Mr. Handsome: A Billionaire Romance (21 page)

“Christina, let me just get her in a cab and then we can talk about this,
please
. She doesn’t have anyone else to help her at all right now.” I begged Christina to understand.

She glanced at Carl who was idling on the curb. He usually didn’t drive away until we were inside for at least twenty minutes.

“I think I want to go home. You can feel free to handle her Jeffrey, I can’t…I just can’t.” Christina backtracked and she got into the car.

A few seconds later Carl came out and I knew she had asked him to get her suitcase. I hung my head and simply gave him the keys to the front door and told him where everything was.

I screwed up
again
, this time it was really my fucking fault. I glanced over at Roxanna’s smug face and wanted to bury her in some mental facility and never see her again. She had managed to hurt me twice. I shook my head and watched helplessly as Carl loaded Christina’s things into the car and drove off with her.

The cab arrived shortly after and I loaded a clingy Roxanna into it. Before I shut the door, I told the cabbie her address. Then I turned my gaze to her and filled it with all the anger and hate I felt towards her in that moment.

“If you so much as come near me or anything remotely having to do with me right now, I will make sure a restraining order is set against you. Then I’ll also make sure you’re padded off to a mental facility where you fucking
belong
. I don’t care if you barely remember this tomorrow or not, this is the only warning, Roxanna.

This is done, we are through. I helped you the best I can, it’s up to you to go to the appointment I set up or not.” 

Roxanna looked at me like she was about to cry, instead she leaned out of the cab and threw up all over my fucking pants and shoes. Once she was done, I pushed her ass back into the cab and slammed the door shut. After a short moment, the cab pulled away and I roared my frustration to the dark sky.

* * *

After I stripped down to my boxers right in the middle of the sidewalk, I shoved my clothes into a nearby trash can and then went inside. Carl had left my keys on the side table in the foyer, thankfully. I took deep breaths and paced around the living room while I thought of ways to get Christina back. I needed her almost more than I needed my next breath. I pushed my fingers through my hair as I wracked my brain for an answer. I was too tense and wound up, my heart was full of anxiety and I couldn’t think. I gave in for the moment and went to take a shower.

Once I was clean of the mess that was Roxanna, I called Christina. At first the phone would simply ring and ring, then she started ignoring my calls, the phone would ring once or twice and go straight to voice mail. After I assumed Christina put her phone on silent, because it would simply ring and ring again, I started leaving messages as well as texts.

“Christina, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth. I made things worse and I was stupid. Please hear me out…Christina, I need to hear your voice, please just answer the phone…Christina…Christina.” I must have left her at least twelve messages before I decided, fuck it, I’ll just go and sit outside of her apartment until she opened the door and agreed to hear me out.

It was late and Carl was off duty and had already been picked up for the night, so I drove the car on my own to Christina’s. Thankfully, some drunk dude who looked like he had been living inside for ten years was just leaving the building and I caught the door without having to buzz up. I reached Christina’s floor and then took a deep breath before I knocked on her door.

Five long minutes later the door unlocked and Christina opened it a fraction. Her eyes were red and puffy and she was wearing a thick purple robe. She had the chain still attached to the door so I couldn’t nudge my way in at all. She usually never used the chair to reinforce the lock on her door, so why then?

“What are you doing here?” she asked me, deadpan. It took me a minute to gather my thoughts and I just stood there with my hands on my hips while I stared at the floor. “It’s nearly two in the morning Jeffrey, go home and sleep or something.”

Christina made to close the door but I shoved my foot in the way at the last minute.

“Look, please just let me apologize and explain, Christina, hear me out, at least. Well, you have no choice, I’m not letting you close this door,” I said and then took a deep breath, I didn’t even know what I wanted to say.

“I love you.” Those were the words that came out and I decided that was a good place to start. Christina’s eyes widened and she shook her head as if she didn’t want to hear that. “I love you, Christina, and because of that I’d never do anything to hurt you intentionally.

I was stupid and I fucked up by lying to you. I just didn’t want to upset you when I was explaining why I stood you up. I didn’t want to upset you any more than I already had. But I should have come clean and I didn’t because I thought I was sparing you and it came back ten times worse and that’s
my fault
.”

I stared into her eyes and begged her with mine to see how earnest I was, to show her that I was speaking from the heart.

“But what happened with Roxanna was not under my control. The shit just happened and I pushed her off me as soon as my reflexes kicked in. I swear nothing happened—well nothing past that happened.”

