Billionaire's Only Cure Read online

  But before that he needed to clean up his mess.

  He shook his head, glancing at the wreck he’d made last night. Empty beer bottles and scattered photographs littered the floor. The bitter taste of beer surfaced on his tongue; it had been months since he had to drink to make his anxiety go away.

  His bedroom wasn’t the biggest one in his penthouse. He had bigger, but they would have been problematic to clean, so he chose a small room. Even so, right now it was a mess. Photos of his childhood were scattered around the green carpet. Photos in which he was playing with other kids. He missed that time, when he could touch others and feel real emotions.

  Whenever he felt troubled, he went through his childhood pictures, imagining he was once again ten years old, playing with other kids.

  Yesterday was trouble. Bending, he started gathering the pictures and put them neatly in a box. They were important.

  Another wave of pain shot through his temple, hitting him like a hammer. He made his way to the bathroom. He needed aspirin, and a strong dose of coffee.

  She was a coffee person.

  No, no. He hated coffee. Wasn’t it enough that she’d invaded his mind the whole night? Two sentences, and he felt like a jerk for being hard on her.

  Damn! Why did she say she was happy for him? How could she be happy?

  She couldn’t be. Not after what she did six years ago. She walked out on him when he was improving, sending him to the depths of hell. One month. For one month, he’d lived in a dark room, fearing sunlight, fearing everyone, fearing himself. He was on the verge of madness. He should be angry at her, destroy her. And yet two sentences broke his resolve, made him want to go easy on her.

  No more. Today he would be firm like a polar covalent bond, still and unwavering.

  But did she deserve it?

  Yes, she did.

  His cellphone beeped; Mark Hedger’s name flashed on the screen. He was Alice’s ex. Now her agent.

  He rubbed his forehead. “What do you want?”

  “Mr. Parker. My attorney is on the way for contract termination. I want to buy back my singer.”

  Jade rubbed his forehead fiercely. That was the last thing he wanted to hear this morning.

  “I’m not listening to your crap,” Jade replied after taking a moment.

  “You’d better, Mr. Parker. If you refuse, a lawsuit will knock on your door. Making a woman do dirty work for you, really?”

  While looking into the huge mirror hung in his bathroom, Jade slapped his cheek lightly. Then he pulled two aspirin from the medicine drawer and threw them in his mouth. The headache was going to get tough, so he needed to prepare for it.

  “Listen, Mr. Hedger.” He hardened his voice. “I didn’t beg you to sell that contract to me. You sold it because you were losing money on her. You looked quite happy when you sold it to me. And you were ready to roll out the red carpet when I offered you a million extra.”

  Mark remained silent for a brief second. “But this doesn’t fit under employment law—”

  Jade snorted. “What doesn’t fit? Making her book a hotel for a meeting doesn’t fit? Or asking her to make coffee for me doesn’t fit? I bet you make your secretary run errands for you on the weekend.” He knew how these moneys huggers worked. They just wanted money and nothing else. If it wasn’t for that one song’s copyrights, Mark would have thrown Alice away a long while back. He surely made her life miserable. That jerk made her stay in a dangerous suburb for three years. Another wave of pain shot through his head as he remembered her suburb’s conditions.

  He'd better get her out of there soon.

  “I’m ready to pay double,” Mark said. “My lawyer is on the way. Just sign the contract and give me my singer back. We have a re-buying of contract clause active for first six months. I’m executing that.”

  Jade dropped a text to his lawyer: Find out why Mark wants to buy Alice’s contract back. And be in my office in next fifteen minutes.

  “I’ll see your lawyer in my office.” He jabbed the red icon on the screen. Talking to that jerk made his headache worse.

  His lawyer replied in a jiffy: Roger, Jade.

  Ten minutes later, his lawyer, Max Jenkins sat across his desk, staring at the paintings hanging on his office wall. He was a well-built man, almost six feet tall, still an inch shorter than Jade. His best qualities? Punctuality and sincerity. That’s why he again and again won Jade’s retainer.

