Pretend Married (A Billionaire Love Story) (73 page)

As I turned behind the door, I saw one last glimpse of Alexander Lambert. He stood at the edge of the curb, staring at me like a broken man. We made eye contact for a fraction of a second before the door fell shut.

T
wo days later
, I stepped off of an airplane into the Heathrow International, crushed beyond recognition. I looked like such a mess that, even with just a thin hoodie and a pair of sunglasses,
nobody
recognized me as I navigated towards a taxi and back home.

It had all come crashing down around me.

Riley Ricketts was gone.

The Patrovo sponsorship was gone.

My rival Alistair Pritch had won.

All that I had left was Jess, and she was absolutely furious with me for fucking things up so badly. She barely spoke to me on the flight back, electing to get into a separate taxi and head back for her small countryside cottage.

In truth, I barely had
her
at all.

Three hours of traffic and drizzling rain later, my driver pulled up to the gates outside my lavish home. He finally realized with one look at the house that I was loaded, but still couldn’t seem to place me.

“You some kind of big deal, brother?”

“Not anymore,” I told him, slipping a substantial tip into his hand. “Not anymore…”

I realized that he was ignoring my words – mostly because his eyes were too busy counting the bills I’d handed him. He glanced back up at the gate, and the driveway that stretched beyond it. “You want me to take you up to the door? Looks like quite a walk.”

“Absolutely not,” I told him, pulling the hood up as the dismal rain rose in volume. I closed the door and let myself through a side gate, and then carried my suitcase up the lonely, sluggish route to the front of my small mansion.

Lambert House was priceless, mostly due to the sheer size of the property and the thick virtually impregnable wall surrounding it. It had belonged to a Duke of some nature, living out here in the countryside. A summer getaway spot for royalty...

I called it home.

My eyes scanned the windows in the distance as my shoes sloshed through the mud. Even with all this pea gravel, it did barely anything to hold back the natural consequences of consistent rainfall.

Chet, my groundskeeper, was sailing towards me in his little covered cart, maneuvering around thick puddles and loose, soggy earth to skitter to a stop near me.

“Mister Lambert! This is no weather to be taking a walk, good sir! Let me take you inside!”

I nodded, although I doubted he noticed the gesture in the rain. Instead, I lugged my suitcase onto the back tray of his cart beneath the canvas bonnet of the vehicle, and took a soaked seat in the passenger’s chair. He took one forlorn look at me before driving us towards the manor steps.

“Permission to speak freely?” He asked.

“Granted.”

“Mister Lambert, I’m afraid that you look positively dreadful.”

I laughed heartily to myself, naturally alarming him. After I wiped away the uncomfortable, dripping rain from my face, I commented: “Let’s just say I’ve had a rough couple of days.”

He kept his eyes forward, carefully whizzing us through patches of solid ground. “I take it that America didn’t treat you kindly, then?”

“My trip was… complicated.”

“Ah, I see.”

Of course, he didn’t really. But the sympathy was appreciated, and we sat in silence for the last three minutes of the drive.

Once I’d pulled myself indoors, a maid brought me a towel and took my suitcase up to my main bedroom. There were only a few members on my staff, but they acted quickly and diligently at my appearance, already having some arrangements made as soon as I appeared within the gates.

A fresh change of clothes – my usual business attire – was ready for me in the foyer. I wasn’t particularly feeling myself, so I left them where they were and wandered upstairs, changing into something a little more casual.

My staff sensed the change in my demeanor, and gave me a wide berth as I settled back home. It only occurred to me a few hours later that they were likely expecting my publicist to have joined me for the trek, and so I knew that they realized things were amiss.

Behind the manor, I had contracted the installation of an enclosed football field. Since the rain had done absolutely nothing to let up, I took the accompanying underground passage out to the field. It was less than half a kilometer of walking, and it was blissfully dry. When I arrived, I switched on the industrial lighting and marveled at how the water roared against the glass ceiling and walls before retrieving the best looking football from my equipment room.

It was time to work a few things out the only way I knew how.

I spent well over an hour kicking the ball around, fighting imaginary opponents on the field. I remembered my first year of owning this place, I’d invite friends over for garden parties before taking on any and all challengers in the diminutive glass stadium.

But now, there was just me.

My arrival was less conspicuous than I had imagined. I was surprised to hear a buzzing as I knocked the football into the opposite goal once again, claiming another imaginary victory against my perceived opponents. Turning and panting, I spotted a small assortment of people on the opposite wall, shaking off umbrellas and standing in the covered foyer room outside.

Jogging over towards them, I realized that it was my usual group of friendly competitors – some amateur players from my schooling days, most of my National team, and a couple of members of the staff who were avid football fans and players.

