MY BILLIONAIRE DESTINY

CHAPTER TWO

A SPARK

JANESSA'S POV

“Well, Well, Well, look who we have here.” He said, walking into the kitchen with slow steps.

I completely froze.

“What do you want, Gray?” I queried, trying to hide my fear and send out boldness.

“You really cannot get away, can you?” He probed, rhetorically.

I gulped in a large amount of saliva.

“So, does he know?” Gray could not stop throwing questions. I only had one question in mind, ‘who would have thought that Gray would be Joe's elder brother?’

“I leave the past exactly where it should be, Gray.” I said.

“But I wouldn't call a few weeks ago the past, Janessa,” Gray stood behind me and whispered in my ears.

“The fact you ended up in my father's house, with my brother, kinda makes me believe you weren't supposed to leave in the first place.”

“Don't you think?”

My stomach was rumbling with discomfort. I was now at a loss for words.

A bad past with one sibling and a worse present with the other. What could be worse than that?

“Janessa?” Joe walked into the kitchen, finding Gray and I. This was not so much of a relief for me.

“Is there a problem?” Joe asked.

Neither of us responded to his question.

“Honey,” Joe pulled closer to me and planted a kiss on my lips in Gray's presence.

It was obvious the two were not best of friends and Joe had noticed something was wrong. I realized I was being a tool in this little sibling fight, but getting a kiss from Joe felt worth it.

“I can only imagine how stressed you are, my love,” Joe's tone was very soothing.

“Go take a warm bath, and I'll come give you a massage, okay?”

Joe could not stop plastering kisses all over my neck and face. While I was bustling inside, Gray was biting his lips. Clearly, Joe's act was doing wonders and I immediately got into character.

“Thank you, darling,” I responded and placed a kiss on his lips, just before I left.

My excitement felt illegal, considering that there was the atmosphere of mourning in the mansion, but I couldn't help it.

I went to my room, and laid in bed, staring at the ceiling and fantasizing about Joe and the encounter we just had.

‘Maybe Gray's presence wasn't such a bad thing after all,’ I thought, but that would be after I figured a way to keep his mouth shut from revealing anything to his brother.

Shortly after I got in, I heard a knock on the door and the door slowly opened, immediately after.

“Joe!” I called, jumping to my feet.

It was his first time here and he kept looking at the few portraits I had on the wall.

“I don't remember this…” he began.

“I do a little art to distract my mind from its stress.” I immediately responded defensively, hoping that my design change was not a problem.

“Oh, I see,” he responded.

“Pack a few things, you'll be staying with me.” He said.

“Huh?” I exclaimed. I definitely did not see that coming.

“We are married, aren't we?” He probed, “For as long as my brother stays here, we will act married.” He was quite bossy.

I immediately turned to the wardrobe to pack a few things, such that it wasn't obvious that I was just moving in.

The mansion was slowly becoming very crowded, as Mr. Spock's demise was now on the local news.

News reporters and many presenters wanted to interview Joe, since they were the most influential family and made the headlines every week, but Joe was not having it, hence the crowd, right outside.

There were also well-wishers and some colleagues and high-profile citizens present to give their condolences.

“Father's funeral is tomorrow.” Joe announced.

I nodded affirmatively and placed my small bag in his closet.

I managed to get through this day, entertaining the guests as much as I could, and also avoiding Grey, while at it.

My eyes also did not leave Joe, making sure he didn't have any conversations with Gray that might lead to discussing the secret.

Luckily, as always, Styr did not leave Joe's side.

Later that night, I snuck out of bed and went over to Gray's room.

Joe was tired from the activities of the day and since we were on opposite poles of the giant bed, it wasn't difficult to go unnoticed.

I didn't have to knock twice, before Gray opened the door.

“I knew you would do the right thing.” He said.

I stood stiff and quiet.

“A twenty-three year old murderer,” Gray spoke very softly, but his words went straight to my chest.

“You made me do it!” I responded defensively. “All of it!” I added.

“Oh yes,” he answered, “yes, I did,”

“But guess what I found in my father's room.” He said, and then pulled out a small glass bottle that was very familiar to both of us.

“Why did you kill him, Janessa?” Gray asked.

“What are you talking about? I didn't kill him!” I argued.

“Then how do you explain an outlawed drug, the most lethal there is, accessible to only the gang, in my father's room?” his voice grew louder with every word.

“Let’s not forget that his caregiver is a member of the gang…”

“Was,” I immediately interrupted with emphasis.

“Right,” his response was clearly sarcastic, “was a member of the gang that eloped with a handful of the drug.” He raised a brow.

My voice slowly dimmed. I was guilty of possessing the substance, but I left the gang with it for my own protection.

“Explain it, Janessa!” He yelled.

I knew there was no escaping this.

“Surely, you won't say anything,” I said, “if I go down, you and the gang will go down with me.” I said,

“And what do you think will happen to me?” He asked, “The son of the famous Mr. Spock.” He added.

We both understood what he was driving at.

I was trapped and my hands immediately felt tied.

I stood there in silence for a while, then followed with a deep breath.

“What do you want from me, Gray?” I probed, expressing my exasperation.