New Beginnings (The Billionaire’s Baby #4)(31)
Author: Helen Cooper

“Yes. Senator Frank Phillips.”

“I’m sorry.”

He looked at her carefully then and saw the real concern and hurt in her eyes and he sighed. “No. I’m sorry. I was a good man once. I want to be a good man again.”

She stared at him with unshed tears. “Please don’t hurt my brother.”

“I don’t know what the senator is going to do.” He sighed. “I don’t want any part of it. I met someone recently. She makes me want to be a better person.” He laughed hysterically. “And I barely know her. And she’s engaged.”

“I guess it was true love.” Ella offered him a half smile.

“Yes. I think she’s the one.” He sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll ever win her heart though.”

“You can always try.” Ella sighed. “Love isn’t easy.”

“No. It’s not.” He looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Goldengirl.”

“It’s okay.” She sighed. “Maybe I’ve just been looking for love in all the wrong places.”

“Yeah.” He took a deep breath and asked, “I don’t suppose you can tell me more information about Max’s fiancée, can you?”

“What? Why?” She looked at him with narrow eyes and pushed him against the wall hard. “What do you want with, Sophie?”

“Sophie?” He looked at her in shock and he felt as if the world were spinning out of control.

“She’s my best friend, and you better not try any shit with her.” Ella’s voice was loud and ominous and as Dr. Spencer blacked out, he thought it was funny that she was angrier about him bringing up her friend’s name than she was when he had told her that he had been using her.

***

Ella tried to call Max as soon as she left the alleyway. She had left Dr. Spencer on the ground as soon as he had fainted. She knew she should have waited to see if he was okay but she knew that she had to talk to Max and let him know what she had found out. She was mad and angry at herself and she knew that part of what the doc had said had been true. She was spoiled and she had used her body and looks to get what she wanted. She didn’t want to be that woman anymore. She was determined to move on with her life and forget men for the moment. Sleeping around had gotten her nowhere, just with a bunch of loser men.

Max’s phone kept going to voicemail and she decided to go and visit him at the office the next day so that she could speak to him without Sophie knowing what was going on. She tried to ignore all of the stares from the men in the street as she walked, she knew that she looked like a hot mess but there wasn’t much she could do about them. She grabbed her phone eagerly when it rang and was about to put it back when she saw it was Joseph but something made her answer it.

“Ella?” His voice sounded unsure.

“Yes?” She sighed. “What do you want, Joseph?”

“I need to see you. We need to talk.”

“No.”

“It’s important.”

“So tell me over the phone.”

“No. It has to be in person. Please.” He lowered his voice. “Someone is out to ruin your brother, Ella.”

“How did you know that?” She frowned into the phone. Was Joseph involved as well?

“They sent me photos of him and Alexis at some sort of club.”

“What club?”

“It says The X Club in the background.” He sighed. “Can I see you?”

“Why would the photos ruin him?” she asked him slowly.

“They may not ruin him financially but they may ruin his relationship with Sophie.”

“How so?”

“The photos are of Max and Alexis in a variety of different sexual positions Ella. Some are, shall we say, very risqué.”

“Why would someone send you these photos?”

“Because they think I’m out for revenge because I lost my job.”

“Aren’t you?” She sighed.

“No.” He paused. “I need to see you Ella, please.”

“Are you divorced?” she asked hopefully.

“Let’s talk when I see you, Ella.” He begged. “Please.”

“Where do you want to meet?”

“Let’s meet at The X Club.”

“What?!?” Ella’s voice was loud.

“I think that will be the best way for us to get to the bottom of whatever is going on here, Ella.” He sighed.

“But I don’t know.” She sighed. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“We need to stop them from getting to Sophie.” His voice was urgent. “Max is a good guy, Ella. I respect him and love him like a brother. Sophie is the love of his life. He can’t lose her.”

Ella chewed on her lip and thought about everything. Hadn’t Dr. Spencer mentioned going to the club as well? It seemed as if she needed to pay Frank Phillips a visit herself. “Okay. I’ll go.” She thought for a second. “Unless Max has a better idea.”

“You can’t tell him,” Joseph stuttered.

“He has to know.” Ella’s voice was firm. “If you don’t hear from me tomorrow. I’ll meet you there tomorrow evening.”

“Okay.” He grinned into the phone. “Oh and Ella.”

“Yes.”

“Dress slutty.” He laughed.

“You wish.” Ella hung up and stopped and ran her hands though her hair. She was excited to see Joseph, she knew it was a mistake but she was doing it for Max and Sophie, that had to make it okay.

Chapter 16

Sophie

Jacob slept all through the night for once. Sophie thought that was ironic because she hadn’t been able to sleep all night. Maxwell hadn’t come home and she had been calling him all night. His phone was off and he hadn’t tried to call her at all. She lay in the bed with cried out and baggy eyes just staring at the ceiling. She jumped out of the bed when she heard the knocking at the door.

“Hello.” She ran to it and opened it eagerly. “Oh, hello.”

“I have a letter.” The young man handed her an envelope. “Sign for it, please.”

“Okay.” She signed her name and then closed the door. She saw the writing on the envelope and her heart stopped beating. It was from Max.

My Dearest Sophie,

It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I left and I already miss you more than life itself. I didn’t want to write to you so quickly. I wanted to give you time to adjust to life without me but I miss you and love you so very much.