One White Lie: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book One (11 page)

L
ena didn’t speak the entire ride. There wasn’t anything to say.
Nothing nice at least.
The thought of staying at Brice’s house didn’t appeal to her, but she was grateful not to be alone tonight. Under any other circumstance, she might have looked forward to the company.

She sat quietly, looking out the window, refusing to even turn slightly in his direction.
Let my silence say what I feel.

To her surprise they were leaving the city. She had no idea where they were headed. When they’d dated he’d had a penthouse apartment in Boston, and she couldn’t picture him living anywhere else. It didn’t take long before she saw the exit sign for Cambridge. That area wasn’t known for apartments. Had he finally settled down and actually purchased a house?
But he’s never there. Why would he do that?

The last thing Lena wanted to do was spend more time trying to figure out Brice. They had been together for more than a year, and everything she thought she knew then had been wrong. The person she cared about would never have said the things he had. Not then or now.
What happened to the man I loved? What caused him to change so drastically and quickly?
They were compatible then. Now, they were as different as night and day. He had turned cold and controlling while she had become nurturing.
Maybe because I had to be. Is that why you changed? Did something happen that required you to become so hard and distant?

Lena was no longer looking out the window but was now staring at Brice. He was leaning back against the limo’s leather seat, his eyes closed, his breathing shallow. Confident that he was asleep, she looked at him more closely, something she hadn’t allowed herself to do these past few weeks. The last thing she needed was for him to think she was interested in him in any way other than as her boss.
Of course having sex with him might have given him the wrong idea. Way to go, Lena.

As he slept she adjusted herself in her seat so she could see his face. Nothing about him was relaxed. Even his jaw was still tense; she could see stress written all over him.
What have you gotten yourself into?
It wasn’t her place to ask, but she had the feeling he was going through this alone. Maybe if he had someone to talk to, to vent to, it would help ease his tension.

The way Brice had been treating people, she wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have friends. Talking to family wasn’t always the best choice either, because they have long memories, and when you least expect it, they remind you of your failures.
Time and time again.

That’s why talking to Rex earlier had felt so good. Someone to listen, for no other reason than he wanted to. No personal agenda. It was refreshing. If it weren’t for that conversation, she probably would have laid into Brice when he showed up at her apartment. But instead she was able to see things from a different point of view. Brice might have his faults, but so did she. Keeping Nicholas a secret was a mistake. Not only for her son, but also for Brice. From what she saw all he had was B&H. There was no one special in his life, no one waiting for him when he got home. He might be one of the richest men in Boston, but she wouldn’t trade places with him for anything.
I’d be so lonely.

Should she tell him now or was the timing off? He had so much going on between his project and whatever issue he was dealing with at the plant he mentioned. How would he take the news he had something else to worry about?

No, this wasn’t the time, but it would have to be soon. The longer this went on, the worse it was going to be when she finally did tell him. For now, she would be there to help him get through whatever he was dealing with. That is the least she could do for the father of her child.

He must have been more exhausted than he thought. Sleeping in the car wasn’t something he ever did. After the last few days, however, it was desperately needed.

Waking to find Lena watching him, or more like studying him, made him want her even more. He didn’t take her to his home to have sex with her; she was here so she would be safe.

You just keep telling yourself that bullshit, Brice, and maybe you’ll start to believe it.
He wanted her; that wasn’t the issue. But she was something he didn’t deserve to have: loving, gentle, kind, and happy. That wasn’t who he was. For a short time he had been that person when he was with her, but it wasn’t who he really was.

His father reminded him during their argument what a fucked-up individual he was. Lena had often spoken of her family, her childhood, and it had sounded so normal.
So happy.
A mother and father who loved her, brothers who watched out for her. Yes, she’d spoken of them like they were all too protective of her, not letting her live her life the way she wanted, but he knew by listening to her stories that it hadn’t been out of wanting to control her, it was out of love.

