The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Deflecting

CENRIC

“She kicked you out of the suite, and this is your greatest plan to save your loser ass? It’s been two days, man.”

“Do me a favor and shut up.” I still knew what I was doing, or at least. Guns were not the best thing to play with when you were not in the right mind.

Two days ago, after Sadie unforgivably kicked me out of the hotel suite, I worked and worked, went to the penthouse after. I got drunk, slept, then woke up and worked again. The penthouse wasn’t the same without her. She was the light and soul of that place. That was why I had to go away to clear my head.

I extended my arms, aimed the pistol, and fired at the shooting target.

“So shooting range is your way of recuperating? You’re a little rusty.” Beck was right. It had been a while since I held and fired a gun. It was not that I needed to carry every day. That was why I hired Beck and Linden. Compared to them, it was a part of their job to maintain active.

“I know.” I slid another magazine.

“I hope you are not thinking of her father or Jasper while you are targeting the paper.”

I fixed the goggle up and glared at him. “I might as well include you if you keep pissing me off.”

He laughed at me. I was his amusement park for him while I was struggling to fix my marriage. “You’re hurting, C. Just admit it. You don’t need all these shits, brother. What you need is to man up and beg for forgiveness.”

“That’s not gonna happen. Soon, she will need me. She’ll come back to me and forget what happened.”

“What if she decides to leave you for good?”

I inhaled, held, and aimed the target. I breathed out and fired.

Bullseye.

“She won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure, Cenric. She’d been dreaming for her freedom. You are, maybe, a good lay, but you are just a man. You are expendable to her.”

I glared murder at him. “You didn’t just say that.”

“Cenric, you should know by now that she’s not the naive girl you thought she was. She’s smart, opinionated, stubborn sometimes, and strong-willed. She’s the woman version of you. Don’t get too cocky. She might just give up and realize that she doesn’t need you anymore. But that’s the point, right? Unless you want something more.”

This asshole was always right, but I was not going to admit it.

That was my plan—to save Sadie and provide something for her to start a new life. I did it. Sadie was running PrimerTech now, a small business she could expand, then she could support the charity she wanted. My work for her should be over, but I became a greedy bastard.

I wanted her for myself.

I needed her.

She became a part of me. She became my lifeline.

And I fucking love her.

Fuck.

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“What?” I put the gun down the table.

“When you grunted like that, you realized something.”

“I fucking love her.” I stomped away. “Happy?”

“You’re the last person to realize. How awesome?”

I stopped and faced Beck. Then I didn’t know how to start. I pressed my lips into a thin line as I pointed at him. “Damn it. Sometimes your sarcasm is amusing, but not today, Becker.”

“Let’s go back. The result might be ready by now.”

“They will call if it’s ready.”

“Jesus Christ. Fucking stubborn. You two are peas in a pod. Pot and kettle.”

We headed back to the ranch. Becka welcomed us with a huge smile on her face. “Sadie doesn’t know you are here, does she?” Hearing her name alone did a twinge in my chest.

“Trouble in paradise. How did you know?” Beck asked.

“Beer?”

“Hard pass.” I walked past them. “I need my head clear.”

“You are deflecting, Wollf!” Becka yelled. “If you need a clear head, talk to Sadie. I know the feeling once. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Unless you will invent the time machine, which is awesome, but right now, start dialing and spilling your guts to her because she’s freaking awesome, Cenric Thaddeus Gillean Wollf!”

“Thanks for the pep talk, sis, but I had enough from your ass twin!” I held my hand up to surrender.

“Have it your way!”

I still heard Beck laughing when I entered the house. I went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. I might need the beer after all, or probably a stronger one.

I went to the back where we sat when we came here last week—it did not help. God, I missed her, and it was driving me insane.

I sipped the beer and checked my phone, hoping it came to her senses now that what she did was wrong.

To my disappointment, I had no call or text coming from her. She didn’t even bother replying to my fucking email. Fucking hell.

“Told ya. For the smartest person in the room, you’re the dumbest when it comes to relationships.”

“Tell me about it.” This view reminded me of the first time she appeared riding the horse.

Becka sat beside me. “Have you ever told someone you love her?”

I looked at her and shook my head.

“Of course not. You have an ego larger than this land, which would take you nowhere in your relationship with Sadie. Either you man up or lose her forever.”

“You should change your career path, Becka.”

“Save your sarcasm, but don’t be too cocky.”

“She won’t leave me.”

“Well, you don’t know her at all.”

“She’s free. She’s strong, beautiful, and smart. And I think with her new job, she doesn’t need you anymore. Unless she cares about you—otherwise, expect a divorce lawyer to come knocking at your door very soon.”

I froze. My heart stopped—and that twinge again. I stared at Becka. “She won’t do that.”

“Trust me. She will.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I pressed my lips into a thin line as I glared at Becka.

She shrugged. “You know I love you, big guy. I would do anything to help you with your heartaches, but you have to do your part. And you’re an idiot if you think you can still find someone like Sadie. I mean, that girl is a knockout. She’s also funny and sweet, and she loves you.”

A sad smile appeared on my lips. “She does?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” she groaned at me before she rolled her eyes.

“She did not even reply to my email.” I looked down at the phone in my hand.

Becka roared with laughter, tears forming in her eyes. “Jesus. She’s your wife, and you sent her freaking emails? What is she really to you? Your freaking secretary?” She shook her head in amusement. Seemingly, I became their amusement. Just fucking awesome.

I pursed my lips. To be honest, Becka was right.

“I still missed Wade every day. I always felt that the love I showed him wasn’t enough. I sent him messages every day when he was with you on tours. I wanted him to be happy that when he got a chance to check his phone, he would read my messages.”

There was a long silence stretched between us. I thought I knew where it was going.

“When you brought him back, he didn’t get a chance to read my last message. It was when I told him I love him until I see no lights.”

That was wonderful.

“Wade knew how much you loved him. In fact, he kept babbling about how excited he was coming home to you.”

“I know. I hope you do the same before it’s too late.”

I dialed her number. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer until it went to her voicemail. I might be too late.

Fuck.