Seducing the Billionaire's Wife Page 11

Hannah wouldn’t come, not after the way he’d acted during their argument. God, what an ass he was to her, not to mention how natural it was for him to assume that role.

  “Mr. Montgomery. Andrew,” Ella said. “Your car is waiting for you.”

  “Yes. Thank you.” He strode out the door, meeting Blake along the way.

  “Connor called me. He couldn’t get ahold of you.”

  “I was in the middle of a… meeting.” Well, that was certainly one way to describe his conversation with Hannah.

  “Shall I go with you?” Blake asked.

  Though Drew appreciated his friend’s genuine offer to help, he declined, saying, “I need you to run things while I’m gone.” He punched the down button for the elevator.

  “Whatever you need, mate.”

  The elevator doors opened.

  “Thank you,” Drew said as the doors closed.

  *

  His father was still in surgery when Drew arrived. London cried out his name when she saw him and threw herself into his arms. He stroked her long, dark hair.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “Everything will be okay.”

  “I’m so scared,’ she whispered. “The doctor said that Dad has major blockage in his carotid arteries, and that’s what caused the stroke. He was in the middle of working out at the gym.”

  Drew allowed himself to feel a moment of terror, and then he shoved it away. He had to be strong for his family, especially for London.

  “Where’s Connor?”

  “Right here,” his brother said, walking into the waiting room. “The nurse said the surgery should only take an hour.” He patted Drew on the back. “Then it’s a one-to-three day stay. London beat me at paper, rock, scissors, so you’ll have to take her on to see who has to watch over William.”

  To describe Connor and their dad’s relationship as strained was an understatement. William thought that Connor wasted his talents on philanthropy while Connor thought William worshipped the almighty dollar. Drew recognized both their points as valid and stayed the hell out of it.

  “London has classes. I’ll take care of everything,” he said.

  “Always the dutiful son,” Connor said with a smirk. Yeah, their relationship wasn’t exactly the best either.

  “Someone has to be.”

  London stepped out of Drew’s embrace. “Stop it. I need both my brothers right now.” She gazed at Connor. “We’ll each take a day”

  “You have class, London,” Drew began.

  She shook her head. “I wasn’t allowed to be there for Mother. I won’t be protected like that from our father. Not this time.”

  “Fine,” Drew conceded. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and shot his brother a look.

  Connor rolled his eyes. “Whatever you want, kid.”

  London’s brow furrowed. “Earlier, I tried to sign some papers for the hospital, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have medical power of attorney.”

  “I have it,” Drew said. He had medical and financial power of attorney. For all intents and purposes, he could renegotiate every contract his father had made.

  A startling thought slithered inside his head. If he wanted to, he could end the damn contract stipulation his father had foisted on him, annul his marriage, and set Hannah free. Then he wouldn’t have the power to make her miserable anyway.

  Though he’d be miserable as hell. He’d be in hell. But none of that mattered. He was Andrew Montgomery, and he always did the right thing.

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  Exhaling, he pulled out his phone to call Ella and get the ball rolling. Fuck. If his secretary had gotten ahold of Hannah, then she would be here soon. Well, if she came at all. He didn’t blame her if she didn’t show up, and it would be a relief.

  Maybe she’d leave for the Outer Banks instead, and then he could do everything via certified letter and email. It would make things easier for both of them.

  “Drew.”

  His head whipped around at the sound of his name.

  No, he thought. Not now. Damn it. She shouldn’t be here. He was already weak. Vulnerable. Her presence would only serve to muddy the waters.

  He had to get rid of her, no matter how much he wanted her to stay.

  “Drew!” Hannah whisper-shouted in deference to the hospital setting as she practically ran into the waiting room with her heart in her throat. “I got here as soon as I could.” She stopped short of touching him. He looked so remote and off-putting. Just like this morning over breakfast. “What can I do to help?”

  “Nothing.”

  “But I’m your wife. It’s my job to help,” she said, and then gave London and Connor a small smile. Yeah, this wasn’t embarrassing at all. “Nice to seeing y’all again… after so long. I’m not sure if you remember me, London.”

  “A little,” the younger woman said.

  Connor’s dark blue gaze ran over her. “How could I ever forget a woman who looks like you?”

  Oh, give me a break. “Do you mind if I talk to Drew alone?”

  “Go right ahead,” Connor murmured.

  London nodded. “I need to make a few calls anyway.” She threaded her arm through Connor’s. “Come keep me company.”

  “I didn’t mean you have to leave,’ Hannah said as the duo walked out of the waiting room. She turned her gaze back to him. “Sorry.”

  “What do you want, Hannah?”

  To fight for our marriage. “I came to apologize. For this morning. I didn’t handle things as I should have.” Neither had he, but she wasn’t here to argue with him. She wanted to get past that and move forward, not just be right.

  Instead of answering, Drew simply stared at her, his gaze hardening.

  “And I think that both of us said things we didn’t mean.”

  “I meant every word.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “This isn’t working.”

  “No.” She shook her head and laid her hand on his arm. “One fight doesn’t break up a marriage.”

