“Where’s Melissa?”
Wearily, he ran a hand through his hair and looked out over the massive backyard lawn toward the horizon where the brilliant sun had boldly retreated, leaving him without warmth.
He and Sheila were born into wealth. Although he was four years older, they’d been kindred spirits since childhood. Always determined to forge their own paths in life without the help of the family money. She became a successful attorney, moving up to become the lead prosecutor in the state of California. While he started his business with bank loans, refusing to touch the two large trust funds left to him by his maternal and paternal grandparents.
He was an only child who grew up with a stern father but a good man. His loving mother had died during his last year of college from cancer. She’d always been his fiercest champion, encouraging him to make his own way in the world. He hadn’t wanted to join the family business. With his father’s disapproval and his mother’s encouragement, he followed his dream and created his own business. She never lived to see his success. Her death changed him. He became insolent, angry and the man he was today—afraid of letting anyone see his weaknesses.
Sheila’s mother had left her father for another man when she was ten. Sheila had only seen her twice in the twenty years since. With two older brothers and a father who treated her like she was fragile, she’d refused to be what her father and brothers wanted, a pampered, rich princess so she became tough, strong-willed and rebellious.
Four generations old, the family business was still run by their fathers and her brothers.
“I asked you a question, Jake.”
“I don’t know where Melissa is,” he snapped.
She swung her feet over the side and stood. “What do mean, you don’t know? I specifically helped her pack and dropped her off at the airport.”
“Have you heard from her?” Jake asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
He observed her face. “Where would she go if she was upset?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
“What makes you think I did something?”
“Because I know you like the back of my hand. Damn, Jake. I encouraged her to surprise you. Tell me you didn’t reject her?”
“It’s complicated.”
“What happened?”
He pinched the edge of his nose and squeezed his eyes against the headache he couldn’t seem to shake. He was tense and damn tired. He arrived in L.A. a few hours ago and headed straight to his house. Not finding his wife in residence, he left and went to the office. She wasn’t there either and her assistant hadn’t heard from her. He even went to the condo she had lived in before their marriage and still owned. There was no sign she had been there either. Everything was still covered in furniture canvas from when she moved out three months ago.
Jake rubbed the tension at his temple. “Why didn’t you call to let me know she was coming?”
“Duh. You do know the definition of a surprise, don’t you?”
“Damn, Sheila. I didn’t know Melissa was in the penthouse suite when I walked in.”
“Jake. Stop stalling. Spit it out.”
“I had a woman there.”
Sheila poked him in his chest. She sputtered and went to do it again.
“Stop, Sheila.” He grabbed her hand and then let her go. “You haven’t poked me that hard since you were eleven.” He rubbed the sore spot.
“You asshole! You know her ex-husband destroyed her confidence when he told her he was in love with another woman. Now you go and cut the wound wide open again. Why in the hell did you marry her if you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants? Melissa’s nothing like those bimbos you dated in the past.”
“It was a mistake. Nothing happened with the woman. I’ve never cheated on Melissa,” he interjected.
“Bullshit. You wouldn’t bring a woman to your suite without screwing her.”
“Will you curb that acid tongue of yours? I didn’t screw anyone.”
“Then why?”
“Bridget
Wearily, he ran a hand through his hair and looked out over the massive backyard lawn toward the horizon where the brilliant sun had boldly retreated, leaving him without warmth.
He and Sheila were born into wealth. Although he was four years older, they’d been kindred spirits since childhood. Always determined to forge their own paths in life without the help of the family money. She became a successful attorney, moving up to become the lead prosecutor in the state of California. While he started his business with bank loans, refusing to touch the two large trust funds left to him by his maternal and paternal grandparents.
He was an only child who grew up with a stern father but a good man. His loving mother had died during his last year of college from cancer. She’d always been his fiercest champion, encouraging him to make his own way in the world. He hadn’t wanted to join the family business. With his father’s disapproval and his mother’s encouragement, he followed his dream and created his own business. She never lived to see his success. Her death changed him. He became insolent, angry and the man he was today—afraid of letting anyone see his weaknesses.
Sheila’s mother had left her father for another man when she was ten. Sheila had only seen her twice in the twenty years since. With two older brothers and a father who treated her like she was fragile, she’d refused to be what her father and brothers wanted, a pampered, rich princess so she became tough, strong-willed and rebellious.
Four generations old, the family business was still run by their fathers and her brothers.
“I asked you a question, Jake.”
“I don’t know where Melissa is,” he snapped.
She swung her feet over the side and stood. “What do mean, you don’t know? I specifically helped her pack and dropped her off at the airport.”
“Have you heard from her?” Jake asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
He observed her face. “Where would she go if she was upset?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”
“What makes you think I did something?”
“Because I know you like the back of my hand. Damn, Jake. I encouraged her to surprise you. Tell me you didn’t reject her?”
“It’s complicated.”
“What happened?”
He pinched the edge of his nose and squeezed his eyes against the headache he couldn’t seem to shake. He was tense and damn tired. He arrived in L.A. a few hours ago and headed straight to his house. Not finding his wife in residence, he left and went to the office. She wasn’t there either and her assistant hadn’t heard from her. He even went to the condo she had lived in before their marriage and still owned. There was no sign she had been there either. Everything was still covered in furniture canvas from when she moved out three months ago.
Jake rubbed the tension at his temple. “Why didn’t you call to let me know she was coming?”
“Duh. You do know the definition of a surprise, don’t you?”
“Damn, Sheila. I didn’t know Melissa was in the penthouse suite when I walked in.”
“Jake. Stop stalling. Spit it out.”
“I had a woman there.”
Sheila poked him in his chest. She sputtered and went to do it again.
“Stop, Sheila.” He grabbed her hand and then let her go. “You haven’t poked me that hard since you were eleven.” He rubbed the sore spot.
“You asshole! You know her ex-husband destroyed her confidence when he told her he was in love with another woman. Now you go and cut the wound wide open again. Why in the hell did you marry her if you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants? Melissa’s nothing like those bimbos you dated in the past.”
“It was a mistake. Nothing happened with the woman. I’ve never cheated on Melissa,” he interjected.
“Bullshit. You wouldn’t bring a woman to your suite without screwing her.”
“Will you curb that acid tongue of yours? I didn’t screw anyone.”
“Then why?”
“Bridget