All Chapters of Beautiful Disaster: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

The two-hour flight to Virginia passed by so quickly for Marybeth that she didn't even have time to panic over her fear of flying in a helicopter. One minute, Austin was strapping her into her seat, and the next, they were landing at a vast field. As he helped her off the helicopter, he explained it was a pasture for the De Jagers cattle. They weren't just taxidermists but also one of the country's largest beef suppliers."So what exactly do they do?" Marybeth asked when a ranch hand pulled up in a golf caddie to drive them up to the house. "I thought they were into weapons?"Smiling, Austin gave her a sidelong glance. "Why would you think that?""From the few hunting photos I've seen of them, I assumed they were. They look deadly," Marybeth replied.Austin burst into a hearty laugh. "You're not wrong there, žena. Believe me, when I tell you, they don't just look deadly; they are! It's one of the reasons I try so damn hard to maintain a cordial working relationship with them. They are

They didn't talk on the ride back to the chopper.The flight home was just as silent, both lost in their own thoughts.They made it home just after 10:00 PM, and Marybeth wondered if they should pick Orlando up from Neli's."It's late, and she's sleeping," Austin explained as he took off his jacket and threw it on the couch."I know," said Marybeth, loosening the buttons of her blazer and kicking off her sneakers. "But I don't like that we keep shoving her onto other people. I mean, you hired me to look after her.""And you are doing a stellar job, Beth," he assured her.Marybeth didn't feel like she was, though.They should be spending a whole lot more time with Orlando instead of being out and about, hobnobbing with Clifton Bay's royalty and going on dates."Seriously, you need to stop worrying about Orlando. Neli and her mom love having her over. Besides, I'll be in the Blue Mountains next week, so you'll have plenty of time with her," Austin said, waving the bottle of cognac at he

Austin didn't have business calls to make like he'd told Marybeth. He simply wanted to sit in the silence of his living room and compartmentalise his feelings over his confrontation with Willem.Marybeth said it had hurt her to see him like that, being berated by the bastard like he was some damn child. She'd never know how much sitting still and taking the old fool's abuse had destroyed his soul. It took all his self-control to not pull out his gun and shoot the bastard dead. But he'd promised to humble himself and take whatever irrational rants were thrown at him because the last thing he wanted was for her to see him at his absolute worst—His phone rang on the coffee table, breaking through his rage-filled thoughts. But he was so emotionally exhausted he couldn't bring himself to pick it up.When it rang for the second time in the space of a few seconds, he figured it had to be important, so he reluctantly answered.He was glad he did when he heard Rawlings on the other end. "I ma

With Orlando spending the night at Neli's, Marybeth didn't have to rush through her morning routine, and the extra hour of sleep should have helped.But it didn't.She was cranky as hell. Not exactly surprising since she and Austin had only gone to bed just after 2:00 AM.Yawning, she sat up and absently massaged the dull ache in her temples, her stomach clenching when her eyes fell on the leather-bound journal on her nightstand.Like Austin, she was terrified of all the earth-shattering secrets it held. She didn't have to be psychic to know that once she took a peek inside, there'd be no going back, and the consequences would be far worse than opening Pandora's box. But since she promised Austin she'd read it, she felt compelled to follow through. So she dragged herself out of bed and dropped the journal inside her laptop bag, telling herself it would make for some interesting lunchtime reading.An hour later, dressed in a floral maxi dress and plain white mules, Marybeth grabbed her

They left Clifton Bay just after 2:00 PM.For a large part of their three-hour flight to Rock Union, Marybeth helped Orlando with her homework while Austin made several phone calls and responded to emails."He's always working," Orlando whispered at one point, even though Austin had his AirPods on and couldn't hear their conversation. "I wish he didn't have to work so much.""I'm sure if he could, your father would spend all his time with you, Orly," Marybeth assured her."I know," Orlando nodded as she absently twirled a bright blue crayon between her fingers. "I just miss him, that's all. When Mrs Allan left, and Daddy took care of me, it was the best time ever. I miss that.""Oh, Orly, come here," Marybeth cried as she unbuckled her seat belt and took the little girl in her arms.She was afraid of this—of Orlando feeling neglected. And it was exactly what she'd tried to explain to Austin last night and this morning. Obviously, she didn't articulate herself very well. She'd have to