Relentless (13 page)

“So this is a big change for you?” Michaela was very interested since she was contemplating a major career change of her own.

“Yes, even though I’m still doing legal work. I’m working with the Investigative Law Branch and I handle legal issues pertaining to investigations such as asset forfeiture or jurisdictional issues. My learning curve is big but I’m totally ready for it.

Donovan reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re going to be great in this new role. Your brain was being wasted at your other job.” The respect and admiration was evident in his voice.

Alaina beamed at her husband. “Thanks, but I think you might be biased,” she said turning her attention back to Michaela. “So tell me Michaela, are you thinking about a job change? You mentioned before your aren’t very happy now.”

Michaela nodded. “I’ve been giving it some thought, but it’s more along the lines of a career change rather than a job change. Accounting is not for me and I’ve been feeling trapped. You know, all those years of school and getting my CPA designation…it makes me feel like I just can’t walk away from it since I’ve invested so much.”

Her father interrupted in a concerned voice, “Michaela, your Mother and I didn’t know you felt this way. Why haven’t you said anything before?”

“I guess I didn’t want to tell you guys that you had wasted all that money on my education,” Michaela answered as she passed the brussel sprouts to Jordan.

“Nonsense,” her father said. “Education is never a waste. I’m sure you can use your degree towards whatever you want to do next and if you decide you want to go back school we’ll help you out.”

Michaela was touched by their support, but before she could respond Jordan said, “I can take care of any additional tuition fees Michaela might incur if she wants to go back to school.”

Michaela remembered he had made a similar offer last night at the restaurant and had also suggested she move in with him. Now she realized that he had financial resources to spare, but she still wasn’t sure she was comfortable depending on him financially.

Her dad tilted his head slightly before saying, “I’ll let you work that out with Michaela, but she knows we’re here for her if she needs us.”

“Of course I do, Dad.” She wasn’t about to start arguing with Jordan in front of her family. She turned to Jordan and asked in a conversational tone, “So what made you decide to be a billionaire?

Jordan laughed. “I don’t think my brothers and I set off to be billionaires. We just wanted to develop the best e-commerce business we could and from there it grew. The three of us all have our strengths and we work well together.”

“So you’re not in sales?” Michaela’s voice was dry.

Jordan looked slightly uncomfortable since he had told her repeatedly that’s what he did for the corporation. “I certainly work hard at overseeing the promotion of our products and services. My brother Trevor is the computer geek of the family and he is the one that developed our unique encryption software. It’s been my role to guide and develop the business and my brother Ian is our CFO who makes sure we’re not over stepping out financial resources.”

“Wow,” Alaina said, “what a great success story. You’ve done this all in the last ten years?”

“Yes, I guess it’s been about ten years. We just came up with a product that the market needed. We guarantee our security protecting the money as well as the personal information of our customers,” Jordan explained.

“It’s hard not to be impressed,” Donovan remarked although he seemed reserved.

It was obvious to Jordan that Donovan didn’t like him, but really right now he couldn’t give a damn. His main concern was Michaela. He was sure she was still pissed at him and their drive home was going to be interesting.

“Trevor is a computer genius and I never underestimated him or his abilities. I knew he had created an e-commerce product that could dominate the market. Secure online financial transactions are essential to the online economy, but many of the e-commerce products available at the time when we were starting out couldn’t offer the required level of security. Trevor’s product could and did so I took it into the marketplace and showed them that we were different. I had set the course and I followed it until almost everyone was using our system. We had to work hard but I knew we couldn’t lose,” Jordan said.

“You’re relentless when you want something, aren’t you?” Donovan asked.

“Always,” Jordan said in a firm tone.

Michaela sat back and listened to another side of Jordan she hadn’t known existed. He was a powerful CEO who had plotted his success from the beginning of his career. He’d achieved everything he had set out to do. She remembered how yesterday morning he’d told her that he’d wanted her and he always got everything he wanted once he set his goal. Up until they’d slept together she would have told anyone that Jordan was a very laid back guy. He was anything but laid back; he was confident, aggressive and driven and it was apparent that she really didn’t know him at all.

“So what’s with all the secrecy? Why didn’t you want my sister to know who you really are?” Donovan asked in an aggressive tone.

“Donovan!” Vivien reprimanded her son’s rudeness.

