It was in that instant, he knew he wanted a family with Marj. He wanted everything she had to offer. Settling down had always been a scary thought. But spending the rest of his life with Marj didn’t scare him because he knew she was ‘the one.’ Brandon was no longer interested in adding notches to his belt. He needed love in his life and was finally ready to settle down. He wanted to put Marj’s needs ahead of his own.
Then, he had this moment of clarity.
I’m ready for it all, marriage, children, and waking up next to the same beautiful, amazing woman day after day.
Brandon’s mind raced. He thought about what their kids might’ve looked like, and all the things and places they could’ve went. But it was too late…
Somebody knocked on his door. Just as he was going to scream, no comment and slam the door in their face, he recognized the face. It was the Wicked Queen.
She walked inside without an invitation. Rolling his eyes, he downed another shot.
“Drowning your sorrows?” she asked.
“What do you want? Just get the hell out!”
“I talked to your snake of a lawyer. He’s wrong you know! You didn’t win. My lawyers told me that if she didn’t remain married to you for one year, it doesn’t count. It doesn’t matter it was an accidental death.”
Brandon looked at her with tears in his eyes. “Marj is dead! And you want to talk about this right now? Seriously?”
“Brandon, you look upset. Is it because you lost Marj or because you lost to me?”
“How dare you say that?” he said, voice wavering. “Marj meant everything to me.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Brandon ignored her and ran a hand through his hair. “I c-can’t believe she’s gone.”
She looked up at him. “You can cut the act. You’ve officially lost.”
“I don’t fucking care!” he shouted at her. “Take it all! Without Marj, it all means nothing to me anyway. Just get the hell out of here and let me grieve in peace.”
“Fine.”
She started toward the door when she suddenly stopped and peered over her shoulder. “Now that’s it’s all over, you can tell me the truth. It won’t change things now one way or the other. Did you really love her? Because this doesn’t seem like an act.”
He met her gaze straight on. “Yes, I loved her.”
Brandon couldn’t believe those words came out of his mouth. This declaration was a huge moment for him. But he realized that he did love her. He instantly knew she was his soulmate. And he never got the chance to ever let her know. He thought about the last time they were intimate. It was the first time he wasn’t just fucking somebody. He was making love to her. Brandon realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. And now he couldn’t.
She was the one.
Damn fate!
“Maybe I’m seeing this relationship in a different light,” Lena said.
“We fell in love with each other. She was the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“And to think I thought she was a paid actress.”
“You know she worked for me.”
“I thought you two schemed and hatched up the plot at the office. I thought it was completely platonic. Just another business deal. At least, at first. But then, she fell in love with you. I know she did because I could tell by the sappy look in her eyes when she talked about you. She fell for you hard and fast. I bet you weren’t planning on that little complication.” Brandon glared, and she continued. “But I knew you were just using her. Stringing her along, telling her whatever she wanted to hear to keep her at your side until you won. Then you’d throw her out on her ass. Because that’s what you do. You divide and conquer, then move on. It’s your lifestyle. You don’t do relationships, and you surely don’t do marriage.”
You’re right. I didn’t believe in relationships until I met this extraordinary woman who showed me what I was missing out on,” Brandon said. “And if I would’ve put more time and energy into Marj rather than my company, we might’ve been something amazing. We might’ve had a wonderful future.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to find another woman. And you won’t have to worry about work getting in the way anymore because you won’t have your company. Maybe I’m doing you a favor. Think of this as a blessing in disguise.”
She opened the door, and her hair blew everywhere in the gusty wind. Composed as ever, she walked toward the swarming press outside. Brandon followed her outside and went to give the press a statement.
“I kindly ask everyone to please respect my privacy during this time of grieving,” he said.