News of Will Montgomery’s escape from Kingsport first rippled through the Montgomery Estate followed by whispers at the country club and exaggerated rumors among the masses. He had left town with one suitcase and not a word of goodbye to anyone. Many found this odd; others found it exciting. Warren Montgomery wasn’t amused by his brother’s decision to abscond without a goodbye and he told him so that morning on the phone.
“Is Billy all right?” asked Jill with faux concern.
Warren placed the phone on the receiver with a weary sigh. “He’ll be all right. Mother is in Lisbon right now, so he’s staying at The Ritz until she gets back on Thursday.” Warren returned to the table, poured another glass of water, and let out an exasperated sigh.
“I think this is a lot of sound and fury for a lot of nothing,” intoned Jill. “Billy could have simply sorted out whatever needing sorting without causing all of this drama.”
“You don’t know the whole story. He had his reasons, Jill.”
“Warren, everyone coddles Billy like he’s made of glass. He loves the attention. No one but an attention whore would leave town like that without saying goodbye,” sniffed Jill.
Before Warren could respond, there was a knock at the door. He stood up to answer it, but one of his maids got there first and showed in his uninvited guest.
“I haven’t slept in days,” Connor told Warren, wearily. “I’m furious with him.”
Jill scrunched up her nose at the sight of an unshaven Connor. While she found his look quite rough, the more she looked at him, the more she wanted to make love to him on the dining room table as Warren watched them. “Coming to someone’s home uninvited is the height of incivility, Connor!”
Connor glared at her. “He won’t tell me where he is, Warren. We talked last night, but he…”
“He’s in Paris. I just got off the phone with him. He’ll be just fine. Billy needs a few days to calm down,” explained Warren. “Jill, would you mind giving us a moment?”
Jill let out a livid huff as she stormed out of the dining room and into the garden.
“Connor, I didn’t want you to say this in front of Jill, but Billy told me he may very well stay in Paris…indefinitely.”
Connor’s eyes went wide. His head fell into his hands as he suppressed a scream. “This is all because of India! She’s trying to ruin my life…again!”
“Connor…”
“Warren, I love your brother. Billy is the best thing to ever happen to me. I want him here with me, not off in Paris.”
“It’s out of our hands. Dad flew over there the minute he heard Billy was leaving for Paris, but it wasn’t any use. Billy said he was staying there indefinitely. He’s made up his mind, Connor.”
“No. This is because of India. Billy and I were happy and content before she showed up in town with her lies. Your sister broke into my house last week. She’s up to her old tricks again, Warren. It’s no wonder Billy left town without a word.”
Warren stared at his friend with mounting worry. “Maybe dating my brother after your past with our sister wasn’t your best idea, Connor.”
“I didn’t plan it. I never thought I’d see India again. I never wanted to see her again, Warren. Can you go to Paris and make Billy see sense? Let him know that I love him and I will protect him.”
“I have a full caseload. The trouble with Uncle Walt isn’t over yet and then I have to handle a case of corporate malfeasance. I can’t drop everything to chase after Billy. If you love him so much, you need to go to Paris.”
Connor shook his head. “I can’t. I’m swamped at the hospital for the next six weeks.” Connor felt like he was going to be sick. “I’ll keep trying to convince him that he belongs in Kingsport with me. I can’t lose him, Warren. I just can’t…”
Jill Stanhope Montgomery sat at her usual table at the Kingsport Arms Hotel without a worry in the world. While she detested the way in which Connor interrupted her quiet breakfast with Warren, she was secretly glad to have been able to see him…smell him in such a raw state. Jill tried to push the thought out of her mind, but it was useless. For all of her breeding and education, she couldn’t help but want Connor in her bed and inside of her. Warren gave Jill everything she needed; Connor had given her what she wanted. That meant sex. Lots of it. Multiple times a day. Life as a bored, wealthy housewife wasn’t in Jill’s original life plan, but she was content in her sexless marriage to Warren. Yes, he was attractive, wealthy to the point of excessive, and a wonderful father, but they hadn’t had sex in three years and she minded more than her husband. Jill had her share of affairs and anonymous sex throughout the years, but no one did to her what Connor had done to her all those years ago. Her whole body ached for him. God, she wanted that man…
“Jill?”
Jill snapped out of her reverie to find Lisa Davenport Collins standing before her. “Lisa,” she said, lightly. “Join me.”
“I can’t. I have to get to the auction house. My work is never done.”
“You don’t need to work…”
“I like working. It gives me something to do…and I enjoy being one of the few people who uses their Master’s in Art History. We should have a drink or dinner one of these nights.”
Jill smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Great. I’ll text you.” With that, Lisa walked out of the hotel.
Jill watched her friend go. She always admired Lisa Davenport Collins. She was the kind of woman who was born into generations of money, had a wonderful family, worked, and traveled the world. On some level, Jill was jealous of her friend, but in the best way possible. A moment later, Jill groaned internally as she saw India Montgomery walking towards her.
“Jill,” hissed India. “Dining alone. How appropriate.”
“It’s nice to see you, too, India. I should be going…”
“Stay. Have a drink with me. I saw you were chatting with Lisa Davenport. She has a lot of big ideas about herself.”
“Lisa is one of the nicest people I know. I don’t understand why you have to be frosty towards her. She’s your daughter’s aunt!”
India sat at the table, plopped the napkin on her lap, and ordered a glass of white wine from a passing waiter. “She’s of no bearing in my life.”
“India, I should get going…”
“Connor and Warren are friends, yes?”
Jill felt her throat tighten. “You know they’re friends…”
“It seems odd to me that no one knows where Billy has disappeared to. I think it says a lot about how he feels about Connor if he’s willing to vanish without telling anyone where he went… Don’t you agree, Jill?”
Jill couldn’t stop feeling as if she was caught in the black widow’s web. “I think… Billy likes attention.”
“He does. The little queen,” laughed India. She narrowed her eyes on Jill with such intensity she knew she was making Jill squirm in her chair. “I’ve always thought of us as friends, Jill. I do hope you aren’t lying to me about where Billy is right now.”
“I haven’t the slightest clue.”
“And Warren…”
“Ask your brother. I’m sorry, India, but I do have to go.”
India sipped the white wine as she watched Jill scurry out of the dining room. A curled smile formed on India’s lips. She couldn’t have planned this any better herself. Will had removed himself from Connor’s life and no one knew where he was hiding. India knew Connor would be grief stricken. Connor needed someone in his life. Connor couldn’t exist without someone to worship him. In that moment, India knew now was the right time to do whatever was necessary to make Connor hers. She didn’t care if Billy lived or died as long as he stayed away from Connor. India raised her glass and toasted her brother for making her next move entirely too easy…
In our next installment, Dylan takes a stand with Sheila…
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