A Billionaire's Obsession 3 (BWWM Interracial Romance): Claiming Her Heart Read online

  A Billionaire's Obsession

  3

  Claiming Her Heart

  Hattie Black

  Copyright © 2015 by Hattie Black. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of the author.

  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, incidents and events are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 1

  "Renee! Honey, what are you doing here?" Pilar, Renee's mother comes out her home, excited, and surprised to see her daughter siting in her car, in the driveway. "I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. You hadn't said that you were coming down to visit this weekend?"

  Renee remains sitting still in the driver's seat of the car. She is numb.

  "Renee...Renee honey, what's wrong?" He mother asks. Renee had actually been sitting in the driveway for about twenty minutes before her mother realized she was there. "Renee!" Pilar hollers, now standing by the driver's door, looking into the window. Renee awakes from her somewhat comatose state.

  "Ma, what are you doing?" Renee asks looking at her mother strangely.

  "Why are you just sitting in the car? Why don't you come in?" Pilar asks her daughter who is acting strangely. Renee rolls her eyes.

  "I'm coming Ma. Can you back up a bit?" Renee asks, giggling at her hovering mother. Pilar looks down, and around her, and then steps back. Renee exits the car. She wraps her arms around her mother, and embraces her firmly. Renee's mother returns an equally tight embrace.

  "Why are you here Renee-joi? Is everything okay?" Pilar asks concerned. Renee's parents were somewhat hippies in their youth. They named Renee, Renee-joi, but the "joi" dropped off early in her school days, when she was repeatedly questioned, and teased. Her parents tended to return to using it when they sought to comfort her, or just plain wanted to pamper her. In this instance, Pilar senses that she will need to do both.

  Renee takes a remarkably deep breath. "Mom, I didn't plan on coming home." Renee draws her mother's attention to her current outfit. "I began to drive...I needed to think...and I ended up here." She explains.

  Rene's mother knows that something is wrong. She knows her daughter, oh too well.

  "Come inside sweetheart. You're still early enough for breakfast." Renee is beginning to feel hungry. It is 10:00 am now. She had been driving for about 4 hours since she left Colin Winston asleep at the Barboa Hotel in Trojan City. She drove around aimlessly for two hours, before she decided to take a long, and slow trek home to her parents.

  Renee nods, and follows her mother into the house.

  ***

  "Renee! It is so good to see you." Her father says, and wraps his arms around his only child-and "little princess" forever in his eyes.

  "Hi Dad!" Renee settles into his embrace. "How are you?" She asks genuinely.

  "I am even better, now that I have seen you. I didn't know you were coming down. Did your mother know...Pilar did you know?" Max says looking over at his wife. The mother, and daughter answer in unison.

  "Noooo." The entire family chuckles.

  "She is going to have breakfast, and then we will chat." Pilar says.

  "Well we can chat while she eats breakfast. I have tee time at 11." Max indicates.

  Renee catches up with her parents while her mother fixes her some breakfast, and her Dad sits across from her at the quaint kitchen table in the center of the kitchen.

  "We are very proud of you RJ." Max tells Renee. "Your mother tells me about all the great work you're doing up there in Trojan. She even shows me your new work on that BYWINSTON website. Renee smiles politely. I wonder how proud you'll be when you learn that I've screwed the company's founder. The thought makes her sick. She stands, approaches the fridge, and reaches for a cold bottle of water.

  Renee takes two large gulps, and returns to her seat across from her father. "So you're playing golf today, huh Dad?" Renee tries to change the subject. "When did this start?"

  Renee's Dad begins to ramble on about how he fell in love with the sport. He describes the men that he's become friendly with at the golf course, what they each do for a living, and that Pilar recommended the men, and their wives come to the house for a potluck dinner soon. The conversation sort of soothes Renee. It frees her mind of her own thoughts, while she concentrates on her Dad's stories.

