Steamy Billionaire Series Collection

MR. BEAUTIFUL CHAPTER 44

AUDREYThe place where Gabriel brought me was absolutely stunning. It was a log house—a very exquisite log house erected by the bay, and I couldn’t believe they were still inside the estate.

The living room was by the fireplace. It was a little freezing tonight to Gabriel lit up the hearth, and he would let me sit on the couch and provide me a blanket.

“Better?” he asked as soon as he was done with fire.

I nodded and smiled. “Who uses this place?”

“Only a caretaker.” He grinned, and he settled next to me. “I asked him, and we’ll be staying here tonight.”

“It’s well maintained.” I looked around. “Thanks for taking me here.”

“There’s no need to thank me.” He slightly brushed my cheek. “I wanted to bring you here anyway.” He stared back at the fireplace. “Audrey?”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t think I can take you out of my sight anymore.” He flashed out an amused smile, but for himself. “I never wanted anyone. It was always you.” He shifted his gaze at me, and then he took my hand. “Stay with me.”

His declaration caught me on edge. I knew exactly what he meant because I was not planning on breaking up with him anyway. I was done running. I gulped hard.

“You want me to move in with you?”

He kissed my hand. “Yes, but only if you want. I won’t force you into it.”

“Why? We’ve only known each other for a few—”

“We’ve known each other for years, Audrey,” he pointed out. “You know me better than anyone.”

“Um… Can I think about it? I just agreed to pose for your portrait. Don’t we need to slow down?”

He nodded, leaned forward, and kissed my forehead. “I understand. I told you, I’m not going to force you to do something you don’t want.”

“Do you know what I want?”

He grinned. “What?”

“Come here.” I pulled him next to me with open arms so he would rest his head on my chest, then I wrapped my arms around him. “This. I want this.”

I stole a kiss on his forehead, and I felt his smile.

“All this time, I was driven by anger,” he spoke softly. “All I could think of was to make you feel how you’ve hurt me, but when you told me you might run away, I don’t think I could afford that.”

“And I thought running away was the solution,” I confessed. “I was so ashamed of myself. I lived with guilt, thinking that someone died because of me.”

He chuckled softly. “But don’t you think this is fate? It brought you back to me. I never thought you’d appear in front of me when I tried not to look for you.”

“Why would you avoid it?”

Gabriel pulled himself up and positioned himself on top of me, caging me between his strong arms. “Because I might hurt you. Did I hurt you, Audrey?”

I shook my head firmly. “You were an ass.” I snorted. “It made me freaking wish I shouldn’t have worked for you.”

“That was when I thought to put you under pressure would make us a little even. I’m sorry if I was.”

“But I fell in love with the prick you are,” I smirked. “I thought it was probably going to be the end of me. Falling in love with my boss despite being an asshole. But you weren’t anymore, that’s why I’ve fallen even more. You are always sweet, kind, and thoughtful.”

He lowered himself and kissed my mouth lightly. “Not as sweet as you.”

“Don’t you think it’s for you to tell me the rest of your story? What else did I miss? What happened to you during those eight years you left town?”

”Something you already know.” He seated back on the cushion. “I first went to Harvard that same year, graduated, and completed my MBA. I lived in Rome for two years, explored Europe for a year, came back, and established a venture of my own.”

“What did you do in Rome?”

“I’ve become very fond of Italian Arts, but it’s mostly because I was discovering myself and what I really wanted.”

I smiled in admiration of his eventful life while I’d only work my ass off after every class. I had no time to have fun.

“And what did you find?”

“The idea of starting a fashion brand. I could never be a painter or an artist, and with the money my father left me, I succeeded. My father, Gilbert Cross, left me an entire fortune that I never knew existed. It was left in my Dad’s care before he moved to Phoenix.” The way he said it still sounded astonishing at his end. “He lived a simple life on a farm because it’s what Mama wanted. It’s not that she didn’t want money, but she’d always tell me it’s the root of all problems and not the solution. Odd, right?” He chuckled humorlessly.

“Well, she wasn’t wrong,” I agreed. “Look at what happened to my father.”

“But I say, money is just money. It just changes people, but how it changes us is up to us. It’s always us who decide,” he stated.

I couldn’t agree more. Money was the reason my family was driven apart. Money could make people successful, like Gabriel Stark, but money also destroyed life.

“But I guess you should know this too,” he continued. “All the properties your family-owned are now in my possession.”

I tensed up. “What?”

He looked at me. “In time, Audrey, I’ll bring him down.” His jaw rippled. “I promise he’d regret every fucking thing he did to the people he hurt and to me. I wouldn’t care anymore if he’s your father, and I’m not telling you this because I needed permission. I’m just telling you, so you know.”

