A Study Of Love: A Billionaire Love Romance Read online

“Get out of my house,” I said and swung back the door. I was in no mood for him; I did not want anything to do with him and could not wait for him to take his whining to someone who cared.

  “Are you going to be that cold on me?” He kept on whining. He stood in the doorway making it impossible for me to shut the door - “I thought you were cool over dinner, but you are so heartless.”

  “What you are seeing is no reaction,” I answered impatiently with a blank stare, “I have an early morning.”

  I did have an early meeting with an investor who had shown interest in my company. I had only talked to him on the phone but never really met him in person. I needed to look my best and be at my best, but the fool who stood in my doorway did not want to leave.

  “Okay,” he answered and gracefully stepped out trying his best to keep up eye contact with me as he walked out, “Just in case you change your mind, please give me a call.”

  I slammed the door and walked over to my gigantic bed, slipping in between the covers was almost therapeutic, and after having a perfect dinner, mediocre sex and conversation, I did not need to take a sleeping peal that night.

  I woke up the next morning feeling as fresh as a daisy as I rushed to my office. Everything needed to be perfect; I went through my presentation for the millionth time that day as I waited for the investors. The butterflies that swim around in my tummy made me nervous, and I had to ignore Freda’s text when she asked me how my date had been. I had my team in the conference room going over the numbers and reciting them like a nursery rhyme over and over before my assistant finally announced the investors’ arrival.

  “Send them in,” I told her after pressing the intercom and subconsciously straining the blazer I had on that day.

  “Now remember a team, do not answer any questions that you do not understand. Think through the question before answering but above all; you need to look and walk the walk. Sound confident when you give your answer and when in doubt, wink my way, and I will answer. Is that understood?”

  “Yes.” My team answered but not in unison

  “Good,” I answered before staring at the charts on the white screen and drawing in a deep breath as I looked at the numbers. I heard distant footsteps and dared to look at the doorway. Three men walked in, two of who I did not know but one that I recognized all too well. Steve walked in wearing an immaculate suit and had his hair styled back. My nervousness was replaced with great horror as I thought about what I would do or say to the man I had been so rude to the night before.

  When he saw and caught my eye. He stood still for a while before acting normal. Time passes. Until the meeting was over, Steve and his team left the meeting room.

  I feel pain in my heart. I think if I'm not rude to him that night. Our story is better than this.

  A Night with the Wolves

  I watched from afar as he crept into the woods behind my house. I held back the curtains gently while I followed his every step, cautiously aware that he could turn and see me at any second. Luckily, he was too enthralled in his own mission to worry about who may or may not be watching him enter. My heart pounded as I took in his muscular physique and handsome brown hair, trimmed short and styled perfectly atop his head. This mysterious man had wandered in and out of my backyard for the past several days and I was determined to find out why. So far, I had no answers, but this did not deter me, not yet anyway. I knew he was destined to return a few hours later, but this was my chance, it was time to leave the comfort of my bedroom and explore, to find out what was happening down there and why he was so secretively trespassing on my back lawn and forested garden beds. I quickly threw on some track pants and a worn t-shirt, grabbing my sneakers from the entrance way, and I was off to follow.

  I mirrored his footsteps, each print on the ground was set wide apart, I struggled to place my foot in line with his own manly steps. The woods were dark, more so than I remembered. It had been a few months since I had dared enter the dimly lit trees. In recent weeks, there had been rumors of wolves being seen close by in my neighborhood. Not just any wolves either, but ones that were almost double the size of those that had lived on the outskirts of town for as long as we all could remember. I shuddered to think what may become of me if I was unfortunate enough to encounter one of these strange beasts, but the pull of my curiosity was too strong. I longed desperately to know who this beautiful being was and what he was doing here. He felt out of place somehow. I could not put my finger on it, but I knew everyone who lived in this town and they all knew me, but this is a man who I had never laid eyes on before he appeared in my yard one day. It was, for lack of a better word, peculiar.

  I could no longer see him, but I could definitely hear the crunching of the leaf litter beneath his feet as he tracked his way through the forest. I stepped carefully, hoping not to arouse suspicion as I followed him far behind. It was sudden when the sound I had followed for what seemed like ours finally came to an abrupt stop. I waited until I could hear the rustling leaves again. This time though, it did not sound like he was walking, rather searching for something perhaps? It was hard to decide just what he was up to without being able to see it for myself. I tiptoed closer, hoping to catch a glimpse. As I carefully shuffled my way through, I could see him for the first time, from less than a few feet away. He was even more handsome up close.

  I was taken aback by his flawless skin and dreamy blue eyes. I watched on intently as he continued to search through the leaf litter. Could he have lost something here? Was he unable to find it in the dim lighting of the undergrowth? Surely, after several days of searching, he would have given up. It must be something so some importance. Soon my questions were answered. He pulled hard on what seemed to be a handle and a trap door suddenly appeared beneath him. As he moved forward and daintily step through, I lost my footing and stumbled abruptly into the open. The man stared blankly at me, not sure what to make of the situation. All I could do was try and explain myself, but my mouth simply flopped open and no words managed to escape. Even if they had, I had no valid reason for being there, not one that did not sound utterly insane!

