THE BILLIONAIRE BRIDE

CHAPTER ONE

Sarah Harper had just alighted the bus, now standing at the bus station with the chilly Chicago wind whipping through her hair. She clutched her little belongings in one hand and her coat in the other, feeling a sense of comfort coming from the closure of her brother's old leather jacket. It had been his favorite, but now, it was hers. A little token of the life she had left behind in New York.

"Over here Sarah" called a voice from the bustling crowd. Catherine, her best friend since college, had told her that she would be picking her up from the bus station. She was now waving to her with excitement while making her way to her through the busy crowd.

At the sight of her, Sarah's heart lifted with something she would have called hope if she had not been too distracted. Catherine had been her rock through the toughest of times, giving her a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. Now, she was offering her a path to a new beginning far away from the shadows of the past.

"Catherine!" Sarah called out with excitement and relief in her voice. What followed was a tight embrace that spoke volume on how she had missed her too.

“It's so good to see you, how was your trip?” Catherine said, pulling back. "Any trouble?"

"Not that I know of" Sarah shook her head. "I made sure my tracks were covered, and I wasn't followed. I am just so excited to be here,"

"Good, then let’s get you settled. But first, you need to meet my cousin. I told him we would come by the bakery once you arrive."

They both headed to Catherine's car while chatting about trivial matters, trying to keep the conversation light-hearted. To Sarah's delight, it was a distraction she was grateful for because every corner of her mind seemed to be racing towards the memory she was most trying to escape.

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Standing with his soft leather driving gloves in front of his Lamborghini, Micheal Reginald took in the view of his neighborhood with his emerald green eyes. His family's neighborhood. That was what it was known as. His family knew every detail of everything that happened within; it was a good place to live. The people were loyal, and it was safe because his family kept it that way. Women could walk alone at night, and even children could play outside without their parents having an atom of fear in their hearts. He knew every resident owner's name.

The Reginald family and their territory were known and feared by all. No outsiders dared to trespass, and crimes stopped at the edge of their territory. Even the most vicious criminals were aware of this fact. Breaching it would call for retribution in the most brutal way possible.

He glanced at his watch and knew he was running late. The private jet had been awaiting his arrival; he needed to get into his car and get to the airport immediately. But for an unknown reason, he lingered back. It seemed like something was holding him. He felt a sudden urge to stay, and every time a Reginald had this kind of feeling, they knew trouble loomed around. Although he knew there was an urgency to get to the airport for the family business and was aware that nothing ever interrupted the family business, he couldn’t get himself to move. So, he resigned to his fate and gave in for a while, slamming the door of his Lamborghini and crossing over to the sidewalk for a walk.

Taking in the view of his territory, his attention was captured by two women getting out of a car just in front of Johannesburg Bakery. He recognized the first immediately; Catherine James, cousin to Johannesburg James, one of the oldest residents in his territory. Born and raised there, Johannesburg owned the best bakery in the neighborhood and was loved by many. However, it wasn’t Catherine who captured his attention; it was the woman who came out next. Dressed inappropriately for the weather with her torn jeans, that showed the full length of her curves. Unlike most ladies, she had curves. Her hair was a thick shade of brown; she wore most of it pulled back in braids while the rest tumbled on her shoulders. From the distance, he could see she shivered from the chilly weather, and for an unknown reason, he had an instant reaction of rage growing in his belly.

However, it wasn’t just her looks that captured his attention; it was a strange connection he felt. He could feel her fear, her renewed hope, and the dashing thoughts swelling within her; he could connect with her emotions. He stifled. His breath caught. His lungs seized. He knew.

She was the last thing he would have expected to happen. He had waited years and had finally resigned to his fate. He didn’t know how to feel about it now, but suddenly, nothing else at that moment was important to him; not even the Reginald family business.

Heading to the bakery while retrieving his phone, he punched in numbers without taking his gaze off her.

“Finn, I will need you to get the helicopter ready. I will be needing it this morning. Something came up, and I have business to attend to first before leaving,” he instructed. “I’ll be ready in half an hour.”

Punching in another number with his eyes never leaving the ladies, he dialed another number.

“Baldrick, I am not going to be using the car after all. Please return it to the garage for me.”

Baldrick was the Reginald family’s fleet manager. The Reginald’s were known to have a garage filled with a fleet of cars and motorbikes, as all the brothers liked them fast. He took care of all the vehicles and ensured they were in top running condition.

Micheal snapped his phone shut and stepped off the walkway, crossing over and heading to the bakery where the ladies had just entered. He put up his hand in a domineering and commanding manner, and of course, the cars stopped for him. Everything stopped for him when he demanded.