The Billionaires Mistress (14 page)

“What’s wrong?”

He had grown silent as his brother had spoken on the other end of the line, his body stiffening and straightening as he had listened intently to the news given to him. After acknowledging what had been said he had stared in disbelief at the phone, his mind in turmoil. For a few seconds, he had remained still, before throwing off the covers, and despite the fatigue that had pulled at him from the journey to Australia that day and the fact that he had slept for less than 2 hours he had found himself wide awake.

Making a call, he had moved to the shower, determination in every step.

The following day Jenna and Craig had arrived at the gala event, both holding back the excitement at the many famous faces they saw, both focussed on their reason for being there. They had moved into the crowded ballroom, Jenna so relieved when giving their names, they had been welcomed into the exclusive event. With a smile at Craig she had whispered.

“Guess it pays to have friends in high places”.

Seeing as he had grinned back at her.

“Only the best for you Jenna” giving her a small push as he had laughed softly, both chuckling as they had made their way towards the bar. In the centre of the room Craig had grabbed her arm, moving in closer to her as he had nervously pointed to an area off where they stood.

“I see him......Silverman is over there”.

With an encouraging smile she had pushed him forward, giving him one of her large smiles and a wink.

“Well go on then........do me proud”.

Craig has looked uncertain for a second, as she had waved him on.

“Don’t worry about me........only worry about my money I invested in you”.

With a small laugh he had given her hand a small squeeze before moving forward to meet the man on who so much depended.

With a sigh Jenna had carried on moving towards the bar, finding herself being stopped regularly by men who had tried to engage her in conversation, the fact that she looked stunning in a red cocktail dress with her hair held high on her head no doubt a contributing factor.

Politely brushing off each approach, she had nearly reached the bar when a familiar voice had broken the air, Jenna spinning around feeling her heart soar with happiness.

“Jenna!!!!”

Tom Trudeau had rushed forward, crying out her name with delight. Jenna feeling the rush of warmth filling her, seeing her old friend after so long, laughing as he had run forward throwing his arms around her waist and lifting her high into the air.

“Oh my God Jenna Long where the hell did you vanish off to? It was like the earth swallowed you up”.

She had chuckled throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly back.

“Still sweeping women off their feet” she had laughed as he had gently put her back down, his face shining with the real pleasure of seeing her, Jenna feeling so happy at his being there.

“I missed you Tom”.

She had stated with real feeling, her eyes shining with happiness seeing as he had looked back at her with a more sombre expression.

“Not half as much as I missed you”, his face taking on a hurt look.

“You were one of the only people I knew who I could count on to be completely honest with me”.

She had giggled again, remembering the many times the two had bickered and laughed, knowing that he was the closest thing to a brother she had ever known. Her expression growing sad as her mind had once more filled with the image of Ryan.

“I’m sorry Tom.....I just had to get away...you knew I was on a world tour thing...I had just stayed too long”.

“So you didn’t phone.......write....email?” his voice still hurt as she had looked apologetically at him.

“Well you were busy.....I didn’t want to be a nuisance, you were so kind to me”.

He had made a small snorting sound.

“Yeah right........that was the reason”.

His eyes portraying that he had fully understood why she had not been in touch.

”As I recall missy you saved my life, I’m sure that there is some law somewhere that you have to keep looking out for me if you do that”.

Beside him the small woman who had joined him had looked on in surprise.

“You never told me that”.

She had said in surprise, Tom turning to look into the lovely face of the unknown woman, a smile on his boyish face.

“Yes this girl was so desperate to get me into bed that the first time we met she jumped me and pushed me to the ground......fortunately also out of the way of a falling light”.

Jenna had given a small snort, giving him a playful smack on the arm, the two falling back into their old relationship almost automatically.

“You total fibber Tom Trudeau” she had laughed, turning to the stranger.

“No, truth was he is so bad at attracting women he had his body guard kidnap me for his pleasure”.

Tom had laughed back, pulling her once more into his arms.

“God I missed you Jenna”, real honesty in his voice as she had laughed back at him, before looking half apologetically at the small woman by his side. Pulling her closer, Tom’s eyes had shone lovingly.

Jenna could feel herself grinning widely seeing the obvious love shining from them both, remembering his words the previous day, of being taken.

“Jenna, I want you to meet Tara King, the poor lady I am going to marry”.

Jenna had pushed out her hand to the other woman who was blushing slightly, smiling back as she had taken her hand.

“It is a pleasure to meet you”.

She had said with such warmth that the other woman had seemed to relax smiling back.

“Now Tara, I am sure that there is still time for you to run for the hills. Nobody will blame you in the slightest”, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Tara had given a small chuckle, looking back up at Tom, the love so clear in her eyes too.

