Interview with the Billionaire Read online

  * * *

  [They share a look, dark and meaningful. For a moment, I fear I won’t get an answer, or if I do, it will be an obfuscation.]

  * * *

  Nikki: Yes, actually. After Germany. I was terrified.

  * * *

  Bridge: By Germany, you’re referring to the trial? When Damien was charged with murdering his tennis coach?

  * * *

  Nikki: Yes. The court received some horrible images. They were sealed, but apparently someone else had them, too. They threatened to release them. Damien … well, he left me.

  * * *

  [I have heard this from the other interviews, and of course I remember the outcome from the coverage at the time. But I try to react as if this is the first I’ve heard of it.]

  * * *

  Damien: I was a fool. That’s the bottom line.

  * * *

  Nikki: You were. But you left for me. He was trying to protect me. He thought I wouldn’t be able to handle the media when the images went wide. Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was determined to prove to him I would be fine.

  * * *

  Damien: She was brilliant. She proved to me just how strong we both are.

  * * *

  Bridge: I remember the press conference. You were brilliant.

  * * *

  Nikki: Thank you. That means a lot.

  * * *

  Bridge: And you did release those photos? You and Sofia. You were—

  * * *

  Damien: As I said, that topic is off-limits. Go back to old articles and fill in the details if you feel compelled to write about it. But for now, drop it.

  * * *

  Bridge: Of course. But I do have one question that I don’t believe has been covered, and it’s not directly about the abuse.

  * * *

  Damien: I’m listening.

  * * *

  Bridge: Sofia. Were you ever involved with her. Was she ever your girlfriend?

  * * *

  Damien: No. We were just friends. Friends in a bad situation. And that’s all I’ll say, except that I’m done being ashamed of that time in my life—of running because of that shame. I did that—ran far and fast—and I almost lost the person I cherish most in this world. It was a mistake.

  * * *

  [He pauses, clearly fighting strong emotions.]

  * * *

  Damien: The irony is that my leaving brought us even closer. But never again.

  * * *

  [He takes her hand.]

  * * *

  Damien: The sun won’t ever set for us.

  * * *

  [Nikki’s smile sparkles. So do the tears in her eyes.]

  * * *

  Bridge: Nikki, you went to Germany, too. You were clearly in a deeply committed relationship. But not only did he not tell you about what happened in the past, but he left you when it was at risk of being disclosed.

  * * *

  Damien: Careful, Maggie.

  * * *

  Bridge: I just want to know if it bothered you. The fact that he didn’t tell you any of that despite your intimacy.

  * * *

  Nikki: Of course, it did.

  * * *

  Bridge: Oh.

  * * *

  [Damien is fighting a smile. I assume he is amused by my reaction. I wasn’t expecting an admission.]

  * * *

  Bridge: And have you put that behind you?

  * * *

  Damien: We have.

  * * *

  Bridge: Nikki? Do you agree?

  * * *

  Nikki: I do. But that’s not to say we’ve brushed it under the rug or shoved it in a closet. Like Damien said earlier, that whole thing strengthened us both. We realized how much we wanted to be together. We both knew it, but we were fighting it. And in the end, we came out stronger.

  * * *

  Bridge: Fighting it. But why?

  * * *

  [Damien drags his fingers through his hair, then frowns.]

  * * *

  Damien: I’ve been in love with this woman since the first time I saw her.

  * * *

  Bridge: In Dallas?

  * * *

  Damien: [nods] It was love at first sight, just like in a fairy tale. But everyone tells you fairy tales aren’t real, or at least that Happily Ever After isn’t realistic. So maybe we both let ourselves believe that a little.

  * * *

  Nikki: Except, we were wrong.

  * * *

  Damien: Happily Ever After should be the norm. I walked away from Nikki once because I was a fool. I’ll never do it again. I would give up everything I have for her. For our children.

  * * *

  Bridge: You came close to losing Anne.

  * * *

  Nikki: I won’t talk about that. We said it was off-limits.

  * * *

  Bridge: All right. Let’s talk about Ash. Nikki, how was Damien after Ash made his announcement at your wedding? And then after he confirmed paternity?

  * * *

  Nikki: How do you think? He was shocked. Devastated.

