Destiny_A Billionaire Second Chance Romance Read online

  “Well, I’d like to speak to someone about extending my credit, or a business loan perhaps. It’s for my shop.” I reply quite matter of factly.

  The teller looks at my account details on her screen and then back at me and scoffs in response.

  “I’m sorry?” She responds.

  “Are you actually aware of your current financial situation?”

  I feel my face getting hotter and I start to feel flustered. It took all the confidence I could muster to get here and ask for help, let alone stand here and be belittled by a bank teller.

  “Yes, I know..but I thought..” I try my best to protest, but find myself stuttering over my words.

  “You thought what?” The teller added.

  My face now feels like it’s on fire, my palms feel sweaty, and I feel like I’m in a nightmare. I thought this would be easy.

  “Let me make this clear to you Ms. Hanes...”

  The teller puts particular emphasis on Ms which irritates me because it comes across as condescendingly as I’m sure she intends it to be.

  “This bank is not in the habit of loaning people with terrible checking account balances or debt, even more money. We can’t help you today, thank you for taking stopping by.”

  With that, the teller hands me back my bank card and smiles at me in a way that she doesn’t even attempt to make seem genuine.

  “Now, is there anything else we can help you with today?” She adds, dropping the smile this time.

  This woman is not budging an inch. She is infuriating, and this was my last option. I start to feel the tears form in my eyes. It’s part anger, part frustration. Crying, however, is not part of my game plan and I refuse to let her get to me.

  “Ms. Hanes, I have other people to serve, please can I ask you to move away from the counter now.”

  I suddenly feel uncontrollable anger building inside me.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I yell at her, surprising even myself at the rage that erupts from out of practically nowhere.

  “Is this how you treat all your customers or do you just randomly pick out people you don’t like the look of?”

  I suddenly realize that I raised my voice a bit louder than I intended and see the bank teller giving the security guard ‘the nod.’

  I feel someone touch my arm and I angrily shake it off without taking my eyes off of the teller in order to continue my rant at her.

  “I came to get help for my business, and now you are going to have me dragged out by security? Great, yeah. Sure. Go ahead, why don’t you just do that then,” I yell.

  I spin around on the spot to confront the arm tugger and who I expect is the security guard who was about to drag me out.

  “Let me g…” I can’t finish my sentence because I’m suddenly struck by the vision of someone I never expected to see ever again. It was most definitely not a security guard that’s for sure.

  It’s him. It’s Gavin. Holy crap.

  I let out a gasp which was not meant to be out loud, but somehow it becomes that way.

  “Rosie?” He asks with surprise, still having not let go of my arm. I shake it out of his hands.

  “Gavin?” I say, still in a state of shock.

  “But what are you doing here?” I ask.

  It was supposed to be a rhetorical question, he is the one person I’m not exactly itching to get into a friendly catch up with. But In my defence, I’m still in a state of surprise at the whole bank teller incident and I’m still trying to piece together what has just happened.

  Then, to cap it all off, Gavin appears out of nowhere. The guy I dated in college, the guy who once we slept together, disappeared off the face of the fucking planet.

  I’m searching for words, my anger at the bank has been replaced by other feelings suddenly dragged into this whole situation. I look up at the sign on the wall which has an image of a happy smiling couple with the tag line ‘Wolfe bank likes to value their customers.’ I look back at Gavin...Wolfe.

  The confusion feels like it punches me in the gut all at once, what is happening? I look at Gavin. He is every bit the hot guy I knew in college.

  The only difference now was that he was a man. And oh goodness, he really seriously is all man, how is it possible that he’s now even hotter now than he was eight years ago? Broad shouldered, slightly muscular arms, chiseled jaw and he has somehow managed to take my breath away all over again.

  Fuck, this seriously isn’t good, I think to myself.

  “Rosie, I can’t believe you are here. Look, I don’t know what’s going on here, but let me help you. I overheard part of what happened, and I apologize for the way our teller treated you. That shouldn’t have happened.”

  I can’t think of anything else at that moment but to run. I wasn’t prepared for any of this drama today. I especially wasn’t ready to come face to face with the man who broke 18 year old me’s heart into a million pieces.

  “I’m sorry...I...err...I have to go. This has all been a huge mistake.” And with that, I bolt out of the door as fast as I possibly can.

  I’m not proud of myself, but seriously, I couldn’t think what else I should do.

  I head straight home. I can’t possibly go back to the shop now, my head isn’t in the right place and I need to process what just happened. I grab my phone and do a search for Gavin Wolfe. My eyes widen at the results, grandson of the financial icon that was James Wolfe who founded the ‘Wolfe Banking Group’ and is heir to the whole billion dollar company.

  I sit down aghast at what I’m reading. The wind feels like it’s being repeatedly knocked out of me this afternoon.

  When Gavin and I attended university together, I had no inkling he was anyone special. He was always a lot more worldly than me, I was just from this small town, and he was from a big city. I was a fresh-faced, perhaps naïve first year and he was just finishing up college. The one thing I am certain of is that he was just about the most hands down sexy guy I ever saw.

