Alpha Billionaire’s Bride, Part Three (BWWM Romance Serial) (5 page)

She waved, stopping briefly to get her robe and slippers
before jogging out of the room to hunt down Ms. Kitty.

Before she left, she heard Marina offer to make everyone a
stiff drink. Good idea, Jada thought.

In the hall, Jada ran into Mr. Forest, literally. He’d been
charging around a corner at top speed before colliding with Jada.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Jada,” the estate manager said. “Are you
okay?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

He looked past her. “Has something happened? I heard the
most terrible shriek. Is someone hurt?”

“No, no.” Jada soothed the worried man. “Everything is fine.
It’s Agatha Brimgore. She’s angry about something, but it’s nothing for you to
worry about.”

“You don’t think I should check on her?”

“Well, you can if you want. But there’s nothing you can do
other than listen to her. If I were you, I’d make myself scarce ASAP.”

He gave her a glimpse of a grin. “Much appreciated advice. I
think I’ll heed it.”

“Um, you didn’t see Ms. Kitty just now, did you?”

“I did. She passed me on my way from the kitchen. She was
carrying the most colorful cat toy and seemed very proud of it. What an amusing
little creature she is.”

Jada agreed. She said goodbye to Mr. Forest, who sped away.

Jada figured she knew where to find Ms. Kitty: the kitchen,
probably perched on her new window platform chilling out while guarding her
vintage kill.

Although she felt sort of bad that Ms. Kitty had stolen the
cap, Jada had been trying to think of an excuse to get out of that jacuzzi as
soon as Agatha slid into it. Excuse granted.

Good Ms. Kitty. Jada would see to it that her furry friend
got lots of treats for her work this night.

IAN STOOD ON THE WIDE porch and surveyed the grounds and
lake. It was another beautiful morning, and Ian had his plans in place. While
it was odd not to be at the office on a Monday, he found he liked it in a
guilty pleasure kind of way.

Earlier, he’d sent Jada an old-fashioned note, hand-written
on stationary. It was a silly, romantic gesture that he hoped pleased her as
much as it pleased him.

He’d requested that she accompany him on what he hoped would
be a delightful excursion. She’d replied on the heavy stationary that was
provided in all the bedrooms of the house. She wrote that she’d be honored. He
had the note tucked away in his jacket pocket.

He checked his watch. Ten minutes to go. Perhaps she’d be
early. No, she’d be right on time, he was certain.

His phone vibrated. He sighed and pulled it out. He’d shut
off everything and everyone but top level estate staff in hopes of not being
interrupted during his time with Jada. Sure enough. It was Lydia, head of security.
He answered.

“Sorry to disturb you, Sir, but you have a visitor
requesting entry at the south gate,” Lydia said in professional, clipped tones.

“Who is it?”

“Trey Russell. He said he’s been trying to contact you, but
hasn’t been successful.”

What was Trey doing out here? “Fine, Lydia. Let him in.”

“Yes, Sir.” And she signed off.

Ian checked his phone for missed messages and calls. There
were several from Trey. Great. One more person to add to the slew already
crowding up time that would be better spent with Jada.

He heard footsteps and turned to see Sullivan stepping
outside.

“You’ll never guess who’s here,” Ian said.

“Trey,” Sullivan answered.

“How’d you know?”

“He texted me that he was outside. Said he wants to talk to
both of us about something. One guess what that something is.”

“Sasha,” Ian said, trying not to feel exasperated. “He’s
seen the stories and is worried about her, isn’t he?”

“Probably.”

“I should have called him, I suppose. I didn’t think about
it.”

“You’ve had other things on your mind.”

Ian knew Sullivan was right, and then some. He’d thought
about little but Jada since he’d met her. “How long do you think this will
take?”

“I don’t know. I hope not long. I’ve already had five calls
from Germany today about the Reinhardt deal. Our team has lost ground in
negotiations regarding the split. They need your guidance. Also, Cathy called
and said there’s a new strike in Costa Rica that could affect—”

“Never mind,” Ian said. “The day’s shot. I get it. I don’t
know why I tried to plan anything. I should have known better. There’s a reason
why we work holidays.”

“Too bad it’s not Memorial Day everywhere in the world, eh?
So what did you have planned?”

“Not much. Horseback riding with Jada.”

“Why don’t you go ahead?” Sullivan asked. “I can manage some
of this myself, especially Trey. And it’s not the end of the world if we give
up a tenth of a share too much to Reinhardt.”

“Say that to our shareholders,” Ian said. “No, it’s okay.
I’m sure Jada will understand.”

