Page 41 of Billionaire Retreat

I shook my head, “So you left to—”

“Go get my niece. I didn’t want her sitting in foster care for even a few minutes and I knew once the authorities found out that my sister had abandoned her kid to get drunk and high, that they would remove Rory from my sister’s home.”

“So, your sister just didn’t come back home and checked herself into rehab?”

“Not exactly. We found her in the hospital a few days later. She had overdosed and someone had brought her in as a Jane Doe.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry... How old was your niece at the time?”

“Three.”

“She must have been traumatized.”

“Her nanny did a great job staying when she wasn’t even being paid. She’s a good person. And she also happened to be a close friend of mine from college.”

That explained the beach scene… I thought to myself. I must have seen him with his niece and her nanny, who was his friend.

Now that I thought about it... Mrs. Wallace had never called the kid Griffin’s kid. She’d only referred to the little girl as her granddaughter. She’d been careful not to fully lie to me... she’d just planted the seed. She had played me like a fool as I had initially expected.

“I thought... I thought you were married. I saw you on a beach a few years ago with your arms around some woman and you guys had a little girl.”

“My dad raised me better than that. I’ve never cheated on anyone and I’ve never been married. The only thing I’m guilty of is failing to tell you that I was leaving the night after we made love, but I was operating on not much sleep because of our lovemaking and when I got that call in the middle of the night, I just left. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

“But as soon as I came back to my senses I told Jackson to tell you I had to leave.”

“He tried,” I said. “But I jumped to conclusions and didn’t listen. I assumed he was lying... you know, trying to cover for you.”

And just like that, my world changed. The man I’d pegged the enemy for years was actually a good, decent guy. I sighed. So now instead of anger, I had to deal with guilt.

Thankfully, soon after, we pulled up to the restaurant and I climbed out of the car before he could come around and open the door.

“I guess I need to get faster,” he commented wryly. He reached for my hand and I hesitated before letting him take it. He smiled and I looked away, too overwhelmed by what I’d learned to look at him. And the sad part was that the night was still early. What other secrets was Griffin keeping and when would I have to share my own?

We walked into the restaurant and were seated immediately. It was a cozy Italian place and I desperately wanted something rich and decadent to eat. My stomach growled as I smelled all the mesmerizing aromas in the air.

“You’ll like this place, it’s delicious.”

“It sure smells delicious.”

“What are you in the mood for?”

“Cheese, pasta, cream, bread… all of it. And maybe cheesecake at the end?”

He laughed. “I think we can make that happen.”

He ordered for the both of us and when the waiter left, I felt vulnerable and unsure of myself. It was like being 22 all over again.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing, I just haven’t done this in a long time.”

“What exactly haven’t you done in a long time?” he asked not understanding.

“This… the whole dating scene.”

“I get it…neither have I. Life’s been busy, to say the least. What’s your excuse?” he asked turning the tables.

I gulped. Should I tell him now? Was now the right time? Thankfully, the waiter appeared with a bottle of wine. It gave me time to think, which I was having trouble doing when Griffin was around.