Chapter 39: Drake

The very next morning after a long night spent making up with Lydia, Drake awoke to a very long very aggressive voicemail from Dianne.

“*Drake,

*I found out some very interesting information about your dearest fiancé. I hope this information comes to you as a surprise. I would hate to think that you’d be willing to tarnish the Whittenberg name like this, as well as bring financial burden upon yourself. **
*
*If you do not meet us in the Bahamas by yourself at the end of the month, then I’ll be forced to play the cards that that slut dealt. There’s no escaping your destiny Drake, you are a Whittenberg, you are heir to the Whittenberg foundation it is time you played the part. *

*I expect once you arrive at the Bahamas that you will go through with your nuptials and marry Jessica. She is willing to dirty her name a little to help with the scandal your little toy is going to cause this family.

*That’s right Drake, Mommy Dearest found out your dirty little secret. By this time tomorrow, the world will know that **MISS LYDIA HUNT** is an **ESCORT** **WHORE** who is paid for **SEX!

*It’s up to you how you want this story spun Drake. If you head to the Bahamas, your name will be left out of the story, and our family publicist will leave a message stating that we were unaware of Lydia’s side business. We will spin the tale that she tried to sink her claws into you to steal your wealth and standing in society; and that if it wasn’t for the efforts put in by Jessica, we would never have found out the truth. At that point we will also have the publicist announce your engagement to Jessica, stating that when she uncovered the truth about Lydia, your feelings for Jessica, that you’d buried came back to the surface as you were remind once again of the reasons you loved her.

*If you choose to side with your escort, be prepared for the world to hate you Drake Whittenberg, I will **NEVER** let your actions bring **SHAME** on this **FAMILY** . The world will know that you lost everything in the stock market, that you were about to lose the company and that the only way you could save yourself was to marry which would allow you access to the entirety of your trust fund and the majority of the Whittenberg Estate. So you schemed with Lydia whom you found through an escort service. Your plan was to get hitched quick and then split the funds eighty-twenty. After a year of marriage you planned on divorcing and going your separate ways.

*The ball is in your court Drake.”

Drake was absolutely livid. How dare Dianne try to dictate his life and how dare she threaten Lydia. Drake was so enraged that he through his phone across the room, which caused a loud bang that awoke Lydia when it hit the wall.

“Drake?” Lydia questioned, her voice still hoarse from sleep, “is everything okay?” She asked as she sat up in the bed stretching her arms and letting out a yawn.

Drake inhaled deeply running his hands through his hair as he let out a long exhale, trying to calm himself before he spoke with Lydia. “Dianne,” He growled out grinding his teeth with anger, “Dianne found out about your past. She’s threatening me with it.”

Lydia let out a gasp of shock. They’d been so safe, how had Dianne managed to find out. “What are you going to do?” Lydia asked Drake reaching over and holding his hand with hers.

“She gave me two options, marry Jessica at the end of the month in the Bahamas or stay with you and have her bring shame on our union and my company.” Drake replied a glare on his face, filled with hatred for his mother.

“Drake, you can’t let her ruin your reputation, you worked so hard to make yourself something besides your family name, go to the Bahamas and marry Jessica.” Lydia replied, even though her heart ached at the thought of Drake being with someone else.

“You would willingly let me go and have me marry another?” Drake asked, his eyes showing what his face would not, that the thought of not having Lydia in his life would destroy him.

“If it meant that everything you’d worked so hard for wouldn’t be destroyed, then yes, I would.” Lydia replied stubbornly.

“You know your reputation would be tarnished, Dianne won’t keep you out of the tabloids even if I marry Jessica, she wants to destroy you.” Drake stated, wanting to know Lydia everything she would be giving up.

“I don’t care what happens to me Drake, I know that I’ll survive. I will find a way to take care of myself and my mom.I always have.” Lydia replied firmly.

“Lydia,” Drake said calmly, taking both of Lydia’s hands in his and staring directly into her eyes, “my wealth means nothing if I can’t have anyone to share it with. Everything I have in life I want to share with you. I want you to be in my life from the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I take my last breath on this earth. You, Lydia, are everything I need and so much more. You’ve made me see the real value in life. Even if I’m broke and having to work two jobs to support us, my life will be more valuable having you in it, than it was when I was rich and all alone.”

By the time Drake finished, Lydia had tears rolling down her face. She’d never had anyone talk to her the way Drake just did. While she had dated over the years and she had plenty of friends, she never felt like she really mattered in anyone’s life except her mothers. She always felt like she was disposable when it came to anyone else. Drake was finally showing Lydia just what she was worth, he was helping her see the value of who she is.

Drake raised his hands and placed them on Lydia’s face, using his thumbs to gently wipe the tears on her face, “it’s you and me babe. Together we will overcome any threat my mother or father throws are way.”

“Do you have a plan on how to counteract your mom’s motions?” Lydia asked.

“Yes, it’ll just require us to speed up our search for Amelia. I am going to leak everything we find to the press; including my father’s relationship with her.” Drake stated firmly.

“Are you sure you want to fight against your family?“ Lydia asked worriedly.

“Dianne declared war the moment she threatened what is mine.” Drake state firmly, “The reign of Dianne and Gregory Whittenberg has come to an end. It’s time for the heirs to take over.”

Lydia couldn’t help but chuckle, so how in the craziest and stressful of times Drake still managed to make her smile,

“I love that laugh. My goal from now until the end, is to hear you laugh at least once a day. If you’re laughing then I know I am doing my job right.” Drake said smiling at Lydia, making her heart soar.

“And what is your job exactly?“ Lydia asked raising her eyebrow up at Drake.

“Why as your husband of course. You didn’t think I would let you out of Our little agreement now did you?” Drake asked trying to hide his laughter behind a stern look on his face.

“Well if you insist Mr. Whittenberg, then I will gladly oblige.” Lydia replied with her best southern bell accent.

Drake tackled Lydia onto her back, before covering her face, chest and arms with kisses. “I love you Lydia Gulbransen Hunt and I cannot wait to make you legally mine.”

“I love you too Drake Whittenberg, and I can’t wait to tell all those bitches to back off, that this man is mine.”

“Mmm I can’t wait to see that. I love it when you get all possessive.” Drake remarked waggling both his eyebrows at Lydia before kissing her passionately on the lips.

Soon their clothes were scattered around the room and their legs were entangled together in the sheets as they forgot about their problems in the world and became lost in each other’s arms once again.