The Billionaire's Game: The Billionaire's Obsession ~ Kade Page 15

  Asha’s distress nearly made her get up and run to Kade to see if he was okay, but would Kade even want to see her? Right now, she didn’t know. Was he really mourning her loss that much? She had thought he’d get over her pretty quickly once she was gone. She wasn’t exactly a prize. They’d had phenomenal sex, and his kindness made him protective of her, but was it possible that he missed her as much as she missed him? “What do you think is wrong?”

  “I think he’s heartbroken. First Amy left him, and now you. His recovery from the accident was long and painful. I think he’s hitting an all-time low. I don’t think Amy really affected anything except his pride. But he’s pretty devastated about you leaving.”

  “I don’t know what to do.” Asha buried her face in her hands, unsure of what action she should take. The last thing she wanted was to see Kade suffer, but she wasn’t sure that seeing him would really make the situation any better.

  Maddie reached across the table and squeezed Asha’s hand. “You need to take care of yourself first, Asha. Take whatever time you need to heal. You’ve been through way too much. You said your marriage was bad, but your ex-husband was abusive, wasn’t he?”

  “Very,” she blurted out. The floodgates opened and she started to tell Maddie the whole truth about her upbringing and her marriage, not able to stop until the whole story was out. She didn’t want to put distance between herself and her siblings anymore, and she wanted Maddie to know the truth. It wasn’t a dirty little secret she needed to hide. For once, she was beginning to realize that it wasn’t her fault.

  “Oh my God. I’m so sorry,” Maddie said sadly, after Asha had unburdened herself about the trials of her marriage.

  “Don’t be,” Asha answered. “It wasn’t your fault. And I’m lucky I got out. I guess it’s hard to understand how the Indian culture is so motivated by shame and guilt. Knowing how and who my father was, I wish I had rebelled and never married. I wish I had handled everything differently. It never even occurred to me to do anything differently until I realized I really didn’t want to die.”

  “It’s not the only culture where women are abused, Asha. It may be much more frequent and acceptable in Indian culture, but American women stay in abusive relationships, get mired in the cycle of abuse. Once you’re in the cycle, it’s very hard to get out. I’m just glad you’re escaping. Please know that Max and I will help you. We’re here for you. Are you getting counseling?”

  “Yes. I’m seeing one of Devi’s colleagues. But I know I have to be responsible for making the changes myself. Dr. Miller opens my eyes to reality, and I’m doing my best to change myself.” Asha paused before adding, “I have a little apartment, and my business is thriving. I’m doing good, Maddie.”

  “But you miss Kade?” Maddie questioned softly.

  “So much it hurts,” Asha admitted to her sister. “I’m in love with him. At first, I wondered if I was confusing love with lust. The sex was incredible. But I miss everything about him. I think I’m realizing that the sex was incredible because I do love him.”

  “And because he loves you?” Maddie questioned.

  “Men are different,” Asha said morosely, thinking about Tate’s circumstances with the brunette. “I think they can have good sex without having their feelings involved.”

  Maddie laughed. “True. But not that good.”

  Asha looked at Maddie, her heart in her eyes. “What should I do?”

  “That’s for you to decide. You are making your own decisions now,” Maddie told her warmly.

  “Yeah. I guess I am,” Asha answered with a small smile. “It’s hard to get used to.”

  “You’ll get used to it. I’m so proud of you, Asha. It takes a strong woman to survive what you’ve been through and then take charge of her life.” Maddie looked at her fondly.

  Asha’s heart swelled. No one had ever been proud of her. “Thanks. I’m still a work in progress.”

  “We all are.” Maddie took a sip of her coffee and set it down on the table. “None of us are without our issues. But admitting you have them and wanting to change things is the biggest step.”

  “Thanks for supporting me,” Asha told her sincerely. “I’m so happy to have such an amazing woman for a sister.”

  “Thanks for letting me support you,” Maddie quickly replied. “Max will be there for you, too.”

  “Thank you, Maddie.” Asha rose and went to hug her sister, realizing how much knowing that she had her support added to her resolve. “I have to go. I have a project this afternoon.”

  Maddie got up and wrapped her arm around Asha. “I’m off today. Sam is so anxious, and I don’t like seeing him stressed out. I’m only working part-time until the babies come. Maybe we can spend some time together. Please don’t shut me out. I want to help, even if you just need someone to listen.”

  Asha made plans to see Maddie later in the week, wishing she had come to her earlier. Truth was, it had been selfish of her. Maddie wanted to support her independence, but Asha knew she would hurt every time she saw anyone who reminded her of Kade.

  Start realizing that people care—and nurture that affection.

  In other words, she needed to get used to it and accept it as truth. People cared about her now, and she needed to be careful of their feelings. Before, her actions had never really affected anyone. Now they did, and she had the ability to hurt people who cared about her.

  She left Maddie’s home and thought about that nearly unbelievable truth all the way home.

  Asha visited Max the next morning, hoping he wasn’t working because it was a Saturday. She parked her car in front of his house, and hesitantly approached the security at his front gate, pulling her driver’s license out of her purse.

