Covet: Trusting the Billionaire (The Trophy Wife Book 4) by Charlotte Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

mother.
    She smiles when she sees me. “How are you, sweetheart?”
    “I’m good,” I mutter.
    “What’s wrong, Cheryl?” There is no hiding my emotions from her.
    “Well, I’m just disappointed, that’s all. Something is really bugging me.”
    “What is it?” she asks gently, sounding concerned.
    “Julian works more than he needs to. He has more than enough money, and I don’t understand why he can’t just retire and spend more time with the family.”
    “Did you ask him about it?”
    “Yes and he simply said he works because he’s passionate about it and even though I mean a lot to him, his work means a lot to him, too.”
    “Julian is right. You mean a lot to him, but couples need to have a life outside of their marriage. That way they have more of themselves to share with each other, and they are happier. How is your oil painting going, Cheryl?”
    “I haven’t been able to focus on that lately, but I’ll have to get back into it.”
    “I strongly encourage that. Julian might decide to retire in the future, but until then, take the time to pursue your passions.”
    With that little bit of encouragement from my mother, I spend the afternoon working on a new painting. It helps take my mind off Julian, and I actually escape into a peaceful trance for a few hours as I listen to music and create an abstract painting of Geneva with various colors.
    I’m awakened from my trance and saddened when a song’s lyrics resonate inside me: The future that we hold is so unclear…This is a modern fairytale…No happy endings, no wind in our sails, but I can’t imagine a life without breathless moments .
    That’s exactly what Julian gives me—breathless moments—and I can’t imagine life without him. However, just as the song suggests, not every modern fairytale has a happy ending.
     
    In the evening, after dinner, Julian suggests that we go dancing. I push aside any concerns because more than anything I want more breathless moments with him.
    I get dressed in a dark green knee-length dress by Elie Saab. Julian is dressed in a black button-down shirt, black pants, and a black suit jacket. We leave our wedding rings at home and head to the same exclusive club we went to before.
    Julian drives his red Saleen S7. It’s a sleek and unique car that I had only heard of until I rode in it for the first time.
    As usual, Julian and I are treated like royalty and ushered into the club so that we can avoid the hours-long lineup at the entrance.
    Julian leaves me standing alone at the lit-up bar. I can feel his burning-hot gaze on me, but I can’t spot him among the crowd.
    I suddenly feel another pair of eyes on me. When I look to my left, I see a man with bright green eyes and dark brown hair glaring hard at me.
    He scrutinizes me with intimidating, greedy eyes as though I’m a mouthwatering piece of meat. A lascivious smile tugs at his lips. I glare back at him, but when he doesn’t look away, I turn my back to him, facing the bar to avoid his scrutiny. Then I feel uncomfortable, knowing that he’s probably staring at my ass.
    I feel Julian’s masculine presence before I see him. I get a whiff of his delicious, manly, spicy cologne.
    “Drink?” he whispers into my ear as he wraps his arm around my waist.
    “Sure,” I reply.
    “What are you having?”
    “I’ll have a glass of champagne.”
    Julian waves over the bartender with his Black Amex, orders a flute of Dom Pérignon, and slides it over to me on the bar.
    “Your name?”
    “Cheryl, and yours?”
    “Julian.” He offers his hand.
    I shake his hand and shiver as a charge runs from Julian’s hand into my own and then up my arm. Fuck, what is that?
    He gently raises my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles while steadily holding my gaze. I’m holding my breath as I gape at his handsome face and gleaming, jet-black hair.
    “Nice to meet you,” he whispers before putting my hand back down.
    He remains silent, piercing me with his deep gaze. His