The Magic of a Billionaire

by Marie Higgins

  He’d noticed there was a newspaper article written about his return to the land of the living, and Nolan had mentioned that several magazines wanted to interview him, but he didn’t feel like talking to anyone unless it was Beth.

  Aaron moved from room to room restlessly, and he could see Beth everywhere. She hadn’t lived in his house for very long, but reminders of her stay still remained – a towel out of place, a chair moved slightly, the Jacuzzi ready to go, a mug in the sink. There was always something there to remind him of her presence... and they lingered like a ghost.

  Aaron found himself staring into the wall-sized mirror in the game room. The months he had spent as a ghost had left him paler than usual, but he had needed the time to heal from his stab wounds. Now that he was alive again, he ate better and felt better every day. Though his body recovered, his mind was falling apart. He had several reasons to be at ease. After all, Jake was in jail with three counts of attempted murder. ZoAnn was in jail, too, charged with grand theft and receiving stolen property. But, as Aaron stared at his sullen expression in the mirror, he realized that nothing truly made him happy anymore. Only Beth could do that.

  “Aaron? Are you here?”

  Hearing his cousin’s voice, Aaron turned and walked out of the game room. “I’m here. Where else would I be?”

  “Do you have any plans?” Thomas walked down the hall toward him.

  “None at all.”

  “Good, I want to talk to you.”

  Aaron motioned to the sitting room. “Talk to me then. Keep me from going out of my mind with boredom and loneliness.”

  They walked into the room and Thomas moved to the minibar, producing a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured the wine and brought a glass to Aaron.

  “How is business?” Aaron asked, moving to his favorite chair to sit.

  “I’m glad you asked.” Thomas sipped before sitting in the other cushioned chair. “Business is booming, as ever. However, I can’t run two vineyards, and Gramps can’t run the one here.” He sighed and looked at Aaron. “I need to know if you’re going to take over the vineyard or not. Because if you don’t, I’m going to talk Gramps into selling it.”

  In silence, Aaron pondered his feelings. For years Gramps had required him to work in the vineyard until he’d become infatuated with magic. But now... Aaron wasn’t sure he wanted magic in his life anymore. In the time he’d spent recovering after his ‘death’, he’d reflected on his life often. Magic was in his blood – but so was running a vineyard. He loved magic. He was good at it. He’d turned it into the most important thing in his life, and he’d succeeded.

  But then he’d nearly lost his life while performing. He had looked at life a little differently afterward and realized there was so much more to life than being a magician, entertaining his friends at his mansion, or having parties every other night.

  And then, out of thin air, Beth had appeared. His sweet, darling Beth, who made life a little brighter – who made his heart sing - and who was the most passionate kisser he’d ever known.

  During the few weeks that she was here, and he’d gotten to know her, his mindset had changed. He could see himself loving her for the rest of his life, having children with her, and growing old with her by his side. The thought had made him happy – so very happy.

  For a while, he’d pictured himself with Beth running the vineyard together, and then teaching their children the business too. The days he had pictured that pleasant future possibility, he’d never been happier just dreaming about what could happen.

  “I’m afraid to take it back,” Aaron admitted.

  Thomas slowly nodded. “Let’s talk about that.” He scratched his chin. “Tell me what worries you.”

  “That I won’t have anyone to help me run it.”

  “Then you hire people to help you, just like my dad and I did.”

  “No, Thomas, you don’t understand.” Aaron sighed heavily. “I want a wife. I want a family.”

  Thomas chuckled. “What’s stopping you?” He motioned toward the door. “Go find you a wife.”

  “I’ve already found her, but she doesn’t want me anymore. I’ve lost her and I don’t know how to get her back.”

  Thomas raked his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. “You haven’t lost her. She’s crazy in love with you, cousin.”

  Aaron snorted a laugh. “Sure she is... that’s why she left me without saying goodbye and why she hasn’t returned my calls or texts.”