There were a little less than two dozen of them… just enough to play a game. Jess must have been working a little magic. Maybe she hadn’t given up on me yet…

“What are you lot doing here?” I asked as I unlocked the entrance and let them all in. They hung their wet jackets in the nearby coatroom, smiling and clasping my hand in turn.

“What, you’re gonna come back and not tell us?” Jarvis MacNeil grinned, gripping me by the shoulder. He was one of the defenders on my team, and a rigorous force to deal with.

“My mind’s been a little preoccupied the last few days,” I confessed.

“Well, I can certainly see that!” Another chimed in. This one was Kil Humapoor, an old dormitory mate who had the gift, but was just too lazy to audition for teams. “You head straight onto the field to play alone after a sudden flight back? Not a person here that doesn’t know that means something’s wrong, man.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I muttered.

“No need to talk with words, bro,” Jarvis replied. “Do it with your feet. Let’s dance!”

The twenty of them changed into athletic attire in the equipment rooms. Afterwards, we split into two teams and set the stage for our match beneath the storm.

With Humapoor electing to play as referee to maintain the balance, we chose our sides and set the green battlefield for war. Above us, the rain pounded against the glass as we fought valiantly for the ball. The storm’s intensity was cheering us on.

Both teams were short a man, but we were able to work around that mutual handicap. I took my usual position as an offensive striker, dominating the ball and barking orders to my team as I led a vicious charge against the others.

Jarvis MacNeil had been nominated as captain of the opposition, and took a conservative, defensive approach. After years of playing together, he knew my weaknesses, and was able to hold us back time and time again… but he wasn’t prepared for the level of frustration and bitterness that I brought to the green.

I ran faster than ever.

My kicks were stronger than ever.

Fueled by hate and animosity, I channeled every last ounce of my blinding fury into my plays, unafraid to test the patience of our ref and to lash out if it meant gaining additional ground, crippling a tactical advantage of the opposing team, or smiting down one of their brief shots at temporary victory.

During a break, MacNeil and Humapoor approached me, tossing me a bottle of water as they downed their own.

“Dude, what the fuck is the matter with you?” MacNeil asked, giving me a fierce look as I squeezed the bottle into my mouth. “You’re playing like a wild fucking animal.”

“Nothing’s the matter,” I insisted gravely.

“You’re acting possessed out there, dude,” Humapoor added. “I’ve never seen you so unchained on the green. It’s like you’re on the
bloody
attack!”

“I
said,
everything is
fine
,” I hissed, letting my insipid glare fuel the emotion.

“What the hell happened in America?” He pressed me, simultaneously pushing his luck as well as my buttons.

I stood up from the bench, putting my nose inches from his as I glared him down. “It’s done. It’s finished. What happened there is
over.
And now I have to
deal
with that.”

“You’re
Lightning Lex,
” MacNeil kicked in, stepping up to back up our friend. While MacNeil hadn’t encountered him during school, they’d gained a healthy respect for each other during our impromptu matches, and bonded over a shared love of premium cigars. “Whatever happened, you can fix it.”

“What part of
it’s over
didn’t you quite understand?” I snarled at him.

“The part where you got back on a plane like a yellow-bellied coward instead of taking care of your fucking business,” MacNeil spat back, fueling me into a rage. “I don’t know what’s got you set off, but I know it has nothing to do with the story in the rags. You want to hide away in your glass cage and beat the piss out of a ball? That’s your problem. You start taking it out on your friends during a friendly match? Ain’t fucking
nothing
friendly about what you’re doing out here. Either tone your shit down and accept whatever your fuck-up is, or get back out there and take care of your shit.”

I wanted to deck him, but I knew the others would be on me in a second. Of course, he made a compelling point.

I
was
Lighting Lex Lambert.

What the fuck was I doing out here?

“
That’s
the Lex I remember,” Humapoor told me, staring into my eyes. “Now, get back out here and show us all how a World Cup player
really
does it.”

That’s exactly what I did.

I played with precision, careful calculation, and tactical dominance. Instead of leading a crushing vendetta against the other team, I hung back, guiding the others towards victory, playing support and taking charge when the ranks broke or ownership if the ball became too ambiguous to my tastes.

This half of the game, we won by a devastating six goals.

Once we’d washed up in the showers and changed back into our regular clothes, I realized that the weather was finally letting up. I walked with them across the grounds instead of taking the underground passage, watching how the recent rainfall glistened off of the foliage and flora of my gardens.

I invited them all inside and requested that the staff put all hands on deck to whip up a small feast for us. I brought out some home-baked snacks to keep everyone satiated for the time being, and left them in the main gaming room to play pool, watch the big screen, toss darts, and help themselves to my liquor cabinet and bar.

“Aren’t you joining us?” One of the others asked as I turned to make my leave.

“I’ll be back in a short while, gentlemen,” I smiled. “I have a couple of affairs that demand my immediate attention… please, make yourselves comfortable until I return.”

