Page 119 of The Billionaire's Virgin

I started walking around aimlessly, trying to spot her but she was nowhere to be seen. I had started crying by myself in a corner when someone spotted me.

“Excuse me, sweetheart?” the older woman asked. “Where’s your mom?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head and crying.

Before long, a large group of people surrounded me, all of who were trying to help me locate my mother. And then she showed up suddenly, from among the small crowd, with a look of concern draped across her face to mask the annoyance. Even in my panicked state, I noticed how her jeans were only half zipped, and her perfect hair seemed a little messy. There were even strands of grass and dirt running through it now.

Once it was determined she was my mother, the crowd dispersed, and Mom grabbed my hand and started towards our car.

“Where were you?” I sobbed.

“I was living my life,” she barked at me. “What did you have to get all worked up for?”

“I was gone for ages… I thought you would be looking for me,” I replied. “When I came back you were not there.”

“I was with Greg.”

“Who’s that?”

“Who’s that?” mom mimicked me in irritation. “He was the guy I came here to see.”

“I thought you wanted to spend time with me.”

“I spend time with you every day at home,” Mom replied. “Fuck… I can’t have one damn moment to myself.”

“Did you… even notice I was gone?” I asked, in a quiet voice.

“I thought you were making friends.”

“Someone could have taken me.”

Mom sighed noisily, and I felt tears prick at the back of my eyelids. Her lack of response hurt me to my very core, and I carried around that hurt well into my adulthood. During the drive back, I had wished that I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life alone with my mother. Three months later, she met and married Brady Holloway, and suddenly I regretted ever making that wish.

I had left behind that pain some time ago, however. Now things were different for me, and not just because of Reed. I thought about Jenna and what she meant to me. I loved her just as much as if I’d given birth to her myself. In my head, she was my daughter, and I was going to do whatever I needed to make sure she was okay.

I was not my mother who had fallen into motherhood without ever really wanting to. I had chosen this. I had chosen Jenna. I now realized it wasn’t about blood ties or biological connections. It was about the person you were and what you chose to make of your life.

I looked down at my ringing phone and answered it immediately. “Hello?”

“Are you here?” Sofia asked me.

“Yes,” I said, looking up at the abandoned warehouse.

“Go up the stairs, and your little gem will be in the second room to your left,” Sofia told me. “Stay on the phone.”

I stayed on the line and ran into the warehouse. I followed Sofia’s instructions and got to the second room on the second floor.

“Jenna?” I gasped, as I entered the room, but there was no one around.

“Oh no,” Sofia laughed. “She’s not there, is she?”

“Sofia, please,” I said desperately. “Please, just tell me where Jenna is.”

“What will you do for me if I tell you?” Sofia asked.

“Anything,” I said immediately. “I’ll do anything you ask.”

“Hmm, I like that,” Sofia said approvingly. “I’m going to hold you to that. Let’s try again, shall we? Third floor… you’re getting warmer.”