Jordan could tell Donovan was angry with him for lying and he was fairly sure that if Donovan could, he’d be interrogating him in a small room with a small light bulb hanging overhead. He couldn’t blame Donovan for his reaction. He’d be acting the same way if Michaela were his sister
and he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by Donovan, he dealt with hard asses all day long. In fact, he usually chewed them up and spit them out and the only reason Donovan was being spared was because he was Michaela’s brother. He turned and smiled at Michaela’s mother.
“No, Vivien, he’s right. Your family has a right to know. It’s because the money always gets in the way. People don’t see me anymore, they only see my billions. It puts you on guard and isolates you, because you’re never sure what people really want from you.”

“You were afraid I’d only want you for your money?” she asked.

“To be honest that’s a concern with anyone I date, but I just needed to get to know you as me, not the guy surrounded by money. I just wanted things to be normal,” he tried to explain how he felt and hoped Michaela wouldn’t be offended.

Michaela tried to feel angry, but honestly she could see his point. If you had as much money as Jordan did it would be hard to trust anyone’s motivations. Not only that, but after finding out that he was a billionaire she had been thinking she just wasn’t in his league. He was right, she wasn’t seeing him anymore, she was seeing his money.

“I really wish you hadn’t kept half your life from me, but I think understand now,” Michaela admitted and she was pleased to see the look of relief on his face at her words, “and I really wish we weren’t having this discussion in front of my whole family.”

“Me too and I apologize for this mess, but your brother blew my cover and it couldn’t be helped.” Jordan apologized. “I should’ve let you know sooner.”

“Well, I’m glad we got that all settled,” Vivien said directing a smile at Jordan, “now, we will all try to forget about your billions so you just be normal with us.”

Jordan returned her smile.
How could he not love Michaela’s mother?
“Thanks, Vivien, I appreciate it.”

“Hey,” Alaina interrupted her tone slight miffed, “I believe this dinner is supposed to be about me. Can we get back to that now?”

Her sister-in-law’s remark caused everyone to laugh. Michaela was grateful to her for breaking the tensions in the room. The remainder of the dinner passed quite comfortably as they discussed Donovan and Alaina’s move back east as well as Alaina’s career change.

Michaela was putting on her seatbelt when she said, “Billionaire, huh?”

Jordan put the car in gear and pulled out of the driveway. He gave her a sideways glance and sighed. “Yep, that’s me.”

She shook her head feeling dismayed. “Well, what do I do with you now?”

“I’m hoping once we get back to your place you ride me hard,” he answered in a husky tone wanting to remind her of how much he wanted her.

She shivered at the erotic picture his words evoked. There were so many questions she needed to ask him and once again he was distracting her with sex. “Stop that!” she said in an exasperated tone.

“Stop what?” he asked in feigned innocence.

“Stop trying to seduce me into forgetting you lied to me,” she insisted.

He glanced at her and gave her an unrepentant grin. “I don’t need to seduce you, Michaela. I’ve already had you and in numerous positions, I might add. I’m telling you that I want you for no other reason than I want you.”

What was she supposed to do with this man? She thought she knew him so well, but in forty-eight hours she had one revelation about him after another. Nothing added up and yet she wasn’t about to walk away.

When she didn’t respond he said, “I thought you said you weren’t mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you, but you have to admit that since Friday night I’ve had a lot to take in. It’s little overwhelming dating a billionaire.”

“I’m the same guy that took you out on Friday and that you’ve spent the last year getting to know,” he insisted as he expertly navigated the streets.

“That’s just it. You’re not the same guy. If somebody had asked me on Friday if I knew you well, I would’ve said yes. But now, I realize I don’t know you at all. In the last two days, you’ve become a different person,” she explained. “I’ve seen sides of you that I’ve never seen before and now I find out you’re mega rich.”

He gave her a frustrated look. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the money, but I thought I explained that.”

She tried to reassure him. “And I do understand on one level, but like I told you at dinner last night in the restaurant there are many sides to you that I’ve never seen before. This revelation about the money is just one more thing to add to the others. I keep thinking, what am I going to find out next?”

He reached over and grasped her hand. “Michaela, you
know
me. I’m telling you, I’m the same guy who’s been your friend for the last year.”

She gave him a derisive shake of her head and her voice was sarcastic as she said, “Oh you mean the friend by night, mega billionaire by day.
The two sides of Jordan Marsh?
?”

His eyes narrowed at her words. “So you’re not angry, but you’re just never going to let me forget I lied to you, is that it?”

