The Billionaire's Revenge: Billionaire Brothers Billionaire Bachelors (Tycoon Billionaires Book 3) (16 page)

The next evening – after the private investigator had finished his second secret liaison with Ellie and given her all the info she needed – Joseph leaned against the sink in the disused kitchen at
The Big Society
offices and gazed up at the high ceiling. He felt so light and free. He was using this downtime to compose some lyrics about how totally fuckable Eleanor was. But he couldn’t lie to himself – his love for her resonated deeply within his bones. He’d been admiring her from afar for months, but now that he’d discovered the person she really was, he was falling hard. He’d always been inspired by her as his muse – their flirty banter had made him incredibly productive over the last six months. But now that he was getting to know her properly, there were dirty, sexy love songs to write in her honour. He grinned as he imagined throwing her over his shoulder and bringing her back here for a quick fuck right now. But she had work to do…

This place reminded Joseph of an old industrial factory. The pipework was exposed and there were metal shafts running along the lofty ceiling and down the walls to the grubby floor. The neon lights were stark above, and everything shone with silver and grey – other than the old cracked red floor-tiles, which had definitely seen better days.

Joseph could almost hear the ghosts of chefs barking out orders to subordinates, relishing the hustle and bustle of organised-chaos at their command. And then there was the huge printing press in the middle of the space where the stainless steel counters would’ve once stood. The archaic machine was currently silent and brooding. It reminded Joseph of an industrial weaving loom – and
loom
it did. Hungry to print new stories and spit them out.

Well, Ellie would certainly have something juicy to feed it with soon, once she’d finished typing up her exposé of News Scape. She’d banished Joseph out here a while ago, to pound away at her laptop in the office out front – after Sasha had so kindly let them in and left them to it.

Joseph checked his Rolex and saw that it was time to keep his date with his brother, so he grabbed his laptop and walked quietly through the eerie space. The other incongruous thing in this unusual room was the old store cupboard in the corner. It was like a telephone booth, with big glass windows that had been reinforced with criss-crosses of metal to prevent them from being smashed – but which allowed people to see inside. It was currently empty – full of nothing but dusty wooden shelves. There was a metal bolt on the outside of the heavy wooden door, which was strange. Joseph guessed it must’ve once been some sort of pantry. Or perhaps somewhere to store disobedient catering staff…

Joseph set up his laptop on a small steel work-surface that had been left to cloud over, then he pushed a few buttons, and connected with Ivan.

Ivan looked tired. His face was unshaven and his eyes were dull. “What news, little brother?”

“It’s going well. Ellie’s working on her story right now.”

“Glad to hear it… Maybe you
can
do this.”

“Did you doubt me?”

He paused to think about this. “Maybe. I guess I’m too cynical these days. Since I lost Samira.”

“Don’t talk like that: she’s still alive. And so are you. And you love each other. You’ll see her again.”

“Yeah, yeah. And how about you and your love, huh?”

He grinned. “We’re seeing how it goes. She’s only just broken up with her fiancé.”

“Life’s short, Joe. You never know what might happen. Do you love her?”

He tried to act cool. “I guess.”

“Do you think she loves you?”

He shrugged. “Well, she’s human.”

Ivan laughed. Then he fell serious. “So go tell her.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Joseph. Go tell her you love her.”

Joseph chuckled. “Yeah, alright – I’ll wait ‘til she’s finished typing up her story. I still can’t believe how easy that private investigator crumbled at the prospect of ten grand in new bills. We’ve got everything now but Robertson’s inside leg measurement. Hey, you still coming home?”

“Yeah, I’ve booked my flight for next Wednesday. I guess I’ll need to go see mom and dad and explain everything. Hopefully neither of them will have a heart attack.”

“Then you’ll find Samira?”

“Yep.” Ivan’s face broke out into a grin. “Jesus, I can’t wait… I’m gonna give her everything she wants.
Anything
she wants.”

