One Weekend with the Billionaire novel Chapter 53

I haven’t slept all night. Instead, I’ve tossed and turned, thinking only of Julia. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the day. I have several important meetings, but I may have to reschedule them. I can’t think about work, accounts, personnel matters, anything except for my sweet Julia.

I am in the backseat, staring aimlessly out the window as I make the long drive into work when my phone rings. I jump immediately because it is the special ringtone I have given to Julia. I fish my phone out of my pocket. "Hello?" I say, praying that it’s her and not Jeff.

"Braxton?"

The sound of her voice melts my insides. Even though she sounds like she might be crying, I am relieved to know that she is okay, that she has the capacity of calling me. Overnight, I’ve had all sorts of awful images in my mind. Despite my people being stationed right next door, I imagine her being beaten or killed, or Jeff tying her up so she can’t move, let alone call me. Now, to know that she is okay, at least enough to give me a call, makes me feel so much better, though my heart is racing.

"Julia, thank God," I say. "How are you?"

"I’m okay. I’m sorry. I just saw your text. I had to hide the phone so that Jeff wouldn’t see, and I just got it out from the hiding spot now that he’s gone to work. How are you?"

"Terrible," I admit to her, though I know it will break her heart. I have to be honest with her. "I miss you so much."

"I miss you, too, Braxton," she says. "I wish I could see you."

"You can," I remind her.

She sighs heavily, and I know what she will say before it slips from between her lips. "It’s not that simple."

The last thing I want right now is to argue with her, so I ask instead, "How was he when he got home?" I’m not sure I want to hear the response, but I need to know.

"He was okay, I guess," she says. "He didn’t say much of anything."

"He didn’t yell at you? Or hit you?"

"No," she says, and I breathe easier knowing that.

"Well, that’s good."

Her words break my heart. Of course she’s not. She’s been married to Jeff for two years. I can’t expect her to just divorce him after one weekend with me. "Okay," I say, the sorrow obvious in my voice.

"Braxton…." She sounds like a mother who doesn’t know how to get her child to understand what he’s done wrong.

"It’s all right, Julia. I understand," I assure her, even if it’s not quite true. "Just… be careful, and let me know what I can do to help you."

"I will," she promises.

I sigh loudly. I know she wants to go. We are pulling into the parking garage where I will walk in through a side entrance out of the weather and away from anyone who might want to harass me. The privileges I enjoy are endless. "I love you, Julia," I tell her, feeling it so deeply into my heart that it hurts.

"I love you, too," she says, and I believe her, even though I’m not sure it’s enough.

I hang up. How can loving someone not be enough? I’m not sure, but that seems to be the case. I need more than love. I need… patience. And good luck. For the most part, I’ve always had both on my side. We shall see if it holds true in this, the most important battle of my life.