Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
The men looked at each other in silence
until Todd finally launched himself,
“
Well, the truth is you hardly know her
…
I mean, I get you
’
re in love, I get she is pregnant with
your child and all, but what you
’
re asking me to do is a reverse pre-
nup
…
and as the lawyer who protected you the
last time you got married, I simply wonder if you have lost your mind
…
in fact, it could be argued you are not of
sound mind at all if you go through with this
…
it could be argued that I didn
’
t do my due diligence and was an
inadequate counsel if this was ever contested in court
…”
As he saw Marcus about to say something,
he held up his hand, still watching Julian, he added,
“
Look, I only met the woman two days ago.
She is charming. You two look great together, and you looked happy at the
restaurant
…
but Jay, this is your 3
rd
marriage.
And considering how the last 2 ended, I wouldn
’
t be your friend if I didn
’
t ask you what in the world is prompting
you to make such a
…
I don
’
t even want to qualify this
…
Is something going on here? Something I
don
’
t know?
”
he looked at Marcus when he asked,
“
Is he being pressured?
”
Julian smiled, and said,
”
Todd, thank you for being such a good
friend, and such a good lawyer. I
’
m not being pressured. This is my idea
100%.
”
He sighed,
“
But you are right, something is going on,
and I have to prove myself, and this is the only way I can figure.
”
“
Spoliating yourself? Relinquishing your
fortune?
”
Todd was reeling,
“
There
’
s got to be another way, surely. I mean,
tell me what the hell am I missing here?
”
he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
Todd was a business lawyer, and officiated
as entertainment lawyer for Julian alone, and in 20 years of practice, he
’
s never ever encountered a situation where
a billionaire was willing to give away his entire fortune voluntarily just to
prove himself to his bride.
There was a reason for pre-
nups
and the expression
‘
take them to the cleaners
’
when a marriage turned sour.
There was a reason for lawyers to exist
and get paid handsomely. Protect their clients.
What Julian wanted to do was simply
preposterous if not totally egregious!
Julian just looked at him, and said,
”
If I give her everything, she will be in
control. She
’
ll never know fear or doubt ever again. If
it
’
s
the only way to reassure her, so be it. I
don
’
t need my money, but I need her.
”
Todd, looked at Marcus, and said,
“
Pease knock some sense into him! I could
set up trusts, we could get the board to appoint her CEO, and
…”
But Julian interrupted it, saying,
“
Todd? Just get it done.
”
Ethan and Julian
2 rue Le
Tassé
, 75106,
Paris. France
"Well, do you think keeping her prisoner will
make her love you?" he asked with piercing eyes.
The man in front of him gave him an icy
stare of his own, and smiled, saying,
“
Prisoner? That
’
s hardly the case when she owns the place!
Besides, even if she didn
’
t, I wouldn
’
t have to. She already loves me. Even you,
are not stupid enough to deny it
…”
he let his voice trail, as both knew he
was right.
It was the moment she chose to walk into
the sunroom and interrupt them.
"You were fighting over me I
assume." She smoothed out her signature baby doll dress, sitting next to
Julian and crossed her legs. He watched the movement.
Nice legs
, that he
wouldn't mind being enfolded in at the moment.
"Don't let it go to your head."
he said out loud, to distract himself.
"It already has." She leaned
over and kissed him on the cheek then sat back, casually adding, "Just
don't make a habit of it. I
’
m really no prize."
They all laughed out loud.
But as her eyes crossed path with E
’
s, she realized, her ex-husband was
anything but joyful, in spite of the sound coming out of his throat.
((~~!~~))
She had moved in the very next day Ethan presented her
with the deed, the very same day Kevin declared her love for her
…
This is not what she had planned. In fact,
she barely had time to process what taking ownership of the property entailed.
She had told E. she would just think about it before accepting, but Kevin
’
s declaration the next morning, changed it
all.
Hell if she was going to stay with Kev,
feeling on pins and needles every time he would look at her, and since E. had
so graciously offered her an unexpected but majestic way out
…
who was she not to oblige?
Kevin had been crushed, when she had
returned home with Lily in tow announcing she was moving out immediately and
she had just come back to tell him face to face. She
’
d send for her things
…
“
You are not even going to give me a chance
to fix this?
“
he had cried out, stunned.
“
This isn
’
t about chances Kevin. This is about what
is best for me, and right now, that
’
s not being here with you, nor at Julian
’
s, and since I have my own place, I
’
m planning to use it, starting today.
”
she had declared, looking at him straight
in the eyes.
“
But, nothing has changed
…”
he had started, wondering how in a mere
two hours his life was turning into a nightmare.
She had cut him, saying softly,
“
Au contraire Kev, a lot has changed. Don
’
t worry I still love you, we
’
re still Vi and Kev, there will always be
a
‘
us
’
, but, I just need to be on my own, and
that
’
s what I
’
m doing! I
’
m not saying you didn
’
t precipitate my decision to accept E.
’
s gift, but it is what is, so please, let
’
s just all accept that, and take it from
here.
”
she had smiled at him, coming closer and
giving him a light hug.
Then she had turned to Lily, and said,
“
Let
’
s inform my fiancé, and get out of here!
”
as she was leaving the lounge room.
Lily had watched them both, giving Kevin a
silent apologetic look, and voicelessly mouthing,
“
I
’
ll call you.
