Covet: Trusting the Billionaire (The Trophy Wife Book 4) by Charlotte Rose Page A

then quiet, muffled laughter that sends a chill though me. I can’t tell if it’s a male or female voice. I hang up the phone.
    A few minutes later I hear my cell phone ringing. I reach for it and blink at the bright screen: Caller Unknown.
    “Hello?”
    I hear heavy breathing.
    “Tell me who you are,” I say, trying to sound assertive, but my voice comes out shaky and hesitant.
    The breathing gets heavier and I wait, listening for any kind of response. The person on the other end seems to enjoy the anxiety they are instilling in me.
    “It’s too bad Julian isn’t there to protect you,” someone says with a deep, rumbling, terrifying tone created by a voice muffler. It sends a shiver down my spine.
    “Who...is this?”
    “You’ll find out soon,” the frightening voice says before whoever is behind it hangs up.
    I call Julian. Surprisingly, he picks up after the fourth ring.
    “Hello, Cheryl,” Julian says sweetly. “What are you doing up?”
    I recall that Tokyo is eight hours ahead of Geneva.
    “I’m scared, please come home,” I plead.
    “What happened?” Julian responds, concerned.
    “I don’t know who it is…” My voice is trembling and I try to steady my speech. “Someone called the house. Julian, I’m scared, please come home.”
    “Who called the house? It’s 4:32 a.m. in Switzerland.”
    “I was going to show you the text message I received,” I reply. “I think it’s the same person as the caller.”
    “What text message?”
    “I got a text message. From what I recall, it said: I’ll have you soon . Kiss your husband goodbye .”
    I hear him entering a busy street and a car door opening. “I’m coming home.”
    “When?”
    “I’m on the way now. I’m taking the long-range business jet, so I’ll be home soon.”
     
    I am jostled awake to my urgently ringing cell phone. I blink my eyes several times to clear the fog of sleep.
    I am startled when someone knocks on the door.
    “Mrs. Stone?” the nanny says through the door.
    I put on a robe and open the door. “Yes?”
    The nanny is holding my boy in her arms. “I’m sorry, but he wouldn’t stop asking for you.”
    “It’s okay, I’ll take him.” I pull little Julian into my arms and shut the door.
    “You miss Mommy, don’t you?”
    He smiles broadly and hugs me, holding onto me tightly as I carry him to the bed.
    I realize the phone is still ringing as I place my boy on the bed. He gets under the covers and gives me a satisfied smile. I turn cartoons on the flat-screen 3D television directly facing the bed.
    I reach for the phone. “Hello?”
    “Cheryl, I’ve been trying to reach you,” Julian says, irritated. “Don’t answer any more calls. I’ll be home soon.”
    “Okay, please hurry,” I respond.
    “Don’t answer the phone,” Julian insists before hanging up.
    The phone rings again. I pick it up. “Julian?”
    Silence ensues. I am about to hang up when a voice stops me.
    “I’m so close, Cheryl,” the voice growls through the voice muffler.
    I glance at my boy, then rush into the en-suite washroom and close the door.
    “Who the fuck is this?” I yell. “Tell me right now!”
    Silence and then a snicker that grows louder and louder. The caller disconnects.

 
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    Julian enters the master bedroom. I’m still in my pink silk robe, sitting in bed with my boy, watching television. I rush to him and he pulls me into his arms.
    “Tell me about the phone calls,” Julian demands.
    “Daddy, daddy,” our son’s excited voice calls.
    Julian walks over to the bed and lifts the little man into his arms.
    “They were threatening,” I respond. “It was very creepy. The person was talking with a voice muffler.”
    “Did you receive any other strange text messages, emails, or letters?”
    “I’ve received letters,” I murmur.
    “What letters? ” Julian growls. “What did they say?”
    “That you are cheating,” I reply quickly.
    I notice Julian’s eyes flash with anger and his