The Billionaire's Punishment For Loving Me

007. An Explosive Package

“Good morning, daddy.” Brooklyn Henson says, as she enters the room, her expensive feather glass slippers clicking against the marble floor, looking at him, concealing a groan of annoyance. She opens the luxurious drapery of the Henson estate, letting in the morning sun that filters through the window, bathing the living room in a soft golden glow. She poised on the edge of her designer sofa.

“Good morning, my beautiful Brook. Baby girl, you have a package, sweetheart.”

She glanced at the small package that had just arrived this morning as her maid placed a champagne glass with freshly squeezed orange juice in her hand. Brooklyn examines the package’s unassuming shape that piqued her interest. Its plain gold wrapping stood out against the lavish decor, a stark contrast to the gilded surroundings of her family's historic mansion. The Henson legacy was rich, not just in wealth but also in pioneering advancements, specifically in artificial intelligence through the family’s connection to the first tech company to venture into the field.

“Is it a gift from Dean? I’m so happy you came to that conference with me to capture his attention. Thank God, you took after your mother in beauty. But you are indeed my daughter. You are brilliant, shrewd, and devoted to the company. And that company, DW Inc. I would love to have its owner get involved as the pulse of a growing technology like Artificial Intelligence comes to life. Did you see him at the conference, full of swagger and charm? The guy has skills to sway people, and that’s what I need right now.

Brooklyn watched as her father talked, engrossed by the slightly raspy sound of his voice and the aristocratic air he exuded when speaking about his business. It was ironic how similar Dean was to her dad in that way.

“Don’t let him slip away, Brook. We need a second strong backing in this area.”

In Brooklyn’s estimation, Dean didn’t stand a chance without the weight that the Henson name carried in the new development of AI in the industry. Still, she could tell her father felt very strongly about having him involved most intimately, by marriage.

“Okay, Dad, I understand what you are saying. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing interferes with you getting the son-in-law you want. Now, can I open my gift?”

“Sure, look at the time. Well, sweetheart, I’m heading to the office. Kiss, kiss, I’ll talk with you later.” The dad said, pecking her on the cheek.

Brooklyn smiled, even though a twinge of bitterness still ached in her heart at the thought of how her father had forced her to end her relationship with Darren Ballard by sending him to work permanently in the Alaska office. But she felt she was slowly getting over it. When she saw the most beautiful man she had ever seen with those amazing green eyes, she could tell Mr. Whitmore was going to be a challenge, and Brooklyn lived for challenges. She could see he was all about himself, and that he worked out, because his muscles showed through his shirt. Dean Whitmore looked strong and very well built. He was probably a little taller than Darren Ballard. But Dean, though a beautiful guy, has a cocky demeanor.

But what turned Brooklyn on the most was those eyes and how they were looking at her like they could see clear down to her soul. He exuded nothing but confidence, and there is nothing sexier than that. And once her father helped her understand that whoever she marries must bring more than just love to the table.

Now that she grasped this, she was determined to make her relationship with Dean last, no matter what, because he offered her love and marriage. And the potential business opportunities for her father. She felt she had made significant progress by getting engaged, and now her goal was to get him down the aisle. She wasn’t in her youthful twenties anymore; she was in her thirties, and it took a little more than batting her eyes at a guy to get him to say, “I do.” She was at a place in her life where she looked forward to hearing those magical words: And now marriage was just around the corner.

She blushed, picked up her gift, and carefully peeled away the tape; she felt an unexplainable joy at the thought of how hard Dean Whitmore had worked to impress her. Brooklyn was finally convinced that his feelings for her were much more than a business deal. “To send me this beautifully wrapped present. He must be beginning to experience the feelings of love.”

Despite giving her the impression he was only driven by ambition, at thirty-five, he has become the CEO of a multibillion-dollar tech firm, mainly due to his relentless drive and charm. “Maybe he’s ready to settle down and think about having a family.” A subject he evaded during their engagement celebration in Cancun. But Brooklyn soon felt the world would come to know they were getting married, and Dean wouldn’t have any choice but to fall in line with the rest of her plans for them. But Brooklyn had to make sure, with only a few more months to go, that her wedding went off without a hitch.

Finally, the package yielded its contents. Brooklyn empties the box only to discover a small, unmarked USB drive with no indication of its origin. A flicker of trepidation bubbled inside her.

“Umph, what’s this?” she asked curiously, but agitated because she was hoping it was a piece of jewelry.

She walked over to the desk, inserted it into her laptop, and pressed play. Suddenly, after only a few seconds of watching the video. Her hands flew up to her mouth! Brooklyn's eyes were wide as she gasped! Immediately, her heart sank as the video began to play. There in crisp detail was Dean, wrapped in the arms of a half-clad woman, his familiar laughter punctuating their intimate moments. The air was thick with betrayal, as dread settled heavily in Brooklyn’s chest.

“No!” She yelled.

“Who is this tramp he’s with?!”

Dean was not just her fiancé; he was the man she envisioned building her life with. But the screen captured a reality that felt overwhelmingly undeniable. Fury swelled up in her as she took a wild swoop, brushing everything off her desk, including her laptop. Once it crashed to the floor! With uncontrollable anger, Brooklyn took her glass slipper, relentlessly stomping the screen of her computer. When the servants in the house heard the commotion, they came running. “Miss Brook! Miss Brook! You are going to injure yourself." The house servant, fearfully rushing over to Brooklyn's side, who stood there exhausted, after her actions. She places her hands on her hips, breathing hard, as she yells at the housekeeper.

“Mary! Clean this mess up!”

“Yes, Ms. Brooklyn.” The maid nervously muttered, looking at the mess she had made, as Brooklyn stormed off.

About an hour later, Brooklyn found herself standing in Dean’s office building, upset and yet desperate to see him. She marches straight to the elevators, heading to the twenty-fifth floor. Moments later, Dean hears a loud commotion outside his office door. His secretary explained his availability to someone.

“Ms., you can’t just waltz in there to see Mr. Whitmore! He’s in a meeting!”

“Watch me!”

“Wait a minute, Ms..! The secretary asked her, “What’s your name?”

Brooklyn turned and looked at the secretary. The secretary noticed she appeared to be in her 30s, with a fantastic figure. Nothing was out of place on Brooklyn Henson, from her hair to her makeup to her nails to her clothes. The blonde-haired, attractive woman looked chic, and her Fendi suit fit her curves as if it had been designed just for her. This woman, wearing a pair of red-bottom heels, strutted past his secretary, Margaret, without permission, and entered Dean's office.

Brooklyn enters a sleek, glass-walled office, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. He was seated at his large mahogany desk, overlooking the bustling cityscape. Dean was in a meeting, but her intense expression prompted him to dismiss everyone.

"Dean Whitmore!"

As Brooklyn stood in Dean’s office, the remnants of rage and heartbreak still crackled in her chest. It was uncanny how his phone suddenly vibrated on the desk. Dean glanced at the screen, his face shifting from controlled calm to alarm.

He didn’t answer, but the message glowed between them: "You’re not the only one with secrets. Tell her the truth, or I will."

A tense silence fell. Brooklyn’s eyes narrowed. Dean’s grip tightened on the phone. The moment teetered, no confrontation, no answers, only the promise that everything was about to unravel.

Neither of them moved. Somewhere outside, the city kept humming. Inside Dean’s office, the truth waited, hungry and unresolved.