One Weekend with the Billionaire novel Chapter 82

Dinner is delicious as always. The kitchen staff makes the best dishes, and this roast beef is no exception, but I am not savoring each bite I slip between my lips. I am focused on the man next to me.

Braxton came home with a smile on his face for the first time in a while that didn’t look forced. He is always happy to see me, and I know when he smiles at me, it is genuine, and he means it. But tonight, something is different. Something has changed.

He tried to call me earlier in the day when I was working and didn’t hear the phone ringing, and then when I called him back, he was busy, so this is the first chance I’ve gotten to talk to him since this morning. I try to be patient as we eat because I know he likes to wait until after dinner to tell me important information, but I can hardly wait to find out what has him so joyful.

After we’ve eaten most of what is on our plates, I can’t help but say, "I’m sorry I missed your call today."

"Me, too," he says. "And then when you called back, I was in a meeting with an important client."

I am happy to hear that he is meeting with important clients again because I know for a while he was having difficulty paying attention during those meetings. "Were you calling to tell me anything significant?" I ask, hoping he’ll let me know what’s going on now instead of making me wait until after dessert.

"Yes, I think it’s pretty significant," he says with a smile. He sets his fork down and wipes his mouth on a cloth napkin. Braxton takes a sip of his wine and clears his throat before he reaches for my hand. I give it to him. "He’s decided to settle outside of court."

It takes me a moment to process what he is saying. I need some clarification because it is such a shocking bit of news. "Jeff? Decided to settle outside of court?"

Braxton nods. "I got the call from my lawyer this afternoon."

"Wow…." I say, not sure what to make of that. I think it is a good thing that it’s almost over, but I am stunned because I wasn’t expecting that. Not at all. "I can hardly believe it."

"I know," Braxton says, squeezing my hand. "I am surprised, too. I thought he’d decide to go to court and draw this out even longer than it already has been."

I had been expecting the same thing. The fact that we can put all of this behind us soon, that I can file for divorce without having to worry about facing Jeff in court, makes me feel relaxed in a way I haven’t since all of this began. I take a few deep breaths, and Braxton lets go of my hand so we can continue to eat.

"I know," I say with a self-conscious sigh. I don’t want to even think about money, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel guilty. If Braxton is spending a substantial amount of money to free me from my husband, I will feel guilty about that for a very long time. That’s probably why he doesn’t want to tell me the amount.

"Why don’t we go into the cinema room and watch a movie?" Braxton suggests. "It’ll give us a chance to leave reality behind for a bit."

Braxton has the most amazing cinema room, with comfortable seating and a huge screen. The sound system is the same as most movie theaters. I smile just thinking about it. We don’t watch a lot of television or movies, but when we sit in there beneath a blanket and I can cuddle in his arms and lose myself in a romance movie, it’s a great way to take my mind off of everything.

"All right. Sounds good," I say. A servant comes and clears our plates, replacing them with dessert plates with large pieces of apple pie ala mode. I take a bite and try to forget all about Jeff and the settlement. It doesn’t quite slip my mind, but I can accept the information Braxton has given me for now.

Later on, I might need more answers. For now, I’ll just concentrate on accepting this small victory and celebrating it with a man who loves me more than all of the money in the world.