  We had a whirlwind six months of dating, he was my first boyfriend, and he always respected me. He was everything a man should be, dependable and strong. He always made me feel like I could just melt in his strong arms. I was a bit of a nerdy girl if I’m honest, and he was a jock. It probably seemed like the most unlikely relationship, and I often used to feel the burning eyes of jealousy from other girls.

  When I eventually decided to give myself to him fully, we had the most incredible night together. He was gentle, he had my virginity and I never felt in safer hands.

  But then he left. He left me alone and confused.

  Now I’m sat here wondering if I was just some rich boys plaything and I never meant a damn thing to him. He used me for sex. He used me so that he could pop my cherry and I never saw him again.

  So why did the sight of him today send shockwaves through my body? Why does my heart feel like it secretly still aches for him? My heart starts beating faster as more questions keep filling my head.

  Most importantly though, what do I do now he is here now?

  4

  Gavin

  It’s a minor misuse of my position, but I need to see Rosie again. I got one of my staff to find out her details from our computer system, and here I am standing in front of her house.

  Rosie took my breath away earlier when we came face to face. I had no idea this was her hometown. Her flowing long hair and sparkling brown eyes captivate me. Even eight years on since we were last together she’s still the most beautiful girl I know. I couldn’t help noticing her skirt skimming her delicious curves earlier. One thing is for sure, I could never get enough of her body back then and nothing seems to have change this many years later. I can’t deny that I ache to touch her again.

  I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since I saw her today. She always did make me feel like a man possessed, and clearly time has changed nothing.

  I rap on the door with hard and purposeful knocks. I see a shadowy figure coming to the door.

  She opens the
door just enough to be able to see it’s me.

  “Rosie, I need to speak to you,” I offer urgently before she closes the door in my face. And she does just that, but not before I jam my foot in the door.

  “Get your foot out of the door,” she hisses back.

  “No, Rosie. I won’t. I need to speak to you, and I won’t leave until I have,”

  I mean it too. I’ve waited too long for this, and I won’t let this opportunity slip away.

  And anyway, I’m not used to people telling me no.

  “We need to speak right now. I won’t take much of your time, but you know you want to let me in.” I add confidently.

  If my father taught me one thing, it was how to make people do what you want them to. I look Rosie square in the eyes until she melts.

  “Fine. But my parents will be here soon. You need to be gone by then.” She tells me matter of factly. But I know Rosie. She pretends to be assertive and act like she can give me orders. She always had a bit of spunk; it’s what I loved about her back in the day.

  But we both know though that really, she’s putty in my hands. She would admit that too.

  She opens the door wider for me to come in. The door opens straight into the living room, and she gestures for me to sit down on the couch. The room is small but cozy. Candles flicker around the mantle and I sink into the chair.

  Rosie sits too. There is an awkward silence, and I need to break it because she is sure as hell going to make me work for this.

  “Look, Rosie, I just want to say that I was probably just as surprised as you were earlier. You are the last person I expected to bump into in this town. But I can’t deny it was a really nice surprise.” I offer hopefully.

  “I have no doubt that by now you might have worked out the family connection to the bank?”

  I pause for a moment. I half expect Rosie to chip in with some sort of comment, but she doesn’t. She is just sitting there looking at me, displaying no emotion but finally she breaks her silence.

  “Yes, I came back home straight after I saw you and looked you up on the internet. Is it true?”

  My head starts racing. Which bit is she asking about? Is it true that I’m an heir to a billion-dollar company or is it true that my exploits with various nameless women at nightclubs are all over the internet? For now, I decide to play my response safe.

  “Yes, it’s true. My family owns the Wolfe bank. I’m from a very wealthy family and as it stands I may, or may not have a large inheritance, as well as part ownership of the bank,”

  This seems to have piqued Rosie’s interest.

  “What do you mean? Why may, or may not?” She asks quizzically.

  Guilt is not something I often feel, there is no place for it in serious business but I see an opportunity here to get what I want, and I wonder if it’s a step too far even for me.

  After eight years the girl I left behind is sitting in front of me and she is so beautiful that she still makes my dick hard.

  “Rosie, I know it’s a lot to ask, but I need your help. I don’t know how much you read about me on the internet, but I have a bad boy image in the press that my family is not too impressed with. They say I’m dragging the company and our family name into my exploits.”

  “Too fucking right it’s a lot to ask.” Rosie finally says, crossing her arms defiantly.

  “But you don’t even know what it is I’m going to ask yet," I add.

  She gives a dismissive wave of her hand as if to tell me she doesn’t want to hear anything else. I see a fire in her eyes, why do I find that so fucking sexy? It makes me want to do her right now on the couch.

  “Hear me out, Rosie. I’ve been sent to Greenwick as punishment by my father. He doesn’t approve of my life, and so I’ve been sent here to manage a local branch of one of our banks. I think I’m going to be forced out of the family business so I’ve come up with an idea to get back in his good books. I need to date a nice girl and prove that I’ve really changed. That nice girl needs to be you.”