I left them to their devices as I strolled down to the privacy of my foyer, whipping out my cell phone and dialing Jess.

She answered on the third ring.

“What do you want?”

I ignored the aggravation in her tone.

“Jess, I need to apologize for my behavior the last few days,” I told her. “I lost my cool in New Orleans… I know you meant the best for me and I’m sorry I cocked it all up. What you did here… Getting the guys together… I needed this.”

“Don’t mention it you damned fool. I’ve already forgiven you,” Jess chuckled. “Glad to see you came to your senses so quickly. I thought you might hole yourself up in your little stadium and play football for a week before
anyone
saw you again.”

“I might still take a couple more hours,” I smiled.

She laughed down the line.

“So come out with it. I know you didn’t just call me to say thanks.”

“Did you find the number I’m looking for?” I asked.

“You pay me for a reason, don’t you?” Jess laughed. “Of course I have the damn number.”

“In that case, put me through to Gloria Van Lark…”

W
hen I came back down
to the Pulliam Gallery, I had no idea what awaited me. It wasn’t every day the head curator summoned me down to speak with a possible buyer, and some of my largest and most expensive works were housed in the Pulliam… I was completely taken aback by whom my mystery admirer was.

“Oh, it’s you again,” I smiled at the lithe, old woman. She was dressed in a long, oversized coat and loafers, carefully regarding one of my biggest paintings. This one carried a price tag higher than most automobiles, and I never would have assumed she could have afforded it… “How are you doing?” I asked quietly.

“I’m a bit cold, but I think I’ll manage,” she responded warmly as I walked up. Her eyes remained on the artwork. “You know, most artists these days feel like they have to be so self-important… that they must reinvent the wheel… bring something completely new to the field. In some cases, it’s true. Most who try, fail. But you… I’ve given it some thought. I think you have some serious talent for your craft.”

I glanced nostalgically up at the painting.

“What do you think of it?” I asked.

“You’re asking for my opinion?”

“I am,” I nodded. “I have my personal thoughts on it, but I wonder what you think. You were so kind to me last time, after all.”

The old woman turned to the canvas and sighed to herself, contemplating the presentation. This wasn’t one of my usual landscapes – it was the painting of a small girl, holding a puppy upright in her arms as she stood along the beach, its legs dangling down. Her back was to the water, and her pet covered most of her smiling face. The tide was nipping at her ankles as she faced the viewer, and the sun was setting quietly in the background.

“Fear,” she finally spoke.

“Fear? What do you mean by that?”

The woman glanced over at me tenderly, and then back to the painting again. “See how the child faces away from the ocean? She has turned her back on the world, hiding behind the comfort of another living creature. She feels the cold of the tide, but refuses to venture into its embrace. This child is one who is trapped between worlds – unable to join that of the spectator, and unwilling to exist joyously within her own.”

“That’s an interesting conclusion,” I remarked, pressing a pair of fingers to my chin as I studied the artwork alongside her. “I’d always thought it more of the opposite – refusing the comfort of the sea to confront the audience, offering up the sight of the dog as a gift, maybe.”

The woman smiled. “Such is the wonder of art. Such varied interpretations. You never know what the artist expects or the audience finds.”

“Do you like it?” I asked her curiously.

“Yes, I believe that I do. I’m somewhat fond of the artist herself, having been able to converse with her a few times.”

“I painted this one,” I responded, confused. “I’ve only seen you here twice now.”

“I know,” she winked. “But I’ve been here a little more often than that. You just haven’t seen me… but I’ve seen you. And I’ve spoken to you, through observing your artwork. You are an interesting young woman, Riley.”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever gotten your name,” I recalled, reaching out my hand to her. “You obviously know who I am. Riley Ricketts. Who might you be?”

“Oh, you know who I am,” she smiled. “You’ve been waiting for me for a long time.”

The cogs in my brain snapped, trying to rectify this impossible scenario. It couldn’t be. But it was…

“You’re Gloria Van Lark,” I murmured.

She smiled triumphantly. “Indeed.”

My brain worked at a hundred miles an hour. “But… your reputation… you’re supposed to be tall, hawkish, with dark hair and spectacles… I’ve seen pictures of you! I’ve
met
you!”

Gloria smiled knowingly. “My proxy, Paulette. She operates in my stead, representing me across the world. I have taught her over the many years to reflect my precise eye for artwork, and I sometimes accompany her to ensure that the proper decisions are made.”

“So, that was Paulette that I spoke with before.”

“Aye,” Gloria acknowledged. “I stayed in town for a few days, enjoying some of your delicious cuisine and museums. I wasn’t sold on your work, but a very compelling phone call convinced me to give you another try.”

“Phone call?”