And he knew that Jada would, because she was level-headed
about business, unlike most of the other women he’d dated, who lost their minds
if he had to cancel a date because duty called.

He sent a quick text to Jack Forest asking him to come to
the porch. Before too long, Ian heard the low grumbling of a car approaching.
He spotted one of Trey’s favorite sports cars clearing the tree line in the
distance. At the same time, Mr. Forest arrived.

Ian asked Jack to get a room ready for Trey, and if he’d
mind escorting Jada and her sister on a horseback tour of the property. Jack
was more than pleased to do both, and rushed away to prepare.

Trey rolled up in the growly, black Bugatti. He opened the
door and unfolded himself from the low interior, all six-feet-plus of him. He
stretched and groaned.

“You sure that car’s worth the neck and back pain?” Ian
joked.

“Are you kidding? Look at it,” Trey replied.

Ian and Sullivan did. It was a beautiful machine, capable of
reaching speeds no sane person would attempt off a race track. Both men nodded.
Yeah, it was worth it.

They shook hands and clapped one another on the back.

“Why haven’t you returned my calls?” Trey asked. “Afraid I
was after you for jilting my little sister?”

“In his defense,” Sullivan interjected, “Ian’s been a little
sidetracked. He’s a newlywed now.”

“So I hear. What the hell is all this about? We need to sit
down and have a talk. I want to know everything.” Trey glowered at Ian.

“It’s not my fault,” Ian said. “I didn’t do it.”

“So who did?”

“I think I know. Come on. We’ll go inside and talk about
it.”

They headed to the door and met Jada on her way out.

“Oh,” Jada said. “Hi.”

Ian drank her in. She looked as fresh and lovely as ever,
charming in snug jeans and a pale blue shirt with sleeves rolled up to her
elbows. As usual, she wore little makeup. She didn’t need it, not with her
glowing, coffee skin and big dark eyes.

He introduced her to Trey with more than a little pride,
which made absolutely no sense, but it was there all the same. Jada and Trey
shook hands then Ian took Jada aside.

“I’m sorry,” Ian told her, “but things have come up.
Business. I’m going to have to bow out of the horseback ride.”

Her pretty smile slid off her face and was exchanged with an
expression of sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear that. I understand, though. You must
have a million responsibilities. I can’t imagine how you do it.”

He wanted to kiss her, but held back, not wanting to make
her uncomfortable in front of Sullivan and Trey. “I’ve asked Mr. Forest to
invite your sister to go with you. He’ll escort you both, if that works for
you. He’s a great guide, and knows more than anyone about the property.”

“Sounds good.”

“I hope not too good.”

She grinned again. “Of course not. Are you jealous of Mr.
Forest?”

“Damned straight I am. He gets to go with you and I don’t.”

“You have nothing to worry about. Marina will be our
chaperone. She’ll make sure I don’t lose my head and take advantage of Mr.
Forest in the shrubbery.”

Ian laughed. “Remind me to thank Marina later.”

“Speaking of my sister,” she said, and cocked her head toward
the front door.

Mr. Forest and Marina stepped onto the porch. Marina looked
pretty in jeans and a button-down shirt. Ian and Jada joined her, introducing
her to Trey.

Ian noticed Trey perk up the instant he spotted Marina. Ian
couldn’t blame him. She was the second-most beautiful woman at the lake cabin.

Reluctantly, Ian, Trey and Sullivan left the two women
behind and headed to Ian’s office. Once they settled into the overstuffed
leather chairs, Trey began to interrogate Ian.

“I spoke to Sasha earlier and she tells me she’s fine, which
is a good thing,” Trey said. “What I want to know is, who the hell is behind
this mess?”

“We all want to know that,” Sullivan said.

“I think I know who’s behind it. CGTV,” Ian answered.

“Another hatchet job for ratings?” Trey asked.

“Undoubtedly.” Ian was confident he was right. “We’ll know
for certain tomorrow morning when the courthouse opens in Springers Glen. I
don’t think there’s a marriage license on record the way CGTV claims.”

“Seriously? That’s bold of them. I wonder if that has
anything to do with why they’ve been trying to contact me,” Trey said.

Sullivan and Ian perked up.

“What did they want?” Sullivan asked. “Did you talk to
them?”

“I didn’t,” Trey answered. “One of my assistants did. Some
reporter at CGTV wanted to know if I had any comment on my best friend jilting
my half-sister, and wanted to know where the wedding was held.”

“That’s interesting,” Ian said.

“Not really. What’s interesting is they seem to think I
attended the wedding.”

“Why would they think that?” Sullivan asked.