Joseph sighed. “I know what you mean: Eleanor wants to go to the beach. I wish I could take her away, but we need to get this News Scape thing resolved first. I wish there was some way to transport her there for an hour, you know. Into the summer sunshine.”

“Well, I’m sure you can work something out.”

“How do you mean?”

“I don’t know… Bring the beach to her, or something? I know you’ve got a good imagination – I’ve heard some of your song lyrics!”

An idea blossomed in Joseph’s mind, but he put it on the backburner while he continued chatting to his brother. After they said their goodbyes, Joseph strolled towards the kitchen door. He knew Ellie needed peace and quiet to get on with her story, but surely it would be okay to sit and look at her for a while – fantasising about all the things he planned to do to her once she’d met her deadline.

He pushed open the door and stepped out into the office, but as he glanced at Ellie’s desk, he realised she was standing up, frozen by fear beside her chair and staring at the front door. Joseph turned his head slowly and followed her terrified gaze – dreading what might be lurking there.

His muscles tensed, preparing to fight as he realised Matthew was there, pinning Ellie with his glare. Looking ready to kill her.

“
Matthew
,” Joseph growled as anger flashed through his chest. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you
did
to her, asshole! I owe you a trip to the emergency room.”

Matthew’s eyes remained on Eleanor. “What do you actually
see
in this guy?”

She stared at him in disbelief. “I’m sure you don’t really want me to answer that. What the hell are you doing here?”

“I wanted you to know Robertson fired me. He said I wasn’t performing to the high standards of his company, but I’ll bet it’s got something to do with whatever’s going on between you and Stinger, huh? You must think it’s hilarious – me losing my fiancée
and
my job in the same week.”

“You’re drunk,” Eleanor said. “Go home.”

“Home? And be on my own?”

“What did you expect?” Joseph asked. “Sympathy? After the way you treated her?”

Matthew spun to face him. “You! You piece of shit – you ruined my life. I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me!”

The flames of tension simmered between them. “You lost Ellie because she deserves better than you. And you lost your job because you were working for an asshole and you behaved like an asshole.”

“He fired me because of her!”

Eleanor’s patience snapped. “If your life isn’t working out the way you want, then
you
need to do something about it, Matthew.”

He shot daggers from his eyes. “Well I will… How about I tell everyone what you’re doing here. I’ll tell the world you’re screwing each other and that you’re planning to bring down News Scape.”

Eleanor’s face flashed with worry. “What are you talking about? We’re not planning to do that.”

“I’m not stupid, Eleanor. What the hell else would you be doing typing up a story at this time of night? I don’t know what dirt you’ve found on them, but you’ve obviously got something.” Matthew pulled out his phone. “Maybe Blair will give me back my job if I give him the heads up.”

Matthew started to dial the number, but Joseph had had enough of him now. He strode over and halted, almost nose-to-nose. “Matthew… I should’ve done this months ago.”

He glanced up from the phone. “What?”

“This.”

With all his pent-up fury, Joseph swung back his fist and punched Matthew hard in the face. Matthew stumbled backwards, dropping his phone to the floor with a clatter. 

“Now get out and leave us alone,” Joseph hissed.

He started to turn around to check Ellie was okay, but Matthew grabbed him and slugged him hard, sending glass-shard pain into his cheek and flinging him backwards. Shit! What was it Ivan had always taught him? Punch someone to knock them out; fight someone to the ground and make them stay there. Or they’ll get up and punch you right back.

“You can’t get rid of me that easy, Joseph! I’m gonna tell
everyone
what you’re doing here!”

Joseph tried to stand upright, but Matthew ran at him like a man possessed and punched him again. Joseph felt his nose drip with warm blood, stinging his eyes. That was it. No one punched him twice. He summoned up Ivan’s spirit; fight dirty – fight to win.