Christina glanced behind her and then she sighed.

“Trent came over…” My body went rigid and I studied her robe to gauge if she was naked underneath or not. “We didn’t do anything. He just kept me company, we fell asleep on the couch and he’s here now. I don’t want you to kill him or anything…” Christina said pointedly.

I clenched my fists behind my back and flexed my jaw a few times before speaking in a calm and measured tone.

“No, I won’t. Simply wake him up and tell him to get the fuck out, Christina,” I said, my anger barely restrained. I was angrier at myself than at her or the Trent prick. I drove her to this when it all could have been avoided if I told her the complete truth.  Christina nodded and then closed the door.

I leaned against the wall across from her door and waited for this Trent character to walk out. I could hear the bass of his deep voice as they got nearer to the front door. When she unhooked the chain and opened the door to walk him out, Trent and I made brief eye contact. He simply shook his head at me and then continued down the hall to the stairwell.

Christina was leaning against her doorjamb and I pushed off of the wall and strode past her into the apartment. There weren’t any candles or anything around, the bed was actually made like how she left it when she went to pack her suitcase. Christina sighed when she realized I was looking for clues.

“We didn’t do anything, we didn’t even kiss. Which is much more than what I can say for you.” Christina diverted the focus back onto me.

“It’s not like I initiated it. I do not even like the woman, Christina. Who is Trent to you? Do you like him? Have you dated him? Did you guys kiss again?” I needed the answers to those questions because they were flying around in my head and driving me crazy.

“He’s a good friend and we’ve decided to just be friends because he helped me realize that you actually do love me and that…that—” Christina cut herself off and then abruptly changed the subject. “He’s just my friend and my coworker…and no we did not kiss again,” Christina said.

I studied her face and believed her, she wasn’t lying and she wasn’t the type
to
lie.

“I’m sorry I lied, Christina, I’m just sorry,” I said in a low voice while I stared down out of the corner of my eye.

“I know you’re sorry, Jeffrey, and I can’t blame you for her attacking you. I just wished you
hadn’t lied
,” Christina said on a sigh. She rubbed her eyes, clearly tired of the subject and tired in general. “Can we just go to sleep and pick this up tomorrow?”

I nodded and then stepped closer to her to undo the tie of her robe. I pushed it from her shoulders and revealed a thin camisole and short pajama shorts. Good thing she wore a fucking robe while Trent was there.

“Good, remember, I love you.” I got a soft smile from Christina in return.

I pulled off my shirt and took off my socks and shoes so that I was left in nothing but my sweat pants so I could get into bed with Christina. We did mess up the bed a bit as we were getting in to go to sleep. Before I knew it we were both out.

I couldn’t have woken up in any better way. Christina was curled against me and in that moment between peaceful slumber and waking, I felt that everything was right with the world. Then I remembered Roxanna throwing up on me and Trent walking out of Christina’s apartment the night before.

We needed to get back on track. She let me in to sleep in bed with her, she must be ready to put all of that crap behind us. I knew I was. I nuzzled Christina’s neck and kissed the soft skin. She stirred and pressed herself closer against me before she stretched out along my body and opened her eyes.

“Good morning…” Christina said sleepily. She glanced at the clock, it was an hour before either of our alarms could go off.

“It is a good morning when waking up to you, Christina,” I said my voice low and a bit thickened by sleep.

Christina shivered delicately when I nuzzled her once more.

“I have to head out a bit early this morning…but can I see you later on today? After work maybe?”

Christina nodded and I pressed a kiss to her lips a few times before I mustered enough strength to get out of the bed and leave her in the apartment.

The Final Chapter

Christina

I was feeling a lot of things as I got ready for work that Friday. Jeffrey had left just a half hour ago and I didn’t really want to think about how much I wanted to be curled up in bed with him once more.

He had been the angriest I had ever seen him the night before when I told him Trent was over. I thought the blood vessels in his temples were going to pop. Thank goodness he held himself together while Trent left, I didn’t know what I would have done if a brawl broke out in the hallway. 

Then there was the fact that Jeffrey confessed that he loved me
more than once
last night. He made sure I knew he meant it and I did believe him. I was just afraid to say it back and have another ex pop out of the woodwork and I knew Jeffrey had a colorful array of ex-lovers.

But that was my issue from the beginning, I was letting Jeffrey’s past intimidate me or represent something that he had tried to convince me wasn’t true. I needed to ignore it and focus on him, the present, and the future. I was just too afraid to actually put that into application.