She gave him her best approving smile, her curly hair bouncing as she nodded her head in affirmation. “I think you got it.”

“Just so I’m clear on the situation… after we’re married for fifty years, you’re still going to be bringing this up?”

“That’s pretty much the plan,” she admitted with no hesitation.

“I can live with that,” he said as the car entered the downtown core. There was a light snowfall making the city look picturesque. He was driving with one hand and still holding her hand with the other. “So we’re good?”

“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the mega rich thing. I just don’t run in those types of circles,” she said trying to explain her feelings. In fact, she was really uncomfortable at the idea of having to mix with those elite circles of charity functions and designer clothing.

“I don’t run in those types of circles either, which is why we’ve been hanging around so much. You might see me on the business page, but you won’t see me in the tabloids. I keep a low profile since I’m not interested in gaining celebrity status. You need to be dating Trump for that.” He wasn’t about to let his money or his status get in the way of their relationship.

“You certainly don’t seem to live an overly opulent lifestyle. Aren’t you supposed to have a mansion and a private jet?” she asked, her tone light.

“ I have to admit that I do have several homes, a suite at the Trump hotel in New York and a beach house in LA, but try not to hold it against me, okay?” he admitted with a self-deprecating shrug.

“But no private jet?” she teased.

“Mmm, no I pretty much have one of those too, but I share it with my brothers,” he admitted.

She laughed in delight. Maybe this billionaire thing could be fun. “Okay, so I think the private jet thing is really hot.”

He gave her a devilish grin as he expertly drove through the streets of Boston. “You do? Thank God something’s working for you!”

“Oh it’s definitely working for me, no more commercial flights!” she said enthusiastically.

“You just want me for my jet, don’t you?” he asked trying to sound offended.

“Well it will be a hardship to put up with you, but I think for the access to your plane it’s totally worth it.”

Listening to her joking response Jordan thought this was the reason he was so drawn to her. No matter what he threw at her she adjusted and then joked with him about it. She was sexy, intelligent and funny. The complete package, but Noah had obviously pulled such a number on her that she was still wary of trusting Jordan’s feelings towards her. He was sure she just needed time.

They reached her home and he found a parking space on the street. After putting the car in park he leaned over and gave her a deep kiss. She squirmed as she felt her body respond to his touch. He ran his hand through her chestnut curls as he slowly pulled his mouth away.

“Michaela,” he began and then his eyes flickered behind her. “Shit, your place is on fire!” She turned her head to look at her home and saw the flames flicker though the upstairs window. She was completely stunned.

Jordan grabbed his cell quickly dialing 911 to alert the fire department to the emergency. After hanging up the phone he said, “Stay in the car Michaela, I’m going to alert your neighbors since they’re houses are at risk of catching on fire.” He practically leapt out of the car.

Michaela chose to ignore his order to stay put and got out of the car as well. She could already hear the blare of the sirens in the distance. She went to her neighbor and pounded on the door. “Kim, Rob are you in there?” Jordan was already talking to her neighbor on the opposite side, she noticed. Suddenly the Jenkins’s door opened and Rob Jenkins, her retired neighbor, stood there looking frazzled.

“Michaela is something the matter?” he asked with concern in his voice.

“Rob my townhouse is on fire so you need to vacate in case it spreads,” she told him as she listened to the sirens getting closer. Rob’s gaze went to her home and he noticed the flames and smoke beginning to emerge from the building.

“I’ll go get Kim!” he said as he dashed into the house calling for Kim to hurry. Michaela waited for Kim and Rob, needing to make sure they were safe. They soon appeared at the door in their boots and coats. The three of them rushed down the front steps.

Jordan was coming toward them at a fast pace. “I thought I told you to stay in the car.” His voice was slightly angry.

Before Michaela could respond, the fire engine pulled up to the curb. People all over the street were emerging from their homes to watch the show. She watched as a number of firemen started scrambling off the truck and were soon breaking down her front door to battle the fire.

A lone fireman came in their direction. “Did you call in the fire?” he asked. Michaela noticed it was impossible to tell what he looked like since he was completely outfitted in protective gear.

“I did,” Jordan answered, “but its Michaela’s home. We just got back from dinner and we had pulled up to the curb in the car when we saw the fire.”

The fireman nodded and then looked toward Michaela, “Ma’am, do you have any idea how the fire started?”

She shook her head in dismay as she felt Jordan put his arm around her for support. “No, I’ve no idea what could have started the fire. Everything was fine when I left.”