With the force of all his frustration behind him, he lashed out and punched Matthew hard on the nose, making him jolt backwards. But Matthew wasn’t going down without a fight. He ran at Joseph again and threw his arms around him, trying to squeeze him in a bear-hug. They twisted and turned together, wrestling on the spot, until Joseph raised his knee and managed to skim Matthew’s balls – hard enough to make him spring away.

But Matthew refused to quit. He ran at Joseph again, shoving him so he stumbled back through the kitchen doors – which left Matthew out there with Ellie. Joseph scrambled to his feet, intending to dart back to the office, but Matthew surged through the doors, pursuing Joseph – meaning at least Ellie was safe.

But then she ran into the kitchen too, looking frantic. “Oh my god, you two – stop this!”

“I intend to,” Joseph growled. He stood firm. “Come on, fucker. Want some?”

Matthew ran at Joseph and swung to punch him again, but Joseph ducked out the way and Matthew thumped the printing press instead, causing the bones in his hand to crunch. He let out a groan of pain.

Joseph grabbed Matthew by the shoulder and spun him to face him, then he punched him again, with all his force. Matthew stumbled towards the sink, so Joseph pushed his shoulders down, bending him backwards over the drainboard. He balled Matthew’s shirt in one fist, then raised his other arm to punch him again, but Matthew kicked him hard in the shin.

“Argh!”

Matthew lurched and tried to head-butt Joseph, but Joseph could see he was tiring, so he shoved him with all his weight, sending him backwards towards the storeroom.

“This way!” Ellie shouted, running to the storeroom and tugging open the huge door.

Joseph pushed Matthew again, forcing him backwards, but Matthew banged up against the doorframe and pressed his weight against it – planning to launch another attack on Joseph. Joseph refused to allow that, so he stepped to the side and shoved Matthew hard, making him stumble through the open doorway. He landed with a thud on the cold tiles inside, but Joseph had also stumbled forward with the force, meaning they were now both in there. Joseph wheeled around fast and dived out of the storeroom, landing on his front on the kitchen tiles. He pushed himself up with his arms, as he heard the storeroom door slam shut, but the bolts didn’t slide into place.

“Help, Joseph!” Ellie shouted.

He scrambled to his feet and saw that she was leaning all her weight on the door, meaning she couldn’t reach the bolts at the top. Matthew was already shoulder-slamming the door from within, and Ellie couldn’t hold him long. Joseph ran over and threw the bolts across, locking Matthew inside.

Joseph’s muscles relaxed with relief and he panted, trying to get his breath back.

Matthew pounded on the wood. “Let me out of here!”

Joseph pulled Eleanor’s trembling body against his. His nose was bleeding, but he was too out of breath to deal with that right now. They both stood and watched Matthew through the reinforced glass as he banged his fists, shouting and swearing with rage. The huge window was strengthened with crisscrossed wire, so there was no way of him breaking it. He was trapped.

“Looks like he won’t be telling anyone our plans,” Eleanor said, breathing heavily.

Matthew let loose a tirade of insults, promising to kill them both.

Eleanor ignored him and grabbed a box of tissues, then gave one to Joseph for his nose. Once the bleeding had stopped, he held her in his arms.

Matthew was still going nuts inside the storeroom. He looked like a man ready to kill. Like a caged wild animal.

Joseph felt like a wild animal too. He was pumped full of testosterone, like a triumphant stag who’d just won the rut. And now it was time to claim his prize. Matthew had treated Ellie dismissively in bed. Now he needed to learn how a real man behaved.

Joseph stepped forward and hugged Ellie from behind, kissing her tenderly on the cheek. “Let me take you in front of him.”

She laughed. “What? Are you serious?”

“It’ll drive him crazy. Come on, after all he’s done to us both.”

Joseph reached around and fondled Eleanor’s tits through her chiffon shirt with his strong hands, caressing them and kissing her on the neck. Eleanor glanced up and saw Matthew watching with fury plastered over his face. But he was unable to look away.