Page 259 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

Solene

"This is bullshit. He tells me he wants me in the movie with him, but not only am I not on set with him, but he’s gone and left both of you behind to watch over me? What am I, five?"

Not to mention, he implies he wants to win back my trust but then ups and leaves without telling me. And that, after fucking me so deeply I can still feel him inside me. All I have is a text message from him saying he’ll call for me when it's time for me to shoot.

Every time he’s inside me, he seems to come undone. Our lovemaking is intense and earth-shattering. Each experience is different and confirms to me that we are meant to be together. He must sense it too and that's why he takes off. He’s, clearly, running scared.

“Well?” I scowl at Rick and Morty—oops, I mean Rick and Finn.

The two look at each other, then Rick raises his shoulders.

Finn glowers at him. They scowl at each other for a few seconds more—how strange.

Apparently the two of them aren’t happy with this latest development, either. Finn is the first to look away.

“It’s only temporary.” Rick holds up his hands. “Only until he’s readied everything on set.”

“Stop making excuses for him.” I stab my finger at him. “And stop patronizing me. I’m not a child. There’s no reason he couldn’t have told me this in his own words before he hopped a flight and ran off. Also, why are you with me? Why are you not with him? Aren’t you his security detail?”

He shuffles his feet. "Declan was insistent we both stay here to protect you.”

"From what?"

Finn rocks forward on his feet. "From your fans. From anyone who gets overeager about getting close to you."

I turn to Rick. "He’s a bigger star than I am.

You’d think he’d want you with him, Rick.

" Finn’s just an inch shorter than Rick.

And where Rick’s heavily muscled and seems to spend all his spare time in the gym, Finn’s got the build of a runner.

Lean and streamlined. They’re a good contrast for each other, including in their personalities, with Rick’s dark, bad-tempered looks and Finn’s more laid-back, outgoing personality.

Rick rubs the back of his neck. "Declan’s the boss. I do as he says."

"But the two of you are friends."

"We are. I was in the military with Knight. He’s the one who introduced me to Declan. So, we do have friends in common." Rick’s features darken even more. Talking about Knight must remind him about his friend’s predicament.

"Any word on Knight?" I ask.

Rick runs his fingers through his hair. "Cade confirmed they have an extraction team in place and are drawing up plans to go after Knight."

I nod. I was there for that call. "I know you want to be there—"

"But I need to leave it to the experts. I’d only get in the way. Besides, my skills are of better use here doing my job."

I roll my eyes. "You mean, updating Declan about my whereabouts, don’t you?"

"I take my role seriously, and if that means keeping Declan informed about where you are so he can focus on his movie, then yes."

I stare at him. "You’re very loyal toward him."

He rolls his shoulders. "He’s a good guy." He hesitates. "I was in a bad place in my life after I left the military. Knight, as you’re aware, stayed on, but… things happened, and I decided to leave."

Finn stiffens. I shoot him a glance, to find he’s staring at Rick with a look on his face that I can’t quite decipher.

"Knight asked Declan to check in on me, as he was worried. He and Cade came in search of me, found me in a bad way. If he hadn’t intervened, I wouldn’t be standing here. So yeah, I owe him."

Finn shuffles his weight between his feet.

He opens and shuts his mouth, then seems to change his mind and flattens his lips.

O-k-a-y, the dynamics here are making my head spin.

But whatever is going on between Rick and Finn is their business.

I have problems of my own. Not the least of all, the fact that after that wonderful night we spent together, when I was sure he had feelings for me, when I thought the way we’d made love was the start of something different between us, when I thought—I trace the stone on my engagement ring with my finger—our engagement meant something more than the vehicle to kickstart our careers…

Turns out, nothing changed for him. If it had, wouldn't he have called me before he flew out? Or left me a message? Or called me from the plane? He could call Rick but not me, apparently. He left and took the butt-plug with him. The muscles of the rosette between my ass cheeks clamps down on the empty space. Goddamn him, but I miss that intrusion, which is so weird. I was sure it was an invasion of my privacy, but I guess it was also a way to stay connected to him. Anyway, I don’t mind my privacy being invaded, as long as it's by him. I turn away from the two men and walk over to busy myself with the music sheets I’ve been working on.

Only good thing with this up and down relationship with Declan?

I have enough inspiration to write the lyrics for my next few songs.

Seems the best way to free the muse is to be on an emotional rollercoaster.

Harry put me in touch with a new producer who's going to work on my next album with me.

We're in his studio, and for the first time since the cancellation of the last leg of my tour, I can’t wait to get started.

My throat tickles and I end up coughing. Finn looks at me with concern, then brings me a glass of water. "You okay?"

"Of course. I’m probably dehydrated, is all." I take a sip of water, cough again, and end up emptying the entire glass.

The two of them exchange glances—their interaction is completely professional, with both of them wearing their security detail faces.

"Madonna Mia, you guys, there’s no need to worry.

See, I’m not coughing any more. No need to go bothering Declan about it.

" And if I’ve coughed on and off the last couple of weeks, it’s nothing.

Okay not nothing, because it’s persistent.

And it has interfered with my singing, and to be honest, I’m worried about it.

But no way, am I going to make a big deal of it.

It’ll only make Rick inform Declan right away and then he’ll be all up my business, which I don’t want right now.

I’ll get it looked at... As soon as I finish the tour.

"You sure you’re okay?" Rick frowns.

Luckily, the producer enters the room.

"There you are!" I hold up the sheaf of paper with my lyrics. "I can’t wait to get started."

