Billionaire Romance: Flame (3 page)

Chapter Six

After he had taught her some new tricks, they both lay naked in bed. Belle was too content to want to say anything and he had his mind elsewhere. Dennis was lost in thought. Putting aside her warm feeling, she studied his face long enough to make him look at her.

“We’ll stay here for one more day, or two, okay? I need to rest,” he said.

“Are you okay?”

“To be honest, no. I keep seeing numbers.”

“Numbers?” She propped up, concerned for him.

“My companies. I haven’t done any work since we arrived. I trust Sir. Elliot to manage well without me for a few days, a week maybe, but a month? Years? We’ll lose a fortune.”

Belle scowled as she tried to do the math. She gave up. “I thought we had eloped.”

“Certainly, but this trip doesn’t fund itself.”

“You are a billionaire.”

“Yes. And my father can easily freeze my assets if he thinks I’m in danger. Good that he hasn’t. He doesn’t have reason to do so, yet.”

“Let him freeze them. Who needs him? We can start afresh, as a couple. Maybe work at a bar--”

“God!” Dennis jumped out of bed as if something had pricked him. She couldn’t see what was wrong.

“What is it?”

“Work at a bar?” He was disgusted by the very idea.

“Well, it’s a start.”

“What if someone sees me and takes a picture, then it’s all over the media. No thanks, I am not going from billionaire to
working at a bar
.”

“That’s a very superficial thing to say.” She scowled.

“Could you be so naïve? I don’t care if it makes me look like a rich bastard but I refuse to be poor bartender.”

Belle was peeved by his superiority complex. It had just been a vain idea and he’d overreacted. She pointed at him. “Fine, then go back and work for your controlling father, since you think you are better than all of us!”

“Those are my businesses. I built them without anyone’s help and I won’t abandon them now just because I’m in love! It is my life and if you want to make me choose between them and you, then I’m afraid you won’t like the answer very much!”

Bare-assed, he stormed outside before she could get a word in.

“Dennis!”

Belle hurried after him. However, when she was about to pursue him out, she felt bile rise from her stomach. Covering her mouth, she detoured to the bathroom where she vomited in the sink immediately.

When the nausea had passed, Dennis still hadn’t returned so she dressed up and went to the reception. There were a few guests about. Belle was grateful to see Dina still smiling at her desk.

“Hi, enjoying your stay?” She beamed when Belle approached.

“Not quite,” Belle whispered. “Do you happen to have… um… pregnancy tests?”

Dina’s eyes lit up. “Wow. We haven’t had any requests for those so, no. Though, we could have someone fetch some for you.”

She bit her lip in thought. “The gas station isn’t too far from here. I’ll get it myself. Dennis didn’t by any chance leave the keys to the Maserati here, did he?”

“It works with a button, love.”

“Right!”

She ambled away from the reception. Belle was so disoriented. Her mind never worked well when she was apprehensive. She only hoped it was a false alarm. Suddenly remembering, she rushed back to Dina.

“Not a word, please!”

“We are paid for confidentiality, ma’am,” the receptionist said.

“I don’t pay you, he does.”

“You have my word. I won’t tell him... Congratulations!”

Belle scratched her head. Her fingers became wet as the anxiety had made her sweat break. It had to be a false alarm, she convinced herself. Mindlessly, she made her way to the car park. She spotted the Maserati at once and thankfully, it wasn’t locked. Getting in, she pressed the start button. The engine revved. Belle was going to drive a speed car and she wasn’t looking forward to it. She only hoped she could remember her left from her right when she came to the main road – she couldn’t quite get them right when she was disoriented.

The gas station had to be on her right, she convinced herself. Yes, it had to be. She drove as best she could without going too. With her cluttered mind, she thought nothing of the police car she drove past or when it tailed her.

She was right though, the gas station appeared before her. She parked the vehicle outside and stormed in. A bored clerk looked at her as she searched the mart for something she couldn’t find. Finally, Belle gave up her search and went to him.

“Do you have any… pregnancy tests?”

“I’ll check,” he said and bent down to search for it in the cabinets. 

When he emerged with a pack, Belle clutched her stomach and scowled. “Never mind, I’ll take some sanitary napkins, if you may.”

He gave her a cheeky grin and changed the order.

