Billionaire's Trust (Billionaire Erotic Romance: Never Never Man Series Book 5) (7 page)

Despair wicked away from my spirit as Grey’s comment sunk in. Instead anger, bordering on white hot rage, began to take its place. In seconds, I felt the change in my body as my tears gave way to a growing fury. The tips of my fingers curled under, causing my nails to dig into the flesh of my palms. If this was going to be our final moment, the end of it all, then the fucking bastard would hear every last word I had to say.

No one ever made me hurt the way he had, spill the tears I did or love with such as a disregard for my own sanity. Determined to make him realize it, I licked my lips and readied myself to tell Grey Sinclair the truth, once and for all.

“Grey, no! I will not shut up!” I began. A hard-edged tone sputtered from my mouth, lacing my words with intent. “And you will listen to what I have to say, whether you like it or not!”

But just as I started to spew my venom, Grey began to shake his head back and forth with disapproval. His eyes locked on mine, holding my gaze like a snake charmer freezes the instinct of the cobra, keeping it from a strike. As I watched him in a state of semi-hypnosis, he dropped down in front of me, positioning himself on a bent knee.

I felt my eyes widen in their sockets.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

A wave of nervous energy pulsed though my body, shocking me into a state of utter focus with Grey at the center of it. Goosebumps rippled across my skin, the hairs on the back of my neck stood at rapt attention. This couldn’t be happening, it wasn’t real.

But just then, he reached inside his pocket and produced a small box, teal in color. My breath hitched in my chest as I looked down at him, mesmerized by his movement. Cradling the box in one palm, he reached over the top of it with the long fingers of the other. Grey opened it with a smooth unbroken motion, and I blinked in a mix of shock and awe at what I saw.

A rainbow of sparkle cast brilliant rays on nearly every surface around me. As the lid gave way to the contents inside, my hand flew to my chest. The largest diamond I’d ever seen shined back at me. My mouth fell open as I tried to remember how to breathe. For several moments, I remained motionless as I gazed down at it, and him, in wonder.

“Maddie,” Grey began as he looked up at me. “I love you, goddamn it. I want you to be with me, as my wife. Forever.”

Shaking in disbelief, I raised my hand to my mouth. Hot breath streamed from it. Tears clouded my gaze as I looked down at Grey on bent knee in front of me.  For several moments I only looked at him, and the ring, without so much as a word. The only sound in the room were the gasps emitting from my mouth every few seconds, as I tried to keep from fainting in shock.

“Maddie.” Grey said at last, as he broke my trance-like state. “What’s it gonna be? Will you marry me?”

I shook my head back and forth as the words bubbled to the tip of my tongue in unconscious response.

“Grey, I want to be with you and married to you. Of course. More than anything!”

Grey nodded as he looked up at me. “I hear a ‘but’ coming.”

“Yes, well, I just…” I stammered as I searched for the right words. “I know our relationship isn’t perfect or anything. No one’s is. That’s not what I’m trying to say.”

“Well, what are you trying to say Maddie?”

“I’ve agreed to give the respect you deserve and I’m sorry if I ever did or said anything to make you feel like I don’t have that for you because I do. But, Grey, I can’t be with you as your wife if you don’t change.”

Grey wrinkled his brow in confusion.

“Change? What are you talking about, Maddie?”

“Look, please. Just hear me out. This is something I’ve needed to say for a long time. I know I can be silly, dramatic and immature sometimes. I’m not saying I’m without blame, okay?”

“Come on, Maddie. Out with it,” he said with a smirk. “My knee is getting sore.”

“Hah, hah,” I deadpanned. “Grey, if I am to be your wife, we have to be
equals
with one another. I won’t be with someone, not for all the money in the world, if they can’t trust me to be myself, make my own mistakes and grow as a person.”

Grey listened intently. “Okay Maddie, I’ve got no problem with any of that.”

“Yes. I hear the words from your lips. But your actions don’t match, Grey. You
have
to stop meddling in everything I do. You
have
to stop trying control me. That is
my dealbreaker
, Grey. If you can’t make that change, then no, I’m sorry but I won’t marry you. I can’t.”

Grey grimaced as he looked up at me. Furrowing his brow, he said, “Okay, Maddie. Fair enough. For what it’s worth, yes, you have behaved in childish and immature ways at times. On the one hand, that’s not something I want in a business partner, let alone a wife. But, on the other, you’re damn young. Frankly, the way you handled the pregnancy, the courage you showed throughout it, impressed me.”

As he finished his thought, I felt a swell of pride gather inside of me.

“Grey, thank you. And yes, I know I’m young. I also know I can learn a great deal from you. I’d be crazy not to take advantage of that."

Grey waved my compliments off. “Flattery aside, tell me, Maddie. What do I have to do to convince you I’m a man of my word? What is this about? The business? Fine. You never have to work there again. Carmen will become the CEO. Is it acting? The movie is on hold until you’re feeling better.”

I stood in disbelief as Grey Sinclair negotiated his way to my hand in marriage.

“But I need something from you, Maddie. I’m more than willing to give you all the things you want. Don’t make me look foolish. I’m trusting you to show me you deserve my respect. This is the only time I’ll say this to you. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “Yes Grey, I promise. I won’t. And thank you.”

“Okay,” he replied as he repositioned himself on his knee. “Let’s try this again. Shall we?”

