Fugitive Millionaire (Fugitive Millionaire Book One) by Jaclyn Brooks Page A

turns around and sees Fabian standing on the lower portion of the winding marble staircase leading to the upper floors of the mansion. He’s distraught and looks like a wreck. It’s clear he’s been drinking.
    “I don’t think so, Fabian. I’ve gotta get home.”
    “Please, Claire. I don’t have anybody else to talk to that I trust. I need you.”
    “Fabian, I…”
    “Are you worried I’m going to hurt you?”
    “To be honest, I don’t think I should be alone with you, especially since you’ve been drinking.”
    Fabian agitatedly runs his fingers through his hair. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Claire.” Fabian makes a broad sweeping motion with his arm. “We have security cameras inside and out. Nothing bad can happen to you here without someone noticing. I’m simply inviting you to come up to my living quarters for a few minutes. I’ll keep a respectably safe distance from you. I swear.”
    Claire looks at the front door where the patient house servant stands waiting to let her out. She could simply keep walking towards the door and not look back. That would let Fabian know that he can’t manipulate her easily with his pleading eyes. After what she just found out, no one would blame her for staying far away from Fabian Cooper.
    Still, she can’t help it if her heart rate increases each time she sees him. Her feelings for him are still intact. He looks so forlorn right now. How can she walk away and leave him in such an awful state? Wouldn’t she be guilty of convicting him before he’s even been charged with any wrongdoing?
    Of course, she would.
    That’s enough reason for her to turn around and take another chance.
    “Okay, I’ll come up there. Only for a few minutes, though.”
    Fabian is relieved as Claire follows him up the stairs to his private living quarters.
    “You won’t regret this. I promise.”
    Claire was expecting a large room, but her definition of living quarters is way off the mark. Fabian has a full suite that reminds her of those penthouse suites in fancy hotels. It’s basically an apartment inside of a large home. He has the entire third floor to himself. He can come and go as he pleases and never worry about paying rent or utilities. For the first time, Claire feels a hint of envy over Fabian’s privileged lifestyle.
    “Sit anywhere you like.”
    “Thanks.”
    Claire sits on the tasteful black sofa in his bachelor pad style living room. Unlike the rest of the expansive Cooper home she’s seen so far, Fabian’s suite is decorated in beige, black and white colors. The look is cool and sophisticated. The couch faces an ornate fireplace just a short distance away. She imagines how wonderful it would be to sit here on winter nights staring at a blazing fire while snuggled up in his arms.
    “Want a drink?”
    Claire snaps out of her daydream and realizes Fabian is holding a quarter-empty bottle of Jack Daniels. Apparently, he assumes she’s a whisky drinker.
    “No thanks. And, I think you’ve had enough of that.”
    Fabian gets cocky. “I can drink most of this without passing out. Cooper men know how to hold our liquor.”
    “I don’t care. If you want me to stay here and talk, put that away.”
    Fabian starts to argue, but thinks better of it. He stashes the bottle away behind a cabinet. “There. Happy?”
    “It’s a start.  
    Fabian plops down in a large, black leather chair positioned kitty corner to the couch. He leans his body towards her, but is keeping his word about maintaining physical space between them to make her more comfortable.
    “I appreciate you being here, Claire. I mean under the circumstances you could have run for the door.”
    “I thought about it. But, decided to give you a another chance because I really wanna know your side of this story.”
    Fabian frowns. “That’s all it is, Claire. A fable made up in the mind of a manipulating woman. And to think that after the charity party I thought we were making a little progress on