“I will bear it in mind”

She had smiled, as with a mock hurt look he had thrown his arm around her shoulders keeping her close.

“Better hang onto you then”.

Jenna had felt the warm sensations filling her knowing that the two were so right for each other before frowning slightly as an old memory had returned to her.

“Tara King” she had mused softly, looking questioningly at the two of them.

“Why is your name so familiar”?

She had seen as the two had given each other a knowing look before laughing. Looking apologetically over Tara had explained.

“Well....four years ago you took my place on Tom’s video shoot”.

She had smiled as Jenna had looked back with disbelief.

“Really, you’re that Tara?”

She had said in stunned surprise, her eyes flying to Tom.

“How...how did you two?” Jenna had stopped realising that she was babbling, her eyes wide.

Tara had looked up at Tom her eyes telling him to relate the story, as he had looked sheepishly back, before starting.

“Well, when Tara cancelled on me, I was a little upset”.

Jenna had given a small chuckle quickly covering her mouth to stop the full laugh from leaving her, remembering how angry he had been that night.

Shuffling a little, and giving a small embarrassed half laugh he had continued.

“Well about two years later I bumped into Tara at a party, and .... well I felt that she deserved to know how annoyed I had been”.

At his side Tara had given another laugh taking over.

“Yes, he started to tell me off right in front of everybody...he was yelling”.

Jenna had looked at him in disbelief.

“You didn’t!!” she had cried out as he had nodded looking down-cast.

“I guess without you and Ryan around, and given that I was on tour, surrounded by people who agreed with everything I said, I had kind of lost perspective, and I am sorry to say was a bit of a prima donna”

He had chuckled, seeing as Tara had nodded.

Jenna had looked over at the woman by his side.

“What did you do?” she had questioned seeing as Tom had chuckled.

“Well as it turns out Jenna, Tara isn’t the kind of person to take crap either, and the next thing I knew she had picked up a large glass of water and emptied it over my head telling me that I needed to cool down”.

Beside him, it was Tara’s turn to look sheepish.

“He just stood there in shock...but I was so mad”.

She had looked at Jenna with wide open eyes.

“I honestly don’t make a habit of that kind of behaviour” she had pled, her eyes large.

“Anyway I turned around and walked off leaving him there dripping”.

Looking back down at her Tom had sighed dreamily.

“It was then that I knew that she was the woman for me”.

He had squeezed her in against him even closer.

“But she didn’t make it easy for me......it took months just to get her to come on a date with me”.

Tara had smiled back at him.

“Well like I said ...........I was mad”.

Tom had given her that boyish grin of his.

“But I knew that once she got to know me she would be mine” he had chuckled, the two once more looking so deeply into each other’s eyes. With another smile Jenna had coughed, the two looking quickly back over at her.

“Well I am very happy for you both” she had smiled her words full of honesty.

“And........ I think you have a great future together”.

Tom had held her gaze gently, his expression soft.

“Thank you Jenna... that means a lot to us both”.

At that point, Tara had been pulled away, throwing Jenna a warm grin, as making a quick excuse Tom had moved to follow her.

For a second Jenna had smiled watching the two as they had moved back into the crowd, feeling so happy for them both. She had heard as the music playing softly in the background had changed, her smile turning to one of sadness hearing Tom’s ballad, her mind flying back to four years before when Ryan had sang the same song to her in his bedroom.

“They make a lovely couple don’t they?”

She had felt her whole body freeze in disbelief, as the soft velvety tones of Ryan Trudeau had washed down her spine, Jenna feeling as the whole room seemed to spin around her, panic gripping her.

Slowly she had turned around, her eyes staring hauntingly at him, her whole features showing the shock at seeing him there.

Ryan Trudeau stood as handsome as ever, his dark eyes looking softly down at Jenna, as he had held out a glass of champagne, his whole countenance relaxed. Not knowing what to do, she had accepted the glass, feeling the jolt of electricity as her fingers had momentarily brushed against his.

“Hello Jen”.

His smooth voice had caressed her as the memories she had tried so hard to quell came rushing to her mind once more, her eyes staring disbelievingly at him. As he had moved forward towards her, she had finally managed to pull herself together, stepping back from him, the message so clear.

“Hello Ryan”.

She had managed; composing herself while inside her whole body had shaken so hard, the pain she had thought to have moved past once more invading every part of her. He had given a small smile, her movement away from him not lost, as he had stayed still.

“You look good”.

His look had flicked over her before holding her eyes, seeing within their expressive depths the shock of his being there, before she had lowered them to concentrate momentarily on her drink, finally lifting them back to his, hers now colder more controlled.