Indebted: Part Three (Series Finale): The Virgin & The Bad-Boy Billionaire (A BWWM Billionaire Romance) Page 5

  Bradley and Matthew shuffle their way through the reporters, and the crowd starts to disperse back to their corners of the room where they can no doubt gossip about the announcement.

  “I’m going to go talk to him,” I tell Brianna.

  “I’ll be here if you need me, good luck.”

  I wade through the people toward the podium, but can’t see him anywhere. Panic rises in my throat. Did he leave that quickly? Was he only here to make his retirement speech? I feel like a bobble head doll on a dashboard with my face swiveling and bouncing around as I search the crowd for Matthew again.

  There he is! I spot him near the back of the room talking to a statuesque blond woman. My heart sinks as I watch her touch his arm and laugh. Her creamy, peach skin flushes as she giggles at whatever Matthew just said. I look over my shoulder to Brianna, but she’s already engaged in another conversation with Bradley. I will not jump to conclusions. I’ve made enough impulsive decisions, now it’s time to be an adult. Even if they are together, there’s no reason I shouldn’t say hello. My heart is racing and my throat is parched with fear as I cross the floor. My sweaty palms are clenched by my sides stiffly as I approach him. What if he isn’t happy to see me? What if he tells me to leave? Am I making a mistake? He never answered my call, maybe he hates me.

  Stepping in behind a large sculpture of a maple tree with a single lonely leaf dangling from a branch, I try to compose myself. I need to think. If there’s one thing I haven’t been doing enough of it’s thinking rationally. I wipe the beads of sweat forming on my brow off with the back of my hand and take a cleansing deep breath. Ok, it’s now or never. Just go over there and say hi. A tap on my shoulder makes me jump and swirl around like a kid caught dragging their finger across the icing on a cake.

  “Kendra, what on earth are you doing?” Brianna hisses at me. “Please tell me you aren’t standing here eavesdropping again,” she flings her hand toward Matthew and the naturally beautiful woman he’s still talking to.

  “No! I’m not, I swear. I just… well, I’m just trying not to chicken out.”

  “Kendra, you can’t cower behind a statue and hope that this will somehow fix itself. Get over there and talk to him.” She’s right. Now I just need to convince my feet that she knows what she’s talking about.

  “I’m going, ok? I just need a minute.”

  “No more minutes. You’re going to let your whole life slip by you, one minute at a time.” She gives me a little push, and I stumble out from my hiding spot in plain view of Matthew and his guest. They both turn to me, watching with curiosity and confusion as I smooth my hands over dress and try to stand up straight. My body feels like an awkward jumble of knees and elbows as I try to appear totally calm and natural.

  “Kendra?” Matthew tilts his head, “Uh… what are you doing here?” My skin blisters as I try to think of what to say.

  “I, well… I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d check out the show,” I lie, my skin crawling as they both stare at me.

  “You were in the neighborhood?” skepticism fills his voice. I blink Morse code messages at the floor to put me out of my misery and swallow me up.

  “Well, no. That’s not entirely true.” I really wish I had thrown back a few of those glasses of wine. “Brianna told me about the show and I came here to see you,” I confess.

  “Hi, I’m so happy to meet you,” the blond woman warmly smooths over the awkward tension filling the space between us. “I’m Tina, Matthew’s sister. So, you’re Kendra. I was hoping I’d get the chance to meet you,” she’s so easy-going. It’s like I’ve known her for years.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tina.”

  “I should be thanking you,” she looks over at Brianna, “oh my, I’m sorry. How rude of me. I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Hi, I’m Kendra’s friend, Brianna.” I can tell that she already feels as comfortable in Tina’s presence as I do. Her zen-like calm helps carry my nerves away, giving me the courage to look at Matthew. It’s impossible to tell if he’s happy to see me, or not. He’s holding his emotions close to his chest.

  “As I was saying, I should thank you, Kendra.” Tina continues, drawing my attention away from her brother. “You’re the one who seemed to have helped my brother here grow a soul, didn’t she?” her eyes sparkle as she teases her brother.

  “Well, doesn’t this look like a cozy little reunion?” The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and the peace that I was just feeling is wicked away as Marjorie’s voice interrupts our conversation like a jackhammer.

  “Hello, Marjorie.” Tina’s voice runs with ice. I’m happy to see that she seems to feel the same way about her that I do. Marjorie is unaffected, clearly reveling in people’s disgust as much as she does their admiration. Taking a dramatic sip of her red wine, she looks down the stem of her glass at Brianna and me.

  “Kendra, I’m surprised to see you here tonight. I can’t imagine you’re much of an art connoisseur.” Her eyes flit down over my dress. Brianna’s muscles tense under her cold gaze.

  “Marjorie, please just leave us alone.” Matthew interrupts, but instead of his usual commanding tone, he just sounds worn out.

  “Don’t worry, Mattie, I’m not interested in spending my time with you people anyway. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m here with my date.” She motions vaguely over her shoulder to the crowd.