After I got ready for work, I went to get into Betty and do our usual ride to work. Of course, after a long, near fifteen years of service, Betty died that morning. She simply wouldn’t start. I sighed, long suffering, and wondered if I should just hail a cab rather than call Jeffrey to borrow his driver. I decided to hail a cab; thank goodness I made it to work on time.

“Hey, Christina, you won’t guess what the debate is at our table.” Austin greeted me in the break room as I made a beeline for the coffee pot.

“It’s not pizza rolls versus hot pockets is it?” I asked with a pained expression.

Austin cracked up at the mention of yesterday’s heated debate.

“No, no, a much better one this time,” Austin paused for dramatic affect before he told me, “ketchup versus mustard.”

I cracked up when he told me, of
all
the possible things to debate about, they were going to debate whether mustard or ketchup was the better condiment?

“Austin, that’s worse than yesterday’s debate. Who is picking these topics?” I asked incredulously. One would think a table full of university graduates would be able to debate about something a bit more relevant. Like at
least
Selena Gomez versus Demi Lovato or something.

“Tristan always picks the topics, but his mind is always on food, so therein lies the problem,” Austin said as we poured ourselves a cup of coffee and went over to the collaboration table where the rest of the guys were in heated debate.

“I’m sorry, but just
why
would you put mustard on hash browns?” Bryce sounded very offended as he asked Caiden the question, Caiden was just about to reply when Austin called everyone’s attention forward.

“Alright, as we normally do at the end of each week, it’s time for reports.” Austin sat down and then went on to ask everyone where they were at on given tasks or projects. I was nearly done with the digital stuff that Trent and I had been working on together.

After we reported to Austin, he told us to get back to work and deemed that ketchup won the debate hands down. We were on schedule for the Tru Rum project and after work, Austin said he’d treat us to drinks at a bar down the street.

“So how was your first week? Well, it was kind of like a half week for you, but we really needed you and you came through amazingly well.” Austin smiled at me like a proud father or something. I laughed at his expression. “What? I’m really psyched that we have you on our team, you’re super talented, Christina.” Austin was sincere and I smiled at him fondly.

“I really love working with you guys, I know it’ll be great working at Six Fountain,” I said truthfully.

Austin smiled in satisfaction.

“Great, people like you are rare and my bosses would have kicked my ass if I didn’t hire you.
I
would have kicked my ass if I didn’t hire you.” I laughed and Austin draped his arm around my shoulders.

We realized that we had walked well ahead of the other guys and we waited outside of the pub for them to catch up. We found seats at the bar and Trent grabbed a stool next to mine.

“So how did things go with you and Bates?” Trent asked curiously. His gaze was concerned and I smiled at him, feeling grateful that he cared about me enough to keep me company and make sure I was okay last night, even if I was crying over another guy that I loved.

“Well, it was late, so we didn’t do much talking…but he told me that he loved me,” I said.

Trent nodded, as if he expected that.

“I could see it all over his face when I passed him in the hall. I was just hoping that he’d man up and say it.” 

I smirked.  Trent was sounding more like a big brother than a co-worker.

“So did you tell him how
you
felt?” he asked. I shook my head and Trent gave me a look. “We talked about that all night, practically, and you didn’t tell him how you were feeling?” I felt like I was in trouble. “Call him. Call him right now.” Trent made me get up and he handed me my purse.

“Okay…but order me a Yuengling please.” Trent nodded and he shooed me towards the door. I pulled out my phone as I walked outside and sighed before I tapped the call icon on Jeffrey’s contact. The phone rang once and then he answered.

“Hey, are you off work yet?” Jeffrey asked, he seemed a little excited about something.

“Yeah…I’m getting a drink with the guys from work and then I should be home in like an hour or so, depending how long it takes me to get a cab,” I said, I was stalling because I didn’t really know how to open up and say what I wanted to him.

“Why do you have to catch a cab?” Jeffrey asked, concern touching his upbeat tone.

“Oh, um…Ol’ Betty, she died this morning,” I said.

There was a long pause and then Jeffrey started
laughing
.

“You named your car Ol’ Betty?” Jeffrey said before cracking up all over again.

I smiled reluctantly at his finding this hilarious.

“She was a serious part of my life for a long time Jeffrey, I am
mourning
her loss,” I said, faking devastation.

It only made Jeffrey laugh harder and I couldn’t help but start to giggle.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry your car died. But it was really old, you had to know it was coming,” Jeffrey said, a smile clearly in his voice.