  “You’ve been miserable since you moved in with me.”

  She shrugged. “It’s a new place and that takes time. Plus, you and I have never lived with anyone before, so that’s new too.”

  “Hannah,” Drew began, taking her hand.

  “I love you,” she blurted. His eyes widened, an emotion she couldn’t name shining in them. Then his eyes shuttered, and she couldn’t see anything at all. “And I think—”

  “I’m annulling our marriage. The paperwork will be sent to you by this evening.”

  Her jaw dropped. “What about five years?”

  “Hannah, we can’t last five weeks. I won’t do that to—” His jaw worked. “I needed you, you helped me, and for that, you will have my eternal gratitude.”

  Please don’t say you’ll give me money. Please don’t make what we have cheap. “But I don’t want an annulment.”

  “It’s done. Once everything is back to normal, you’ll never hear from me again,” he said flatly.

  “What about our wedding?” she asked, feeling lightheaded. This could not be happening. It was almost a repeat of this morning, but worse. It was this morning’s argument on steroids.

  “It’s been cancelled. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some things to take care of for my father.” Without another word, Drew stalked out of the room, and all Hannah could do was watch him go.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‡

  Two weeks later

  Hannah had thrown herself into winterizing The Magnificent Dunes. She’d scrubbed, mopped, polished, folded, tacked, and draped more times than she could count. Then she’d repeated it the next day and the next until she would fall exhausted into her very lonely bed.

  But it kept her mind busy. And the staff had kept her laughing with their jokes about the new boss. Despite everything, Drew’s present of the resort had turned out to be the best thing that had ever happened to her.

  The staff seemed to think so as well, their concerns of an
out-of-towner taking over put to rest.

  She ran her hand over forehead to wipe away the sweat. This was the very last day. Tomorrow, all she would have to do was go through the entire resort with her grandparents for the final time.

  However, she had no idea what she would do once that part was done. A closed resort with a great management staff tended not to need much babysitting.

  “Hannah,” her grandma said as she met her in the grand foyer. “Would you be interested in working at Laura’s studio next week? She needs some help with a summer camp.”

  The first genuine smile she’d felt in days curved the corners of her mouth. “Same group as last year?”

  Grandma nodded. “Only a titch older.”

  “Tell Laura yes. On second thought, I’ll give her a call this evening,” Hannah said, finally looking forward to something that wouldn’t remind her of Drew. Art camp would be infinitely better than moping around her house.

  “Good to see you’re not letting Drew’s absence get you down.” The older woman gave Hannah’s arm an affectionate squeeze. “It’s not easy being married.”

  Hannah’s cheeks pinkened. She hadn’t told her grandparents about the annulment. “You know he’s spending time with William as he recuperates.”

  “I know. He’s such a good boy, but the two of you are newlyweds. Can’t be easy.”

  Hannah smiled wanly. “No, it’s not easy at all.”

  *

  “Why are you still here?” William said, looking at Drew over his morning paper. “I already have a nurse.”

  Drew gave him a baleful look. “Because you fell in the shower yesterday.”

  “A minor dizzy spell.”

  Dizzy spell, his ass. “You weren’t listening to your nurse. The handrails are there to help you,” Drew reminded him. “Stubborn ass.”

  His dad folded the paper, frowning all the while. “I’m stubborn? Seems to me that I wasn’t the one who sent away the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  Of course his dad had found out what Drew had done, but instead of threatening him, he’d merely informed Drew that he was disappointed not to have gotten to talk to Hannah. No lecture. No threats to sell the company.

  Nothing.

  “I did what was best for her. There was no reason for the two of us to stay together.”

  “That has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and considering the shit that comes out of Connor’s mouth, that’s saying something.”

  “Stay out of my business.”

  “Do you at least miss her?”

  Yes. He missed her. It was like a piece of him was gone and that hollow feeling that she’d made whole… was back. Bigger. It encompassed his soul. “I enjoyed spending time with her. She was an integral part of my formative years.”

  “Oh, sweet Lord,” his dad muttered. “If that’s the kind of nonsense you spouted at her, then I don’t blame her for leaving you.”

  “She didn’t leave me.” Yet, she had.

  You sent her away.

  She could have fought harder.

  How—by handcuffing herself to you?

  “Marriage takes work. You know this, son. You’re an intelligent man.”

  “I made her miserable.”

  “You refused to compromise,” his dad said, pointing out the obvious. “Did you think that marriage wouldn’t change you? That being responsible for another person wouldn’t make demands of you?”

  “I couldn’t… I started putting her first, and I got scared.” Drew’s hands involuntarily clenched into fists at his confession. “When I was with her, away from here and all my responsibilities, I was not the same man. I didn’t care about board meetings, conference calls… Montgomery Industry. All I cared about was Hannah—being with her, talking to her—”

  His dad started laughing. “You fell in love, you idiot. That’s what happened.”

  “I’m not saying I don’t love her.”

  “I’m saying you do love her and if you knew what was best for you, then you’d go to her, get down on your knees, and beg for her forgiveness. That woman dropped everything to help you. Everything.”