  * * *

  Damien: I’d just learned that I missed out on an entire lifetime of one of my children.

  * * *

  Bridge: Who you’d fathered when you were a child yourself.

  * * *

  Damien: Doesn’t make him any less mine. And we don’t need to keep walking this path.

  * * *

  Nikki: No, we don’t, because the bottom line is that Damien did the right thing. Ash is his son. He’s part of our family. And we’re all trying to make up for lost time.

  * * *

  Bridge: And you’re okay with that. How Ash was conceived? Who his mother was?

  * * *

  Nikki: Okay with it? What happened to Sofia and Damien was vile. But that’s hardly Ash’s fault. It’s Richter’s. And Jeremiah’s. And you have no right to suggest—

  * * *

  [Damien puts a hand on her arm. She settles.]

  * * *

  Bridge: There’ve been other paternity claims.

  * * *

  Nikki: And there may be more. Shockingly, my husband was never a monk.

  * * *

  Bridge: Does that frighten you?

  * * *

  Damien: I think it’s time to back off this line, Lena.

  * * *

  Bridge: I’m not trying to harass you. I want to understand the way you think. The extent to which you two are a unit.

  * * *

  Damien: The full extent.

  * * *

  Nikki: It’s okay, Damien. As for the possibility, I’m not blind to that. And if someone else turns up—verifiable—then we’ll deal with it. In case it isn’t clear to you yet, We’re a strong family.

  * * *

  Bridge: You are. And yet you came close to losing one of your children.

  * * *

  Nikki: That’s out of bounds./Damien: Enough.

  * * *

  Damien: Shut it down, Lena. I set terms. You agreed to them. And unless my memory is failing me, these interviews are supposed to be for a profile about me in conjunction with the Sports Center and my birthday. Not a tribute to the National Enquirer. Perhaps we should shift topics to business?

  * * *

  Bridge: The focus is on the man behind the business. But we’ll get there. Right now, tell me more about Ashton. The man stood up at your vow renewal and basically shut it down.

  * * *

  Nikki: That’s true, but he had reason to. Maybe he could have approached it less dramatically, but we don’t fault him. We love him.

  * * *

  [Damien has been watching her as she speaks. Now he cups her head, then pulls her into a kiss as I sit there, waiting to get back to the interview. I clear my throat, then smile.]

  * * *

  Bridge: Moving on. Nikki, has Damien’s money ever been a problem for you?

  * * *

  Nikki: Um, no. Not at all. I’ve noticed that his money spends exactly like all the other money. It took some getting used to. The vast oceans of wealth, I mean. But I wouldn’t call it a problem.

  * * *

  Bridge: I only ask because you’re still working. I presume you’re earning your own money on principal.

  * * *

  Nikki: Oh, I see. And no. I’m working because I like to. As I said, it took some getting used to, but now if I feel like going shopping in Paris, I just take one of the jets and our Amex Black Card and go for it. It’s ridiculously convenient. And honestly, it’s no problem at all.

  * * *

  [I’m certain her smile is the one she pulled out at pageants.]

  * * *

  Damien: It’s getting late. Why don’t we continue this in the morning.

  * * *

  Bridge: Of course. Could I speak to you for a moment?

  * * *

  [From his expression, I expect him to say no.]

  * * *

  Damien: Nikki, go on. I’ll walk Maggie out.

  * * *

  Nikki: No problem.

  * * *

  [Nikki leaves. And I am left to walk with Damien.]

  * * *

  Interview End

  * * *

  As I walk toward my husband, this man I love with all my heart, I glimpse the lingering shadows in his eyes, and I can’t shake the cold blanket of fear that settles over my shoulders when I slide my hand into Damien’s.

  * * *

  - Please Me

  Chapter 7: Alone Again

  The Story

  As soon as Nikki entered the foyer to the master bedroom, Damien ushered Maggie down the stairs. “Would you care to explain yourself?”

  “About what?”

  “
About the shift from pleasant to confrontational. You’ve been goading Nikki, and I want to know why.”

  “You’re being paranoid. I’m a reporter. The job requires a bit of pushing. That’s how you get the meat.”