“Yeah, I guess so…” I said on an exaggerated sigh.

Jeffrey chuckled and told me that he’d send Carl to come and pick me up from the bar.

“I have to work a little late tonight, so you won’t see me until around seven,” Jeffrey said. His tone had changed and his voice slowed as he probably wondered why I called him in the first place.

There was a pause and I sighed before jumping into it.

“We didn’t get to talk much last night, but I wanted to tell you how I felt…” I began, Jeffrey remained silent so that I’d continue. “I do have really deep feelings for you Jeffrey, I was just… I was dazzled and I constantly wondered how someone like you could want me. I let that grow instead of taking you at your word and squashing those thoughts.

“It turned into something that allowed me to be intimidated by your past and that’s why I couldn’t handle Roxanna being around at all. But I trust you…and I really want us to work.”

I had said all I needed to say and I waited silently for Jeffrey to reply.

“I’m really glad you finally told me all of that. I love you and I want us to work too. I swear I won’t screw up like I did again. I won’t lie to you ever,” Jeffrey said sincerely.

I smiled and took a deep breath. I felt a thousand pounds lighter after finally telling him everything I was feeling. I still hadn’t told him that I loved him though, for some reason I felt like he had to work for the words.

“So I’ll see you tonight at…my place?” Jeffrey asked tentatively. I smiled and then told him that he’d see me later.

We ended the call and I went back into the bar to have drinks with the guys. Trent was watching for me to come through the doors and when he spotted me from the bar he gave me a thumbs up and his expression was questioning and expectant.

I nodded with a smile and gave him a thumbs up in return. When I reached my seat, he gave me a high-five. I was glad that Trent and I would continue to be friends even though he had wanted to date me.

After I had my beer, I told the guys to have a good weekend and then went outside, where Carl was indeed waiting for me. He almost had a sixth sense for when someone needed to be picked up.

“Hi Carl, thanks for being here,” I smiled at him and he gave me a nod with a polite smile.

“Of course, Miss Rothschild. So I’ll be taking you to Jeffrey, correct?” I nodded and then got into the car, I hadn’t realized he had said 'Jeffrey' instead of ‘Jeffrey
’s
.’ As in Jeffrey’s house. Carl drove to LaGuardia airport and I didn’t realize it, as I was playing Candy Crush on my phone. When the car came to a complete stop and Carl got out to open my door, I glanced around and saw we were at one of those private jet hangars.

I got out and then noticed Jeffrey striding purposefully towards me. The hangar was empty, but brightly lit and the shiny white floors made the space even brighter.

“Why are we at the airport?” I asked curiously when Jeffrey reached me.

He grinned and then bent down to press a searing kiss to my lips.

“Because I want to take you to the mile-high club,” Jeffrey said with a grin.

I laughed and then glanced outside at the jet just some ways off on the tarmac, waiting to take off.

“Wait, are you serious?” I asked in shock as it all sank in.

“Yes I’m serious,
and
I want you to see something.” Jeffrey’s grin widened and I grew excited and a little awed that he prepared something this grand for me.

Jeffrey took my hand and led me to the white jet. It had a single red strip along the body and I wondered if this was maybe a company plane…or if Jeffrey really owned a private jet himself.

“So this is yours?”

Jeffrey looked at me like he expected me to be smarter than the question I asked.

“Yes, Christina, I own an aircraft manufacturing company and I am worth four billion dollars. I even got this one at a discount…because I
own the company that made it
,” Jeffrey said slowly.

I rolled my eyes and punched his arm, which caused him to laugh.

“You know what I mean! I’m just not used to…people who own private jets…or the company that makes them.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed at me again. We walked up the steps and into the chic cabin. It was like walking into a living room made to fit in a jet.

There was a white leather couch and a few chairs like you’d see in first class, but somehow nicer. There were matching white leather chairs situated around the coffee table as well.

Behind that was a bar outfit with a mini fridge and wine cooler. Beyond that was where I assumed the bathroom and perhaps bedroom was.

I couldn’t believe Jeffrey brought out his jet just so we could fly around and have sex. I couldn’t deny though, that it was unbelievable and I was super excited about it.

Jeffrey left me to explore the cabin while he went to go and talk to the pilots. The bedroom was more spacious than I thought it would be. The bed had to be queen sized and there was another bathroom as well as a closet in there. Jeffrey poked his head into the room and grinned excitedly.