The fireman nodded. “Okay, I’m going to ask you to cross the street and remain at a safe distance, but please stick around. The police and the fire marshal will be by soon and you’re going to have to answer some questions.”

She wasn’t sure how long she would have stood there in shock if Jordan hadn’t grabbed her hand and pulled her across the street. “C’mon honey, we need to get to a safe distance,” he said as she followed him without thought. Was she really watching her home burn?

There was chaos around them. Firemen and policemen were milling about the street as the blaze was brought under control. She was pretty sure that every neighbor she had within a two-block vicinity was outside on the sidewalk. How could this have happened she wondered? She was vaguely aware of Jordan as he pulled her into his arms and held her close. She started to cough, the acrid smoke was filling the air and making her throat burn.

“It’s okay, it’s just stuff. The important thing is that no one was hurt,” he assured her. She turned her face into his chest not wanting to look at her house as it burned. The firemen have seemed to have the fire under control now, but it was unbelievable how much damage had been done in such a short time.

Several police cars came and the policemen began herding the onlookers away, asking them to be on their way. The crowd naturally started to dissipate as the flames of the house died away. Luckily they had stopped the fire soon enough before it spread to any of her neighbors’ homes.

A man in plain clothes approached them. “Excuse me, are you the owner of the home?” he asked.

“I live there, but I just rent,” Michaela answered immediately without thinking.

He flashed a badge containing his picture. “I’m the fire marshal, John O’Leary. I will be in charge of the investigation.” O’Leary was tall and looked to be in his fifties with a shock silver hair falling over his forehead. His face was kind and his tone was calm.

“You need to investigate?” she asked a little surprised.

“Yes, ma’am. It’s important we determine the cause of the fire,” he explained in a patient voice.

“Of course you do, I must be losing it,” she said as she shivered in the cold air. Jordan still had his arms around her but it wasn’t enough to shelter her from the cold. “I’m Michaela Prentice, what do you need to know?”

“First you should probably give me the home owners name, we’ll need to contact him and let him know his house has burned down.”

Michaela rattled off the owner’s name and contact information for the Fire Marshal.

He nodded carefully writing down the information. “Were you in the house when the fire started?” he asked in the same even and calm tone.

She shook her head. “No, Jordan and I had been in Plymouth visiting my parents. We had just pulled up to the curb when we noticed the flames.”

O’Leary was carefully taking notes on a small pad of paper. His attention turned to Jordan, “And you are?”

“I’m Jordan Marsh, Michaela’s fiancé.”

Michaela didn’t even bother to contradict him. At the rate Jordan was steam rolling ahead, they would probably be getting married by tomorrow. She was just too tired to argue with him.

“Did either of you notice anything unusual? Did you see anyone lurking around your home that you didn’t recognize?”

“No, why?” Michaela asked confused by his question.

O’Leary gave her an apologetic look. “Just a standard question, ma’am, when investigating a fire.”

“When will your investigation be completed?” Jordan asked immediately.

“Within the week, hopefully, I’m going to need your contact information so I’ll be able to reach both of you.” O’Leary informed them as he kept writing in his notebook.

Jordan pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to O’Leary. “That has my business and cell numbers where I can be reached.”

“And your contact information, ma’am?” he asked politely.

Jordan rattled off her cell number before waiting for Michaela to respond, which was good since she was having trouble forming coherent sentences. “She’ll be staying with me if you need to see her,” Jordan added.

O’Leary flipped his notebook back shut. “Okay, that’s enough for now. I’ll be in touch once I finish my investigation if not before. You’re free to go now.” He turned abruptly and walked back towards her smoldering home.

Jordan began leading her down the street towards his car. She went with him mindlessly, grateful that he was taking charge. She was trying to absorb everything that had happened as he opened the BMW’s door. Everything was gone. Literally, up in smoke.

She slid into the seat without thinking and was vaguely aware of Jordan getting into the car.

His hand touched her cheek. “Hey baby, are you okay?”

She shook her head. “Not really, I’m homeless and everything I own is gone.”

He gave her an encouraging smile. “I’ll buy you new stuff. Remember I’m a billionaire?”

She let out a hysterical laugh. “That’s so sweet, but I do have insurance,” she said as she leaned her head against the seat. “Can we just go to your place? I’m exhausted.”

“I’m on my way,” he told her as he pulled away from the curb.