Page 20 of Perfect Satisfaction

“It was fate,” I murmur.

“Just like us,” she returns before she pushes up and captures my lips.

God, why does everything circle back to her? Why can’t I let her go the way she was able to walk away?

I tune in when Liza says, “I need a favor.”

“Anything.” She outlines her request and I immediately retract my acceptance. “Anything except that.”

“Arek, you’re also a member of the press. You’re used to the red carpet.”

I snort. “I’d hardly say that. If I am, it’s because I’m on the other side of the lens.”

“It was supposed to be my coming out with Joshua.”

“Christ, I can hear your heart breaking over the phone.”

“That obvious?”

“If it was anyone else but you...” My voice trails off.

“Yes?”

“I’d be telling them to go to hell.”

“But for me?”

“For you? Anything. You knew that before you called. But, Liza? You owe me something enormous.”

“Name it.”

“Eat a fucking sub. You’re getting too thin.”

I hang up on her laughter, something that right now is so precious. Before I do, I elicit her solemn vow to eat some food before I pick her up for tonight’s movie premier.

But I can’t help myself. I do an online search for my wife and Joshua. What I see grinds my heart to silt. I don’t even have it in me to phone Liza back and tell her she was right because that means admitting I was a fool.

A fool who fell in love with a woman who, by the looks of it, already gave her heart to someone else.

And he to her.

Slamming my laptop lid closed, I go get ready for a night on the red carpet with a stunning supermodel.

CHAPTERTEN

CEO and chairman of the board of Moore Software Worldwide, West Moore, died of Stage 4 cancer. No one from MSW was aware the vainglorious billionaire was ill.

From all accounts, his heirs have yet to be named. The estate was granted the right to be sealed for fifty years by the President of the Family Division of the High Court.

This is a highly unusual judgment, however as one of the richest individuals in the world, there wasn’t much West Moore couldn’t accomplish. Upon probing, his lawyers admit there are some “unusual bequests” and this is for “dignity and understanding” for his heirs.

The world speculates who the recently departed Mr. Moore’s heirs actually are, as during his lifetime, the billionaire acknowledged no personal relationships—neither friends nor family—beyond the women he married and subsequently divorced.

I wonder if he left any to me. No, seriously. Do you think I have a chance of be one of the elusive heirs?

—Moore You Want

Present Day—Early September