  "Who... Who are you?" He questioned, still halfway through the door that had until recently been hidden from sight. Rather than being angry or upset at my sneaking and spying, he seemed somewhat amused. He smiled at me, with pearly white teeth as he jumped back to the forest floor and extended a hand to me. I grasped it softly and he hoisted me back to my feet. I brushed myself off while he finally introduced himself.

  "I'm Alex," He greeted me. I looked up at his sheepish grin and could not help but smile too. I realized how stupid I had been, to follow him without announcing myself earlier, my cheeks began to blush at the thought.

  “Emily...” I mumbled, trying to keep eye contact and avoid the embarrassment that I felt. We cautiously approached each other, he moved with a strange precision I had not been anticipating. We were wary of each other that was clear, but he seemed just as interested in me as I was in him.

  "Where did you come from?" I could not keep my questions to myself any longer. Thoughts raced through my mind as he seemingly struggled to respond. He thought long and hard, I could see from the quizzical look plastered across his face as the cogs turning.

  "I just moved here, with my family," He decided this was just vague enough for me. I nodded in an understanding way. He had always been alone when I saw him, I wondered where he was living or what his family was like.

  "I'm sorry I followed you, I saw you for the past few days in my backyard and I was just... curious," I explained. It was truthful enough. He smiled knowingly and beckoned me closer. I did as he gestured, making my way toward where the trap door was laying. He urged me to look down.

  "We live here," He revealed. I wondered why he was being so open with me, a stranger, who had stalked him through the woods. Perhaps he felt the same unspoken connection that I had felt toward him. It was an unorthodox place to call home, I had not known anyone from town taking refuge in the woods, no one that ma
de a regular appearance around me as it were. He closed the door and patted the log next to him, taking a seat himself before I joined him. We chatted for a while about our lives, he had been forced to move here by his father, who had obtained a new job in the city not far from us. They preferred a more humble and isolated living than they could hope for in the big city. I fully understood, or at least I thought I did. This family had a secret back story that I was soon to find out.

  We sat on that log for what seemed like hours, the sun began to set overhead as we discussed our lives at large and our dreams for the future. Never had I had this kind of instant connection with another human being. It was magical and so unexpected. In this dead-end town nothing ever happened, yet here I was, with a man I barely knew, having the most meaningful conversation of my young life. Soon, the moon began to rise in place of the sun, making a brief ap[appearance through the canopy of the tree branches as it found its place among the stars. Alex noticed this almost instantly, looking worried at the sky he rushed to find the entrance to the hidden home once more.

  "I have to go," He mumbled, not giving an explanation for his sudden change of mood. Was he afraid of the dark? I could not put my finger on the exact cause of his urgency. I stood with him and helped located the handle which had once more disappeared below the increasing depth of leaf litter. He opened it up and before he climbed inside looked back at me. Our eyes met and he took my hand tenderly in his. My heart skipped a beat as he proposed another meeting.

  "I want to see you again," He told me. There was nothing I wanted more in this world than to see him, even just once more. I agreed and we hastily made plans before he finally slipped away.

  "It was lovely to meet you, Emily," He admitted, I nodded my agreement as he disappeared, until next time. We arranged to meet at my house the next day and I could not be more pleased. It had been so boring in this small town for so long, no friends to interest me in this way. Not to mention how dreamy he was, especially up close. He took my breath away.

  I walked home slowly, encapsulated in my own world, I imagined what tomorrow would bring. The evening seemed to pass in a flash like it does when you have something to look forward to. I went to bed peacefully and awaited the next stage of my weekend, suddenly it did not seem so bleak. The world was somewhat brighter through my eyes.

  I awoke to the sunlight beaming through my window. It stung my eyes as I stirred. Then I realized, I realized that it was a mere matter of hours before I was to see him again. My heart skipped a beat as I jumped from my bed and raced downstairs. My feet pounded against the wooden floorboards as I ran down the halls. I prepared breakfast hastily and threw myself into the shower to start my day. The stream of warm water kissed my skin as it trickled down my bosom and thighs to the tiled floor. It was so inviting. I spent several minutes standing there with my eyes firmly closed, washing all my worries away along with the dirt from my trek through the woods the day previous.

  That was when it all fell apart. After a long and needed wash, I opened my closet to find that I had nothing to wear. Nothing I wanted to wear anyway. I tried on outfits, one after the other, nothing seemed right. I sighed and decided to go shopping, it had been awhile since I had sprung for new clothes and this occasion called for something stunning. I grabbed the keys from the kitchen table and sped out of the front door. I was almost in my car when my neighbor stopped me in my tracks.

  “Good morning!” He greeted me cheerfully. Dave was an elderly man who loved to get out and in the garden on a weekend. Like usual, he was watering the pot plants that stood out the front on his porch. I waved and smiled as I continued to the car.

  “Did you hear that noise last night?” He asked me. I paused, with the keys raised toward the car. I was intrigued. He rarely ever had any news to share so this was out of the ordinary yet again.