  “Max,” Jade gave him a be-comfortable-but-don’t-come-near-me smile.

  “I found out why he wants her back. It’s a song she sung in her first show. A major producer has approached him to buy it for an upcoming movie. It’s a huge deal.”

  “Can he take her back?”

  “No,” Max said, and Jade was reminded of another reason why he liked him. He was always proactive. “I called the producer five minutes ago and initiated a contract signing with him. His lawyer is on the way. As her new agent, you can sign that on Alice’s behalf.”

  “Good, but Mark’s lawyer is on his way.” Jade scratched his beard. He needed to shave soon; bacteria could grow in facial hair. An idea struck him. He picked up his phone and dialed building security. “Mr. Mason, a lawyer is on the way to my office. His name is Jack Maddox. Make sure he is stuck on the ground floor for the next thirty minutes.”

  “But, sir, he’s already in the elevator. He should be arriving in your office in twenty seconds,” Mr. Mason replied hastily.

  “Then halt that goddamn elevator!”

  “Yes, sir.” Mr. Mason hung up.

  Thirty seconds passed, but the elevator didn’t stop on his floor. Instead it got stuck at the fifteenth.

  “That’s done.” Jade smiled, thinking how annoyed the lawyer would be once he got out of the elevator. He asked for it by working with Mark.

  “Mr. Parker,” Max said. “Your mother was asking about the new product.”

  Jade rubbed his forehead. This was getting frequent these days, his mother asking for his products.

  “Block it. Issue a memo that the planning department directly reports to me going forward. No external communication is allowed unless I authorize it.” Jade tapped on the desk. His mother had become aggressive lately, but he couldn’t think of a reason why. She had her own multi-billion dollar business. Compared to hers, his company was like a drop in the sea. No, he’d have to repay her debt and get a hundred percent hold on his own company. If she spread her influence, she would introduce her shady methods into his company, which wasn’t acceptable.

  “What about the case I asked you to look into?”

  Max leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. “It’s in progress. I’ll give you some concrete details in the next few days.”

  Jade nodded.

  “Mr. Parker,” Max said, “Can I ask you a personal question? If you don’t mind.”

  Jade glanced at him. This was something new. Max had never asked him anything personal. Well, there’s a first time for everything. And he didn’t mind answering what he could.

  “Shoot.”

  “Who is this girl, and why are you trying to protect her so much? It’s not like you at all.”

  Jade slammed his hands on his office desk. The monitor shook a little from the sheer force of the blow.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” Max said, lowering his voice.

  Jade moved out of his chair and walked to the glass wall behind his desk. From here, he could see the heavy traffic of the city. All the rooms except his bedroom had glass walls for one reason: to let him watch the traffic and see what he’d been missing from the age of ten. This was part of his therapy, where he made his negativity into a force to bulldozer all his weaknesses. Watching people moving on the street made him realize how much harder he had worked to get here and why couldn’t lose it to his disease.

  It all started when she left him.

  “It wasn’t aimed at you. Nor have you offended me. Call Miss Myer and let her know about the change in contract own
er. I don’t want her to remain in the dark any longer. And as part of the new contract, move her to some apartment nearby. I don’t want her living in that slum.”

  Chapter 7

  Alice was lounging in her small unmade bed when the call from Jade’s lawyer came in, crashing her mood. Before that, she’d been enjoying her morning with leftover pasta from last night and a cup of hot coffee. Her bed was once again nearly littered with food, her room smelled like the pasta, and her office clothes were back in the closet. It was finally a home she loved.

  She had been living in her small studio apartment for the last three years. Per the contract, Mark had rented it for her. At first, she didn’t like it as the neighborhood seemed dangerous, but soon she got used to it. The parks here were awesome, and there were many shops which sold cheap booze. The real stuff, imported from Scotland. Sometimes she wondered if those expensive bottles on display were stolen from rich people. She didn’t care. As long as she bought it with her money, it was her property.

