Chapter 4: Finally, Mr. Billionaire
1019 Words
“Why are you here?”
“The same reason you are,” I answered, my chest feeling tight.
A few seconds passed in the uncomfortable silence.
“She won't die.”
“I know.” That was a lie.
“Then why are you here, Raine?”
I sighed. “I don't have the energy for this, Gerald.”
My father visibly bristled at my calling him by his name.
“I don't ever want to see you again,” he stated in a whisper.
I didn't honor that statement with a response.
“Raine?”
“Hm?” I answered absentmindedly.
“Did you hear what I said?”
I turned to face him. His hair was all silver now, and his eyes looked more tired than I remembered it but he was still good-looking for his age. Even at the ripe age of sixty-seven, he always attracted stares whenever he stepped into a room.
I let my eyes take him in. Shoulders hunched. Eyes dull. Posture less rigid. Arms fidgety. He looked different. Weak. Something I never imagined I'd associate with my father in all my twenty-seven years of existence.
The only reason I could think of for this was: “You're broke.”
It was as if those two words uncaged all the suffering hidden behind his eyes.
I sighed tiredly.
“The truth. I need the truth…”
“Dad,” I added.
Calling him dad must have cracked him a little. He nodded. “You're right. I'm broke,” he started.
“After your brother–”
“The car,” I said abruptly. “Let's go talk in the car.”
It felt wrong talking about my brother's death in the same hospital he died in.
We reached Father's Tesla and settled in.
“Raine.”
Father called my name in a way that dug up vague memories of my much younger self running into his arms in tears after being scared by a clown.
I blinked and the memory disappeared.
He looked at me expectantly.
“Go on,” I urged.
“After your brother, uhm, passed. I was left exposed.”
“Our stocks dropped. Companies no longer wanted to invest. Major shareholders pulled their shares. Your mother needed serious treatment.”
I nodded, ignoring the pang in my chest.
“So, you borrowed. A lot. To save Praviea from going under.”
“Yes.” He looked defeated.
“And they want their money back. You don't have it. You might lose everything.”
Everything was too simple a word.
“Yes.” It was unbelievable how he managed to look more defeated.
“And?”
“Lucian is the only one willing to help me. If–”
If I marry him.
“–you marry him.”
When I didn't say anything, Father became unnaturally talkative.
“I was going to lose Praviea.”
“Your mother. Think of her. I have no means to continue her treatment. That was why this crisis occurred. She has been off medication for weeks now.”
Still silence from me.
He continued. “How about Nicole? Where would she end up if I was thrown in jail and left with a sick mother? They will come for her, Raine.”
Something in his voice made me jolt. Did he–was he going to cry?
God, no.
“Dad–”
“I can't lose another child, Raine.”
There. He knew exactly what card to play.
Very familiar memories of Richie flooded my brain. All of them basically looked the same. Bones twisted in unnatural angles, his skull half-crushed. Blood. Lots of it.
“Say something, Raine. Put your old man out of his misery. Please.”
“I have just one condition.”
“I'm all ears.”
“When all your debt is cleared, I want out. A clean divorce.”
Father looked like he would really cry this time. “Yes,” he croaked.
He must have felt embarrassed because he said more strongly, “Ahem, yes. I'll be sure to tell him.”
I opened the door to leave, but before I jammed it shut, I added, “He better not be some old ogre, or I really won't get married.”
What a fool I was to think so.
***
“Of course, he will be late. He's probably having trouble getting up from the toilet bowl or something. God, if this Lucian is old, I would kill myself.”
“Now that would be a waste.”
I turned to give the intruder a piece of my mi–
Holy Mary Sweet Mother…
What in all of God's magnificent creations was this?
He looked like all the seven deadly sins rolled into one.
I bit my lip hard. Stop thinking this way in front of a stranger, I chided myself.
Too late. I think you might need new panties. The pesky voice in my head was quick to comment.
“Who are you?” My voice was embarrassingly tiny.
Goodness, Raine. At least try to sound unaffected.
I cleared my throat. “What do you want?”
Great, now you just sound rude.
“Leave me alone, Mr. Daredevil. I'm waiting for someone.”
He nodded, pulling a chair to sit in front of me.
“Did you hear me? I'm waiting for my fiancé, and he'll be here anytime soon. Get. Out.”
I hoped that sounded convincing because I really wanted him to stay…or take me to his car to ride him till thy kingdom come.
He stared at me for a few seconds. My entire body was awash with heat as his eyes roved every slick of skin on me.
I gulped some of my watered down martini in an attempt to cool the fire flooding my veins.
A slow smile curled his lips.
“Very well.” He stretched an arm for a handshake. “A real pleasure to meet you in person, Raine.”
Wait.
“You are…”
“Lucian. Lucian Spencer. Your husband to be.”
- Writer