  “Aaron, don’t give up. I’ve never seen a woman more hung up on a man than your sweet Beth. She loves you, and she’ll realize that and come back. Just don’t give up trying to win her over.”

  He desperately wanted to believe his cousin, but doubt still snuck into Aaron’s mind. If she loved him, why wasn’t she here with him right now? Why wasn’t she answering his calls or texts? She hadn’t even acknowledged all the flowers he’d sent her, or the jewelry, or even the new car he had delivered two days ago.

  Nothing!

  Aaron stood and paced the floor, thankful that he had the strength and energy back to do so. If only he could feel that same energy in his heart.

  “I’ll tell you what,” he said, turning to Thomas. “If you can help me win back Beth, then I’ll take the vineyard back.”

  Silently, he chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve never seen you so wrapped up in a woman, but I’m happy that you’ve finally picked someone to settle down with.”

  Aaron rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t do me any good unless Beth is here, now does it?”

  “Fine.” Thomas stood and drained his wine glass before setting it on the coffee table. “I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, you might want to hire some servants for the mansion.” He paused in the doorway, lifting up one of Aaron’s discarded coats with two fingers. “Nolan might be enough to keep your bachelor life in check, but you’ll want extra help for after you get married.” He turned and left the room, then left the house.

  Aaron shook his head, doubting his cousin would really be able to help win back Beth. However, part of Aaron had faith it was possible, but he knew it would probably take several agonizing years before he saw that happy day.

  He walked out of the room and glanced around the spacious hallway. Some of the furniture was still knocked over from his chase with the thief, and dirt still coated the front entryway. Thomas was right about one thing. He did need to hire some servants. He’d had some before his death three months ago. Now it was time to bring them back – or find new ones.

  Perhaps he’d have Nolan do it. Nolan was good at managing things and had been the one who’d hired them all last time.

  The doorbell rang, and Aaron sighed. He took his time walking to the door, preparing to tell his visitor he wasn’t in the mood for company. He opened the door and was about to tell them to leave when he beheld the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  Wearing a deep sapphire dress, her curly brown hair swept to one side as it cascaded down her back, with silver hooped earrings as if she was going to an elegant party – was his sweet, his darling Beth!

  She wore her stubborn expression, which he’d seen quite often. Her arms were folded over her chest and she looked at him with one eyebrow arched. He was speechless, but his heart was hammering with excitement.

  “Let’s get one thing straight,” she snapped as she motioned over her shoulder for the delivery drivers to go into the house, carrying open boxes. “I do not want your money or your expensive gifts.”

  He peered into each box as the drivers walked past him, and found they were full of all the things he’d bought for her and had sent to California. When he looked back up at her, he noticed the car behind her was the same one he’d purchased two days ago.

  “I’m sorry you don’t want my money,” Aaron said with a catch in his voice. “I had just sent these things to you as an apology.” He cleared his throat. “Beth, I love you so much, and I don’t know what to do to win you back. I cannot go on without
you.”

  She stepped closer to him, still wearing a stern look. “I don’t want you for your money or gifts,” she repeated. “I want the man I fell in love with... and nothing else.”

  He hitched a breath, not knowing if what he heard was right. But when she smiled and her eyes twinkled, his heart skipped a beat and he felt like crying.

  “Oh, Beth!” He took her in his arms as she slid her palms up his chest. “I love you so much. I’m so sorry about everything. If I could do it all over again, I’d—”

  “Aaron?” She placed a finger to his mouth. “I know, and I’m sorry for losing my temper. The more I thought about everything that had happened, I realized you did what had to be done. I know you’d never do anything to try and hurt me. If you had just been playing with my feelings, you wouldn’t have tried so hard to win me back.” She pointed to the boxes. “But from this day forward, I want you to remember that I fell in love with you when I thought you were dead. I fell in love with you, not your money.”

  If his heart kept melting like it was, she’d have to be the one to hold him up. “I don’t deserve you, but I pray you’ll never leave me again. I can’t go on without you.”

  She caressed his cheek. “I’ve been miserable this past week. You had my heart this whole time.”

