A small smile lit her lips.
“To work with him. He wants me to run Barbour Oil and have a seat on the board. He’s wanted to get me out of my father’s company for a long time. I met him five years ago when he became really successful doing the same thing as you. I believe you started with your Oil Refinery in Norway.”
“Yes. That’s quite an offer. What about going back to University to finish your PhD like you planned and we discussed? I thought you wanted to conduct research on that theory you have and lecture at Oxford?”
“That would have suited you wouldn’t it, Vidar? To keep me contained and safe and not working in a company again. God forbid your wife had a career in the business world. If I had really wanted to go back to University I would have found a way, I suppose. Clearly the timing isn’t right this time either. Maybe I will in the future but now I want a new challenge, a fresh start and Lucien is going to give me that,” she told him with confidence even though he could hear the disappointment in her voice she was trying to hide.
“I make no apologies for thinking the way I do. I am a traditional man and I don’t want my wife to work. She doesn’t need to.”
“Then it is a good job I am no longer your wife.”
“The divorce hasn’t happened yet. You are still married to me. Like it or not.”
“Not for long.”
“Perhaps I will never sign the papers,” he teased wanting to dig at her for her jibe.
“Suit yourself but I no longer consider myself married in any event.”
“That way you can take up where you left off with Lucien Barbour,” he said as the Mercedes came to a stop next to the jet.
Fallon gave a sigh but did not retaliate. The chauffeur opened the door and she got out. She immediately tried to run up the steps of the large G6 jet but he caught her arm.
“Are you really going to just leave like this?” he couldn’t help feeling appalled at his pleading tone that was begging her to stay.
“It’s the best thing to do. We clearly want the same thing.”
She shrugged off his hold and ran up the steps. He wasn’t sure but he thought he heard her begin to sob as she did so. He stood back and watched the jet prepare to leave, feeling the cool early morning Norwegian air blow against his face as he stood next to the car. The jet taxied to the runway and then took off carrying her away from him to Paris and another man.
Chapter 10
One month later, Vidar was back in his office in London working when Mark entered the room.
“We have a problem. I sent you those divorce papers three weeks ago and you still haven’t signed them but what is more surprising is that neither has Fallon. What the hell are you both playing at? “he asked with frustration.
Vidar closed his eyes feeling warmth engulf his body which had been cold and desolate since Fallon had left. The Billionaire hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since he’d watched her leave on the jet or the plans to start a family with her he had made. He hadn’t attended any parties or made any public engagements not wanting to be without her by his side. He’d wondered if he was ever going to get over her and continue his life again. He couldn’t even sleep at night because she wasn’t tucked in his arms where he could keep her safe. And although he knew Barbour would guard her from Lyov and her father’s associates, he worried for her safety.
When Mark had given him the papers he had tossed them in a drawer. Hiding them meant he could pretend she was at least still his wife. But now Mark was shoving it all in his face and forcing him to deal with it. Although, perhaps there was still some hope if she had not signed them.
“As you can well imagine, Mark, I am in denial but I can’t speak for Fallon.”
“Then maybe you should get yourself on a plane and find out what is going on?”
Vidar touched down in Paris four hours later and was driven straight to Barbour’s offices. This was where he claimed her back and asserted his rights as a husband even if he had to throw her over his knee and spank some sense into her. They belonged together and he wasn’t going to let her go this time.
When he arrived at Barbour Oil’s office building in La Defense, Paris he took the lift straight up to the penthouse office and pushed his way past her Rottweiler of a secretary before she could even announce his arrival. He decided the element of surprise would work to his advantage in this situation. Fallon was on the phone when he entered just like the day he met her. He closed the door on the secretary and locked it, happy with the shock and surprise lighting her beautiful porcelain features.
“Something has just come up. I will call you back, Francine,” he heard her say to the person on the other end of the phone.
But the woman wasn’t taking a hint and Fallon had trouble putting the receiver down. Vidar made it easy for her, forcefully taking it out of her hand to put it down and end the call.
“Hey, you can’t just do that.”
“Yes, I can. I want to talk to my wife and I will not be made to wait another moment longer,” he said imperiously taking hold of her arms to make her stand.
“Why haven’t you signed the divorce papers?”
“Is that all you came to ask?” She sounded annoyed.
“What do you think?” he asked, softly cupping her face with his hand.
“I thought you wanted everything to end between us?”
“I thought that was what you
