Page 235 of The Rebel Billionaire

“You might want to sit down. I was going to drop it into the office this afternoon before I leave.”

I take a seat on the old couch.

“I’ll give you time to read it,” he says before disappearing into the bedroom.

I stare at the white envelope.

My gut twists, and I fear whatever Brooke has divulged is going to change everything.

Every morning since she left, I’ve woken up with my body drenched in sweat, feeling like I’ve been searching for something. Something I’ve lost. Only it’s gone, and I know I’m to blame.

I hear Mitch moving around in the other room.

Does he know what it contains?

I pull out the neatly folded sheet.

Dear Alex,

By the time you read this letter, I’ll be on a plane to England. I would have preferred to have this conversation in person, but unfortunately, life has other ideas.

I’m sorry things ended the way they did between us. You’re a truly wonderful man, but I cannot blame you for having doubts about me, about us. There’s so much you don’t know, so much I haven’t been able to share with you.

I stare at her words. Is that what it was? Doubts? I accused an innocent woman of corporate espionage, and she blames herself.

I return to the letter.

I want to warn you about what is to come.

I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I can’t tell you how close I’ve come to telling you the truth, but I made promises I could not break, not without endangering myself and others. I just hope that one day you’ll be able to forgive me and remember our time together with fondness.

Who the hell did she make promises to? My mother? Someone else?

Her next words steal the breath from my lungs.

My name is not Brooke Feldmann.

It is Harper Frazer.

I stare at the words in front of me. Harper Frazer. Where do I know that name from?

The missing British heiress. Fuck!

Enzo kept bringing her up when I was in London. Did he know? Suspect?

I return to the letter.

As a British-American, you’re probably most familiar with my older sister, Kat, Kathryn Frazer, CEO of the Frazer Hotel Group, and Penelope Dawson, my soon-to-be sister-in-law. Kris Lansdown can also vouch for me, as it was Kris who helped me enter the US undetected.

Shit! It was Kathryn Frazer who was rushed to hospital. I think back to Kris when he visited me in my office. He must have known Brooke, but he never let on.

During the past eight months, I’ve been in witness protection. Before that, I was targeted by the same group of men and women who murdered my father, Robert Frazer, seven years ago. These men targeted me as a warning. Those investigating his death suspected my life was in danger, so I was sent by my mother to yours. I don’t understand their history, but Sophia very kindly agreed to take me in and offered me refuge. I’ll forever be in her debt. Please don’t blame Kris or your mother. They understood that I had signed away my real identity and respected that.

When I return to the UK, I will be unreachable for a time. I’m being moved to a safe house where I’ll be debriefed before I can return to the civilised world. I’ve been warned during this time, that all outside contact will be cut off. That is why I’ve asked M to deliver you this letter.

Please know you’ve been a shining light during my darkest hours. I never expected us to meet, or to develop feelings. Please believe me when I say I’ve hated lying to you. Just know that, as Brooke, I found something I never thought possible, and as Harper, I’ll cherish every memory of our time together. I just hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Thank you for everything.