Sheer Obsession: A Billionaire Love Triangle

By Susanna Leah

Jesse Reynolds, the strikingly handsome twenty-seven-year-old son of billionaire businessman, Bill Reynolds, must leave his girlfriend, Serena Magnan behind in Los Angeles, to claim his place at the family business in Houston. Deeply in love with Serena, a beautiful, fiercely independent thirty-year-old wedding dress designer, he worries constantly that she will stray. He chooses not to tell her that he comes from wealth beyond most people's imagination because growing up he saw how damaging exposure to that world could be - he wants their love to be based on pure fundamentals before bringing her into his world. Humble by nature, he pretends to be an ordinary person, making an average salary. But Serena, suspicious that he might be hiding something, does some sleuthing and finds out anyway. She chooses to say nothing about what she's learned to Jesse, and waits patiently for him to do whatever he must to reclaim his place in his father's heart and at Reynolds Industries, all the while hoping that he will finally make a real commitment to her.

When an opulent gown created by Serena is worn by a socialite in London, photos of it go viral, leading buyers at Barton's, an upscale department store in the UK, to contact her in the hopes of carrying her line. Serena is suddenly thrust into the glamorous world of London society, causing Jesse, who is separated from her, to become more jealous and possessive than he already was. On a trip to London to meet the buyers for Barton's, Serena meets Philip Bailey, a smooth, good-looking, billionaire playboy who tries to court her, but she resists. Obsessed with Serena, he continues to pursue her, to the surprise of his close circle of friends who have never witnessed Philip lose control of his emotions. Jesse, discovering this, comes to the realization that he will have to fight for Serena.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9780983449164

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Chapter One

Serena opened her eyes and noticed streaks of sunlight entering her bedroom through the blinds. Her head against Jesse’s chest and her arm across his waist, she lay still. He was sound asleep, his arm underneath her, his chest gently rising and falling with his breathing. Breaking from his embrace slowly so that she didn’t wake him, she sat up in bed. Looking down at his toned muscular body, her eyes drifted upwards, and she admired his handsome face, serene as he slept. He hadn’t shaved in days and had five-o’clock shadow that was turning into a beard. Fixated on Jesse, and unable to turn her eyes away, she began to feel embarrassed. Not wanting him to wake up and see her staring at him, she forced herself out of her daze. Checking her cellphone for the time, she saw that it was just past 8 a.m. Knowing that he needed more sleep she decided to wake him in an hour. In the meantime, she would take a shower. She wanted him to see her fresh-faced when he opened his eyes.

Serena entered the shower clumsily, never fully able to concentrate when Jesse was in her bed. As the warm water flowed over her shoulders, she thought about his trip. His flight to Houston was in four hours, and she’d promised to drive him to the airport. She would be dropping him off at LAX knowing that she likely wouldn’t see him again for weeks.

Jesse had brought up the topic of marriage recently but in a roundabout way which caused her deep disappointment. Pouring a dollop of jasmine-scented shower gel into her hand, she recalled a conversation she’d had with him in his car three weeks earlier as he drove her home from a date. He’d pulled over onto a side street unexpectedly and then sat silently so that he could collect his thoughts before speaking. When she became impatient and suggested he drive on, he finally talked about his feelings and shared with her his plans for their future. He told her that his plan was to marry her if she would be his, but that he had unfinished business in Texas, and that everything he ever wanted was there, simply waiting for him if he was willing to go home. She’d wanted to lean towards him and kiss him but had held herself in check rather than show him how happy she was. Instead, she continued to listen, a look of contemplation on her face. Appearing indifferent even though she didn’t feel that way was something Serena had mastered long ago, and she’d been doing it a lot lately. That night she’d done it in a lame attempt to protect herself from total devastation should Jesse ever lose interest in her and change his mind.

At the age of thirty, Serena, a wedding dress designer who owned her own boutique, was beginning to make a name for herself in the world of fashion. Jesse, still in his twenties, was three years younger. Having dated men of different ages, this fact didn’t bother her. What disturbed her was that he’d told her little about himself or his past, although he said that he’d earned a degree in engineering and had just finished a second degree in business. She knew that he was presently working for a global engineering firm, but he hadn’t told her the name of the company. In the year they’d been together, the only definitive information Jesse had given her about his past was that he’d left home at eighteen and drifted around Europe for two years before deciding to return to the U.S. He then went to college, enjoyed the experience, and worked towards his degrees. He claimed that the engineering job he’d taken in Los Angeles was a stepping stone for him so that he could build up his resume to impress someone, but he never said who that person was. One evening at a restaurant they frequented at the beginning of their relationship, after he’d had one too many glasses of wine, he mentioned that he wanted to re-connect with his father. He said that his goal was to obtain a position at the family business. Serena was clueless about what the family business was, and was tempted to ask him outright. But realizing that he’d let something slip unintentionally, he chose to change the subject.

