The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

He was lifting weights when he spoke. “Dad wants me to see Moses again.” Since I’d been staying at his house, he had to share his mini gym with me.

I lowered the speed of the treadmill. “What’s your thought about it?” This topic was sensitive for him, so I tried not to suggest anything.

“I think I did my part the last time, but at the same time, if Moses wants to see me, I’d give it a try.”

“Are you doing this for Tate or for you?” There you go, I just did it. “Sorry.”

He sat down, wiping off the sweat on his forehead with his shirt. “I don’t know, Vanderford.” He then linked his fingers together as if he wanted to tell me something, but finding the right words was hard.

“Come on, sweetheart. You know I will always have your back, whatever decisions you make. I would never judge you.”

His smile was so sweet as he met my gaze.

“What’s that smile for?” I couldn’t help but smile back.

“You just made me smile.” He came to me, and I had to pause my workout and kiss him on the lips. He then breathed deeply. “I think I’m doing this for us.”

“Yeah?” My chest lightened up. There, those stupid butterflies again.

“Yup. If he plays the right card, I might invite him to our wedding.”

“Give it a chance. I’m not suggesting it. I want you to do what you feel is right. You know, it’s hard without a mom. I literally grow up with nannies. I admire your relationship with Tate. He’s the best parent everyone could ask for. I think with him pushing you, he doesn’t want you to regret not giving it a shot.”

He nodded, still in thought. “Will you come with me?”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but you have to do it alone. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave anytime.”

“Okay.” He kissed me before he went back to his workout.

***

“What’s the update on you and white knight?”

It was the weekend. I got to spend time with Neke during our spa. Striker went to see his father, Moses, who was already out of the hospital.

“You keep calling him that. But we’re doing fine.”

“So when is the wedding?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“You are my best friend, Neke, and you’ll be the first person to know, just like I told you, that Dad arranged me to Striker.” I smiled as I ignored her question. Thanks to Striker, he pushed me to get a spa. The Thai massage with hot stone felt so good on my back. I guessed my body had been screaming for this for a while now.

“I’m surprised he didn’t come with us.”

I smiled as I remembered he wanted me to spend time with Neke. “He actually wants us to do this together. He’s also going to meet an important person, and I want alone to myself.”

“Getting tired of him already?”

“Of course not.” I rolled my eyes. “And it feels like you’re not as excited as me for the spa.”

“Are you kidding me?” She widened her dark eyes at me. “Since when did I pass a spa? We can do this next week if you want.”

After our spa in the afternoon, I still hadn’t heard from Striker, but I knew they were still working on their relationship and had years of things to catch up on. I was really happy for him for giving his father a chance.

I met Dad in the restaurant for dinner. I thought I owed him an apology for how I treated him for the past few days.

“Glad that you decided to join me.” That was his greeting as I stood before our table.

“Sorry. It’s been pretty hectic for the last couple of days.” I kissed him on the cheek before I sat across from him.

“So, how’s work? Working on the next collection?”

“Yeah. I have a few ideas.” I checked the menu, and he seemed happy to have dinner with me tonight. “Actually, it’s mostly Striker’s.”

“I’m happy to hear that you two work together.”

“He’s actually good with designs. I’m surprised. You should have seen the bag he did. He gave me a lot of ideas on the colors. I even wanted to hire him to work with me, but he already planned on joining Cade Premium.”

“He can be more than that.”

I had my order and gave the menu to the waiter. “What do you mean?”

“I know you and Striker went to see Braddson.”

My eyes widened. “You know about it?”

“Yes. Since two years ago.” His admission blew my mind. So he knew who Striker was since before I found out, and he never mentioned it to me.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not my secret to tell, London.” He sounded slightly defensive, and I could feel there was more to it than he let on.

“Yet you knew. How?”

“I asked someone to do a full background check on him.”

“Why did you do that? Let me guess, not the firm.” I touched my chest as I felt like I was too naive and oblivious to this whole thing. But what he did was intrusive.

“Yes. Not Linden. I did it because of you.” His answer shocked me even more.

“What about me? How did I fit into this, Dad?” My stomach began twisting. I had a feeling that his answer would ruin this dinner, but I needed to know the truth.

“You were too caught up with what happened in that horrible incident. And nothing seemed to make you feel better. I wanted to track him down, but his boss, Linden, told me that Striker had a year contract with Rome Langston that he had to finish before I could hire him. Then he extended it another year. And you seemed to be okay. But I was so intrigued with that boy that I knew that there was more to him than met the eye. His dad is Tate Cade, but he chose to protect for a living. Then to my surprise, he’s the biological son of Moses Braddson.”