”
before running after Vi who was already
in the hallway going to the penthouse across the floor.
Julian was there, actually waiting for
her, and did not seem surprised at all by her announcement. He was more
interested in the reasoning behind it. When she informed of what had transpired
the very same morning with her best friend, and referred to his own insistence
the previous evening on having her every night, something she was not ready
for, she explained she did not enjoy being stuck between a rock and a hard
place, and Ethan
’
s gift was the solution to her
accommodation problem, nothing more.
Julian had been too stunned about the news
of Kevin
’
s declaration to even raise any argument
about her move, and she had left the room as Lily was saying,
“
Hi Julian, bye Julian.
”
((~~!~~))
Now, it was a day later, and Julian had come to her
place to discuss what this new living arrangement really meant, especially with
Ethan still in the premises.
Ethan had been the one opening the door,
immediately announcing Vi was still in the shower, so he
’
d have to contend with him.
“
Perfect, we need to settle a few things
”
Julian had clipped.
His first question was,
“
When are you moving out?
”
Ethan had smiled, and replied,
“
When she asks me to, or when I
’
m good and ready, whichever comes first
…
Then again, I might just stay.
”
“
E. I am marrying the woman! How can you
think for a second that I
’
m ok with this?
”
Julian asked, utterly stupefied.
“
I don
’
t have to think anything. Really, this is your
issue, not mine. Vic and I are friends, and there is nothing wrong with friends
living together
…”
”
Tell that to Kevin!
”
Julian had angrily spat back.
Ethan had given him a surprised look,
asking,
“
And, what does Kevin have to do with this?
”
“
Oh, you don
’
t know? Well, her best friend has declared
his love for her at long last, as you warned me
…”
Ethan just laughed when he said,
“
Well, well, well
…
ain
’
t you glad she had somewhere to go to
escape his clutches?
”
“
To fall into yours? No, I
’
m not glad!
”
he angrily replied.
“
Julian, you need to accept a few facts of
life about your fiancée,
”
Ethan had started
“
Like what? That she
’
ll eternally be your prisoner? Because
this is what this place is!
”
Ethan had shaken his head in dismay.
((~~!~~))
“
She is staying here, it
’
s her home.
”
Ethan stated, as he was bringing in
coffee.
They had resumed their conversation once
Vic had announced she was going in her study for online furniture shopping and
would see Julian when he was done arguing with Ethan.
“
I can
’
t allow it.
”
Julian replied, watching his friend set
two cups on the table between them.
“
I
’
m afraid you have no choice, the decision
is hers, until you convince her to move in with you
…”
Ethan shrugged.
“
I
’
ll do just that!
”
he had angrily snapped.
“
Julian in spite of what you think I
’
m not here to ruin your impending nuptial.
She is your fiancée and I respect it. I respect her. I really want her to be
happy, and this place is just helping her achieve that goal.
”
Ethan said, pouring coffee in a china cup.
He took a sip, and his voice collected and
tempered, said,
“
Look, I
’
m not sure as to why exactly she has
refused to move in with you all these months, but my advice, and do what you
want with it, is to find out what is at the root of her resistance, and fix it,
because my presence is not the issue.
”
His eyes were clear as they rested on his
friend
’
s.
“
Yes, I know, you
’
d rather I
’
d be on the other side of the globe, but I
’
m not and so far, I
’
ve been the better man here, but your
present attitude is starting to tempt me to re-evaluate my position.
”
He added, icily.
Julian remained silent, pondering the
advice his friend and nemesis has just given him, and he hated to admit it, but
E. was correct in his assessment. There was a reason she hadn
’
t moved in with him. Was it his daily
insistence? Was she afraid of something? What the hell was it?
So he asked, in a low voice,
“
Why do you think she hasn
’
t?
”
“
Maybe you should just ask her?
”
Ethan replied with a small smile.
((~~!~~))
Julian
My secret weapon has arrived.
Only Marcus knows Melissa is here. She and
Charlie arrived late last night, and I gave clear instructions to the concierge
to ensure no one saw them enter the building.
I want Vi
’
s surprise to be complete, and can
’
t risk Kevin babbling around.
Mind you, I haven
’
t seen him since her birthday, I
’
m sure he is still in shock after her
moving out, probably wailing in bed as I was the first time she pulled a
disappearing act on me
…
Let him stew, I have to make my moves now,
so Ethan doesn
’
t get comfortable either
…
The time to deploy the artillery has come
if the scene we had that same afternoon was an indication.
((~~!~~))
Vi and Julian
“
I really don
’
t understand!
”
he cried out, his voice shaking.
“
Well, it is simple though, in what
language do I have to say it?
”
she replied, fuming.
“
Did I give you any indication I would try
to control you? I mean...
”
he was really puzzled.
“
No, not lately, but it
’
s in your nature Julian, and I want to
prepare myself to live with it!
”
she countered, unapologetic.
“
This doesn
’
t make any sense, I
’
ll do whatever you want to prove to you
that I have no plans to cage you
…”
his voice pleaded, as he felt his
heartbeat accelerate. He was suddenly very conscious if the wrong words were
said, the argument would take a new dimension he didn
’
t want to experience. Pushing people in
corners had this effect, and it was never good
…