Working shampoo through her hair, Serena vividly recalled the day that she and Jesse first laid eyes on each other – it was on a Wednesday afternoon, in the middle of summer. She was at her boutique showing a dress to a woman who was waiting for her sister, an excited young bride, to turn up and help her make a decision about a dress for the maid of honor. Serena had set aside a dress that was the exact specifications the two women had requested: a simple lilac gown that draped in delicate folds across the bustline, with a lace-up back, similar to a corset, but not quite as constricting. As she and the woman waited, Serena showed her other dresses in case the bride didn’t approve of the lilac dress. Understanding Serena’s concerns, the woman began to worry about the same thing. You appear to be the same size as our eldest sister, the maid of honor. Would you mind trying it on? That will help us decide. My sister should be here soon. She’s rarely late.

Anxious to please her customer, Serena folded it over her arm and walked towards the fitting rooms. Pulling the curtain aside, she unzipped it, and stepped inside the middle. Realizing that she would be unable to get it on that way, she pulled it over her head instead. Pulling it down over her body, she noticed that it hugged her hips tightly, but no obscenely. The problem was the tightness she felt around her waist. When she looked in the mirror, she could plainly see that it didn’t fit properly. Sucking in her breath so that she didn’t burst the seams, she also saw that her bust was barely contained in it. I must have put on a few pounds, said Serena, disappointed by what she saw. It’s because of those damned sugary lattes I’ve been drinking every day. Worried that the woman might feel that it was too risqué for a maid of honor dress, Serena switched the dress around, and then slowly and methodically loosened the lace straps crisscrossing the back. Finally, able to breathe comfortably, she switched it around and exited the dressing room. As she approached the woman, she explained why the dress appeared tighter on her than it should be, placing the blame on her morning coffee habit. She then turned to show her how it could be loosened up in back, if necessary. At that moment, Serena glanced in the direction of the front window facing the street and out of the corner of her eye, noticed a young man walking past her store. Finding him attractive, she turned to look at him. Seeming to know that someone was watching him, he stopped in his tracks in front of the window. He then turned and looked at her, frozen, like he was in a trance. Serena, who had seen that look before, knew what it meant. Feeling objectified but at the same time, enjoying his attention, she turned her gaze towards the floor. Believing that when she looked up he would no longer be there, she tried to stamp him in her mind. He appeared tall and muscular in his jogging suit, and his hair was brown, or was it dark blonde?

The door opened suddenly, and in walked the bride they had been expecting. After greeting Serena, she stepped back to assess the dress. She then asked her sister what she thought about the style. When the only response she got was a shrug, she asked Serena to turn around so that she could see the back of it. Looking over at the window once more, Serena saw that the young man was still there.

He looks like he’s been hit by cupid, said the bride, pointing in the direction of the man.

He does, said her sister, hiding a laugh behind her hand.

This dress is too sexy for my sister, the bride explained. But it looks amazing on you.

I have six other dresses I’d like to show you. I’ll take this one off and be right out, said Serena, wanting to make a sale.

Removing the dress with care in the fitting room, she took her time putting it back on the hanger. When she was finished, a sudden wave of desire came over her. The intensity of the expression on the man’s face had excited her. She’d spent the last two years putting all her time and effort into her designs and the success of her boutique. Because of this, she’d not been on a date in all that time. Taking a seat on a silver leather chair, she tried to get her bearings back. Once she did, she pulled the heavy curtain to one side and walked back into the store. Looking over at the window, she saw that the man was gone.

Days after the incident, he was still on her mind. She fantasized that one day he would walk inside her store, or even just walk by again so that she could catch a glimpse of him. He haunted her thoughts constantly, distracting her from her work. Attributing these feelings to limerence she enjoyed these thoughts, but when she realized that she would likely never see him again, a wave of sadness came over her, weighing her down.

Nearly a month later, on a Saturday afternoon, Serena was called to the Farrington Hotel and Resort, an hour drive outside of Los Angeles, to come to the aid of a bride who had somehow managed to tear her dress. Her wedding was to begin in three hours, and from the photos she’d sent her over the phone, Serena doubted that she would be walking down the aisle in it. Coming to this conclusion but not wanting to tell her, Serena brought along another dress in a similar style and color, as well as her complete sewing kit in case the bride refused that option.

When Serena drove onto the property, she saw a long line of cars waiting to be parked by the valet at the hotel entrance. Knowing it was urgent that she reach the bride, she had no other choice but to park in the parking lot. Unable to find a space until she reached the third level, she looked at her phone to check the time. Convinced that she would have to run, she hopped out of her car as soon as she parked and walked briskly towards the double doors that slid open as she approached. But it wasn’t until she entered the resort that she got an accurate picture of just how enormous it was. Finding the bride’s room would be like walking through a maze. Concentrating and putting all her effort into finding the room, she followed the signs along the walls.

