Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story (Saltwater Kisses Book 8) (20 page)

My hand went to my mouth. I could only think of one 'her' he could be talking about. Me. What didn't he want me to know and who was he paying?

“Fine. Another hundred grand.” Leo's voice was hard and unkind. “Then I'm done. This never gets out.”

Blackmail. That's what was going on here. There was something that Leo didn't want me to know and he was willing to pay off whoever it was that knew. One hundred thousand dollars. Something about the figure stuck in my brain.

The CEO slush fund.

But that didn't make sense. Leo was a billionaire. There was no reason for him not to just pay it out of his own bank account. There was no reason to use the corporate slush fund that was tracked and followed by accountants, unless...

Unless he was gambling again. Unless he didn't have access to his bank accounts. If he was gambling and needed quick cash, the CEO slush fund would look like the perfect place to get some money.

Oh, Leo. What are you doing?
I pressed my hand harder against my mouth. He said he hadn't gambled since college, but what if he was? What if that was why Toby was at the meeting last night? It explained so much, even though it left a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Anger seared up and out of that dark pit in my stomach. How could he do this to us? Things were just getting to be perfect. We were finally together and happy. Our friends were happy and the business was due to make another few billion dollars with this new app. Why now?

I stomped around the corner of the building, anger making me brave and stupid.

“Leo!” I growled.

He spun around startled, nearly dropping his phone in the process. “Charlotte! What are you doing here?”

I stalked up to him, furious that I only came up to his chest. I wished I was tall enough to glare down at him like an angry parent. “I came to get you. There's a party inside. A party of your
friends
.”

Friends you are lying to. Friends like me,
I thought.

“I'll be right in,” Leo replied, confused at the anger in my voice. “I just needed to make another call first.”

I crossed my arms, not moving. I wasn't about to leave to let him to transfer more money out of the slush fund. “Did you take the slush fund money, Leo?”

“Slush fund money?” Leo sounded genuinely confused, but I wasn't born yesterday. “What are you talking about?”

“There's money missing from the slush fund. One hundred thousand dollars.” I pressed my lips together, trying to keep my voice even. “I didn't know where it went, until I find you back here talking about giving people hundred's of thousands of dollars. What are you doing Leo?”

Leo's eyes flashed with darkness. “That's none of your business.”

“Leo, if you're gambling...”I took a step forward, uncrossing my arms and holding out my hands to him. “Please let me help you.”

“You think I'm gambling?” Hurt and betrayal filled Leo's face. He stepped back as if I had punched him in the gut.

“Leo, it's okay.” I took another step forward.

His face twisted and he shook his head, anger filling his eyes. “How dare you?”

“I'm just trying to help. I love you, Leo, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you,” I said. Stealing money from the company slush fund was a big deal. I wasn't sure how forgiving Bastian and Gabe would be, but I was determined to help him.

“I don't need your help, Charlotte.” He spat out my name like it left a bad taste in his mouth. “I've got everything under control.”

He straightened to his full height and tugged his shirt smooth before pushing past me to get back to the restaurant. I took a step back, surprised at how uncaring his attitude was. I was just trying to help him, but here he was acting like I was the enemy.

“Right,” I sneered, hating how catty I sounded even in my own head but unable to stop. “Because that phone call sounded very in control.”

Leo froze, every muscle in his back going stiff. He turned slowly. “It's none of your business, Charlotte.” His eyes narrowed and his voice was low and dangerous. “You need to drop it.”

“It
is
my business, Leo,” I snapped. How dare he put me in this position? The money was missing from the slush fund in the exact amount he was paying his blackmailer. It wasn't rocket science to figure out they were related and it certainly wasn't legal. “It's personal, professional and every thing in between. It is entirely my business.”

“Let it go, Charlotte.” Leo's eyes flashed. “It isn't what you think it is.”

“I just want to help-”

“I don't need your help!” Leo roared. His lips curled back in a snarl and the vein on his neck pumped with angry heartbeats. “I don't
want
your help.”

“Leo, if you're gambling...”