Belle was smiling from ear to ear as she exited the gas station bathroom where she’d gone to change. She was so pleased that she didn’t bat an eyelid when she walked straight into a police officer. He pointed at the white Maserati.

“Ma’am, is that your vehicle?”

“Yes, why?” Too late, her brain caught up with her. She gulped.

“Are you alone ma’am.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure you don’t mind escorting me to the police station.”

Belle Winters minded very much but she knew better than to protest. She’d been there when Dennis had attacked an officer. If anything, she was an accomplice. Her spirits drowning, she entered the police car without question.

As she was driven away like a fugitive, she looked out the window and saw the Maserati becoming small with each second. She hoped Dennis would understand. Whatever it came to, she decided she would take one for the team.

Chapter Seven

Dennis burst out of the suite. He walked past the Jacuzzi into the connecting outdoor garden. He was so upset that it did not even bother him that he was butt naked. Besides, he did not think anyone could see him even as he went past his suites territory. The suites, however, were designed to have a common outdoor garden. Jessica knew that so it didn’t surprise her so much when Dennis walked up on her sunbathing.

He, on the other hand, was startled. Dennis had been lost in thought when suddenly Jessica flashed before him. She was clad in nothing but a thong and bra. The sudden presence of a stunning woman aroused him and that he had no clothes on made it impossible to hide. Jessica beamed.

“You’re bold,” she said.

Everything that followed happened too fast. Before he could stop himself, Dennis was being pushed through the double doors and into Jessica’s grand suite. He tried to think of Belle but, in that moment, his body won.

He panted as Jessica pinned him against the wall, then gracefully ran her tongue over his areola before dropping on her knees.

“I smell her on you. Now I want to taste her…”

Dennis was about to protest when he screamed as pleasure ripped through his veins. He watched her head bobbing to and fro as she took him all in. It felt so good. He grabbed her head as he jerked his hips back and forth to heighten his pleasure. He was about to explode in her mouth when she pulled out.

“Please. Please, no.” He wanted her to finish. She stared at him with seductive eyes. Jessica licked her lips.

“Show me that Jacuzzi thing.”

Like glass had shattered on his head, Dennis came to his senses. Belle was there in the other suite and here he was with Jessica. He didn’t care how hot she was or that he was burning with desire, he wasn’t going to cheat.

“SHOW ME!”

He made to run out but Jessica blocked his way. She wasn’t going to let him off that easy. Dennis looked away. He wanted to drill her so badly but he knew where his loyalties lay. In order to think with his actual head he needed to let it all out, so he ran into the bathroom and locked it.

“Dennis!” Jessica banged at the door.

“I can’t. I’ve got a girlfriend.”

“No one will know,” She purred.

Dennis huffed. He didn’t want to say no but he had to. He respected Belle too much and so, he went into the shower and doused himself in cold water but his passions were too strong to be quenched. And so under the running water, he thought of Belle and relieved himself with the strong grip of his right hand. After a long time, he burst in relief. He had his head back.

Draped in a bathrobe, he cautiously left the bathroom. His eyes immediately stumbled on Jessica. She was sprawled on the bed like a lazy tigress. She looked at him and smiled sincerely.

“You really love her, don’t you?” 

Dennis nodded. He walked over and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“One day you will also find someone who reserves themselves just for you.”

Jessica cheekily grabbed his bottoms. He laughed it off and left before he could be tempted to take another brutally cold shower. Besides, his hands were sore from the furious passions he’d just had to let out.

When Dennis returned to his suite, Belle was gone. He was relieved that she wasn’t there. He imagined that she had gone for a walk to brood or something. The better. It meant he could do some work. Putting on his clothes, Dennis left the suite and went to work in a private study he had requested.

Due to his demanding work, it was only after the sun had set that he emerged. When he still didn’t find Belle, he was concerned. It was a déjà vu.

He went to the reception to inquire. Dina was off duty and the new receptionists didn’t know anything. Dennis went outside to look for Belle. He was so worried when he couldn’t find her. He decided to check the garage. When he realized the Maserati was missing, his heart broke. His favorite person had taken his favorite car and left him with nothing. He was too angry to cry.

Returning into the resort, he asked the receptionist to call his headquarters. Due to the continental difference, he would be picked up only the next day. Dennis Kroesh had a long night ahead and he didn’t sleep a wink.