  “Good for you,” Matthew answers.

  “Unlike you, Mattie, I have better uses for my time than to waste it on human charity cases like these two,” she tilts her head toward Brianna and I. Marjorie lifts her glass, taking another sip of her wine. In less than a second, Brianna leans in and brushes her fingers against the flat bottom of the glass stem pushing it toward Marjorie’s face. I watch with a mixture of horror and fascination as Marjorie’s eyes widen, and she struggles to pull the glass away from her face. Instead, she only manages to swish the remaining red wine causing it to gush down over her nose and pour down over her chin like a crimson waterfall, all over her pristine white gown.

  “Ahhh, what the fuck! You stupid bitch!” Marjorie’s cool demeanor cracks as a burgundy stain billows out through the fibers of her dress. Mumbling punctuated with gasps and laughter starts to rumble around us as people start to stare. Marjorie sputters as her eyes flash with rage.

  “Oh noooo, I’m so sorry about that,” Brianna’s apology drips with sarcasm. I’m not sure that Marjorie isn’t about to shove her empty wine glass into Brianna’s gut.

  “We should probably get going anyway,” Matthew laughs. “You have a lovely date, Marj.”

  Matthew places his hand on the small of my back, leading me toward the exit as his sister and Brianna follow closely behind us tittering. Before we’re more than five steps away, I turn over my shoulder and look back at Marjorie, covered in a stain that’s spreading like an oil slick in the ocean. “See ya around, Maggie.”

  Chapter Five

  “Did you see her face!” Tina clutches her sides laughing as we walk down 89th street together. “I knew I liked you,” she smiles at Brianna.

  “Someone had to shut her up. I figured that was the quickest way to wipe that smirk off her face,” Brianna explains, looking very proud of herself. Normally her temper isn’t something that I try to encourage, but tonight I couldn’t be happier for her quick fuse.

  “Thanks, Brianna,” I give her arm a quick squeeze of appreciation, smiling up at her. She flicks her eyes over to Matthew, redirecting my attention to the real reason we went through all of this tonight.

  “Don’t mention it, Kendra.” She stops in her tracks, and we all pause as she looks up and down the streets. “I don’t want to cut out on you, but I really need to get going. I should get a cab,” Brianna continues searching for a taxi.

  “You know, I think I should get going too, Matthew.” Tina pipes in, clearly picking up on Brianna’s lead. “We could split a taxi if you’re heading my way?” She offers Brianna.

  “Nonsense, neither of y
ou is taking a cab. I’ll call for a car,” Matthew insists.

  After realizing that it’ll be easier to have Brianna and Tina share a car and Matthew and I ride in another, we all wait in awkward silence.

  “So, you’re leaving your company?” Brianna interrupts our quiet thoughts.

  “No, not exactly. I’ll still be a shareholder, but I won’t be making anymore executive decisions. I’ve decided that I’ve put off other priorities for long enough.” Matthew still hasn’t looked at me since we left the gallery. I’m starting to get the sense that he isn’t as happy to see me as I had hoped he would be.

  “Matthew is looking into enrolling in university,” Tina tells us, her eyes sparkling with pride. “I never thought filling Dad’s shoes at the business was a good fit for him anyway. I think you’re doing the right thing,” she touches his hand reassuringly. “And don’t worry about Mom, you know she’ll come around. She always does eventually,” her smile is so inviting. It feels like a warm cup of soup on a cool autumn day.

  Two, identical black town cars pull up to the curb ten feet away, and we make our way over, figuring out who is getting in what car. Brianna hops into the backseat right away, but Tina stands by the open door and gives her brother a hug before getting in.

  Matthew and I sit next to each other, but he feels miles away from me with his pensive stare out the car window. I’m not sure what I was expecting, I suppose I hoped that my mistakes could be forgotten, but it’s clear that showing up at the art gallery hasn’t exactly swept him off his feet.

  Please, stop up here Nate.” Matthew guides the driver back to the curb and jumps out of the car as soon as it stops moving.

  I’m surprised, but don’t question why I’m following him into a Starbucks. I guess when we got into the car together I assumed we would be going back to his place, not a coffee shop. He still hasn’t spoken a word to me, not that I’ve been gabbing his ear off either. The tension between us is thick, and I’m not sure how to proceed.

  “Do you want anything?” He finally talks to me, while the cashier awaits my order.

  “Oh, uh, yeah I’ll have a medium roast coffee, please.”

  “Make that two,” he goes back to ignoring me as the cashier takes his order. I’m starting to feel like this was a huge mistake. I knew there was a reason he didn’t answer my phone call. Now it seems like he’s about to explain it to me, since his silence didn’t speak loud enough to keep me at bay.

  When we sit at the table, I can’t take anymore. “Matthew, what are we doing here? I came to the show tonight so I could tell you how I know now that I made a huge mistake…”

  Matthew holds up his palm and I quiet down, waiting for him to interrupt my racing thoughts with something more pertinent that a coffee order. “Kendra, I’m happy to see you,” his voice is flat and tired.

