Read Online CUZ: Billionaire Stepbrother Romance by Brandi Louis - Free Book Online
Authors: Brandi Louis
Ads: Link
the lawyer’s office the next day, Mr. Goshen treated us like royalty as soon as we introduced ourselves. A smile never left his face as he passed on the exact details.
“All told, your parents left you one hundred million dollars if you ever came looking for them. They were devastated every single day of their lives for giving you away for adoption, but they had no choice at the time. Right after they won the lottery, they set up a trust fund for you. Two days later, they were both hit by a semi-truck on the expressway while on their way to find you.”
My mind reeled. The room spun. I turned to Josh, my anchor. He looked as confused as me.
“What’s this mean?” I asked, turning back to the attorney.
“Once you sign some paperwork, you’ll have your money minus my fees and taxes deposited into your account.”
“When?”
“The whole process takes about a month. If you wait longer, we may be able to find some loopholes so you can get an extra million or two back.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “A month is fine.”
“Very well.” He handed me a stack of papers. “If you’ll sign by the green x on the last five pages…”
My hand was so numb I had to sign my name slowly. Once it was done, the attorney took them back, the million-dollar smile still on his face. Josh reached out and took my hand in his, squeezing it gently. I turned to him. Is that fear? Why is he afraid? Things are going great. I pushed the questions out of my mind and turned back to the attorney.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. We have your contact information now, and we will be in touch when the money is in your bank account.”
I stood up. “Thank you so much.”
“Not a problem.”
“Did you know my parents?” I asked suddenly, trying to trip him up.
“No. Unfortunately, I didn’t know either of them personally. But I hear they were both wonderful people.”
“Do you know why they put me up for adoption?”
His smile disappeared. “No, I’m sorry. I have another client. Do you mind?” He waved his hand toward the door.
“Thanks again,” I said, turning around.
Josh walked next to me. Outside, we got into his Mercedes.
“Can you believe it?” he asked, laughing.
I shook my head, still trying to process what had just happened.
“I wonder how much will be left for me.”
“Probably not much.” He laughed. “Welcome to my world. More money, more problems.”
“Can we get some lunch somewhere? I’m starving.”
“What do you recommend?”
“There’s a place on the outskirts of town. They have amazing gumbo.”
He pressed a button on the dash. “You know the address?”
“Just drive,” I said. “I’ll tell you where to go. Trust me.”
“Ms. Big Bucks bossing me around.”
“Onward, driver,” I commanded.
As soon as he pulled away, I changed my mind.
“You know what? Just take me back to my apartment. I need to think about all this.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, glancing at me for a moment.
“Yeah. It’s not you. I just need some time alone, please.”
“What about what happened?”
“The money?”
“No, I’m talking about what happened between us,” he said.
“What about it? I loved it, but I don’t know if it should happen again.”
“Are you serious? After everything we’ve been through?”
“I’m just not sure.”
“Fine.”
Neither of us talked as he drove – quickly – to my apartment. After he parked in front of my building, I turned to him.
“I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Call all you want,” he said.
“Don’t be like that, Josh,” I begged.
He stared straight ahead. I sighed and opened the car door. As soon as I got out and closed it, he took off into the night. I went inside and poured a glass of wine, needing to unwind. Everything was happening so quickly. I needed time to think.
Fourteen
Josh
When I got back to the hotel, I went straight to my room and ordered two bottles of whiskey, two
“All told, your parents left you one hundred million dollars if you ever came looking for them. They were devastated every single day of their lives for giving you away for adoption, but they had no choice at the time. Right after they won the lottery, they set up a trust fund for you. Two days later, they were both hit by a semi-truck on the expressway while on their way to find you.”
My mind reeled. The room spun. I turned to Josh, my anchor. He looked as confused as me.
“What’s this mean?” I asked, turning back to the attorney.
“Once you sign some paperwork, you’ll have your money minus my fees and taxes deposited into your account.”
“When?”
“The whole process takes about a month. If you wait longer, we may be able to find some loopholes so you can get an extra million or two back.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “A month is fine.”
“Very well.” He handed me a stack of papers. “If you’ll sign by the green x on the last five pages…”
My hand was so numb I had to sign my name slowly. Once it was done, the attorney took them back, the million-dollar smile still on his face. Josh reached out and took my hand in his, squeezing it gently. I turned to him. Is that fear? Why is he afraid? Things are going great. I pushed the questions out of my mind and turned back to the attorney.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. We have your contact information now, and we will be in touch when the money is in your bank account.”
I stood up. “Thank you so much.”
“Not a problem.”
“Did you know my parents?” I asked suddenly, trying to trip him up.
“No. Unfortunately, I didn’t know either of them personally. But I hear they were both wonderful people.”
“Do you know why they put me up for adoption?”
His smile disappeared. “No, I’m sorry. I have another client. Do you mind?” He waved his hand toward the door.
“Thanks again,” I said, turning around.
Josh walked next to me. Outside, we got into his Mercedes.
“Can you believe it?” he asked, laughing.
I shook my head, still trying to process what had just happened.
“I wonder how much will be left for me.”
“Probably not much.” He laughed. “Welcome to my world. More money, more problems.”
“Can we get some lunch somewhere? I’m starving.”
“What do you recommend?”
“There’s a place on the outskirts of town. They have amazing gumbo.”
He pressed a button on the dash. “You know the address?”
“Just drive,” I said. “I’ll tell you where to go. Trust me.”
“Ms. Big Bucks bossing me around.”
“Onward, driver,” I commanded.
As soon as he pulled away, I changed my mind.
“You know what? Just take me back to my apartment. I need to think about all this.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, glancing at me for a moment.
“Yeah. It’s not you. I just need some time alone, please.”
“What about what happened?”
“The money?”
“No, I’m talking about what happened between us,” he said.
“What about it? I loved it, but I don’t know if it should happen again.”
“Are you serious? After everything we’ve been through?”
“I’m just not sure.”
“Fine.”
Neither of us talked as he drove – quickly – to my apartment. After he parked in front of my building, I turned to him.
“I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Call all you want,” he said.
“Don’t be like that, Josh,” I begged.
He stared straight ahead. I sighed and opened the car door. As soon as I got out and closed it, he took off into the night. I went inside and poured a glass of wine, needing to unwind. Everything was happening so quickly. I needed time to think.
Fourteen
Josh
When I got back to the hotel, I went straight to my room and ordered two bottles of whiskey, two
Similar Books
