Filthy Rich, Wild with Lust

Chapter 68

I begin to pace back and forth. My heart is in my throat, and I feel sick to my stomach. “Come home, baby. Please come home.”

Henley

The buzzer sounds on my desk. “Your four o’clock appointment is here, Henley.”

I buzz back. “Thanks, Jenny. I’ll be out in a minute.”

With a deep sigh, I stand and walk to the window. I put my hands in my suit pockets and stare out over the high-rise skyline.

There is no brain activity.

I clench my jaw as I stare out over the skyline. My beloved father is gone.

Nobody to visit, nobody to care for.

There’s an emptiness that I can’t explain. A void that nothing else can fill.

I go to my desk and look around for my phone. Not on my desk, not in my drawers. I rustle through my laptop bag. I haven’t been able to find it all day. Have I left it somewhere?

“Where the f**k is it?”

I buzz Jenny. “Jen, have you seen my phone?”

“No, sir. Do you want me to come and help you look for it?”

I scratch my head as I look around. “No, it’s okay. What time is my next appointment?”

“She’s here now.”

“Okay, send her in.”

“Thanks for coming. It was great to finally put a face to the name.” I shake Erica’s hand on our way out of my office. It’s the end of a day that has been booked with back-to-back appointments. Exhausting doesn’t come close.

“You too. Have a nice night.” She smiles. I watch her walk through the reception area and get into the elevator. Jenny is sitting at her desk, working away.

“Go home, Jen.” I sigh. “Thanks for today.” I walk back into my office and begin to pack up my computer.

A soft knock sounds at the door. I glance up to see Jenny coming in.

“Come in,” I reply. “What’s up?”

She walks in and closes the door behind her. “I just wanted to check in on you.”

“I’m okay.”

“You work too hard.”

“Someone’s got to pay the bills around here.” I smile as I begin closing down my emails.

She walks closer and leans on my desk. “I’m here for you, Henley. You know that, don’t you.”

Something about her tone makes me look up at her. She undoes the top button on her blouse. “Anything that you need... I’m here for you.”

What?

I lean back in my chair as I stare at her. “And what is it that you think that I need?”

“To relax.” She undoes another button on her blouse; a hint of a white lace bra comes into view.

“And how will you help me do that?”

“You know you can trust me...” Her voice trails off as she undoes another button. “I know how hard your heart is breaking right now.”

Huh?

“Remember that time in Germany at the conference where we spent the night together?”

“That was eleven years ago, Jen, and a one-off.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” She undoes another button. “I can satisfy you, Henley. You need to just forget the world, lose yourself physically. I can be your safe place to fall.”

She opens her shirt to reveal a perfect set of perky breasts. Her stomach is toned, and her body is perfect.

She walks around to my side of the desk and sits on my lap; she cups my face in her hand. “I can make you forget everything. We can leave for Dubai tonight and get away from everything.”

“Jen, what the f**k are you doing?”

“You need this.” She looks down at my lips. “You need me.”

And in this moment, I see it. Clarity.

Crystal clear clarity.

Who I belong with... belong to. I’ve known it all along, but still, the realization comes through again.

“I’m in love with Juliet.”

Her eyes search mine.

“I’m sad, Jen. My heart is broken, and I appreciate all that you do for me. But it is not like that between us.”

“We have something, Henley.”

“We do. I know we do. It’s called friendship. A very special friendship.”

“I’ve booked us on the red-eye to Dubai. The flight is at ten.”

“What?” I screw up my face. “What on earth would make you think we’re going to Dubai tonight?”

“You said you wanted to go to Dubai as soon as possible.”

“Not f*****g tonight,” I gasp as I throw my laptop into my bag. “I’ve got to get home.”

“To her?” Jenny folds her arms angrily.

“Yes, to her. I told you a million times, Jenny. I’m in love with Juliet. We are getting married.”

“Then what the hell am I doing here?” she cries.

“Right now... you’re being the most selfish person I’ve ever met.” I throw my hands up in the air in surrender. “My father f*****g died yesterday, Jenny, and here I am dealing with you carrying on and trying to kiss me and get me to fly to the other side of the world away from my family.”

“You don’t have a family,” she spits.

The venom.

“Yes.” My anger rises. “I do. I have my family, the one I chose: Juliet and Blake and Antony.” My eyes hold hers. “And I used to have the best PA in the business.”

Her eyes well with tears. “Used to?”

“I’m done, Jen.” I shrug. “You can’t work for me anymore. I’m transferring you. This is not acceptable behavior.” I walk toward the door.

“You can’t leave me. I quit,” she yells.

I keep walking and hold my hand up in surrender. “Good.” f**k off.

Juliet

I sit on the front steps in the darkness, my optimism slowly fading.

I keep picturing Henley in that hospital bed that day, his father lying beside him, asleep with his head on his chest, Henley’s arm protectively around him.

I get a vision of Henley carefully shaving his father’s face and whipping him with the T-shirt as he helped him dress. The way he used to help him shower and read him the morning paper.

The way he visited him every single day. The way they laughed together about everything and nothing.

Never to happen again...

I know his dad didn’t remember him, but that doesn’t make it any easier or any less significant. The loss is still so great.

My poor beautiful Henley.

I can’t imagine what he’s going through. I can’t even pretend to.

I’m so worried that I feel sick in the stomach. What if Henley does something crazy? Like, really crazy...

Fuck.

I drop my head into my hands in despair. I can’t stand the thought of him on the other side of the world. He can’t go. This can’t be happening.

A car comes into the street, and I glance up to see that it’s a black Range Rover.

What?

He’s home.

He pulls into my driveway, and with tears in my eyes, on autopilot, I stand. He gets out of the car, and his face falls as he sees my tears. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“Are you okay? I’ve been so worried.”

He pulls me into his arms. “I am.” He kisses me softly. “Now that I’m with you.” He holds me tight, and I can’t help but cry tears of relief against his chest.

My big, beautiful man, after all he’s been through.

He did it.

He leaned into the light... and made it home.

Twelve months later

I sit at the kitchen counter and smile into my coffee like the cat that got the cream, because I did just that.

Henley James, the biggest prize of all. The most beautiful man with the biggest heart. He adores me as much as I adore him.

What a whirlwind of a year, the happiest year I have ever had. My name is Juliet James, and I am married to the love of my life.

We got back just yesterday from our honeymoon, a month in Italy.

It was incredible...

Filled with love and laughter; the sun, the moon, and the ocean; and everything in between.

And I thought things couldn’t get any better, but fate has other ideas.

It just did.

Henley’s car pulls into the driveway, and I bounce up to greet him at the door. “Hello, Mrs. James.” He smiles sexily as he pulls me into his arms and kisses me. His tongue gently swipes through my open mouth.

“Hello, husband.” I smile against his lips.

His hand grabs me roughly on the behind as he walks me backward into the house. “Today was long without you.”

“Without s*x, you mean?” I smile as he kisses me.

“Yep.” He throws me backward over the couch, and I bounce with a laugh. “Wait.”

“Wait what?” He smiles darkly as he takes his suit jacket off and throws it over the chair.

“I have news.”

“I already know it. You’re about to be fucked.”

“No.” I laugh, and I hold up the pregnancy test to him.

He stills and looks down at it.

“You’re going to be a father, Hen.”

“What?”

“Our own family has already begun.” I take his hand and put it over my stomach. He splays his fingers out tenderly.

“Are you sure?” he whispers.

I nod.

Through tears, his eyes search mine. “Oh, Juliet... I love you so much.”

“And I love you...”

When one door closes... another one opens.

The circle of life is a mystical thing. As an elder is lost... a new soul is created.

Magic in the making.