  She was fighting her hangover with an Americano when Mr. Jenkins called her to Parker Chemicals to finish some contract formalities. And just after his call, Mark called and said he had taken care of Mr. Parker, and she wouldn’t have to work for him anymore. So, the call from Mr. Jenkins must have been to finish up things with Jade.

  Awesome! Everything was falling back in place. She was so happy that she wanted to gulp the remaining whiskey from the last bottle. But that wouldn’t work in his posh office. She’d better remain sober a little longer.

  What should she wear? Something formal? No, it was a goodbye meeting, and she had no plans to go back there. She would wear something casual. Sweat pants and a T-shirt?

  No, that would be too casual. What else then? After pondering for a while, she chose a pair of dark blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. It wasn’t too casual, nor it was formal. Perfect for a goodbye meeting.

  Ten minutes later, she was riding the subway toward the office. Thank God, her brief stint at Parker Chemicals was over as the office was too far from her current place. And she wasn’t in any mood to leave her current apartment until her contract ended. Mark wouldn’t pay more than seven hundred bucks for her rent.

  By the time she reached Parker Chemicals, she was humming her favorite song. As soon as she entered the building, her phone beeped with the meeting room name: H2O

  H2O was located on the second floor, so she took the stairs. She was getting wary of that extra ten pounds after dealing with that tight skirt yesterday. She better some weight fast, or she might not fit in her favorite jeans. That would be a calamity.

  A tall and handsome man in a stark black business suit was already sitting in the five-person meeting room. He had a muscular build and brown eyes that reminded her of the hash browns from a restaurant she regularly visited. She missed it already. If only she was in her apartment, she could have visited it right away.

  “Miss Myer.” He extended his hand.

  Alice shook his hand then grabbed a seat across the table. The chair felt too soft. Soft leather coated the seat and back, while the chair hands were covered in smooth fiber. It was better than Oxygen, or her chair behind the reception desk on the thirty-first floor.

  Well, it wasn’t her desk anymore. So, no offense taken.

  “Mr. Jenkins, may I know why you called me here?” She casually glanced at the documents placed on the conference table. They were her freedom-from-the-jerk documents, so she needed to sign it with care.

  “Call me Max.” He raised his chin and smiled. “We’re here to discuss some business changes and get you moved into a new apartment. This one is closer to your office.”

  She leaned forward, resting her hands on the polished wooden table.

  “New apartment?”

  “Yes, I’ve shortlisted two movers in your area. Please chose one. They will transfer everything tomorrow. Until then, you can live in a hotel nearby.”

  She shook her head. What the heck was he talking about? Did Mark change her apartment?

  “I thought you were Jade’s lawyer.”

  His eyes twitched. “I’m indeed Mr. Parker’s lawyer. But why do you ask that?” He pulled a pen out of his black leather bag.

  Alice brushed her tongue over her dry lips. “What’s going on? Mark told me this morning that I’m not working here anymore, but you’re asking me to move to a closer apartment?” Her gaze jumped around. Her heartbeat quickened. “This doesn’t make sense.”

  “I got it. Let me tell you in simple terms. Mr. Parker bought your contract from Mr. Hedger few days back, so technically Mr. Parker is your new agent. Mark has no say in what you do anymore.”

  Her heartbeat rose to a new level, and sweat formed on her neck. Tapping the area below her ears, she leaned back. Something was crazy wrong here. Jade Hyde, her new agent? What the hell?

  “No, this isn’t possible. How can he sell my contract without letting me know?”

  He looked confused. “I can see your signature here.” He pushed a paper toward her, and there was her signature at the bottom of that paper.

  She remembered that paper. She had signed it a few days back in Mark’s office. But Mark had said that was for some auditions. What did he get her to sign?

  Her heart slammed against her chest, like it wanted to come out and splatter on that paper. No, this couldn’t be happening. This was not true. Jade wasn’t her agent. Not in this lifetime.