When Serena arrived at the room and knocked on the door, it swung open widely, and she was met with total silence. The distraught bride was seated on a loveseat next to her mother. Tears running down her face, she turned and looked up at Serena, the only person who could save her from her predicament. Serena asked her to hand her the dress and point to where the tear was located. Studying it carefully, she knew with certainty that a tear of that size would take well over an hour to fix, so she showed her the other dress. At first, the bride became agitated and refused to try it on, but after some coaxing by her bridesmaids, and finally, her mother, she did. Looking at herself in the mirror and turning to view it at different angles, a smile slowly began to cross her face – the smile was contagious because everyone else in the room began smiling too. This dress looks almost exactly like mine, and it’s comfortable too, she said. That’s when the bride’s mother, who had been fanning herself nervously, rushed over to Serena and gave her an affectionate hug. The bride was pleased, so the problem was solved. Knowing that her makeup would have to be redone and that her bridesmaids would likely have to work hard at keeping her in an upbeat mood, Serena wished her the best, hurriedly packed up her sewing kit, and exited the room.

Dreading having to follow all those signs to find her way back to her car, she sighed before walking down the long hallway towards the elevators. Exiting the elevator, she became confused about which direction to walk in, so she sought help at the reception desk before finally reaching the escalator that would take her to the third level. Holding her heavy sewing kit in one hand and an equally heavy tote bag in the other, she tried to balance them both as she stepped onto the escalator. Thinking about how slowly it was moving and wondering whether she would reach the top without it coming to a stop, she looked up and was stunned by what she saw. The same man she’d seen peering through the window of her boutique a month earlier was standing next to the railing at the top of the escalator, looking down at the floor below. She knew that it was him instantly even though he was dressed differently, this time in a navy business suit. When she reached the top, she paused and looked him in the eye. A look of confusion crossed his face as he looked back at her. Only inches from him, she noticed that he was nicely built, just as she’d suspected; he was slim and muscular with broad shoulders. His light brown hair picked up the light from the chandelier above and the blue of his suit drew attention to his eyes that were a deep sapphire.

Serena continued to stand in front of him wanting to speak but unable to think of what to say. Finally, deciding to simply say hello, and wait to see what his response would be, she noticed a group of men behind him, also wearing suits, and figured that they must be his companions. The men, holding cups of coffee in paper cups with the logo of a nearby coffeehouse emblazoned on them were casually conversing with each other and didn’t seem to notice her. Some wore white tags on their lapels indicating that they were attending an event at the resort. Turning her attention back to the man, she looked at his blazer and saw that he wasn’t wearing one – this meant that she would be unable to find out his name or company affiliation. He continued staring at her until the only female in the group, a young blonde woman wearing a conservative gray A-line dress walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder, indicating that it was time to go. Turning his back on Serena without saying a word, he rejoined his group.

As Serena watched him walk away, she felt an inexplicable sense of loss. She had been dreaming about this man for weeks and had now lost sight of him again - this time, forever. Having been unlucky in love all her life, she shrugged her shoulders. I didn’t expect it to work out anyway, she muttered to herself. It was all in my head.

Still standing in front of the escalator, Serena looked right and then left before figuring out that she could only reach her car by turning right. But before walking in that direction, wanting to catch one last glimpse of the man, she pinpointed his back in the group. At that moment, as if he heard her thoughts, he stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he made eye contact with her. Mortified that he’d seen the desperate look on her face, Serena gasped in embarrassment before turning and briskly walking towards her car. But laden with such heavy bags, she was unable to move swiftly. Stopping for a moment to alter the weight of what she was carrying, she put her sewing kit down on the floor. As she was about to switch it to the other hand, she heard footsteps behind her coming closer. When they came to a halt, she turned around and saw the young man leaning over, his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. To her surprise, he’d broken free from his group to talk to her.

Are you alright? she asked, looking down at him.

Still bent over, he raised his hand, gesturing that he’d be able to speak with her in one minute. I’m fine, he said, finally, before standing up to face her.

I didn’t mean to stare at you like that at the escalator. It’s just that, I own a boutique about an hour from here. I’m sure that I saw you there a few weeks ago, she said, hoping that he would remember.

I remember you, he replied. I live near that store and jog by it sometimes. I assumed you were a model.

That wasn’t the first time someone had said that to Serena. She was frequently asked to try on her own creations by customers. No, I’m the owner, and I design all the dresses.

You looked beautiful that day, he said, looking flushed.

Serena wondered if he was blushing or simply red-cheeked from running. Thank you, but that dress fit me badly.

You weren’t really in the dress. You were pretty much out of it, he said, smiling.

Thanks for rubbing it in.

Do you need help with that? he asked, pointing to her sewing kit.

I’ll manage on my own, she said. By the way, what’s your name? If you walk by my boutique again, I want to at least be able to put a name to a face.

I’m Jesse…Jesse Reynolds, he said, stepping closer.

Are you here for a convention? she asked, noticing that he was looking at her lips when she spoke, and then slowly up at her eyes, studying her face. There was an innocence about him that she found appealing. But he also seemed confident – overly confident, in her opinion, for such a young man. When