  “No, what noise?” I asked, naïve to the happenings on the night I had slept so soundly. He beaconed me closer, his face flooded with worry. I did as he gestured and walked toward his neatly trimmed hedges. I leaned in close to hear what he was about to say, gingerly he whispered,

  “I heard howling out in the woods somewhere, rumor has it that it was a … well, a werewolf.” My jaw dropped. My town was old-fashioned and, at times, superstitious, but this was ridiculous. I chuckled instinctively, but still, he looked at me with a serious and mortified stare. Could it be true? Surely not.

  “You people come up with the craziest explanations sometimes,” I responded. As I attempted to walk away, he grabbed my arm, giving his final warning before I dismissed it for good.

  “Just take care of yourself, James swears that he saw it up on the hill past the edge of the forest and I would hate to see you get hurt. Whatever it may be,” I nodded and he let me go. I made my way to the car and unlocked it, driving toward the shopping center with the strange explanation still playing on my mind. A werewolf? It could not be. I mean, it was not true.

  At the center, I was overwhelmed by the array of clothing that I had to choose from. The dress came at me from all angles as I tried desperately to pick the right one for the occasion. It seemed hopeless, I had never had an eye for fashion, so this was my idea of a nightmare. I had been so hopeful before my arrival, but this proved I should have just picked something from my closet.

  I stopped at the front of one of the boutiques, it was exactly what I was looking for. The dress hung from the petite manikin in the window, it sat perfectly against the plastic physique. The black, silk material draped over the body of the figure, hanging with the hem just below the knee. It was stylish and modern, but not overly formal. I ran in and scoured the racks for the exact outfit in my size. There it was, staring back at me.

  A swift change in the fitting room confirmed my thoughts quickly. I looked myself up and down in the mirror, imagining myself in his dress and the matching shoes at home in my closet. Whatever it cost, I had to have it. I took it straight to the counter without a second glance at the tag. My credit card would take a beating, but it was all worth it for Alex to see me looking like this. For once, I felt confident. I felt sexy. All the things that had escaped me for so long. It was awe-inspiring.

  I did not look at the receipt as I shoved it into the plastic bag with my new purchase. I was so happy to finally make headway on my plans for the evening. I wondered what we would do when we crossed paths again. I hastily dressed once I returned home and spent a long while in the mirror, doing my makeup to perfection. Soon, it was just one hour remaining until we were together again.

  I was sure that this would make him look at me in a new light. We were already on what could only be described as a date, but I wanted more, I had to have him. This lustful desire welled up inside of me. It had been too long and I was aching for a man's touch and I had found mine. The time arrived all too quickly, I looked out the window and there he was. He was early, but his eagerness was a testament to his feelings for me.

  As he looked up and caught my staring face, I waved awkwardly. He waved back. We smiled at each other momentarily. I shook my head and made my way downstairs, grabbing my purse from the dressing table and I was gone, not to return for the foreseeable future.

  We greeted each other once we were face to face. He kissed me on the cheek as he shook nervously.

  “You look beautiful,” He complimented. I felt my cheeks flush red from the attention he was giving me. He took my hand and began to lead me to the woods.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, confused. Back into the woods? It made no sense to me.

  “I wanted to show you something,” He did not explain well enough. I followed him anyway, despite the warnings my neighbor had given that same morning. What if he was right? I did not want to think about it, I felt safe in Alex's company. I may not have known him long, but my intuition was generally pretty accurate when it came to people.

  We got to the same clearing where we had met and continued. It was further than I had ever dared to venture. We climbed the hill that Dave had mentioned
and was greeted by a grassy knoll where he had already laid out a picnic blanket with a bottle of wine and various treats, strawberries, and chocolate. It was entirely unexpected.

  “For a moment I thought I picked the wrong outfit,” I admitted. He laughed at my comment. He took my hand once more and offered me a seat while he poured the wine into our respective glasses. I took a sip of the full-bodied red as we gazed into the dimly lit sky. It all felt so right.

  “I have been waiting all day for this moment and it is finally here,” He whispered in my ear. We spoke for a while, picking up where we had left off before. We had so much in common, I was astounded we had not met prior to that week. We liked the same shows, the same books and even shared some of the same hobbies. I could not believe it, it seemed he was too good to be true!

  Before the evening came to an end I was pleasantly surprised by his advances.

  “I had a wonderful time today,” He told me, getting closer with each breath. I hung on to his every word. I was intoxicated by his presence.

  “So have I,” I confirmed, not ever wanting this moment to end.

  He leaned in and kissed me tenderly on the lips. I closed my eyes and let myself fall into his warm embrace. His arms wrapped around my waist as he pushed his tongue into my mouth, parting my lips gently as he did so. I had never had such a romantic kiss before and I was completely captivated by his apparent spell. His hand slid up my short dress and fondled my soft thighs as I pushed myself against him harder. He moved his hand up my skirt and with the other, laid me back against the outstretched picnic blanket. It was the perfect moment. But like any perfection in life, it ended all too suddenly.

  The sun had long set and the full moon was slowly making an appearance above us. Alex's eyes widened as he stared back at me in panic.

  “I have to go,” He told me. I was confused, bewildered by his abrupt change of heart. What had I done to deserve this? I grabbed his arm as he tried to pull away.