The closest thing he had ever experienced to what a normal interaction was in a family was the time he spent at Asher’s house when they were young. They’d sat down at family dinners and had spoken about their day. There had been no barking of orders. Instead there had been laughter and parents who’d seemed to love each other.
Funny, Asher acts more like he was raised by my family than his. Maybe my bad behavior rubbed off on him.

That last thing he wanted was to continue the family chain and expose a child to the life he grew up in. It might not be as bad, but he wasn’t going to risk it. That was the problem with being around Lena. She made him want what he shouldn’t. Believe in things he couldn’t have. The only time he ever thought of having a family was when they were dating. That was when he had purchased this house in Cambridge. It had been his intention to ask her to live with him.
That was right before I fucked it all up and kicked her out of my life.

He might want her, need her, but God knows he didn’t deserve her and never would. Brice would keep her here and protect her until he heard from Bennett that the threat had been eliminated.
But who is going to protect her from me?

She should be treated tenderly and loved. What did he know of such things? Nothing in his childhood resembled love. Everything his father taught him was anything but love.
If you can’t have it, crush it so no one else can.
Not the pep talk one would expect from a parent, but then again, his father was unique. Even in such poor health, the doctors said he fought all treatment.
It’s always on his terms even it if means it may cost him his life. He’ll never change.

He may not be his father, but he couldn’t run from his past either. He could see it in Lena’s eyes when she looked at him. Was it fear or lack of respect for who he had become?
She knows I will never hurt her.

When he was with her it was a constant internal battle, his old self trying to resurface. He couldn’t afford to let that happen. If he did, he would be lost and would never be able to let her go again. She had moved on, found someone who made her happy. If Rex was that man, then he was going to have to accept it.
Yeah, that ain’t ever gonna happen.

As the limo pulled up to the house, he turned to Lena and said, “You’ll be safe here. Make yourself at home; the staff will get you anything you need. I have to go back to the lab.”

He opened the door so she could get out. She looked as though she wanted to tell him something, then closed her mouth, and got out of the car. The driver carried her “bag” to the door and let her in.

Brice knew he should go in, show her around, make her feel comfortable, but he knew if he was alone with her tonight, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. He needed to keep her safe; he had to stay away.

S
he stayed up as late as she could that night, waiting for Brice to return. He didn’t. What was the point of taking her to his home if he wasn’t going to be there with her? She wasn’t entirely alone as there was a guard at the gate and anything she wanted or needed would be delivered to her with just one touch of a bell.

The only thing I want, I can’t have right now. My son.
Her normal morning routine would have been spent preparing everything for daycare. It felt odd having all this extra time. Grabbing her cell phone, she called her mother on FaceTime.

“Good morning, Lena. Is everything okay?”

Missing my baby.
“Yes, everything is good. I wanted to check on Nicholas before I leave for work.”

She heard her mother yawn. “He is still sound asleep; how about you call him on your lunch break?”

Lena wasn’t worried. If she didn’t need to be up so early, she wouldn’t be either. “I’ll call you when I have a break. The office can be a bit noisy at times.” She’d already had one close call when saying goodbye, she didn’t want Brice to catch her twice.

“Your father is planning on taking him to the dock today to watch the boats. Why don’t we call you tonight before he goes to bed?”

Oh, I wish I was there too.
The next generation, but the same ritual. Her father must be in his glory. When she first asked if they could watch Nicholas for a few days, she was worried it would be too much for them. From the sound of her mother’s voice, this was a special time for them, and she was glad it was working out.
I wish it were under different circumstances.

All she wanted to do was hide away from all the things that were waiting for her in the office. Lena pulled the blanket back over her head and let out a long sigh.
Why can’t it be Saturday?
Wishing wasn’t going to make it happen. Besides, lying in bed wasn’t going to change anything. Brice said he would give her a letter of recommendation. That was going to come in handy no matter where her next job was. So she couldn’t blow it, not with only this week left.

Dragging herself from the comfort of the guest bedroom, she searched for an outfit that wasn’t a mass of wrinkles.
Why didn’t I hang these up last night?
Probably because putting them away was conceding to Brice’s demands. As long as they remained in her bag, then she felt as though she held some level of control.
No matter how little it was.