I reached for his shoulder. I was still astounded. “You bought all of it? The vineyard? The farm? How about my mother’s house, Gabriel? Is acquiring it a part of your plan too?”

He shrugged. “At first. I won’t lie to you about that, but that’s when I didn’t know it was your mother’s, and it now belongs to you. I’m just going to help you take it back.”

“You really wanted him to go bankrupt, didn’t you?”

“Some things were planned, but don’t worry. None was taken by force.”

“But how Gabriel? How did you do it?”

“You should know now that your father pretty much liked gambling. He gambled but lost everything to some people I sent myself. I’m sorry if it had to be that way.”

I felt my body weakening in every revelation he just proclaimed. For some reason, I didn’t know how to take it. I wasn’t there when all of it happened because I ran away, but Samuel and Anton suffered along with the fall of the family businesses. I wouldn’t know what to say to Anton if he found out.

He’d be angry with me, and I would lose him forever. He may not be the best brother or be as sympathetic as Samuel, but I didn’t want him to suffer.

“Please don’t involve Anton in this. He had a difficult childhood, but he’s not like Dad.”

“I knew very well that your brother was unaware of your father’s illegal schemes, but it doesn’t mean he’s innocent. But don’t worry, my fight is against your father alone.”

I sighed in relief. “They both suffered—him and Sam. He can’t know it was all you.”

“He’ll find it out soon anyway.” His statement was more like a caution. “Your father is running for public office this year’s election, and he’s gaining people’s sympathy because of Samuel’s demise.”

I clasped my mouth. “He’ll turn our town into hell,” I said with a pinch of disbelief. “Gabriel, he shouldn’t win. He has to be stopped.”

“The Scotts are on his side. He’ll likely win.”

“No, no. He can’t. He shouldn’t.” I shook my head. “I once accidentally stumbled into a room, I wasn’t allowed to come in, in the mansion. It was before he set me to marry Benjamin Scott.” I couldn’t contain my emotion that words came out of my mouth like a flash. “He used prostitution with young women my age back then. There are two girls tied up naked in cage-like animals, but Samuel caught me and immediately took me out.”

Gabriel’s scowl deepened, and he caught my wrist. “And you never told anyone?”

“No,” I said firmly. “But every night, those girls haunted me. I was afraid that I didn’t tell anyone. I promised Sam not to say anything, even to my friends, or we’d both be in trouble.”

“Audrey, didn’t you know how serious this is?” he said tightly. “How could you keep it yourself? My investigator found this for some time now, so I knew they’re in the prostitution business, besides drugs and gambling. We had evidence, but we chose not to exploit anything yet without any plan or a witness. Edward Hopkins would probably get away from it if we try to make a move, but it would change everything now that you are a witness, Audrey. You can put a stop to this.”

I shook my head firmly. “I don’t know.” I didn’t notice I was already tearing up. “I don’t think I can do it.”

He pulled me into his arms and squeezed me tight against him. “I know you’re scared.” He fondly stroked my back, rubbing gentle circles. “You have all the right to be, but you’re not alone now. This is why I’m going to give it all back to you. All your father’s properties.”

“What?”

“Don’t you think it’s time?”

“Time for what?”

“That you finally face and stop him. He can’t do anything to you now that you have me.” He cupped my face and brought me back to his arms. “Your fight is my fight now.”

Is this? Is this still my fight or his?

But my father—no, Edward Hopkins’, the charade would continue if I don’t do anything. Gabriel was right.

After all these years, he could still make me feel so wanted and so loved even if he wouldn’t say it with words. I knew he loved me. And after all this time, he was still the only one for me. I couldn’t afford to lose him now.

“Will you promise something?” I said.

“Hm?” He kissed my shoulder.

“That you won’t do anything that could harm you again.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Promise me.”

“Fine. I promise.”

“Liam?” I cleared my throat.

I felt him stiffen against me.

“I’m sorry.” I was carried away by my emotions. He probably didn’t want me calling him by that name now. “Um… Gabriel?” I corrected it.

“What is it?”

“I want you to do it.”

He released me and chuckled. “What?”

“I want you to do with what you would’ve done that day we went back. Please.” I reached out for his unbelievably beautiful face. “Take me, Gabriel.”

His eyes dazzled at my words. “Are you sure?” his voice was tortured.

“I love you, Gabriel. I hope you feel the same way I did.”

His lips curved a pleasant and breathtaking smile. “Of course, I feel the same, but the word itself is not enough for what I feel for you. I feel more than that.” He shoved his fingers in my hair and finally brought his lips with mine.