The Tycoon's Secret Affair (The Anetakis Tycoons #3)(42)

“But he doesn’t love me. Moreover, he doesn’t want to love me. I can’t live with someone who distrusts me as much as he distrusts me.”

“What about Eric?” Bella questioned. “Surely you won’t leave him in his current situation.”

“No,” Jewel said fiercely. “And that’s why I’ve come. I need your help.”

Marley put her hand on Jewel’s. “Anything.”

“I pawned the jewelry that Piers gave me. It’s enough to rent a small place in Miami so I can set up a permanent residence. But I’ll need enough money socked away that the state will see me as a stable, financially able parent for Eric. I won’t get a settlement from Piers until the divorce, and I have no idea how long that will take.”

Bella grinned. “The lovely thing about having my own money, is that I don’t need to rely on the Anetakis billions. No offense, Marley.”

“None taken,” Marley said dryly.

“I have some cash on hand that I can give you, and I’ll wire you more funds so that you can rent something a little better than a ‘small place’ in Miami. If small is good, then bigger is better, right?”

Jewel squeezed both women’s hands. “Thank you so much. I was so worried that you’d hate me, that you’d believe that I’d deceived Piers.”

Marley sighed. “I have a feeling that Piers is going to wake up one day and realize he’s made the worst mistake of his life. I almost wish I was there to see it.”

“Don’t feel so bad, Jewel,” Bella said soothingly. “I’m afraid all of the Anetakis men are rather dense when it comes to love.”

“So true,” Marley agreed.

“You’ll keep us posted on how things go with Eric? I’d love to meet him,” Bella said.

“Of course I will.”

“Do you have travel arrangements for your trip to Miami?” Marley asked.

Jewel shook her head. “Not yet. I’ve barely had time to breathe. I came straight here from the island.”

Bella stood, her expression one of take charge. “First things first. We’re going to go have a nice girly lunch followed by an afternoon of complete pampering at the spa. God knows you pregnant women need it. Then we’re going to arrange for a private jet to fly Jewel to Miami, and I’ll have a driver waiting there to pick her up and take her wherever she needs to go. Piers may be a dumb ass, but you’re still family.”

Jewel burst into tears again, and Bella groaned.

“Is it any wonder I have no desire to procreate? Pregnancy turns women into hormonal messes.”

Marley dabbed quickly at her eyes, and Jewel burst out laughing. Marley joined her, giggling through her tears and finally Bella joined them as well.

“Okay, enough sniffling. Let’s get out of here before the men return. I’ll leave them a note telling them I’ve taken Marley off for an afternoon of debauchery. They won’t be the least bit surprised,” Bella said with a grin.

“Promise me you’ll both visit me in Miami,” Jewel said fiercely. “I’ll miss you both terribly. I’ve always wanted a family—sisters—and I couldn’t ask for better sisters than you two.”

“Oh, I’ll visit,” Marley promised. “I’ll blame it all on Bella. It’s my standard excuse and keeps me out of trouble with Chrysander. Theron loves her so much that he’s frighteningly indulgent with her.”

“You’re both very lucky,” Jewel said wistfully.

Marley gave her a stricken look. “I’m so sorry, Jewel. That was incredibly thoughtless of me.”

“Blame it on the pregnancy,” Bella said. “Surely having a parasite inside you sucking all your brain cells has to negatively impact you sooner or later.”

Marley and Jewel both cracked up.

“You’re so delightfully irreverent,” Jewel teased. “It’s no wonder Theron loves you so.”

“Come on, let’s go, let’s go. My man radar tells me the menfolk will be home soon. The more distance we put between here and where we’re going, the less likely they’ll be able to track us down.”

They linked arms and headed out the door only to be stopped by Reynolds, Theron’s head of security.

Bella sighed and cast a baleful look in the man’s direction. “Can we count on you for a little discretion or will you break your neck reporting to Theron?”

Reynolds cleared his throat. “That will depend on where you think you’re going.”

Marley pressed forward. “What we have here, sir, is a damsel in distress. A very pregnant damsel in distress. She is in sore need of a day at the spa. You know, where we do all those frightening girly things that scare the devil out of men.”

Reynolds swallowed and paled slightly. “Well as long as it’s that and not a more inappropriate place.”

Bella glared at him as she walked by him to the car. “You’re never going to let me live down that strip club are you?”

“Strip club?” Jewel asked. “This I’ve got to hear.”

“And I’ll tell you all about it once we’re wrapped in mud from head to toe,” Bella said as they got into the car.

Bella leaned forward as Reynolds got into the front seat. “There’s one more thing, Reynolds. This is top secret stuff. You didn’t see Jewel, don’t know who she is, never saw her in your life, capiche?”