Being here however had its advantages, the door-to-door service to work. No crowds, no waiting. That was something she could get used to. Lena expected to find Brice at work. Surprisingly he wasn’t. There was a note on her desk that said he could be reached on his cell phone for emergencies only. No more details.

With everything going on, you’d think you might want to drop me a hint as to where you are.
She knew he didn’t need anyone to take care of him, as he was pretty damned intimidating, but if someone was really out to hurt him, she wanted—no needed—to know he was okay.

They might not be a couple any longer, but he was the father of her son and would always be someone special to her because of that. What she didn’t understand was why he was so protective of her. It would make sense if he knew about their son, but he didn’t.

How could she understand him, and why he was doing this now when she still didn’t know why he left her so suddenly before?
Why can’t you see it? No one has hurt me more than you did.

Thinking back on the pain, she realized why it hurt so much. It was because of how deeply she had loved him. Maybe that’s why she now kept her distance from everyone: her family, her friends, or any possible intimate relationship. The only one she let in was her son, and that was because she couldn’t give him what he needed without letting him love her back.

Was just being so close to Brice again bringing down the walls she had struggled so hard to build? Was this what might lie ahead for her? More pain and heartbreak?

It didn’t matter; she knew once this job was complete she would need to tell Brice everything. Of course, she also had her own set of questions for him. This had gone on too long, but it wasn’t all her fault. She made the best decision she could. At any time he could have picked up that phone, called her, and she would have told him. Even now, the only reason they were speaking was because some head-hunting agency reached out to her, offering her a temporary assignment. It was only a coincidence that he owned the company. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be contemplating
if
or
when
to tell him.

No matter when or how she said it, it wasn’t going to go well. They said you should just rip it off like a Band-Aid, quickly. She was positive that didn’t apply when telling a person they had a child. Especially when he had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with a family. The fact that the child was a two-year-old son, and he didn’t know the word dada, wasn’t going to help either.
Maybe this is fate and the timing is right and things will work out.
She shook her head.
Or the little world I have made for myself and Nicholas is about to get really ugly.

It always ended the same, no matter how many times she played it out in her mind. He would be beyond angry at her and wouldn’t forgive her for what she did.
If that’s the way it plays out, then so be it. At least he will know. What he does with that information is all on him.

The day had flown by and thankfully, with Brice out of the office, she was able to get in touch with her mother several times to check on her son. He had been either napping or out playing. “He is such a joy to have around. You really should move back to Plymouth so we can see more of him.”

She had been waiting for that comment since she’d visited. It had been the last thing she wanted to do, move back to her hometown. Knowing all the freedom her son had, and being surrounded by family that loved him, it might be time to reconsider her living arrangements.
Maybe not all the way back to Plymouth, but closer, more rural.

It was funny that she had achieved recognition for her skills as a personal assistant and most likely would land a job that would pay more than she dreamed of, but playing with her son in the park made her miss the quieter life. The family life.

Maybe once Brice knew the truth, and they worked out their issues, they could learn to be friends again and perhaps even more. She laughed out loud.
Yeah. That’s never going to happen. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t hate me.

The stress of confessing now or later was causing her temples to throb. There was only another week of work. Could she pull it off until then?
I’ve got to. There’s no way he is going to let me continue working for him once he knows.

What should have been a relaxing day with Brice out of the office was anything but. Between the phones ringing off the hook and having to blow everyone off, she also was concerned because he’d never called to check in. He told her about the threat, but there couldn’t be that big of an issue, could there?

There was only one way to find out.
Google it.
Lena spent the rest of the day searching articles about Trundaie.
As bright as you are, Brice, you decide to build a plant in a country that has been on the verge of revolution for over five years?
She closed the laptop and shook her head.
And yet you looked so surprised that it’s not safe now. I think you should come out of the lab more often.