  “You’re not writing about Chernobyl, Maggie. It’s a puff piece and we both know it.”

  They reached the front door, and she turned to face him. “I know. I’m sorry. The truth is—well, never mind.”

  “What?”

  “Just that you made the right choice.”

  He shook his head, not following.

  “Nikki, I mean.”

  “Believe me, I know.”

  “You and I would never have worked out.”

  He frowned. “Lena, you know that wasn’t even on the table.”

  “I know. What I don’t understand is why. Why did you catch a glimpse of Nikki from across a room and now she’s the princess in the palace. Why wasn’t that me?”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. This really wasn’t supposed to be on the night’s agenda. “Lena, we’re not doing this.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. That’s not even what I mean. I’m just trying to understand.”

  “Understand what?”

  “It’s just … there’s a guy. He’s a lot like you. And I thought we were fine, but then he just ended it. Is it me? Am I the Wicked Witch in the fairy tale and not the princess?”

  “I don’t know, Lena. And I’m sorry. But I can’t be the one to help you figure it out.”

  “I can’t tell if Lena just came on to me or if I completely misread the situation.” He’d just stepped into the room to see Nikki sitting on the bed wearing nothing but a thin tank top and plain white panties. She was rubbing lotion on her legs and looked sexy as hell.

  “Coming on to you,” she said. “Honestly, a man with your reputation should be faster on the uptake.”

  He laughed, then moved to join her on the bed, claiming the tube of lotion and taking over the task. “Is that right?”

  “Besides, you already knew the answer. That’s why you called her Lena and not Maggie.”

  “It’s scary how well you know me.”

  “Plus, she was bordering on bitchy during that last interview. I’m not sure what triggered her. Other than me.”

  “I’ll call Evelyn and cancel tomorrow.”

  “No, don’t do that. It’s just us again and Bree. I’m sure she wants to ask Bree what it’s like working for us—she’s probably hoping we’re monsters. And she’ll probably ask about the kidnapping.”

  “I’ll make sure she doesn’t.”

  Nikki shook her head. “No. We’ll tell Bree it’s her decision if she wants to answer, but she might want to. It might be cathartic for her. Talking to a stranger, I mean.”

  “All right.”

  He shifted on the bed so that he was propped on his side, his hand moving over her bare legs, now soft from the lotion. “The questions today had me thinking. And it’s you we have to thank for our life today. For our children. For everything that makes up our wonderful world.”

  “I appreciate the compliment, but what the hell are you talking about?”

  “Germany. You followed me there. You broke through that morass of self-pity and memories and fear. You brought me back to life. You brought me back to you.”

  Her grin held a hint of mischief. “I guess I did. You owe me big-time.”

  He laughed. “Yeah. I suppose I do.”

  “You should probably thank me properly.” He heard the heat in her voice.

  “I probably should.”

  “Lena will probably be a nightmare tomorrow,” she said as he tugged down her panties. “Either that or contrite.”

  “Shockingly, I’m not in the mood to talk about Lena.”

  “I’m just saying you should ignore her.”

  “I intend to. She’s just trying to get a rise out of me.”

  Nikki grinned, then shifted on the bed so she could cup his already hard cock. “What a coincidence. So am I.”

  I hold him close, still astounded that we have such power over each other. That we are the balm to each other’s soul. It humbles me. And, yes, it terrifies me. Because how could we ever survive if we lose each other?

  * * *

  - Complete Me

  Transcript: Bernstein

  Day 2, Session 1, 10:45 am

  Audio Transcription by All Access Enterprises

  Annotations added by client: Spicer, Magdalena

  Location: Stark Home, Malibu, CA, 3rd floor kitchen

  Subject(s): Bree Bernstein

  Interview conducted by Maggie Bridge

  * * *

  Begin Interview

  [We are upstairs with Nikki & Damien’s permission as Bree said that she would be more comfortable in the kitchen or the playroom. Since she gave me the choice, I chose the kitchen. There is coffee. And the chairs are adult sized.]

  Bree: So, before we start, I want to say that I’m not going to talk about personal stuff. About Nikki and Damien or the kids. You said you wanted to talk about what it’s like to work for the Starks. And the kidnapping. They said it was my choice to talk to you about either.