“I'm not gambling!” His whole body was tense and vibrating with anger. “I can't believe this. I tell you my biggest shame and you throw it in my face. You have no right, no right at all, sticking your nose into my business. This isn't your problem.”

“What the hell, Leo?” I hated the way I knew my face was flushing and how much I was shaking. I hated that we were fighting and I hated the way he was looking at me. There was betrayal and seething anger in his every glance.

“I don't need this.” Leo turned and started walking away from the restaurant.

“Leo, don't make me get Bastian.” I grabbed his arm, and as he looked down at me I knew it was the wrong thing to do. I should have just let him go off and cool down, but no. Now he was really mad. Now I had crossed the line.

He shook off my hands as if I were nothing. His eyes went up and down my body once, but there was no joy or even lust in the look. “If that's what you're going to do, then I guess I don't need you.”

I don't need you.
His words hit me like a Mac truck.

“Leo...”

“I never should have let anyone know how I feel about you. This was a mistake,” he hissed, turning and walking away. “Stay away from me, Charlotte.”

I stared after him, unable to move, unable to speak as he disappeared into the darkening sunset.

A mistake. I don't need you.

What had just happened?

“H
ey, Charlotte.”

Bastian's voice was low and soothing, but I didn't pick my head up off the bar. I didn't move. I just stayed there, my face pressed against the plastic that smelled like beer and wished I could curl up and die.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. I could feel his presence now on the bar-stool beside me and I peeked open one eye to see him smiling kindly at me. I wished he would just go back next door and leave me alone to cry.

“Being miserable.” I turned my head to face the other direction, but still on the bar. “Go away, Bastian. I want to mope.”

He moved seats so I had to look at him again. “Can I mope, too?”

I groaned and pulled myself off the bar. I knew him well enough to know he wasn't going to leave me alone. “Where's Ava? Shouldn't you two be dancing off into the sunset or something?”

“She's convincing Robbie to take her sailing tomorrow and to let her steer.” He chuckled and shook his head fondly before focusing on me again. “What are you doing getting drunk? On a workday?”

“I'm not drunk. I've only had one drink.” I looked at the single empty shot glass of rum on the counter. I wanted about thirty-seven more. Maybe then my heart wouldn't hurt so much. “I wanted to get drunk, but the hangover tomorrow sounded miserable.”

Bastian raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms, clearly not believing I was that sensible. “Right. A hangover.”

“Fine. I forgot my wallet. The bartender is new and wont give me credit.” I slumped forward and played with the empty glass as Bastian laughed. I glared at him. “I'm glad you think it's funny.”

“A little,” Bastian said with one last chuckle. “And that was a nice attempt at getting me off track. Why are you here, Charlotte?”

I sighed. “Leo and I had a fight.”

Bastian frowned, obviously confused. “About what?”

“I overheard something...” I didn't want to tell him about the phone conversation or the money missing from the slush fund. Not yet. I couldn't do that to Leo, not until he had the chance to make it right. I couldn't do it to him. “I don't know. Just a fight.”

Bastian stood up and put his hands on my shoulders. It felt like the weight of the world.

“You know Leo. He's hot-headed,” Bastian said. “He'll go do something to cool down and he'll apologize tomorrow. Just like he always does when he does something stupid. Things will work out just fine.”

I flipped the shot glass upside down, wishing I had another. “I hope so.”

Except we'd never had a fight like this. I'd never seen Leo with eyes so angry. I'd never pushed him that hard. I'd never had him look at me like that. His eyes and whatever terrible emotion that I was trying to avoid identifying was going to haunt me forever. This wasn't a normal fight.

“I know so,” Bastian told me, his voice full of confidence I didn't share. “Come on. You need food.”

“Restaurant's closed now,” I informed him, even though he had to know since he had just come from there.

“How about a Rough Day Sandwich?” he offered.

“Yes, please.” It wasn't going to fix my problems, but Bastian's Rough Day Sandwiches were good for the soul.

“Okay.” Bastian gave my shoulders one last squeeze before letting go. “Let's go rescue Robbie from Ava and we'll head home.”