“Your investor,” she clarified. “On principle, I would have turned the money down, but I was nonetheless intrigued by his offer…”

“I don’t know what
investor
you might be talking about, but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to meet you –
properly
, this time,” I found myself blurting out.

“Agreed. You say you don’t know who it is?”

“Not at all,” I answered truthfully.

She stepped closer, peering deeply into my eyes. I felt a strong sense of sudden invasion as she glanced into the windows to my soul, studying me very, very carefully.

“…I see,” she murmured to herself. “Well, that convinces me then.”

“Convinces you of what?” I asked, unwilling to let my hopes rise too much.

“I wanted to be the one to tell you to your face that Gloria Van Lark
cannot
be bought. Not with fancy words, and not with million dollar donations.”

Million dollar donations? Lex! What the hell did you do?!?

“But I can see now that you haven’t orchestrated this meeting… And… Perhaps I’ve grown rather fond of a
few
of your pieces during my time here in New Orleans.”

I hung on her every word, and Gloria beamed with pride as she spoke the words I never thought I’d hear in my wildest dreams:

“Riley Ricketts, I would be my pleasure to purchase select pieces to feature in your very own exhibit within the
Spinnoc
galleries.”

I could barely contain my excitement.

“Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!” I exclaimed, resisting every urge to throw my arms around this woman and hug her to death. “This means so much to me… I can’t possibly thank you enough…”

“There is a condition,” she added quickly.

“A condition?” I asked, puzzled at her tone.

“Walk with me,” Gloria told me, and I fell into step beside her as we crossed the museum, passively observing the exhibits.

“The condition is your undivided attention,” she stipulated. “I don’t fancy
all
of your artwork, but I do appreciate a few choice selections. If you want an exhibit in the
Spinnoc
, you will have to focus entirely on your craft. You will need to move to San Diego. I can give you room and board with studio access, and I’ll fully expect to see more of your work within several months.”

“Move to San Diego? I….”

Gloria cut me off before I could finish my thought.

“And I want none of these landscapes. They’re good, but not nearly good enough to display in my galleries. Leave them to the professionals, and concentrate on the conceptual pieces and portraits that really demonstrate your talent.”

“You… want me to move across the country?”

“Well, naturally,” she answered, glancing over at me. “That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“I’ll… have to think about that,” I answered. “I mean, my whole life is here. For a short while, I thought about going to England with someone, but we had a bit of a…
falling out
. He left the country a couple of days ago.”

“England, you say?” She commented. “Well. That certainly makes sense. It seems you may know your investor after all…” she eyed me sideways, “…or you only just figured that out. Either way, you should have probably reconciled with him when you had the chance.”

“Why’s that?”

“I thought he perhaps loved you. I could hear it in his voice as we spoke. He must have divested a great deal of resources into finding me, because I make myself scarce on purpose… and I don’t particularly enjoy being found.”

I had no response. I just turned and stared at the painting of the girl.

“Never mind all that,” Gloria continued. “I can see I was mistaken as to the strength of your relationship… If you wish to pursue proper representation in my galleries, you will accompany me back to California. The last thing I need is for you to become distracted with such
mundane
affairs when I’ve come to recognize your worth.”

“When do you need a decision?” I asked quietly, thinking about Lex. Why had he done this? I’d shut him out of my life. Did he think bribing Gloria would win me over?

Gloria glanced at a modest watch on her arm. “You have approximately fourteen hours before we board my private jet back to California. I trust that you’ll pack light. I can make the arrangements to observe and purchase any of your existing artwork that I see fit to obtain, but I’ll be expecting you to settle yourself quickly and get straight to work. No dilly-dallying.”

I thought to my life here in New Orleans, and how rooted I was in this magnificent city. My soul had flourished here for years, powered by the magic in this place.

And then there were my friends.

Reiko would understand, but she’d hate it. She was such a fantastic companion that I dreaded being separated from her. I knew she hated California and wouldn’t be willing to move out that way for me.

Connor would be devastated. Sure, he could be a pain in the ass, but he was a valuable friend and had been a strong component to my support network since we were kids. Over the last few days we’d reconciled, and I think he finally understood the way our relationship needed to be… But leaving on such sudden notice would be hard…

“As I said, you have fourteen hours,” Gloria Van Lark repeated, turning on her heel. “If you wish to accompany me, you will meet me here at the steps to this museum at that time. I eagerly await your answer.”

With that, the mysterious curator of one of the world’s most prestigious and exclusive museums turned on a heel, strolling straight towards the exit.

I felt like I was going to topple to the ground. This was no ordinary offer. I reached out behind myself as my knees began to buckle. My fingertips found a bench, and I collapsed down into it, struggling to process everything that just happened.

I had a choice to make:

My dream, finally come true?

Staying here with my friends and my life?

And what the hell was I going to do about Lex?

I had less than a day to decide… and I didn’t have the faintest idea of what to do.