Chapter 14
Marj had left to go see her cousin, Mandy, in some small town in Utah. Maybe he should’ve gone to the airport and asked her to stay. Marj liked dramatic stuff like that. It might’ve worked. But it was too late now. Her flight had already left. It was probably best she have a week off from all the stress of playing happy wife. He could tell it was wearing down on her. She had no idea what she was getting into when she married him that one fateful night.
Marj had literally saved his ass. He owed her everything. He was beyond thankful. Marj was beautiful and sexy and they had great chemistry together. The sex was amazing. He even loved that she challenged him. Most conquests just easily submitted, but not Marj. She was wild and uninhibited, and that intrigued him. And there were other things he loved about her too. Marj was confident, feminine, intelligent, dependable, independent, loyal, ambitious, and funny. It was near impossible to find a woman with all the traits he loved, but Marj had all of them.
Brandon’s cell phone rang snapping him out of his thoughts. It was one of his lawyers.
“I have horrible news,” he said.
Brandon took a deep breath. He hated words like that.
“Don’t worry. I got everything back in control. We won’t lose the account. I made sure of it.”
“Brandon, this isn’t about business.”
“What? Did the Wicked Queen come up with a new scheme to disinherit me?”
“It’s worse. I don’t know how to tell you this.”
There was a long pause.
“Have you turned on the television?” he said. “It’s all over the news.”
“Obviously, I haven’t. Or I would know what you’re talking about.”
“Flight 1860 to Utah crashed. Everyone on board didn’t make it,” he finally said.
A cold shiver shot down his spine at the news.
“Brandon… I’m so sorry.”
“Was Marj on the flight?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. She was checked in and on the manifest. I even talked to the woman who checked in everyone at the gate. The woman said Marj was onboard. I even faxed her over a picture of Marj for clarification. It was definitely her.”
Brandon dropped the phone.
“Brandon… Brandon?” the voice on the phone said.
It took a moment for Brandon to gain his composure. He picked up the phone. “Listen, I’ve gotta go.”
“Do you know what this means?” his lawyer asked.
“What?”
“You’ve won. I mean, this is the best thing that could’ve happened. It’s like your ‘Get out of jail card’. You won’t have to pretend like you’re happy and in love, with some stranger you picked up in Las Vegas, for another year. Because I thought you should, at least, stay married over a year to make it look good. Listen, you’re going to get everything you’ve ever wanted. You beat Lena at her own game. And now you don’t have to worry about keeping that Marj on a leash. You’re free and clear. And you won’t have to pay out Marj either since she’s deceased. Just remember. No dating for a few months while you’re grieving. We don’t need any scandals. I’m sending PR over to help you with how to act in public with the grieving process.”
“You asshole! How dare you talk about my wife like that?” Brandon roared as he threw the phone across the room.
He turned on the TV and flicked through the channels.
“Blue Skies Airways Flight 1860 crashed today killing all 210 passengers aboard,” a reporter said. “We now know that Dr. Grainers, a well-loved dentist from Ohio, and Marjorie Cates, wife of billionaire Brandon Cates, and college sports star, Jennie Meyers, were all onboard the flight. So many precious lives were lost today. My heart goes out to every single passenger lost. It’s a great loss for all of us and such a sad tragedy.”
Grief washed over Brandon as realization struck and the news set in.
Marj was dead.
Damn!
He should’ve never let her get on that plane. He kicked the coffee table, and then punched a hole in the wall. He screamed and shouted, and asked God why. None of it made any sense. When he heard a car pull up, he looked outside the window and saw the press surrounding his house. They were like vultures. Here he was hurting, his heart bleeding, and they wanted to interview him. How dare they? He poured himself a drink and downed the liquor in one gulp.
He turned the channel. A little five-year-old girl who resembled Marj was smiling on some television program. She had long hair and pretty eyes. He stared at the girl on the screen. That could’ve been what their daughter might’ve looked like.