3 BOOK BUNDLE: Flown By The Billionaire I, II, & III by Carla Davis Page A

he sighed.
“I...umm...promised that I wouldn’t lie to you again,” he began. “In the middle
of the meeting, I got a phone call.”
    The look on his face told me that he was worried about
whatever it was he had to tell me. I waited with dread for him to get it over
with, praying that he wasn’t about to rip my world apart.
    “I agreed to meet her,” he said, knowing that it would be
obvious which ‘her’ he was referring to. “I had planned to just accept the
terms she’d been asking for,” he added quickly. “I just want to get this
divorce over with, so I can move on with my life.” Fixing his expressive eyes
on me, he added, “So we can move on.”
    “I’m,” I mumbled, “sensing a ‘but’.”
    “She’s no longer satisfied with that deal,” he said, his jaw
flexing in that way it did on those rare occasions when he was angry. “She’s
demanding more.”
    “How can she do that?”
    “She’s going to claim that...” he paused, his gaze not quite
able to remain on my face, “...I caused the breakup of our marriage by having
an affair.”
    “I don’t...”I shook my head, trying to make sense of what
he’d said. The day before, he’d told me there had been no one else. And, if he
had been unfaithful, why was his wife only just bringing that into the
proceedings.
    “I think she knows it’s not true,” he continued. “She’s just
a—” he stopped himself, tossing his eyes to the ceiling. “She’s just spiteful,”
he sighed.
    The penny slowly beginning to drop, my mouth fell open.
“Me?” I asked.
    Reluctantly, he nodded, his eyes drifting back to mine.
“She’s going to claim that we’ve been seeing each other for months.”
    “But we haven’t,” I blurted. “We didn’t even meet until a
few weeks ago.”
    “I know,” he softly said, stepping forward. “But she intends
to say that we’ve known each other much longer, and that I gave you the job so
that we’d have more time together.”
    “But that’s...” I weakly argued.
    “I know,” he repeated calmly. “But it’s her word against
mine,” he added, with a shrug.
    “So?” I mumbled, my wide eyes searching his. “So, what?
You’re just going to let her lie?”
    “No,” he instantly responded. “I’m going to fight it, but I
just wanted to warn you...” he shook his head apologetically. “Things could get
a little messy and, if you don’t want to be a part of that, then...” Removing a
hand from his pocket, he slowly reached out and stroked my upper arm. “I would
understand,” he quietly announced.
    I didn’t know what to say. It was all too much to take in.
The rest of our time in Paris was spent with us in separate, and very distant,
contemplative bubbles. Alex didn’t push me to reach a decision, and I was too
overwhelmed by how quickly my life had become so complicated. Was I prepared to
be thrown into the middle of Alex’s divorce?

Chapter Four
    D uring the flight back
to New Jersey, Alex spent much of the time on his cell phone. As far as I could
make out, he was talking to his lawyer. I offered him privacy, settling into
one of the seats at the rear of the plane. Eventually, I drifted off into a
fidgety, uncomfortable doze.
    “Mel,” his gentle voice nudged, as a warm hand touched my
cheek.
    I jolted awake, startled to find him leaning over me.
    “You okay?” he asked.
    “Yeah,” I groggily responded, nodding. “I…I’m sorry, I...”
shuffling forward in the seat, I began to rise to my feet. “Did you want
something?”
    “No,” he quickly replied. “No, it’s just that we’re here.”
    “Huh?” I mumbled, turning to the small window and realizing
we were on solid ground.
    “Err, listen,” he nervously began. “I wondered if it was
time we talked. I don’t want to seem like I’m pressuring you, but I also can’t
stand this awkwardness between us.”
    “You’re right,” I nodded, smoothing the creases from my
skirt. “I’m sorry, it’s my