  “Go on in,” the burly security agent told her when she handed him her license. “We’ve been instructed by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton that you’re to be admitted immediately any time you visit. You’re family. All of us will recognize your face eventually,” the guard continued, flashing a shy smile at her as she passed through the gate.

  I’m family. I really do have a sister and a brother.

  Asha smiled back at the man, still trying to wrap her head around his comment. Would she ever get used to being related to Maddie and Max?

  “Looks like your tire is almost flat, Ms. Paritala,” the guard called to her from the gate as she made her way up to the house.

  Waving to acknowledge that she heard the guard, she made a note to ask Max if he had anyone who could help her change her tire. She’d known the vehicle needed new tires, but she hadn’t gotten replacements put on yet. The price had been right on the small, used compact, even with necessity of buying new tires.

  Max lived right on the beach, the sound of the waves and the smell of salt water assaulting her senses. She’d actually never been inside his residence, but she had passed by the area before with Kade, and he had pointed out Max’s place. It was hard to believe any member of her family lived in such an opulent residence.

  Maybe visiting Max and Maddie so close together had been a bad idea. Just seeing how successful her siblings were two days in a row was intimidating. But she really needed to see Max. After seeing how upset Maddie was that she hadn’t contacted her, she wanted to make sure she saw Max, too.

  Asha hit the doorbell with a sigh, trying to compartmentalize her thoughts, trying to think of Max as her brother instead of as a billionaire. Strange, but she had never really been intimidated by Kade’s billionaire status.

  Probably because I was too busy admiring his other assets!

  Kade overwhelmed her as a man, so his wealth had never really been something she concerned herself with that often. He had kept her too dizzy with pleasure and desire to think about his money or status.

  “Asha,” Mia said in a surprised but happy voice as she pulled open the door, a fleeting expression of worry crossing her face before it
turned into a genuine smile. She pulled her into an enthusiastic hug on the doorstep, holding Asha tightly as she added, “We were worried about you.”

  Asha hugged Mia back, loving the comforting feeling of her embrace. “I’m sorry. I got myself a place. A little apartment,” she said, trying to make everything sound like she was doing well.

  Mia pulled back and smiled at her. “I know. Max kept tabs on you. We knew you were safe.”

  “You knew where I was?” she asked, entering the house as Mia held the door open for her.

  “Of course. You didn’t think Max would let his sister disappear and not know where she was living, did you? But I’m glad you came. He’s been worried about you.”

  “How did he find out where I was living?” Really, her brother’s capabilities and power were a little bit scary.

  Mia lifted a brow at her. “He found you when he didn’t know anything about you. It was easier this time.”

  Asha supposed she should be upset that her brother was spying on her, but he had been looking out for her, worried about her. And she hadn’t contacted him. She couldn’t possibly chastise him for caring. “I was going to contact you. I wanted to. I just needed some time.”

  “Maddie called me last night. I understand,” Mia told Asha reassuringly. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded at her slowly. “Yeah. I’m good. My business is really busy and I enrolled in some art classes.”

  Asha stopped in the doorway of the den Mia was leading her toward, hearing voices that sounded familiar. “You have company?” she asked Mia, concerned that she’d interrupted a visit from someone else.

  She could hear Max’s furious voice, but couldn’t make out exactly what he was saying.

  “Asha…your foster parents are here,” Mia answered, sounding tense and frustrated.

  That was why the tone of the voices had sounded familiar. “W-why?” she stammered. “Why would they come here?”

  “They’re looking for you,” Mia answered bluntly. “Somehow they got the news in California that you’re a sibling to Max and Maddie. They wanted to talk to you. I think Max is ripping them a new asshole right now.”

  Asha’s world tilted and rocked for just a moment before becoming upright again. For just a few moments, she was an adolescent again, terrified of displeasing her foster parents, and losing the only home she had. “Is my ex-husband with them?”

  “No. If he was, he wouldn’t still be able to speak. Max would have killed him by now,” Mia said fiercely. “Max let your foster parents in just so he could tell them what he thought about the way they fostered you. They’ll be shown out shortly.”

  Mia wrapped her arms around her midsection, rocking a little in distress. “I don’t know what they want from me,” she answered, her voice radiating with vulnerability.

  “Nothing good,” Mia replied, waving Asha into the den.

  Asha knew this was a pivotal moment for her, a short period of time where she could take the easy way out by avoiding her foster parents, or confront her demons. She could run and hide…or deal with them herself. She wasn’t a child anymore…she was an adult. Really, it wasn’t something that Max should have to contend with and he didn’t need to.

  “I’ll talk to them,” she told Mia, looking into her sister-in-law’s concerned face with a determined expression. “I don’t need to be afraid of them anymore and I don’t need to be obedient. I want them out of your house and gone, and I don’t want them to bother you and Max again.”

  She turned on her heel and followed the voices, which wasn’t difficult since Max was bellowing at the top of his lungs. “Are you fucking kidding me? It wasn’t Asha who complained; it was me. Neither one of you is fit to be a foster parent and you’ll never foster another child.”

