The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 55

Lark was listening to Heriberto as he regaled them with stories of things, he’d caught Ollie and Santiago engaging in when they were a couple a few years ago and Lark couldn’t help but laughing at his storytelling.

Max was on his second drink and growing more despondent with each sip. When he spoke, she knew it was going to be something antagonistic and he didn’t disappoint.

“I want to know,” he tilted his glass at Heriberto, “how it is you know so much about what goes on in my family’s business. For example, who stays in my father’s hotel? You’re acting all charming and cordial, as you called it, but I don’t find it all very friendly for you to have inside information.”

“Do you know who is in the penthouse?” Heriberto held Max’s gaze. “I’m going to guess no because you do not work with or for your father. Do you know who does?” He lifted his first finger and pointed upwards, “Santiago does. Who do you think arranged the transport for a crown prince from a small European nation who happens to be close friends with your father? Your father, or more importantly, Riggs, uses my family for the business.”

Max’s jaw opened and then he frowned, “no way.”

“Yes. Funny story,” he gave a chuckle as if genuinely enjoying surprising Max, “if Olivia hadn’t decided to take things into her own hands, who do you think Riggs would have called to clean up your mess Max? Our services are incredibly discreet.” He jerked two thumbs at his chest. “This guy. See we get hired a lot by the wealthy people to clean up their s**t. The guy in the presidential suite messed up in a casino your dad likes to attend. The guy f****d up when he got back to his room and caught his wife f*****g her lover and it got physical. He called us, we cleared it with Olivier to move him here and since he’s a prince, your dad put him here under strict orders not to leave. We happened to be coming here to check on him when we caught sight of you this morning heading to your meeting.”

Lark sat back incredulously. “No way!”

“Right? Tell me fate doesn’t exist and I’ll point you in the direction of the room where my brother is currently trying to convince the love of his life they were meant to be.”

“Does Ollie know?”

“No. We don’t go around announcing to families who we work with. I’m telling you Max because we’re going to be brothers-in-law to an extent.”

“Never going to happen.” Max refuted.

“Do not doubt my brother’s love for Olivia. He was patient with her. She was hurting following the loss of their child. He gave her the space he knew she needed to heal but now she reached out and made contact, she sealed her fate. He purposefully messed up our dealing with Doug to ensure she reached out a second time and it worked. He wants her back and he will have her.”

“She won’t be a mistress to a married man.” Lark argued.

Heriberto leaned sideways as if sharing a confidence, “Miss Hoffman, do you really think my brother would marry anyone other than the woman of his dreams. None of the wedding was legal. It’s a farce. Right now, my brother is explaining to Olivia how to preserve the life of our sister, he faked a marriage as a business transaction. It has taken nearly two years for us to get a bead on where his so-called bride’s family took her. We finally found her, ironically enough, the day before your ex got his lights punched out by Max. At this moment, she is being rescued and then the family which has been extorting ours is going to pay their dues.”

“s**t,” Max rubbed his hand over his mouth. “She really believes he married another woman.”

“Had to make it believable,” Heriberto shrugged. “He couldn’t put her at risk more than he did. They took our sister, imagine what they’d do to the love of his life. They concocted a story about a long-term betrothal, but it was all bullshit.” He looked at Lark and winked, “you’re not the only one who wishes to keep her safe.”

It dawned on her if Ollie simply talked to him back then instead of running away, she would not be hurting as much as she was. Lark sighed, “she really needs to learn to communicate.”

“They both do. Bad tempers the pair of them,” Heriberto clinked his glass to hers and sipped it. He turned to Jonah, “and you. What is your story? What made you follow these firecrackers to Houston?”

“Support for Lark. She is my friend.”

“You keep saying it, but you spent twelve years not speaking too?”

“We talked and saw each other once in awhile but not as much as we should have.” He smiled at her, “I missed her. We played paintball last weekend and I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much. I realized then how I let them get in the way.”

“No girlfriend?”

“Nope. Thought I might have been able to connect with this woman, but it’s not working out.”

“A cowgirl,” Lark made wide eyes at Johan. “She isn’t good enough for you, Johan.”