“No idea. My assistant gave the usual line that I was
unavailable for comment. I could call them and ask them why they think I was at
your wedding.”

“My fake wedding,” Ian said. “Don’t forget the fake part.”

“He gets a little panicky when you talk about the wedding
like it’s a done deal,” Sullivan told Trey.

“Can’t say I blame him. Though she’s a pretty little thing.
And that sister of hers damned sure has it going on. Did you see that as—”

“That’s my sister-in-law,” Ian interrupted.

“Your
fake
sister-in-law ... who so happens to have a
killer as—”

“Trey!” cried a female voice from the doorway.

They turned in time to watch Sasha launch herself at Trey.
It never ceased to amaze Ian the way those two behaved together. Seeing Sasha
on a runway, aloof and elegant as a queen, he’d never imagine she could leap
like a tiger cub onto her huge brother and wrestle him out of his chair.

And Trey. His holdings and worth rivaled Ian’s own.
Thousands upon thousands of employees, shareholders and investors relied on the
man’s renowned ability to make cold-blooded decisions the business world
demanded. It was hard to believe that same man was allowing his half-sister,
who for all her height, was tiny in comparison to Trey, to pin him on the floor
in an ugly half-nelson hold.

“Uncle! Uncle!” Trey cried.

“I can’t hear you,” Sasha said, panting.

Ian felt the tiny twist in his gut he always felt when he
witnessed Trey and Sasha together. He wished he had a sibling, even an
obnoxious half-one like Sasha. He had no uncles or aunts, no close cousins. He
only had his mother and father, and they were distant, both in mileage and
emotion.

He stood, picked his way around the happily-struggling pair
and sat behind his desk. He logged into the computer to begin sifting through
the emails that had piled up that morning.

While the mail downloaded, he gazed out the big window at
the sweeping view of the east lawn. Off in the distance, he saw Jada, Marina
and Jack Forest heading toward the stables. He liked the look of it, the way
Jada seemed to belong to the place. She was a natural.

“Say you wear granny panties or I won’t let you go,” Sasha
demanded of a wriggling Trey.

“I do
not
wear granny panties,” Trey replied, then
heaved himself upward with a mighty growl.

Sasha squealed, clinging to his back like a leggy gnat.

Ian slowly shook his head at their silliness and began
digging through emails. Sometimes, it sucked to be responsible.

WHEN SHE WOKE UP THAT morning, Jada had high hopes for the
day, thinking she’d be spending most of it with Ian. Now she found herself on
the porch with Marina, waiting for Mr. Forest to finish sorting out Trey’s
suitcases and car. Ian was long gone.

She sighed.

“Sorry you’ve got to hang with me,” Marina said.

“Yeah, well, you’re my second choice, for what it’s worth.”

“Ha-ha. I know who my first choice would be.”

“Let me guess,” Jada said. “Trey?”

“Gawd, yes. Did you know he’s the seventy-sixth wealthiest
man in the western hemisphere? And hot, too. Don’t you think?”

“His father was hotter,” interrupted a shrill voice from
behind them. Agatha Brimgore strode up to the sisters. “That’s why I married
him. Shallow, I know, but I already had plenty of money from my dead husbands,
so I could afford to be superficial.”

Jada didn’t know what to say to that, and so said nothing.
It wasn’t necessary, regardless.

“Marina,” Agatha said, “give me your number so I can shoot
that info to you.”

“Oh, do you have them already?” Marina asked in a gush.
“Terrific! Here.”

They exchanged numbers and within moments Marina was
thumbing through Agatha’s texts.

Agatha tucked her phone into her pocket, raised her long
nose in the air and looked down at Jada. “Your feline snagged up half the
flowers on my bathing cap.”

“Sorry. I’d be happy to pay you for it,” Jada said.

“Unnecessary. That cap was irreplaceable.” She sniffed, then
turned to go, waving one hand in the air as she went. “Ta-ta, Marina dear.”

“Ta-ta, Ags,” Marina said, not looking up from her phone.

When the front door closed behind Agatha, Jada scowled at
her sister. “What the hell? Ags? Marina dear? Puke.”

“Yeah, we kind of overdid it in the jacuzzi last night. A
few too many highballs. It may have gotten a little sloppy.”

“I don’t want to hear about it,” Jada said, though she kind
of did. There was a bigger question waiting, though. “What info does she have
for you, anyway?”

“She got me the email addresses and phone numbers of our
three suspects’ agents. Awesome, huh?”

“What did you have to tell her to get those?”

“Well, um ... don’t be mad. I know you will anyway, but
try.” She looked at Jada. “I told her everything.”