  Pilar also chimes in about meeting the wives of Max's golf buddies. She cracks jokes about each one of them, based solely upon how her husband has described them to her. Renee laughs with her parents. "Oh mom! Shame on you! That is not very nice." Renee scolds her mother playfully, and continues to laugh. The laughter feels so good. Renee's mind is free-at least for the time being. Soon, an hour goes by-just like that. Max prepares to leave for his tee time. "Sweetheart, it is about that time. Will you be here when I return, in the next three hours, or so?" Max asks.

  "I'm sure I will be Dad. I don't have anything else to do today." Renee informs him.

  "Great Renee-joi! I will see you later." Max leans in to kiss his daughter on the cheek. Renee feels her father's love wash all over her. Pilar is now sitting next to Renee, and is given a huge smack on her lips as well. Renee chuckles. She is overjoyed for her parents. After 25 years, they clearly still possess immense passion for each other. Renee's thoughts begin to roam. I want that! Will I ever have it?

  "So!" Pilar interrupts Renee's thoughts. "It's just us girls. Wanna move over to the living room so we can have some girl-talk?" Pilar cunningly suggests. Renee tries to stall her mother. She can't handle being brutally honest with her just yet.

  "I'm going to wash the dishes. You out did yourself on breakfast Ma. I should do the rest." Renee leaps up, gathers her empty dishes, and heads for the sink. Her mother follows her. Pilar takes the dishes out of Renee's hands. She gently opens the dish washer, and begins to pile Renee's wares into it. "Mom! Let me do it! I've got it...I have got it!" Renee begins to play tug-o-war with her mother. The two women laugh. Renee has always had more than just a mother in Pilar. She has also always had a big sister, and a friend. Renee completes stocking the dish washer, adds soap, and switches the machine on.

  Pilar pours coffee, prepared earlier from the coffee brewer, into two cups. She locks arms with Renee who has towered over Pilar since she was seventeen. "Now we can talk."

  Pilar sits comfortably on the grey cotton, linen, and wool couch accented with pink, and white floral cushions. Pilar pats the cushion next to her. "Make yourself at home Baby." Pilar says. Renee chuckles quietly, and sits next to her mother. "How's your coffee?" Pilar asks her daughter, and friend.

  "It's pretty good. I should come here more often." Renee jokes. Pilar laughs uncontrollably.

  "That was a good one daughter." Pilar says in between her belly laughs. Renee smiles satisfactorily. She is always happy when she can make her mother laugh. She is very afraid that she may make her cry soon.

  "You know that we are always glad when you are here, right?" Pilar assures Renee. Renee nods in response.

  "Yes Ma...I know...I know" Renee says suddenly becoming overwhelmed. Tears stream down her face like a fountain.

  "Oh Renee-joi...Oh Baby!" Pilar places her coffee cup quickly onto the wooden coffee table in front of her. She encir
cles Renee with her arms, and draws her close. Renee weeps on her mother's shoulders. She is unable to speak, and currently appears inconsolable. Pilar holds her tighter. She doesn't say a word.

  Renee cries openly for about five minutes. Pilar hurriedly grabs a glass of water from the kitchen. "Drink this Baby." Renee takes one large gulp, and gives her mother the glass. Pilar sets the glass on the coffee table, and sits next to Renee again.

  The room, framed with gigantic windows, is silent. Pilar is not willing to force Renee to share before she is ready to. Renee reaches for the tissue box on the end table, and blows her nose.

  "Mom, I've done something very stupid." Renee says crushing her tissue in the center of her palms. Pilar smiles. There is nothing that Renee-joi could do that her open-minded, and evolved parents will not forgive, and/or help her through.

  "What is it Baby?" Pilar says calmly. Renee knows that her mother is not like many other more traditional mothers, but it still scares her to the core, to tell her mother about her unwise decision. That is exactly what it was, in Renee's estimation. An unwise, stupid, dumb decision.

  "Um...I...I had." Renee speaks slowly. She swallows extremely hard. "I had...I had sex with Colin Winston." She eventually blurts out, and begins to cry again. Pilar is surprised. Her eyes enlarge. She is taken aback that her usually quiet, bookworm of a daughter would make a decision like that. Still, there is no judgement.

