The Solitary Billionaire Read Free

Island, Minx was stunned by the spectacular view.   Minx Valour was surrounded by beautiful
turquoise waters, coral reefs and gorgeous sandy beaches.
    “You can see the main house
over there,” shouted Jake, pointing towards a contemporary style mansion crowning
a hill above the beach.
    “The house is a two storey
pad with 10 bedrooms and several reception rooms.   It was made using local stone.   There is two private beaches, private pools,
tennis courts, breathtaking views, a personal chef, a team of about 8 staff.   Stanley fired the gardener last week.   Lucky for Stanley, the gardener had signed an
iron tight confidentiality agreement, so it is not in his interest to sell a
story to a tabloid.”
    “Why did he fire the
gardener?”
    “Stanley has a small
outdoor yard shrine for his toddler son and he insists fresh flowers are laid
there on a weekly basis.   On one
occasion, the gardener forgot and he was fired,” he regarded Minx shrewdly as
her face turned pale.   Jake noticed how
vulnerable and childlike she appeared.
    She won’t last the week, he
thought as he gazed at her, his expression unfathomable.   He expertly directed the boat towards the
pier.   They both stayed silent, lost in
their own thoughts as he switched off the engine.

Chapter Four

    Jake carried her suitcase
up the hill towards the main house.   Minx
was entranced by the peaceful palm-fringed beach views as they passed hammocks
hanging between the trees and sun loungers to relax on.   Jake admired her extravagant curves from
behind, as Minx swayed her luscious hips from side to side gracefully walking
up the hill.
    The interior of the house
featured an elegant staircase leading to the bedrooms and a spacious common
area on the ground floor, with an impressive bar and an open log fire.   Minx admired the massive flat screen TV, deep
luxurious sofas and antique telescope by the bay window.   The communal dining area consisted of a large
mahogany table with some great views out onto the tennis courts on one side and
the sea on the other.  
    “It is perfect,” gushed
Minx, her eyebrows raised in wonder and expectation.
    “I guess, it’s time you met
the man,” said Jake in a matter of fact tone.   He dropped her suitcase by the stairs and motioned Minx with his right-hand
to follow him down a long, marble corridor towards Stanley Marx’s study.  
    “This is Stanley’s private
study.   He spends hours alone in this
room,” he whispered as he knocked on the door.   Minx stood like a statue behind him.   There was no answer.   Jake slowly
turned the handle and slowly opened the door as they entered softly.
    ***

The raw bricked sitting room
was in stark contrast to the rest of the modern house.   The room was lit by a single lamp and
seemingly without a window of any sort.   Stanley
Marx did not look in her direction as she entered the room.   He sat sipping a stiff drink and smoking a
cigar on a grey worn down armchair as he stared into an empty grate.   The curtains and sofas looked worn, frayed and
moth-eaten.   Minx noticed a vast number
of books, whole shelves full of classically bound novels.   There were volumes of old newspapers and
magazine cuttings littered everywhere.   None
of the newspapers were of a recent date.   There seemed a strange stillness in the room and Jake coughed nervously
as he entered.
    “Stanley, the girl is
here,” he whispered politely.
    “What girl?”   His
voice was gloomy, slightly breathless and compelling.
    “She won the competition in the Evening Bulletin, her
name is Minx Valour.”
    Minx Valour moved towards
Stanley Marx to get a closer look at his profile.   She was taken aback by his appearance.   His looks had changed dramatically from the
youthful pictures in past newspapers.   He
looked twice Minx Valour’s age.   His
features were stern, craggy-faced and heavy-browed.   He had a shaggy mane of silver hair that made
him look almost beastly.   His