At first light, Dennis was pacing the reception, waiting for his private helicopter to arrive. Dina was back on station.

“Hope you had a lovely stay,” she greeted him with a smile. He stopped pacing.

“Is it possible that I can sue you for my missing car?” He wasn’t smiling.

“Missing?”

“Just great.”

“No. Your girlfriend took your car. She wanted to buy something from the gas station. Did she not come back?”

“Does it look like she came back?” Dennis was convinced Belle had run away.

“Oh dear.” Dina picked up the telephone and dialed. “I’m calling the police.”

“Why bother?”

He didn’t want to go to extremes but waited as she relayed and received information. Dina frowned.

“Oh dear. She was arrested at the gas station. Spent a night in holding for the assault of an officer.”

Suddenly, panic struck Dennis. He felt like a fool. Of course the police had been out to get them. Poor Belle, he blamed himself.  “Is she there now?”

Dina looked sad. “She left on a plane back to London thirty minutes ago.”

“DAMNIT!”

Dennis rushed out of the resort. Just then, he heard the deafening noise of a helicopter. His private helicopter. Suddenly, he was convinced what he had to do.

Chapter Eight

Belle Winters felt like a dump. Dragging her feet through Heathrow airport, she pondered on the decisions she had made. Her life had been flawless before Dennis Kroesh, boring but flawless. Her train of thought was morose. The pregnancy scare had been bad enough but it was nothing compared to spending a night alone in police custody.  At least they spoke English, she smiled a little then went back to brooding. 

Blindly, she walked right into someone. This time there was no flailing of arms or dramatic falling. The man did not move. She looked up to his face and her breath fled.

“Why on earth didn’t you call me?” Dennis said.

“I spent one night in behind bars, for you.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Did you even look for me?” she asked. He stuttered.  He didn’t have an excuse.  “Where were you? I called the resort. I called our room. Were you with her?”

He shook his head. “You shouldn’t have left without me.”

Belle wanted to walk past him but he held her hand and stared into her blue eyes.

“Don’t push me away.”

“I had to call my poor mother to bail me out! Do you know what that feels like? This is goodbye Dennis.”

He held his forehead in thought, then said, “If being with me is hurting you Belle, then go. If not…”

Dennis got on his knees, in view of everyone passing through the terminal. Some passerby’s grabbed their phones to capture their moment. The famous Dennis Kroesh was proposing to a simple girl in broad daylight. What a lucky girl, except Belle didn’t feel lucky.

“Bernadette Rosary Winters, will you marry me?” He extended a 64 carat diamond ring to her. She swallowed hard and her fingers trembled. He laughed nervously. “This ring belonged to my mother.”

Belle cupped her mouth to stop herself from breaking down completely. She shook her head. This was all she had ever wanted but it felt so wrong. He frowned at her, still on his knees, waiting.

“Hujar Kroesh bought this ring, for your mother?” she asked in a soft voice.

“Yes. He was her first love.”

“And how long did their marriage last?”

Dennis blinked. “That’s a very hurtful thing to say.”

It was common knowledge that Hujar Kroesh and his first wife, Dennis’s mother had been married for just about three years. She’d divorced him in the year after giving birth to Dennis and had gone on to remarry. Dennis had stayed in the custody of his father.

Belle did not want to be disrespectful but after all the humiliation Hujar Kroesh had put her through, she wasn’t sure she wanted part in something that was his. She tried to lift Dennis to his feet but he didn’t budge.

“I love you Dennis, I do. But I need to be sure we can be married for more than three years. And right now, I’m not convinced.”

It was a hard thing to do but Belle did it. In full view of spectators, she turned her back on Dennis and walked away. The silence in the terminal was deafening. As soon as she disappeared, the crowd continued moving.

Tears brimming in his eyes, Dennis stalled on his knees. Even when he saw a hand snatch away the 64 diamond carat ring from his hand, he didn’t bat an eyelid. He had lost something much more valuable.
 

Belle felt sick inside and out. Wiping stray tears with the back of her hand, she took out her cellphone. With trembling hands, she placed a call and waited.

“Hello, Matt… It’s me. Can we talk? Yes… About relocating to Manchester…”

Belle knew going back to her ex was retrogress, but at least she knew every demon there by name. Belle Winters also knew that sometimes it was necessary to return to the past in order to find yourself, because somewhere on the way she had gotten lost.