“This is too much.” She shook her head.
“It’s far from being enough,” I replied.
After an hour of arguing and explaining I’d paid her rent for the next two weeks, I helped her pack and moved her to the new house.
I had no idea someone could cry so much.
But they were tears of joy...and disbelief.
I left her to find the car in the garage because I could see she was overwhelmed. When she did, the next day, we spent another hour disagreeing.
I smile into the darkness at the memory.
“Accept it or I’ll go swap it for a Rolls Royce to really embarrass you.” I chuckled.
“Oh diablos no!”
These days, I go for dinner at least once a month with Sofia—or Mama as I now call her—and her kids and grandkids. I’m part of the family as far as they’re all concerned.
They don’t care that I’m a billionaire. I still have to wash the dishes, put out the trash, and usually fix something that’s broken.
She saves up the jobs for me.
I tell her I will pay for a handyman, but she slaps my chest and points at me in the face. “No. You are myhijo, it is your job. You have too much money, not enough responsibility.”
I just laugh.
Needless to say, Mama does not know about the Alliance Club.
We never talk about my father and certainly do not watch his movies. If his face comes on the screen, she cursespendejoand switches the channel.
My life started hard, but between Mama and the guys, I am blessed. Now, bringing down the man who hurt me, my life will be complete.
I look out over the water as it rushes behind the yacht and drag on my cigar. I should give up this bad habit, but it’s like a stress release. My form of meditation. You have to die from something, so I guess smoking these fucking things might be it.
Brook is probably wondering why I walked out. I know my plan has holes in it. She’s an intelligent and intuitive woman, but she won’t connect me with my father—I paid way too much money for even a journalist to be able to unearth my real identity.
The only person able to do that is Leo Taylor on sight.
So, I need this to be done anonymously.
Hence my pursuing Brook.
It occurred to me, as I spent the day scrolling through comments on her video, that there will be a lot of unhappy, powerful people surrounding my father right now. If he hasn’t filed a lawsuit against her, he soon will. Not just him, but potentially also the Hollywood elite.
This could be costly and potentially dangerous for her.
That’s where I come in. I need her to keep running and investigating this story. It needs to go national...and viral around the world.
And I’m going to protect her while she does.
In the shadows.
If Leo discovers my involvement, he’ll have his PR people spin a story about some childhood wounds of a rich kid...blah, blah, fucking blah. Hence, taking her out on the boat and hiring an entire restaurant.
Privacy.
I hear her footsteps behind me and turn, blowing out smoke over my shoulder. Christ, she’s barefoot and has pulled my navy blazer on. It’s huge on her and makes me want to scoop her up and carry her through to the master bedroom, then rip off every single piece of clothing.