  "What has happened as a result? Have you been fired?" Pilar asks rationally.

  "Well...not as far I know. I left right after...well at least this morning, while he was still asleep." Renee divulges. Pilar listens patiently, and intuitively.

  "Ok. Have you heard from him?"

  "No...well, I don't know. I turned my phone off...It is still in the car. I had several messages from Melaine Nordstrom - my immediate boss - since last night though. I can't bear to confront her right now. She has done so much for me." Renee explains. Pilar listens, and sighs softly. Renee turns toward her. "Mom, I know it was stupid. I tried to stay away. I tried to resist..." Renee stops talking, and resumes crying.

  Pilar hugs her immediately. "It is okay Renee. These things happen. It is all a part of growing up. It is all a part of life." Pilar consoles Renee. "You can stay here as long as you need to Baby." Pilar informs her. "Still, I strongly recommend reaching out to Melaine once you have calmed down, and thought everything through." Pilar advises. Renee nods in between sobs. She grabs hold of her mother, and squeezes her, not wanting to let go.

  ***

  Renee eventually releases her mother. "Thank you Mom. Can you please not tell Dad just yet?" Renee pleads with mother.

  "Well I will have to let him know you're staying over, if you decide to stay." Pilar says emphatically.

  "I understand. Please just spare him the details for now. Please Mom!"

  "Of course sweetheart. Of course." Pilar assures her daughter. The women embrace once more, then Renee climbs the stairs to her childhood room. She cries herself to sleep, and sleeps comfortably for the next four hours.

  CHAPTER 2

  "I don't believe you Colin. I just don't!" Melaine says exasperated. "Why her! There are so many other skirt tails waiting for you to pounce on them - but you choose to break Renee's spirit." Melaine is on a rampage. Colin had showed up at her townhouse hoping she knows where Renee is. He awoke about 45 minutes following Renee's departure. He immediately tried her cell phone repeatedly, but to no avail. He also went by her apartment, and knocked until his knuckles turned red. Neighbors on her floor, and above, spilled out to see what the raucous was about. Colin questioned each one of them but he didn't obtain the results he was seeking. He decided to visit Melaine to regroup. He has been sitting on her couch for about thirty minutes while his cousin berated him.

  Colin rubs his forehead. "I know Melaine...I didn't make the best decision."

  "You didn't make the best decision? You were ridiculously stupid! How could you be so irresponsible Colin." Renee lays into him. "I know that you like the ladies but...Urgh!" Melaine walks over to her stainless steel fridge, and obtains a opened bottle of red wine. She pours herself a glass. She doesn't offer Colin any. "I need to calm my nerves." She shouts back to him from the kitchen, in the open floor plan of the spacious brick house. Renee inhales a large gulp of wine, then walks back into the living room with the remainder in her left hand. She paces the stained wooden floor, in front of Colin.

  "I have been trying to reach Renee since last night. Clearly she was with you, but she's not taking my calls this morning either." Melaine says at her wits end. "I don't know what else to do. Who knows where she went. I just hope that she is okay." Melaine looks at Colin intensely. "If she's not okay Colin, I hold you fully responsible. She is only 23. You are 12 years her senior. You should know better. Clearly you don't!" Renee grows weary of lecturing Colin. She drops down on the couch next to him. The two sit in silence.

  Colin leans back on the couch, and closes his eyes. Thoughts of Renee floods his mind. He sees her at her first pitch session before the high-profile client, and himself. She is nervous, but her passion rings through. He sees her in her black gown at the Caspian Lampros Yacht Building International Launch. He sees her on the dance floor, at the event. She is dancing with Melaine, and having a good time. He sees her looking beautifully at the Cherished Friends animal rescue press event. She intelligently coordinated a successful event, and designed all the graphic art for it. She inspired even Colin that day. He sees her in his arms. He remembers the touch of her lips on his lips, and on his body. A wave of saddens falls over Colin. He hadn't experience sadness like this in quite sometime. He had been able to have sex with a woman, leave her, or watch her leave and move on to the next one. However today, something else is happening. Colin is beginning to realize that he misses Renee. Before he knows it, his thoughts transform into spoken words.