  Alice stood. “This is a lie. I’m going to court and get a stay order on this.” She slammed her finger on the document. “Ow!” She went overboard, and now her finger hurt badly.

  “Are you all right?” Max gave her a worried look.

  Grabbing her finger with her other hand, she nodded. The pain in her heart was more intense than her finger.

  “About the court, if you want my professional opinion? It won’t work. First, your signature was not needed. There’s a clause in your contract that permits an agent to sell it to another if there’s no change in any of its terms. Second there’s CCTV footage of you signing the paper of your own volition.”

  Mark, that jerk! How could he betray her like this?

  Alice slumped back in her chair, defeated, fighting back tears. She once again regretted signing with Mark four years ago.

  “Miss Myer, if you are done discussing the contract, make your way to my office.” The devil’s familiar voice filled the meeting room.

  Max smiled. “I guess your boss is calling you.”

  Alice rose. She had no other choice but to work for Jace for the next few months.

  Wait. He’d said no other change in the contract’s terms. “Mr. Jenkins? I have a quick question.”

  Max stopped collecting papers and looked at her with querying eyes.

  “My contract ends in three months, right?”

  He nodded.

  “Thanks. I’ll get going then.” She said with a full smile. There was hope at the end of the tunnel.

  “I’ve texted you your new address. I hope you’d like it.” Max shouted after her.

  Her phone beeped, and she checked her new address. It was the 30th floor at Parker Chemicals.

  Chapter 8

  Jade rubbed his temples. His headache was getting worse, and the cold temperature in his office wasn’t helping. Even the near-silent hum of the air purifier irritated him. More than that, Mark’s stupid lawyer had pissed him off.

  Argh, this headache. He rubbed his temples more vigorously.

  He needed coffee, and he wanted Alice to make it for him. But that girl... where was she?

  Speak of the devil, and she appears.

  Alice stormed into his office. She wore a T-shirt and jeans. She hadn’t even done her hair properly; it was loose and scattered everywhere. She took better care of herself six years ago. She’d always tied her hair in a nice bun, and it looked way cuter than her current hairstyle—if it could be called a hairstyle.

  She slammed her phone on the desk. A corner piece of its see-through case snapped o
ff and skittered to the floor.

  How many germs had she just dropped on his carpet?

  God. His headache increased twofold. His heart started palpitating. Why couldn’t this girl give him a break? For the first time, he seriously questioned his motivation for revenge. Wasn’t she supposed to be suffering here? Because it seemed like he suffered instead.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” She pointed at something on her mobile screen.

  He ignored her. “Can I get a coffee, please?”

  She bit her lower lip. “Why am I moving to the thirtieth floor?”

  “What’s wrong with that?” It wasn’t like he was moving her into his penthouse. That wasn’t happening. Not now, not ever.

  She threw her hands in the air. “What’s wrong? Really?” She glared at him and slumped into the chair across the desk. “Jade—”

  He opened his mouth to correct her, but she beat him to it.

  “I know I should call you Mr. Parker, but let’s get real here. Why did you buy my contract? And why am I working as your secretary?”

  “Ask Mark, he sold your contract to me.” He rubbed his stubbly jaw, again reminding himself to shave it soon. “And this is your on-the-job training for a role in a show.”

  “Don’t say that jerk’s name in front of me.” She shot him a fiery look. “He doesn’t belong in the decent human category anymore.”

  “I agree on that,” Jade said, smirking.

  “You too.” She pierced his soul with her hazel eyes. “We ended things five years back, and yet you tangled me up in this... thing. Why do you want to see me daily?” Her shoulders dropped, and she slumped back in the chair, defeated. A loose strand of hair fell on her face. She tried to blow it away, but it stuck on her nose and lips.

  An urge filled his heart to leap across the desk, tuck that strand behind her ear, and cup her face. He loved doing that.