Somehow it became more evident to me. Dad’s intention wasn’t all about Striker would fit as a good husband. This was all but connections, building business relationships with Braddson, personal gains, power, and influence.

“Is that why you chose him to arrange for me?”

“I know how you feel about him.”

“You used him. You used me, Dad. Will you use Striker to get a business deal with Braddson?”

“This doesn’t concern you anymore.”

“You’ve been planning all these for two years, haven’t you? I mean, Striker sure didn’t know that you knew who his father was. This marriage isn’t about me, after all. This is for your own benefit.” I felt disgusted. He disgusted me. I just said it out loud, and he seemed okay with everything. He didn’t even flinch, validating my claim.

“Lower down your voice, London.” He really didn’t give a crap.

I shook my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this. We’ll see if Striker still marries me after finding out you knew who he was before this crap.” I gestured my hands, disappointed. “This madness.”

“If I were you, you should be wise and choose not to tell him until you were married, London.” He still sat there relaxed, unaffected, while I was already fuming in anger.

“Or what, Dad?”

“You don’t wanna humiliate yourself and hurt Striker. People know you are engaged. You are getting married, whatever my intention is, because I know you are in love with him.”

“You’re disgusting.” I wiped the tears from my face that I didn’t know were there. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. “You’re now using my feelings to get what you want? How can you be so sure you will get something after this ridiculous arrangement?”

“Leave that to me.”

“What is it that you really want? Why can’t you leave Striker and me alone? I’m marrying him. Be content with what you have right now, Dad. Please?”

“I’m doing this for you, London. For your future.” There it was again-my stupid future when nothing was guaranteed. “You will thank me later.”

“Did you spike our wine?” I looked him in the eye. I wanted to know the truth if he would do something to that extent.

“I did not do it alone.”

“Oh, God.” I shook to cry. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I stared at him in disbelief for seconds before I stood up. “I came here to actually apologize for how I treated you. But right now, it sickened me to be your daughter. If you could do that to get what you want? I wonder how far this plan of yours goes. I want nothing from you, Dad. From now, I don’t give a damn about Vanderford Group anymore.” I walked away without looking back, even if he was calling my name.

“London, what’s wrong?” Reed met me in the parking lot as I was about to crumble. He held me in my arms as he assisted me into the backseat.

“Everything is freaking wrong, Reed. Please, get me out of here.”

“Of course.” He shut the door close and ran to the driver’s seat. “Where do you wanna go?”

“I need some fresh air.”

“Do you want me to call Cade?”

“No. I can’t let him see me like this.”

“You need him right now.”

“I know, but he’s also dealing with his own issue. I’ll call him later.” I kept wiping my tears, but they kept rolling down.

After a few minutes, I calmed down, rested my head against the window for a while, and it had me thinking. What if we hold the wedding?

“We’re here?” Reed announced.

“Where are we?” I looked outside the window. To my shock, I was in front of Linden’s house. “Why did you take me here?”

“You need someone to cry on, and Linden had a good backyard.”Yeah, I remember. Linden had some herbs, plants, and flowers.

“Thank you.” He helped me climb out of the car.

“Go ahead. Just knock. He’s expecting you.” I wasn’t even aware he did that. I was grateful Reed was such a reliable person.

I walked to his porch. I hadn’t reached the door yet; it swung wide, and Linden smiled sadly at me with open arms. “Come here, sweetheart.”

“I’m sorry for coming unannounced.” I retired into his arms and cried some more.

He helped me sit on the comfy chair in his backyard. He also covered me since it was a little bit chilly outside. When he came back, there was a steaming mug in his hand. “Have some tea.”

I gratefully took it. “Thanks.”

“Let me guess. My guy doesn’t know you’re here.”

“I don’t wanna trouble him since we both are dealing with our own drama.”

He sat beside me. “I don’t think he’d appreciate that. For years I have known Cade. He always has these open arms, saving-the-day mindset. You can’t stop him from doing that.”

“You all actually have some signs of White Knight Syndrome.”

“Ouch, sweetheart. It happens to be a part of our job, and we’re getting paid for it.”

“I know.” I managed to smile at him. “And I’m grateful you have each other’s back.”

“Enough about us. Why are you crying, sweetheart?”

There you go. My eyes stung again. “I can’t do this anymore.”