relax. The next morning, I got up and prepared myself for the weekend. I put my hair in a braid and threw on my jeans and a t-shirt. Not bothering with shoes as I was working remotely today. I had prepared my hard-strawberry lemonade two days ago as it's better the longer it sets. Straining out the old strawberries, I put fresh ones in and replaced it in the fridge. I had also prepared a small gift for Anthony's Mom. He had mentioned she loved music. I had found the painting Primavera by Sandro Botticelli and the musical symphony to go with it, Trittico botticelliano (Botticelli Tryptich). I was nervous as hell!

I had everything ready for when Anthony arrived. Now I just had to wait for him to arrive. I reminded my gait attendant that Anthony was not allowed in the garage when he got here...just for today! I’m so glad I did as Anthony arrived earlier than expected. I was on the phone with the FBI getting the run down on David's case when he let himself in and swallowed me in his arms from behind. Kissing my neck. I smiled and tried to stay attentive to the phone. I had to finally push him off of me so I could reply.

"Yes, thank you very much. I appreciate all of your hard work and quickness with this. I thank you for the opportunity and we look forward to working together soon!" And with that I hung up and spun around to face Anthony. "Ok, first, why couldn't I get into the garage?" "Hmmm? I don't know. We'll have to check on that" I lied with a smile. He gave me an unconvinced look. "Second, what was that call about?" "Ah! There's something I CAN tell you!" So I did. I told him everything that had happened and how my team stepped up and how David was now going to be serving time. How his assets had been seized and used to pay a settlement to my parents. How we had been asked to be a contract for the FBI. I told him about the dinner party and explained that's why I was not attentive this week. His faced bounced from furry to amazement to disappointment. I asked him what was wrong. "You handled everything perfectly! I'm just pissed because that little weasel was able to get close to you and try to pull some sneaky s**t like that. He's lucky he's behind bars or I'd f*****g kill him!" I frowned knowing why he was upset but reassured him that my team is awesome and handled it well. "I know, and I'm thankful for that. I just don't know what I'd do without you Andi! I love you so much! I'd die if anything happened to you!"

I smiled and placed my arms around him, standing on my tippy toes to kiss him. "I love you, too! I'm so glad I have you! I don't want to know what's it like to not have you! In fact, this week was too close to that!" "Mmmm. Agreed. That's why I've been working at setting up my headquarters here. I actually do a lot of business here and it'd be easier for me. But the main reason, is that I'd be closer to you..." Shocked, I stare at him for a moment. He changed his life around for me. No man has ever done that for me before. "Anthony! A-are you serious!?" Laughing, he says, "Yes, my love! I am!" I jumped up into his arms and screeched pure joy and excitement. He held me and spun around laughing. When he stopped, he took me over to the couch and gently laid me down. "Now, why don't we celebrate, eh?" His eyes starting to lust over. My body shivered as I felt my lacey boy shorts grow wet in my jeans. "Mmmmm. Absolutely!"

That night we made love and had hot, passionate, frisky s*x multiple times. Finally settling down to bed at around 1:00AM. I could not have been happier!