Expose (Billionaire Series) (18 page)
Read Expose (Billionaire Series) Online
Authors: Evelyn Harper
The day was
perfect. The early summer sun was warm but hadn't reached the heat of the
typical city summer. The sky was blue with just a few wisps of clouds. The
smell of roses hung heavy in the air and Jennifer couldn't stop taking deep
breaths just to enjoy the scent. Reds, pinks, whites, yellows, every color of
nearly every type of rose imaginable surrounded the people standing along
either side of the aisle. Arches of red and white rose high above where the
bridal party would stand, the color of the bridesmaids' dresses having been
specially chosen to match those particular blooms.
When this venue had
first been suggested, Jennifer hadn't been sure of how well it was going to
work. The ceremony would have to be held rain or shine and there were
restrictions on what could be done in the Botanical Gardens, but the moment
she'd seen the Rose Garden, she'd known that this was the place.
The soft harp music
signaled that it was time to begin and the first bridesmaid started down the
aisle. Jennifer took a deep breath as the young woman in front of her took a
step. Then it was her turn. She kept her eyes straight ahead, focusing on
making one foot land in front of the other, not an easy task in the shoes
Rachel had picked out for herself. As she neared where the minister waited, she
allowed herself a quick glance to the side. There beaming at her, was Philip
looking as amazing as ever in his expensively tailored suit. She gave him a
small smile as she moved to take her place.
The music changed
slightly and Jennifer turned with the rest of the crowd in attendance to watch
the bride begin her walk. Rachel had opted for a simple white dress without all
of the lace and beadwork that seemed to be all the rage. In Jennifer's opinion,
Rachel didn't need any accessories. Her usually lovely friend was breathtaking,
not in small part to the love-struck expression on her face. Wearing an equally
bright smile was Cameron, despite the fact that all three of Rachel's hulking,
overprotective brothers were standing behind him. Rachel had told Jennifer that
introducing Cameron to her family had been the most terrifying thing she'd ever
had to do.
It had been nearly
a year since Rachel and Cameron had started dating. Things had progressed
rapidly in their relationship with the proposal coming just six months in,
leaving very little time to plan, but with Jennifer's help, things had turned
out perfectly. Cameron was everything Rachel needed and Jennifer was thrilled
for her friend. The first time the couple had double-dated with Philip and
Jennifer, she'd known that the relationship was going to last a lifetime.
As the minister
began, Jennifer let her mind wander back over the past year and marvel at how
so much had changed, and for the better. Her and Philip had made their
relationship public, but continued to work together. Philip changed the focus
of Jennifer's training to better transition her to be his partner in the
business rather than a hotel manager. The end goal was still a long way off,
but she'd proven herself well enough with the Carlisle incident that no one
questioned her ability to do the job.
Using some of the
suggestions Jennifer had given, Philip had approached several investors and
added to his business so that he was even more well-known and high profile than
before. Through Eloisa, Philip set up a meeting with his father where he had
told Johann that all attempts to drive him out of business had to stop.
When Johann had
scoffed, Philip had produced papers proving that Johann was on the verge of
bankruptcy. With Jennifer at his side, Philip had told his father that any hint
of trying to hurt Philip's business would result in Philip buying up Johann's
businesses and dismantling them one by one, using whatever funds necessary to
provide a job for every person employed by Johann. The only person he would not
have room for would be his father.
While the couple
had seen Eloisa from time to time, there had been no further contact from
Johann Haas. Shortly after Philip's confrontation with his father, Eloisa had
quit, telling Johann that her loyalty could no longer overcome her conscience.
With Jennifer's blessing, Philip had hired Eloisa to head the establishment of
a branch of hotels in Paris. When Eloisa had returned to the States a month
later for a meeting with Philip, she'd brought with her a lovely Miss Noelle.
Jennifer had really felt foolish about her previous jealousy then.
Brad hadn't been
around since their physical altercation and Jennifer hadn't gone looking for
him. About a month after it had happened, Jennifer's parents had mentioned
seeing Brad back in town. From the bits and pieces she'd heard from various
hometown friends and family, Brad had lost his job in the city after being
caught stealing from a client and had returned home to live with his elderly
grandmother. The last Jennifer had heard, he was working at the gas station and
dating one of the girls who hung out at the local bar a little too much for it
to be about the drinks.
Things with Philip
had been everything Jennifer could have hoped for. When Rachel and Cameron had
gotten engaged, Philip had asked Jennifer to move in with him. She'd been wary
at first, thinking that he didn't really want to live with her. She felt that
he was only asking because he wasn't ready to propose and didn't want to lose
her.
However, instead of
worrying and over-thinking, Jennifer simply talked to him about it. When she
did, Philip explained that he was planning to ask, but he knew that she
wouldn't want to leave Rachel without a roommate. Living together was a way to
make the decision easier on Jennifer. It had brought them even closer. It
wasn't that they never fought or had misunderstandings, but that no matter what
happened between them, they knew they were strong enough to get through it
together.
The sex continued
to remain amazing, whether they were just doing it nice and slow, plain old
missionary style, or, instead, Philip had Jennifer bent over the hood of his
car in a public parking structure as they tried to get off quickly without
getting caught. She'd done things with him she'd never dreamed of – blow-jobs
in the theater, toys she still didn't have names for, bondage with everything
from handcuffs to ropes, spanking with belts and crops – and each experience
reinforced the trust between the two of them. But it was so much more than the
physical. It was the looks across a crowded room, and the way just being near
him made her feel safe and protected. How her heart still skipped a beat
whenever she saw him. How he was one of her best friends and someone with whom
she could share everything.
As Jennifer watched
Rachel say her vows in a surprisingly emotional voice, she couldn't help but
wonder what it would be like to be in that place, standing across from the man
she loved, promising in front of friends and family, to love only him until
death parted them. As she'd been helping Rachel plan, she'd tried not to think
too much about the prospect of her own wedding, not wanting Philip to pick up
on it and feel pressured, but today, she figured it was expected. Very few
single women attended a wedding without thinking at least one thing about what
it would be like for them.
As Cameron bent his
head to kiss his bride, Jennifer glanced towards the audience and caught Philip
looking at her. He smiled that smile that made her weak in the knees and gave
her a wink that made other parts of her hot. Sooner, later, it didn't matter.
She'd wait forever to be with him. Though, judging by the expression on his
face, Jennifer suspected it would be sooner rather than later. She'd have to
make sure she caught Rachel's bouquet at the reception later. After all, it
couldn't hurt.