  “Only because I called in the IOU she’d given me.” Drew twisted his lips. “She’ll never take me back, no matter how hard I beg.”

  “Then make it so she can’t say no to you. Give her a reason to take another chance on you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‡

  Hannah finished the last item on her checklist earlier than expected and headed to the grand foyer to wait for her grandparents to arrive. They had planned a fish fry for the evening, with the majority of the staff expected to attend.

  But instead of her grandparents waiting for her, a man wearing a suit stood in the middle of the foyer.

  “Can I help you?” she asked, her heart starting to pound in her chest.

  “I’m here to see Hannah Montgomery,” he said as he turned to face her.

  “Drew,” she whispered.

  The reminder of their former marriage hurt. It hurt so badly that her heart started breaking all over again. She couldn’t keep letting him do that to her. “Sorry. Don’t know her. If she was a guest, then you’re too late. We’re closed.”

  He inclined his head. “I deserve that.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “My father told me that I should get down on my knees and beg for your forgiveness.”

  She raised a brow. “That might have worked if you’d come last week.”

  “I know I’m not a perfect man, much less a perfect husband, but what I do know is that I’m not perfectly whole when you’re gone. Since I sent you away, I’ve been miserable.”

  There was no way she’d let his words sway her. His words meant nothing, no matter how romantic. “How is your dad?” she asked, and his mouth quirked at the corner, that dimple of his appearing.

  “He’s not the reason why I’m miserable. Although, he does his best to contribute to my misery,” he said. “He’s doing much better. Thank you.”

  “Are you back because I’m still the most convenient woman for you to marry in the name of Montgomery Industry? Or because you still have my stupid IOU?” She had to say it. There was no way she’d ever let him talk her into marrying him… again. He was already married to MI. He’d shown it with every word, with every missed date… and his refusal to try to compromise.

  “I love you, Hannah.” The words washed over her. Why did he have to wait until now to tell her that? “And I’m sorry I didn’t bend when I should have. I’m sorry for asking you to bend to the point of breaking.” His hand went to his pocket, and he pulled out a small box tied with a pink ribbon. “This is my apology. Whenever. Wherever. I’m ready to do whatever you require.”

  He held it out to her, and for a moment, she considered taking it and chunking it into the ocean. Instead, she tipped up her chin and took the stupid thing, crushing it in her hand.

  “Thanks.”

  Drew had lost. He’d tried, but he had lost the battle.

  But not the war, he reminded himself. If he had to come apologize to her every day for the rest of their lives until she forgave him, then he would do it. Even if she chose another.

  Because it was the right thing to do. Because he loved her.

  “Anyway, open that and let me know what you think.”

  Her chin turned stubborn. “I’ll be sure not to do that.”

  “I understand.” Leave, he ordered, but his idiotic body refused to obey.

  “Go, damn you,” she shouted, her eyes watering. “I’m not playing this game.”

  “No game, Hannah.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I came for you. I came to apologize and to compromise. I’ll need a lot of help with that, but if anyone can show me how to be a husband, I figured it was you. And your grandfather.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  Oh, she was weakening. He could tell. He was getting to her. “I’m serious. If any man knows how to treat a woman, it’s Bud Miller.
”

  Hannah glanced away, biting her lip. “Go back to Charlotte, Drew.”

  “I’ll go, but do me a favor and open the box.”

  “Why should I do anything for you?”

  “You shouldn’t, but I’m not asking as the man you know. I’m asking as your friend, as the boy you used to love.”

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll open it, and then you can be on your way.” Opening the box, she pulled out a folded-up letter and unfolded it. A yellow piece of paper fell to the floor. With a frown, she bent down and picked it up. “Why is my—oh, Drew.”

  He watched as she scanned his IOU. “I don’t understand,” she said finally.

  “I owe you the remainder of my life for teaching me about love, about how to have fun, and how to let go. And your IOU,” he swallowed, “it’s been paid in full, and not because you married me, but because you loved me.”

  “That’s not fair,” she whispered.

  Tears began to fall down her cheeks and he rushed to her, trying to kiss each and every tear away. “Don’t cry, Hannah. I can’t stand it. I’ll leave, if you want, but damn it, you weren’t supposed to cry.”

  “I am anyway,” she said, sniffing. “You weren’t supposed to be this romantic, and you weren’t supposed to break my heart. You broke my heart, Drew.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll give you mine. It’s yours,” he said.

  “I’m scared. What if you decide you can’t handle being married?”

  “Then I’ll talk to you about it, but I’m not scared anymore. I want to be with you. Forever. I’ll move here—set up a satellite office. Whatever it takes to make you feel secure.”

  “Fine. You have to move here. With me.”

  “Done.”

  “Just like that?” she cried.

  He pulled out his phone, put it on speaker, and then dialed Ella. She answered on the first ring. “I need to build a satellite office at Hannah’s. Can you research the area and send me links to suitable vacant lots currently on the market?”

  “About time,” they heard her mutter before her voice rose, “Yes, sir. I’ll have what you need by the end of the day,” she said before he ended the call.

  “You’re serious,” Hannah said. “Totally serious.”