  This is only partly true, and I know it. She won’t let me back into her life without some sort of white lie, and this seems like the solution as awful as it sounds. I also need to buy myself some time while I’m here to figure out a way to get my trust fund unlocked so I can get out of this damn family. I’m no good at being at anyone’s mercy, especially not my fathers. Once my family finds out I’m dating Rosie they’ll disown me anyway.

  “Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke?” Rosie replies angrily, she looks at me like I’m some kind of monster. I’m used to being the bad guy in business, but I had no idea she carried around so much animosity towards me. I know I shouldn’t be surprised given what happened in college.

  “Look, Rosie, I know about your situation. I also know that you were at the bank today to ask for a loan for your business. I looked at your accounts, and I can see why you need help. If you agree to do this for me, I’ll make sure you get all the help you need. I’ll personally look over your accounts and help you to keep your shop open for generations to come. Face it. You really need me right now.”

  I know that I should feel bad that I’ve backed her into a corner like she’s my hunted prey, but I don’t. I will help her, she does need me, but I need her too. She’s part of my family exit plan, but it’s so much more than that.

  I need to make her want me again. I need to put right a wrong from my past. And in any case, ever since I saw her earlier today, I can’t get her out of my mind, she’ll be a constant distraction all the time I know she’s living in the same town as me.

  5

  Rosie

  Who the fuck does Gavin Wolfe think he is anyway?

  He waltzes back in my life and kicks me while I’m down. The problem is that I don’t want to admit that I’m seriously running out of options. I hate that he may be my only option to save my business. I hate the way he makes me feel, that the very sight of him makes me hot and my panties wet.

  I hear a knock at the door.

  “Oh heck no.” I roll my eyes, My parents have arrived for dinner early and Gavin is still here.

  “Hey mom,” I say as brightly as possible when I open the door. I hug her and my father as they walk in.

  “Thank you for inviting us to dinner Rosie, we just don’t get together often enough.” my father reminds me. He looks well these days, I’m glad my parents were able to retire and take it easy, it makes the fact that I’m running their hard earned business into the ground just that much worse.

  “Your mother has been singing your praises to anyone who will listen you know. She’s so proud of the fact that you’ve taken on the family business.” My father says. My heart cracks a little, and I feel sick. I’d planned to talk to them tonight about how tough things were right now, how on earth can I do that now?

  I suddenly become aware that Gavin is still in the room. I have the horrible realization that to not break my parent's hearts I’m going to have to play along with this charade for both our sakes. I have a way to not have to tell them the truth today and I have no other options left to save my business. At this point, I have nothing to lose.

  Gavin stretches out his hand to shake my father's hand. My father shakes it with suspicion.

  “And who might you be?” My father says.

  “My name is Gavin Wolfe," he says.

  “Gavin...Wolfe?” My mother chips in. “Aren’t you the boy my daughter dated in college? The one who broke her heart?”

  The very last thing I want to do is defend Gavin, my mother is right and is only trying to protect me, but I have to keep this pretence going to make this situation work.

  “Mom, it’s ok. Yes we dated in college, and we’ve worked things out now. We are dating again actually.” I manage a forced smile in Gavin’s general direction. We might not have seen each other in eight years, but I know him well enough to know that he is brooding on the fact that my parents are giving him a hard time. He’s used to being the charmer in any situation, and the kind of g
uy people are instantly drawn to. I wonder if my parents are even buying this lie, but from the look on their faces at the sight of Gavin back in my life, it’s evident that they are.

  But I know I need to diffuse this situation quickly.

  “Dinner is ready everyone, come on just sit down and let’s just start over.”

  I close the front door behind my parents as they leave and I let out a sigh of relief. We made it through dinner without too much incident, but nonetheless, I’m pleased it’s over.

  Gavin appears back in the room with the last remaining unopened bottle of wine from dinner and two wine glasses.

  “I thought you could do with a drink after that,” he says casually while putting the glasses and bottle on the coffee table as if this is normal now. He unbuttons the top few buttons of his shirt to get more comfortable. I bite the corner my lip, as I get a tantalizing glimpse of his muscular body. I feel my body temperature start to rise.

  “This is all still a bit weird if I’m honest,” I say as I approach the couch where Gavin is now sitting and pouring us wine. I think about protesting his continued presence in my house, I’m still trying to process just what on earth I’ve agreed to. Gavin pushes the glass of wine along the table in my direction.

  What the hell, what’s the worst thing that can happen? I think to myself, then sit down on the couch next to him and take a sip.

  “Look, Rosie, you are right, this is weird. I know that, but honestly, I think it can work out for both of us. Your parents were so complimentary about the way you’ve taken over the family business, and I want to help you keep that business; honestly I do.” He looks sincere when he says this. I find myself studying his face looking for any sign of insincerity, but I don’t see it. I’m mad at Gavin for breaking my heart, I’m mad at him for not being the asshole right now that I imagined he would be. I’m even madder at the way he makes me want him so badly without even trying.

  “Yeah, well, I really hate lying to my parents. I feel so guilty, but it’s not as guilty as I’ll feel if I lose the business they worked so hard to build. I don’t feel like I have a choice really.” And then take a thoughtful sip of my wine.