My spine prickled with excitement as he reached inside of the box. Removing the ring with a gentle tug, he slid the box back inside of his pocket and turned his attention to me once again. I looked down at his face. Grey’s almond-shaped, dark brown eyes flickered like the diamond he now held between his fingertips. I watched his chest fill with a deep breath and as he exhaled, he spoke once more.

“Madeline Olsen.” He said as he took my hand. “I love you. I want you to be my wife. And even though you drive me fucking crazy half the time, I can’t imagine another day in my life without you in it. Will you marry me?”

My entire being flushed as he slid the ring over my finger. I gasped and covered my mouth. Fighting back tears, I started to nod my head, slowly at first then with greater vigor as my answer welled up inside. I cast one final look at the ring. I’d never seen anything so beautiful. As I looked back at Grey once more, my tears betrayed me.

“Yes!” I cried out as I dove into his waiting embrace. Grey swept me into his arms, spinning me around as I screamed through tears of joy, “
Forever
yes! Oh my God, Grey! I love you! I love you!”

MADDIE

Grey left later that afternoon to return to Chicago and handle more details relating to his grandfather’s trust.

I hated to see him go. I wanted so badly for us to be together and celebrate. Grey wanted the same of course, but he explained until he handled estate matters, he’d never get any free time. In any case, he promised a celebration as soon as he returned. Still though, as depressing as it was to see him go, I was just as excited to tell Katy all about it.

I walked,
no ran
, as fast as I could to get my phone. Plopping down on the couch, I kicked my legs up onto the living room table. The late afternoon sun filled the room with a reddish pink hue and caused my ring to sparkle with brilliance. I leaned back into the firm leather, admiring it and letting my mind fill with thoughts. Thoughts about what had been and what might lie ahead for us in a future that seemed impossible not all that long ago.

The sun’s rays shined against my cheek, kissing it with warmth.

It still didn’t seem real. Turning my hand from one side to the other, I smiled as gazed down at the ring’s beauty.

Mrs. Greyson Sinclair.

Me!

Uh, I still couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t.

Shaking my head, I swiped my phone and dialed Katy right away.

After she answered, Katy asked, “Hey honey? How are you feeling?”

Without wasting a second, I replied, “Incredible.”

Katy remained silent for a moment. “Incredible?” she asked with a rising tone.

“Mmm, hmm.” Eagerness laced my reply.

“Well, I have to say, I’m surprised. I would have expected it to take you a lot longer to begin getting over the miscarriage.”

Until she said that, I wouldn’t say I’d forgotten. Of course I hadn’t. But, for the first time in months, where there had been nothing but pain, doubt and fear, new emotions of hope, faith and redemption began to take their place. I looked down at my ring, a breathtaking reminder of the bond Grey and I now shared. A tribute to the pain we’d endured, the beautiful trinket symbolized how inseparable we’d become. And now, I wanted to tell my best friend so she could share the joy with me.

“I’ll never be fully over losing my baby, Katy,” I replied. “I don’t think that’s the case with anyone who’s lost a child.”

Katy remained silent for a moment as I finished speaking.

“But you seem… content. Hell, almost happy. Something’s not adding up, Maddie.”

“It’s because you don’t know why I’m happy. As for children, I think we’ll try again soon.”

“What do you mean, ‘try again soon’?” Katy replied. The tone in her voice suggested her complete focus on the next words coming from my mouth. “Are you and Grey still together?”

My lips stretched wide with a smile as she spoke. I could hardly contain myself.

“Yes,” I said, as I rushed to answer her. “We are.”

“Wow, well… That’s good news I guess.”

The sound of her voice suggested a different meaning than the words coming from her mouth.

“Why did you say it like that, Katy? I thought you’d be happy to hear it.”

“Hmm?” she replied. “Say it like what? I told you it was ‘good news’. What?”

“No, no, Katy,” I began. “You aren’t being honest with me. I can hear it in your voice.”

“Maddie, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Katy!” I snapped. “Out with it. Now.”

Katy groaned. “What difference does it make, Maddie? As long as you’re happy, that’s all I care about."

“Tell me or so help me… You will not like what comes from my mouth next.”

She exhaled as my threat lingered over the phone. “Fine. Okay well I guess I’m surprised you caved in to him.”

“What do you mean? Caved in? Caved in how?”

“Do I need to remind you? When he proposed to you? Before you lost the baby? He couldn’t bring himself to tell you he loved you. So unless by some miracle that’s changed, I don’t know, it seems like you gave in just to be with him.”

I nodded as she spoke.

“Well I guess I’m surprised you think I would do that!”

“Wait, so, what are you saying, Maddie? That Grey told you he loved you?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“What!” Katy exclaimed. “When?”

“Earlier today,” I began. I raised my hand and looked at the ring as I continued. “And that’s not all he said.”

“Goddamn it, Maddie! You better spill it right now or I’m driving over there and beat it out of you!”

A sinister chuckle sputtered from my lips as Katy threatened me. Satisfied I’d tortured her long enough, I cut our phone conversation short and demanded she come over so I could tell her the truth.

In less than an hour, my best friend sat next to me and demanded I give her the rest of the story. Still incredulous and unsure where to start, I just blurted it out the first chance I had.

“He asked me to marry him again, Katy. And, this time, it came with something besides words.”

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Shut up! Are you serious Maddie?”

“Yes,” I said, as I began to relive the moment all over again in my mind. “It was incredible. I said ‘yes’, Katy. He told me he loved me and I said ‘yes’!”