Page 43 of Forbidden (Wicked Billionaires #1)

LORENZO

I sit in the pristine uncluttered space, and I start the thousand-dollar session with my psychologist. After some delicate small talk, which neither of us is clearly here for, she asks why I feel I needed to come.

I do not mince words, and I call it what it is. I explain my weird quest in my twenties, to be wanted by so many women, was under control.

Also, the byproduct of that, and my sexual cravings, is under control.

I tell her, I no longer have to claim a different woman, each night, to feel like I am worthy.

I explain I still enjoy making women come, but I do not get into anything too kinky. I then tell her, the kicker. That I met the one , and that there is only one woman for me.

My psychologist is surprised, delighted and happy. As we talk, the conversation seems to flow.

After, she asks about Storm, I tell her she’s different. Different than every woman I dated, and bedded, that she is amazing, and perfect.

That she is sweet, cute, and uncontaminated, unlike the many women of past.

I explain, I liked it when Storm came home with cheap regular flowers that made the apartment feel like home.

That I liked her leaving bras or panties hanging over the shower.

That I liked her always being playful and light, especially around problems.

As I pace, I tell her Storm lives in the now, so completely unlike the grumpy me, who plans, and only thinks of the future.

That she encouraged me to relax, and to learn to have fun.

And that she would do things like run home in the rain, laughing, unafraid of getting a cold. I pause, and continue. It’s important to get it out. It has to be done, now.

Being a successful alpha male, with few friends, means I do not share a lot, and that is likely a fail.

As I open up, I tell her I liked it when Storm forced me out of my head, and my penthouse. And how she dragged me into pet stores.

How we sneaked red wine into cinemas, and watched, drank, and laughed.

I adored how Storm had said we needed movie nights. And that we should start our very own traditions.

“That meant a lot,” I say, sighing. “The idea of a tradition, especially knowing nothing about my family, or parents.”

I sit, sigh, and smile, which feels crazy.

Storm brought light into my dark existence, and she saved me. Saved me from remaining in the dark, and hiding from the world.

I laugh, and explain another one of her quirks. That she dislikes the concept of too much money, and that she thought, it makes people act weirdly. The thing is, she is right.

It makes people chase things with wild abandon. And to also act without reason.

We sit in silence and the wise, older shrink pours us green tea.

“So you really did fall for her.”

I sigh, and nod. I like how she changed me. And for the better. “Head over heels,” I say, holding the tea.

“And now?”

My upbeat energy evaporates. “Now… I’ve lost her.”

I rub the back of my neck, at the memory. The pain cutting deep.

“We were at a large gathering in France, and some woman was coming on to me. I should have pulled her up on it, but I thought it was workable. It was complicated. Anyway, it got messy, and we got separated at the party. The woman found me, and she came onto me in the bathroom, naked. I was doing nothing, and I was telling her to back the hell away.”

“And Storm walked in?”

I nod.

“Oh shit.”

“Correct.”

“And she ran?”

I nod. “Storm freaked out, and she has not replied since.” There is a long silence. “I think I was burnt out, from trying to put together too many movies. I was distant, at the time. And she likely thought I had lost interest. I was selfish with time.”

The psychologist’s cat walks by, and it lays in the sun.

“So?”

“I don’t know what to do, and she’s gone. The only one I’ve ever wanted… No. Needed… Is gone.”

“And is she really the one?”

I nod, too fucked up to try speaking.

“Well,” my shrink says, standing. “You know what you need to do, then.”

We share a look, and I sigh. I’m the least emotional guy I know, but I wipe a tear away, hating myself for feeling so fucking weak.

“Just remember,” she says. “And we’ve discussed it before. Many orphans, or those who are given up for adoption, do it. Children without siblings, also do it.”

I lean back, and I control my breathing.

“Feeling like you are all alone in the world, naturally makes you independent, not dependent. Many naturally get nervous about relying on others. They then become hyper independent. Do you sense that?”

I nod.

“Remaining all alone, is naturally predictable. Also safe. It is entirely controllable. There is however a catch.” She lifts the cat up, and she holds it close.

“Love does not make you weak, it can help. Help you feel strong and loved. You can build a tribe, Lorenzo, and you can build a family. A family you can rely on. A family, a tribe, can be stronger than a lone man. There is also… ”

“Strength in numbers?” I ask.

We share a look, and she is right. But only with my girl.

“If deep down, you know she is the one, get her back!”

My shrink smiles and sighs. “Now, you have to go, I have a crazy person arriving, and you’re as good as gold.”

I stand and pause. She then pulls me in for a hug. It means a lot, we’d become close in my twenties, when I was really messed up.

“You’re a good man, Lorenzo, and she sounds unique. Don’t screw this up, if she is… ”

“She is!”

“Then do whatever it takes.”

I head out feeling better, and I know it has to be done. Get her back. Whatever it takes !

Over the next few days, I call Storm daily. She does not answer, so I message, and say all the right things. She does not reply, not even once.

I try to focus on work to kill time, but I foolishly ignore several things. Several situations implode, and I miss a couple of great movie opportunities. I also lose several hundred million in the markets. That is a lie.

I lose just under a billion, because I fail to track price shifts in commodity markets. I am losing it, I am losing my edge.

Dante and I talk more about our planned deal. The joint venture in entertainment. It will combine entertainment and fashion. Things I am close to, and he is deep into.

It’s a complex deal, and I try to convince him it is worth the planning, and headaches.

Dante seems reluctant to now get involved, and he tells me it’s because I have lost my edge. That I am now, not on fire.

I have not told Dante about Storm leaving, but my instincts tell me, he senses something has changed, and that she has left.

The only solace I find in my collapse, is time with Falcon. In the evenings, and as the sun sets across NYC, we both stare across Manhattan.

As we do the same now, we watch the golden rays kiss the horizon. It is a perfectly still and pristine evening. Suddenly the falcon cries out, and it runs.

It flaps hard, runs off the edge, and as it disappears, I yell out, and peer down.

I see it streak down, and slowly, it spreads its wide wings. They catch, and the falcon swoops up, away from the ground. I smile as it banks over Central Park, and it cries out, and slices through the air.

As I leap up next to the giant stone eagle, I spill half my whiskey. I then watch the falcon bank around in the light.

The golden rays kiss its feathers, and the bird cries out and climbs high. It then sweeps past me before streaking away. I am convinced it will never return, and I am happy for it. It will now be able to live, and it will also be able to find its tribe.

It will be forever free.

After an hour, I drop down, and I head for the door. Part of me is sad, but overall, I feel good. It had to be done.

Just before I walk inside, the Peregrine swoops down, and it lands with a woosh.

I have no idea what the heck it’s thinking, but it is welcome to stay, as long as it wants.

Over the next two days, I keep feeding it, and the falcon flies off for an hour at a time. We continue spending sunsets on the roof, and it’s becoming a thing.

I try to work out the perfect way to get Storm back, and I try to understand how much space she needs. Both do my head in, so I make Falcon’s dinner, and I watch him have his raw meat.

I think of Storm, again, and I get frustrated as hell. I don’t know how much Falcon misses the woman that saved his life.

All I know is, I do, because she’d saved mine too.