  Asha stopped in the entryway to the living room, stunned. Max had filed a complaint? On her behalf?

  Mia stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, whispering next to her ear. “It wasn’t just you, Asha. After you left, they took in another foster child of around ten years old. They’re getting ready to marry her off to another one of their relatives in India—for a very hefty price. And they just applied for another one. Another female. Max blocked their application with a complaint. This might get unpleasant.”

  “They did it again?” Asha asked incredulously, anger rising up from her belly, anger for the girl who was about to marry a man she most probably didn’t want to wed. “We have to stop the marriage unless she wants it.”

  “Max already did. She didn’t want it, but was in the same circumstances as you were at the time. She wants to go to college to be a teacher. Max already has her at the school and settled into her dorm. We’re helping her. Don’t worry. And Max will make certain they never get another foster child again.”

  Tears of anger and relief flooded Asha’s eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered fiercely. “You have no idea how much this will change her life.” Although the teenager had probably grown up mired in the same guilt and shame as Asha, the course of her life had changed because of Mia and Max.

  Mia squeezed her hand and Asha turned to face her foster parents, who were still arguing with Max. Letting go of Mia’s hand, she lifted her chin and walked into the room. All conversation stopped as she approached her foster parents, every eye on her.

  “You will leave my brother’s house and never come near any of my family again,” Asha told her foster parents abruptly, her anger still boiling inside her.

  Her foster mother stepped forward, gold bangles clinking as she moved. She looked very much the same, but different to Asha now that she was seeing her through the eyes of an adult. Her eyes moved over the finest silk sari that her foster mother was wearing, and the gold and gems that adorned her body. Why had she ever believed that her foster parents were suffering financially? Her foster mother was wearing enough to gold to live off for life.

  I was a servant, and then I was sold, just like Kade told me I was. There were no financial difficulties, no reason for what they did except profit.

  “What? You no longer speak Telugu?” her foster mother admonished.

  “I’m American, and I live in America. I speak English. My brother and his wife speak English. I wouldn’t be that rude to speak in a language they don’t speak,” she answered angrily.

  “How dare you? We fed you, we raised you, and you talk back to my wife?” her foster father answered furiously.

  “You took me in and sold me off. In the meantime, I was an unpaid servant to you. You even sold my father’s things,” Asha answered bravely, stepping forward to get in her foster father’s face. “How dare you?” Taking a deep breath, she continued. “Did you know that Ravi abused me? Did you know what he did to me?”

  “He was trying to discipline you. And he was disappointed that you never gave him a child,” her foster mother answered, as though it were natural for such a thing to happen.

  Asha blew out a heavy breath, getting the answer she had expected but had hoped wasn’t true. They had known, and they’d let it happen. “You’re both horrible people. My father worked to protect the rights of women, and you sell them like they’re chattels. It has nothing to do with culture and everything to do with both of you being selfish and cruel individuals, although you need to open your eyes and see that Indian women are tired of being treated poorly, tired of being slapped around and subjected to the will of men. I wasn’t able to bear a child, but that doesn’t mean I deserved to be beaten because of something that wasn’t my fault.”

  “Your father, your father…” Her foster father threw his hand in the air and let go of a snort of disgust. “He was a dreamer who died poor because of his stupid ideals.”

  “His karma was rich,” Asha snapped back at him.

  “You need to return to your husband,” her foster mother said sternly. “You can help him financially now.”

  “Because my relativ
es are rich, you think some of their money should go to Ravi?” Asha fumed, disgusted that they really believed that she owed anything to a man who had nearly killed her on several occasions. They likely thought they would share in the riches. “I pay my own way. I don’t sponge off others, or sell people to make money. And I’d die before I’d return to the prison of an abuser again.”

  “He’s your husband,” her foster father boomed.

  “He’s nothing to me. We’re divorced, and if and when I remarry, it will be to the man of my choice.”

  “Whore!” Her foster father raised his arm to strike her. Asha moved quickly, ducking and scrambling backward as a large body pushed between her and her foster father. A large hand came up lightning fast to manacle her foster father’s wrist as it swung. Asha lost her balance, her momentum carrying her backward and onto her ass in the middle of the carpet.

  “She dishonors her husband. She’s a tramp,” her foster mother wailed.

  Max came forward and looked at the whining woman, giving her a disgusted glance before grasping her wrist. “You’re leaving. And don’t say another word. I’ve never hit a woman before in my entire life, but lady, you’re the first who’s made me even wish that I could.”

  Asha looked up, a little dazed, first at Max tugging on her foster mother, and then at her foster father, who was being restrained by someone who made her heart accelerate and her breath catch.

  Kade!

  The two men were in profile to her, but she could see the rage on Kade’s face, veins pulsating in his neck. His breathing was ragged and the glare he was giving her foster father was one of pure furious wrath. He was like a serpent the moment before it struck with deadly intent.

  “We will leave. You’re dead to us,” her foster mother said with a sniff.

  Asha thought that was nothing new. She’d always been dead to them, and if Ravi had killed her, he wouldn’t have been blamed by either one of them.