Since Lena reentered his life, nothing had gone as planned. Before, he could tell you what his day looked like from dawn to dusk. Now nothing seemed ordinary. He knew it wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t caused the issues in Trundaie, nor had she made his father ill. Her presence was amplifying the issues around him. He couldn’t think clearly when she looked at him with her sultry dark eyes.

His fuse was shorter than ever. The staff seemed relieved when he told them he wouldn’t be in.
Enjoy it now. Tomorrow it’s back to normal.
Whatever that meant now. He was angry at Nancy for taking the time off when he needed her most. Yes, Lena was doing an excellent job, he would give her that, but she also was giving him something he didn’t need.
A distraction from what is important to me, B&H.

After sleeping in his office last night he was able to think more clearly. Also getting the answers he needed from Bennett regarding Rex felt good too. He was someone she had gone to school with back in Plymouth. Small-time restaurant owner who had no interest in leaving Plymouth again. That eased his mind. One thing he knew hadn’t changed about Lena was her drive for success. She loved the city life and knew it was the place for her. Even when they were dating she never took him home to meet her family. She had said they didn’t agree with her lifestyle. He could relate to that. His father never agreed with one damn thing he’d done.
I probably wasn’t even born the way you wanted me to be.

Brice opened his eyes and looked at his father. Why he had agreed to stay here was beyond him.
So what if you wake up, Dad? Seeing me isn’t going to make you feel any better. It’ll probably finish you off.

The sign in the room said no cell phones so he was trapped with a man who was unconscious.
At least we’re not fighting.
What he didn’t understand was why Zoey insisted someone always be here.
It’s not like he was there for us.
But I’m not ready for him to die.
Any other time he would have told Zoey no, he was too busy. Today it was good to be away from the office. He needed to think, and that wasn’t easy around Lena.

It was already dark, and his brother Dean should be arriving soon.
Can’t blame him if he bails. This is why they pay nurses, so we won’t have to sit here.

“Brice.” He heard his name mumbled from across the room. His father was awake. No matter what past they may have shared or how he tried to deny it, he was relieved. Getting up, he walked to stand by his father. His eyes were closed, but the monitors were beeping like crazy. Had it been his imagination?

The nurse came into the room and began pressing buttons. She was followed by a second nurse who rattled off instructions before turning to him. “Sorry, Mr. Henderson. We need you to wait outside, please.”

He didn’t move. Whatever was going on, he wasn’t leaving. He might not deserve it, but the man was still his father, and if he was going to die, it wasn’t going to be in a room filled with strangers. He should have his family with him.

Before he knew it, doctors had entered and were administering medication into his IV. With all the noise, he didn’t know how any of them could hear the other, yet they worked as a precision machine. Each doing exactly as the other needed. Through it all he gained a new appreciation for life. They didn’t know his father, yet they were doing everything in their power to save him. Guilt filled him as he stood back and watched. Only a few minutes ago he was hoping the waiting would be over, that there were better places he wanted to be.

It wasn’t his imagination. He knew his father called out to him before having another attack. Was Zoey correct? Had he been asking for him all this time? If so, why? They had years to talk but never did. Why now? What changed?

The room suddenly became still. He could hear the now steady beep of the heart monitor. The doctor came over and spoke. “Your father seems to have suffered another heart attack. We will monitor him closely.”

“Is he conscious?”

“Sorry, but we needed to put him into a medically induced coma so his body can try to heal. We have yet to determine what continues to cause his heart rate to increase and blood pressure to soar. It’s as though there is an internal battle happening that we cannot see.”

Brice nodded. He understood that feeling. It was what he’d been going through himself. He wondered if his father was considering all the feelings he never shared and was now reliving them in his head.

“We’ll monitor him closely.”

“Thank you.”

Brice looked at his watch. Dean should’ve been here almost two hours ago. No matter how badly he wanted to go home, especially with Lena there waiting for him, he couldn’t. He would stay, even if it meant waiting until morning when Alexander came.

As he was trying to make himself comfortable in the chair, a nurse came in with a blanket and pillow. “I thought you might want to use these.”