  "I miss her." Colin says softly.

  "What is that?" Renee says trying to get lost in her red wine. Colin sits up. He looks at his cousin, and thinks carefully before he speaks.

  "Melaine, I know that you don't believe me, but I know something is different this time. She is different, and she makes me feel different." Colin begins to explain. Melaine looks over at Colin. She studies his face.

  "How are you so sure? How do you know that things are different this time." She digs in, not letting up-punishing Colin for what has transpired between him and Renee "You are with a different woman every two weeks." Melaine reminds him.

  "Exactly...and I have not been with anyone in over two months since I started to notice Renee...I mean really notice her." Colin informs her.

  "That doesn't mean anything!" Melaine retorts.

  "It doesn't? I have had my way with her, and I still want to see her, talk to her...and that doesn't mean anything? Think about it cousin." Colin says while standing up to face Renee. Melaine shakes her head. "I don't know Colin. I never really commented on your life before because those other women were either sluts, or gold diggers. However, I know for a fact that Renee is neither." Melaine begins to delineate. "I personally took her under my wing because she brought new creative energy to your firm. She surpassed more experienced designers in one week with her skill, though she lacked the confidence, and presentation skills. Then she sprung up in a number of months, only to have you bring her down again." Colin understands, and agrees with each and every one of Melaine's causes for concern.

  Colin is concerned too. He is worried that Renee will stay away from him, and away from BYWINSTON where she will have a sincere chance to develop as a professional.

  "Melaine, will you help me find her?" Colin asks in low spirits. Melaine looks into Colin's eyes. She sees sadness in his eyes for the first time in a very long time. Melaine pauses a little while longer to contemplate.

  "If I hear from her, I will let you know." Melaine decides. She is still not certain that she can trust him with her mentee. Colin sighs, then nods.

  "Thank you Melaine." Colin walks o
ver to Melaine who is still sitting on the couch. He raises her to her feet at her shoulders.

  "What are you doing?" Melaine protests. Colin hugs her. Please don't say anything to either of our mothers." Melaine laughs for the first time since Colin entered her home about an hour ago.

  "I will be sure not to say anything to Aunt Margaret, or her sister Elaine Nordstrom. You can count on it!" Melaine, and Colin chuckle. Then, now that some tension has been released between them, the two genuinely hug.

  "I'll see ya around. Stay in touch." Colin says walking toward Melaine's front door.

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now get out!" Melaine says playfully. Colin chuckles for short moment. Then his demeanor suddenly changes.

  "Thanks Mel. I mean it!" He tells her. Melaine smiles, and Colin exits.

  Melaine sits on her couch again. She slides her cell phone closer from where it's been sitting, on the couch next to her. She had been using it, and checking it constantly since the night before. She dials Renee's number once again. She listens to the phone ring until it goes to voice mail. Melaine decides to leave yet another message.

  "Renee, please call me. I am very worried about you. Please call me. This is Melaine Nordstrom. Thank you." Melaine drops the call then reclines into her seat. She slowly sips the remainder of her wine. "What a mess Colin Winston...what a mess you've made!" She says out into the air.

  CHAPTER 3

  "Are you really sick, or has Cherished Friends snatched you up?" Amanda says on the other end of the phone, and chuckles. Renee chuckles along with Amanda.

  "Very funny! I am at home recovering." Renee tells Amanda the partial truth. "What's happening there?" She continues.

  "Well, I'm gearing up to present my finished product to my high profile client at the end of the week. Um, let's see...Colin is down here more often than he used to...Oh, and hurry up and get back Nick is deeply worried about you." Renee could rely on Amanda to cheer her up, even when Amanda didn't realize that was what she was doing. Renee truly needed her friend's humor, and is elated that Amanda snuck in a call to check up on her.