Page 55 of The Runaway Billionaire's Inconvenient Baby
I shoulder my way into the room. It’s absolutely jam-packed with no seating room left whatsoever. The back wall is lined with people jostling to get a better view. Someone nudges me and offers to let me in front of them, but I shake my head. I’m okay here, slightly out of sight.
I don’t need him to notice me yet. I’m still trying to decide what to say to him.
The room is loud, with people gossiping, speculating, wondering what possible reason Jacob could have for coming back other than to gloat. Is he here to brag? Is he here to personally kick us all out? Does he want to say sorry? Does he want more from us?
I force myself not to speak for a change. I don’t need to draw attention, and I don’t want a fight. I’m going to stand here inconspicuously, invisible and silent as a ghost.
Briggs has utilized what we affectionately call the broom cupboard, but is technically the secret back room for speakers to wait in before they take the stage. Usually, people don’t, but in this case, I don’t disagree with Briggs’s judgment. Somehow, I don’t think Jacob would want to be standing here getting booed at before he’s ready to face everyone.
About twenty minutes after the meeting was supposed to start, Briggs ambles to the stage. He taps the microphone, sending horrific feedback squealing through the room. “Ladies, gentlemen, friends,” he stammers, “Could I get your attention, please?”
It takes a long moment for the murmuring to subside, but as soon as the room falls quiet, Briggs smiles nervously and says, “Thank you, thank you. I don’t need to give any introduction to our speaker. I’ll let him explain why he’s here for himself. I… well, yes.”
He nods eagerly at the open door and Jacob shuffles out, shoulders tense, drawn up to his ears, his eyes darting back and forth around the room like he’s expecting people to start throwing things at him. The people around me tense up like they want to. Maybe they would if he said enough of the wrong things. Maybe they still will.
My heart thumps so hard in my chest that I feel like everyone around me can hear it. He’s still beautiful, just the way I remember him, with the cheekbones and the jawline, but he looks different, somehow. Tired. Like he’s been under some intense strain. I hope it’s the guilt weighing him down. He hasdark circles under his eyes, and he looks like he’s in need of a haircut.
What happened to him in the few long weeks between me kicking him out and him being here now? Is owning an island really that stressful?
“Hey, everyone,” he says tentatively into the microphone, wincing as it crackles. Someone starts booing, and it’s hard to resist when the people around me join in. I don’t want him to recognize my voice, though, so I stay silent.
He waves his hands to try and quiet everyone down and talks over the noise. “I know, I know. I get it. You all hate me. I would hate me too. But will you please just give me a few moments of your attention so I can explain what’s going on?” An uneasy quiet falls across the room.
He grimaces again, staring down at the floor. Where did that confident, charming billionaire I fell for go? “Thank you. Thanks. I don’t need to explain who I am or what I’m doing here. You all know that. My name is Jacob, and as of a few days ago, my name is officially on the deed for the island of Havenridge.”
People boo him again, and this time he doesn’t try and stop it. He just takes it. It’s weird seeing him like this. It’s like seeing a caged lion, nervous and antsy. He’s not supposed to be like this. He’s supposed to be the villain.
Eventually, when the protests have quieted down, he continues. “That’s why I’ve come back to the island. To talk to you all. About everything. I know some people have already left, but I know many of you have been protesting every day because you want to stay.”
“Get off our island!” someone yells.
“Go back to the city with the rest of the billionaire scum!” someone else joins in.
The room starts murmuring like it’s about to break out in a riot, and Jacob shakes his head. No doubt all of this is coming out completely different to the way he was saying it in his head.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, okay?” he says, looking like it took an effort not to call us idiots. It comes over harshly, but I spent enough time with him to know that he’s flustered, that he’s trying to be sincere. I almost want to shush everyone and tell them to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But not only do I not want him to know I’m here, I also don’t want people to think I’m siding with the enemy. Right now, being a traitor would get me excommunicated faster than Jacob’s bailiffs.
I stay silent, willing him to make his point quickly. The pause is long, stagnant, painful. His lips waver as he tries to find the words until at last, he blurts, “I’m giving it back.”
Suddenly, a reverent hush falls over the room, all eyes fixed on him.
“The island,” he explains quickly while he still has our attention. “I’m giving the island back. To everyone. When I was here before… I didn’t get it then. Not at first. I didn’t understand why you all cared so much about this place. It’s just land, I thought. It’s just an island. But… it’s more than that. It’s a community. This land is only special because of all of you.”
“Be clear, man,” someone yells. “What are you saying? You’re not buying it?”
He shakes his head as if he’s trying to order his thoughts. “No. Well, yes, technically I already did. But I’m giving it back to you. The land. As a gift. I’m not making you move. I’m taking back the eviction notices. Each and every one of them. You can all stay. I want you all to stay.”
A confused murmur ripples through the crowd. Jacob clears his throat, taking a breath like he’s ready for the rocks to get thrown. Nobody does. We all hold our breaths, waiting for the catch.
He continues. “When I came here, I thought it was going to be simple. I thought, look around, make sure I like it, leave again. I thought, all those annoying townspeople, they’ll be easy to get rid of. They don’t matter. I thought this would be a beautiful place where I could spend all my time alone. Each and every one of you helped me see that I was wrong to think that this island could be anything without all of you. You all welcomed me, even when I was too stupid to see how special you all were. You allare. You let me stay, let me join in. Showed me around. You hated me, but you made me feel welcome. No one’s ever done that for me before.”
“Wonder why!” someone heckles.
He chuckles at that, a real smile on his face. “You’re right. I’ve never known living like a normal person. I thought that to live like a normal person, I’d have to get away from everyone. But I was wrong. This land is yours. I’m not going to steal it. I have people working on making sure this land belongs to all of you, that no one can ever do what I’ve done and steal it away from you again.”
The room erupts into chatter, and Jacob has to fight to be heard again. “I do have one request, though,” he gets out.