"Have you called to tell him you’re upset with him for leaving without talking to you?" Penny eyes me with concern from my phone screen.

After I finished the session with the producer, which had gone really well. So well, in fact, I’m going back in the studio and recording my next song tomorrow, which is unheard of. But hey, when everything comes together, you don’t question it. You thank your muse and keep going.

The new producer is brilliant. He has experience, having worked with some of the biggest names in music, yet he's also enthusiastic and knows exactly when to back off. He’s patient enough to let me have my say when it comes to arranging the vocals.

If anything, he helped me hone the tune.

A few tweaks and it sounds even better than what I envisaged.

Which is exactly the role of a producer.

I can’t wait to get back to the studio tomorrow.

I came home—to Declan’s home, that is—and went up to my room.

And then I missed him even more. Which is when I called Penny.

Not wanting to disturb Abby, who's stressed enough over Knight, or Isla, who seems to be in a perennial honeymoon phase with her new husband Liam, Penny was the logical choice to turn to. She must feel the same way; she’s been messaging me over the past few weeks, as well.

Summer added both of us to the online wives and girlfriends chat-group she created, but the women there are involved with men who are close to Declan, and I don’t really want to share what I'm going through there. Besides, most of them there are married or in stable relationships, like Lena with JJ, a-n-d I’m not sure they know what it's like to be single and gripped with anxiety about the state of your relationship.

"Solene, did you hear me?"

"Yes, I heard you. And no, I’m not going to call that stronzo. Why should I, when he’s the one in the wrong? Again."

She nods slowly. "I suppose you’re right. And I agree with you. It’s confusing when he blows hot then cold. I guess it’s naive of me to think it’s easy to put things right by making the first move. But then, this is why I never want to be in a relationship. It feels like so much work!"

"It is, but I guess I’d miss these ups and downs, too—"

"No. Seriously?" She cries.

"No, but…" I cough, then clear my throat. "When I think of a life without him in it, it feels so empty, you know?"

"You have it bad for him, eh?"

I cough again, then reach for a glass of water and drink from it. "I’ve had it bad for him since I saw him on that beach."

I place the glass down and take in her pinched features. "Don’t worry about me. I survived this far, and I will going forward, too."

"Of course I worry about you. You’re my best friend."

"Aww, thanks, babe." I flash her a grin. "Enough about me; what about you? How’s the auditioning going for the musical?"

"Nowhere," she says with a jaunty flick of her hair.

"Nowhere?"

She raises a shoulder. "I’m changing course."

"What does that mean?"

"I’m studying to become a chef."

"A chef?"

"I’ve always loved food, and I got tired of going to auditions and never getting call-backs. Also, I got accepted to study cooking in one of the leading schools in London, so—"

"OMG, that’s great news."

"It is, except for the fees. It’s going to put me in debt, but I’m hoping I'll be able to pay it back with my first job. After all, good chefs are always in demand, right?"

"You’re excited about this, huh?"

"I am." She bounces on the balls of her toes. "I love new beginnings. Love this feeling that comes with starting something new."

"And I love that about you. If only I weren’t the type to see things through to the end. It’s a disease—one I can’t seem to get rid of."

She surveys my features closely, "You talking about your pop-star career or your Hollywood beefcake fiancé?"

"Fake fiancé. And both, I suppose." I rub at my temple. Goddamn migraines. I’ve never had one in my life. And now, I seem to get them every other week. I'm sure it’s the stress of having to cope with the demands of my career.

"That ring doesn’t look fake." She gestures to the ring on my finger.

"Yeah, he had to make it look good for the media, you know."

"Those pictures of you, and the post you put up that day with the two of you looked very convincing."

Yeah, I finally got around to sharing the news on my social media feeds, and whoa!

My views, which had been on the decline, jumped through the roof.

This post is at a million views and counting.

Which, in turn, increased the visibility of my other posts.

My feed is humming with comments, mainly positive ones from my fans.

So, Declan’s idea of jumpstarting my career with the fake engagement news had been on the nose.

Additionally, his follow up announcement that the two of us will star together in his next film went viral.

It's simply a statement from him without photos of either of us.

But he, or rather, his PR team, tagged my social media handles.

Between that and my own viral post, I'm suddenly the darling of the internet again. Only this time, I’m taking everything slowly.

I’m not attaching too much importance to what the fans are saying.

Everyone is happy for us and for the upcoming movie, and that's great, but now I know how quickly things can change. My focus is on recording my songs and putting together my next album. That's what I am at my core; it's what I enjoy doing. Facing the camera comes naturally to me—apparently, it’s easier for me to act a part than be myself—so I’ll do the movie with him and then… Then, we’ll see.

My heart sinks into my stomach. Damn, it’s going to be so difficult to walk away from him after this. But I’m going to have to find a way. Even if it kills me. A flash of pain stabs at my left temple. I wince and rub at it. Then reach for the ibuprofen and swallow it down with a sip of water.

"You okay, Solene?" Penny asks again.

"A nasty headache, but it’ll fade soon enough, I’m sure."

"You need to rest up a little, you know? Take it easy. Enjoy the ride."

I laugh. "I love that you’re so chill."

"And I love that you’re so focused. If I could, I’d be more like that instead of running after every shiny new project I find exciting."

"But I love your zest for life, Penny. Oh, and the fact that you also dyed your hair."

"Yay!" She holds up a strand of her pink-tinted hair. "Twinsies."

I tug on a strand of my blue streaked one. "Not quite, but close enough. Twinsies."

She lets her hair slip through her fingers. "So, what are you going to do now?"