  “Are you?” If he is, he’s hiding it well.

  He looks deep into my eyes, and I close my mouth. “I am, but I didn’t want to just rush to the condo and act like nothing happened between us.”

  “We could’ve just talked there,” I mumble to my cardboard cup.

  “No, I think we both know that if we went there, the only sounds we’d be making wouldn’t be conversation.” I bite my lip as my body reminds me how much I’ve missed his touch. Every cell in me is crying out to be pressed against him.

  “But we need to talk, Kendra because I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep watching you walk out of my life at every misunderstanding or in every moment of confusion.”

  I nod, my eyes blurring with tears. He is done with me! I guess at least now I know, I won’t wonder about what could have been.

  “You’re right, I have been running away and looking for flaws. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the chance to explain anything before I left. I was just so overwhelmed with Marjorie and learning about your father…”

  “I know, that was a fucked up situation. And I blame myself for letting that get so out of hand. When I found you in the diner that day, I had every intention of telling you about the car accident and why I had tracked you down.”

  “Why did you track me down?” I interrupt.

  “Because, I’ve been carrying my father’s burden for more years than I can count and it’s been eating me up inside that I have the ability to try to make this right for your family, but no one will give me the chance. I already tried with your mother,”

  “I know,” I whisper.

  He raises his eyebrows, but continues, “I guess I just thought if I could help you out somehow. Like with student loans or something like that, then I could help make a positive difference in your life instead of just leaving the gaping hole that my father tore in it.”

  “So why didn’t you tell me?” I finally look at him, and his eyes soften, crinkling at the corners.

  “I intended to after the Heart and Stroke fundraiser. I planned to tell you about how I had talked to your Mama a few years back and how she sent me away. I learned about how she passed away from heart failure, and I’ve been raising funds for the foundation annually ever since. I’ve just wanted to make some kind of positive difference in her honor.”

  Tears spill over my cheeks, thinking about how much this tragedy has consumed him. And I just kept disregarding him as a shallow playboy. It turns out that I was the shallow one. “I didn’t know.”

  “No, and I fucked that up anyway. I let my attraction to you ruin the night, and we both know how that went.”

  I nod, remembering the painfully long drive to the city after Matthew had tried to seduce me.

  “Once I got to know you, it just got harder and harder to speak up. I started worrying that I was going to lose you if you knew the real reason I had tracked you down.” He was right about that.

  “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions with you and Brianna and I shouldn’t have left when Marjorie confronted us,” I look straight into his aqua eyes earnestly. “I was afraid of losing you too. I realized how happy you were making me and, well, happiness isn’t something I’ve really allowed myself to indulge in since Mama passed. I guess I thought if I could immerse myself in school and then a job then I wouldn’t open myself to anymore heartbreak, but I was wrong.”

  “Kendra, I do want you in my life. But not just until the first bump in the road comes along. I want a future and a chance to see where this can go. I need you to think about that before you try to come back into my life. I won’t keep playing this game anymore. My cards are all out on the table now; I have nothing to hide. But you know what? I’m still not a perfect person. There are still going to be things you learn about me that you aren’t going to like, that’s just life. If you aren’t ready to stand beside me and work through difficult times, then there isn’t any future for us at all.” His tone is firm, but not angry.

  “I want that too! I want us to have a future. I just find it hard to accept life on life’s terms. It’s a big weakness for me, but it’s one I’d like to work on… with you.” I look up at him from under my eyelashes, holding my breath.

  He leans in, tilting my chin to raise my gaze to his. A shiver runs through me as our eyes lock, “that sounds like a project I’d like to work on,” he murmurs. I feel like I have a fever as hot and cold battle it out over my skin. My body aches for him. To feel his fingers, his lips, his tongue… “how about we get out of here?” He offers.

  “Where are we going?” My voice is thick with hope and desire.

  “Let’s go to my condo. I’ve had enough talking for one night.”

  Chapter Six

  Matthew didn’t touch me in the town car, only tracing light circles on my knee with his thumb. Even that was enough to light up my senses and set my nerves on fire. It’s not like there was much more he could do with the driver sitting inches away from us, with no soundproof divider to protect our privacy.

  Now that the doors just slid shut on the elevator, I’m wondering what’s stopping him. He said that once we got back to the condo we wouldn’t be filling the
air with talking. I didn’t think he meant we’d fill it with motionless silence instead. As the elevator opens in his condo, I want to grab his hand and drag him down the hall to his room. I want him to fuck me right here on the cold floor. I want him to do something. Anything!

  “Are you ok?” Matthew interrupts my spinning thoughts as I follow him into the living room.

  “Yes, why?”

  “You’re breathing heavy,” he sounds amused. I think he’s enjoying watching me squirm in anticipation of his touch. I know he is.