I nodded, slowly sliding from the bar stool. As I followed Bastian out of the bar, I looked down at the path Leo had taken, wishing that we had never had this stupid fight.

I hoped Bastian was right. I hoped that Leo was just off cooling down and that we'd be right as rain in the morning.

I hoped. But I wasn't going to hold my breath.

I
couldn't sleep.

The clock said I had been trying to sleep for the past three hours, but it felt more like an eternity. Bastian's sandwich lay heavy in my stomach since it was too knotted up with fear and heartbreak to actually digest any food.

I kicked off my comforter and was immediately too cold. But it was too hot to sleep with it on. With a sigh, I got up and went to the thermostat for the fourth time tonight. I couldn't find the right temperature and I had a feeling it was more to do with me than the thermostat.

I was hot with anger and cold with shame.

Giving up on the thermostat, I put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Maybe a walk on the beach would put me in a better mood. The ocean was usually magic for heartbroken lovers, right?

Yeah, to drown their sorrows,
I answered myself bitterly. Still, walking the beach sounded like a better idea than tossing and turning in bed for another five hours.

The house was silent as I crept to the back door and escaped out onto the porch. The night air was hot after the air-conditioned house and far more humid, but the breeze off the ocean was pleasant. The crickets were almost deafening at this hour. I hoped they were having better luck with their mates than I was.

I paused at the steps down to the beach, my hand on the railing. This is where Leo kissed me. This porch. Two steps to the left.

I closed my eyes and replayed our fight for the millionth time, trying to figure out how I could fix it. But the truth was, I couldn't. I couldn't fix this. Not without Leo's help. I’d hurt him. Even if he was gambling, I shouldn't have accused him without being sure. I could only imagine how it must have felt to have his biggest secret thrown back in his face at the first hint of trouble, yet I knew he was still hiding something from me.

That wasn't why he told me about it. He had trusted me. And by accusing him, I had betrayed that trust. There were other reasons the money could be missing from the slush account. Maybe it really was just coincidence that he was being blackmailed for that amount. Maybe Gabe had taken a model out on a jet trip and forgotten to expense report it right away.

“He'll go do something to calm down...”
Bastian's words echoed in my mind as I looked out at the water. The moon was barely a sliver of light on the dark water.

I knew what Leo would want to do to cool down. Drive that stupid boat of his. To go fast, skimming over the water and letting his troubles fade while he risked just a little more speed.

Except he promised.

Except we had argued.

He had said we were a mistake.

I looked up at the thin moon, trying to remember if that was good or bad for the waves. It hung in the sky like a shard of forgotten glass, ready to cut the unwary. I ran my fingers through my hair in exasperation. I couldn't remember and I didn't even really know if he was out on the water.

But now I knew I wouldn't be able to stop pacing this stupid porch or tossing in my stupid bed until I knew he wasn't on that death trap of a boat.

I needed to go to the docks and check.

With a deep breath, I took the stairs as fast as I could and started walking down the beach toward the dock. The ocean whispered against the sand and the breeze ruffled my hair and filled my nose with the scent of moving water.

“Where are you going?” A dark voice asked, coming out from behind a palm tree.

I nearly jumped three stories and was half way to throwing a punch before recognizing the voice.

“Dammit, Elijah!” I gasped, putting my hand over my racing heart to keep it in my chest. “You scared me! Don't you sleep?”

Elijah shrugged like sleep didn't matter. “Where are you going?”

I let out a breath, trying to get my adrenaline under control. “The docks. I just need to see if Leo's boat is there.”

Elijah's brow darkened as he left the shadows of the tree and came out into the open. “You're worried about him,” he observed. “You think he's on that speed boat.”

I nodded. “I just can't shake this feeling...” I ran my hand through my hair. It was heavy with humidity. “If his boat's there, then I'll feel a lot better.”

“And if it's not?” Elijah's question was one I didn't want to answer. I paused.

“I don't know,” I answered honestly, but my stomach twisted and I thought I might be sick.