  “Will you marry me and be mine forever?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’ve always wanted you, even before we met. You were the kind of man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

  He kissed her, and she passionately kissed him back. Although he’d missed her so much, he didn’t want anything to distract from their reunion.

  Aaron broke the kiss and held her tightly against him. “My darling Beth, we’re going to put this on hold for now, but I promise, we’ll pick this up as soon as these people leave.”

  She tilted her head back and grinned up at him. “Give me five minutes and I’ll have them gone and off your property.”

  “How are you going to do that in five minutes?”

  She chuckled. “I’ll tell them a ghost story...”

  ELIZABETH SAT IN THE audience, watching Aaron’s last magic show. The place was packed. He had advertised a final performance in the newspapers, magazines, and anywhere he could, announcing that he was leaving magic behind to assume the family business and take over the Arizona winery.

  The news had thrilled Elizabeth, because she had fallen in love with Thomas’ vineyard and she’d hoped that Aaron would get his back one day. Well... that day was almost here.

  As the show neared its end, nearly all the props had been removed from the stage. The lights dimmed, and Aaron walked to the center of the spotlight.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,” Aaron said, waving his arms. “I want to thank you all for your support tonight. Your love and gratitude have meant the world to me. It’s truly a thrill to be alive again and to perform this last time for you.”

  The crowd erupted with cheers and applause, and she smiled, feeling so proud of her man.

  “For the final act tonight, I’m going to pick someone in the audience to help me. This person is not random, though. She is the reason I’m standing before you all tonight.” He glanced down to where she sat. “Beth Martin, will you please come and join me on the stage?”

  The lights in the theatre brightened. Aaron smiled and motioned for her to come up.

  Elizabeth’s stomach knotted with uncertainty. She absolutely hated to be on stage while everyone stared at her, but when the crowd started to applaud for her, it gave her enough courage to go up. Two men who worked in the theatre directed her to a set of stairs that led her up on stage.

  Aaron moved to meet her, taking hold of her hand as they walked back to the center of the stage. On the ground was a sheet that circled the floor. They stepped over it, stopping in the middle.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered.

  “Just be yourself.” He gave her a wink.

  The spotlights flashed and changed colors as the background music started playing, but it wasn’t the intense, dramatic soundtrack she’d heard for the last two hours. Instead, the music was softer and more romantic. With her hand still in his, he twirled her around a couple of times before pulling her up against him. His gaze locked with hers as they swayed back and forth.

  She’d seen the way he acted when he was pretending to seduce his assistants during some of the acts, but with her it was different. The way he stared deeply into her eyes left no doubt about his feelings.

  As their bodies continued to sway in rhythm, he released her hand and brought his hands up, slowly rotating them to show the audience that he wasn’t holding anything. He then moved his hands to her hair and pulled back the left side and produced from his magic, a red rose, presenting it to her.

  She smiled and took the flower, lifting it to her nose to smell its tantalizing fragrance. He took it from her, cradled it in his hands for only a moment, and then pushed his hands together, crushing the flower. Smoke wafted from between his fingers as the audience and Beth stared in amazement. Then, he suddenly dropped to one knee and opened his hands, revealing a square, black velvet box, opened to display a sparkling gold ring. Set in its center was a huge diamond, large enough to see from the back of the theatre.

  Elizabeth sucked in a quick breath, covering her mouth and gasping as tears filled her eyes.

  “Beth, will you marry me?” His voice echoed in the theatre, but to her it was if they were the only ones there. He smiled up at her. “Let me make you as happy as you’ve made me.”

  Her throat choked up, so she nodded eagerly and held out her left hand. The audience completely lost it at that point as the cheering, screams, and applause drowned out the background music. He slipped the ring on her finger, kissed her knuckles and stood. As he gathered her in his arms, the crowd’s cheering only grew louder.

  They shared a brief kiss before he pulled away. Keeping his gaze on her, he bent and lifted the sheet around them to their waists. Waving for the audience to settle down, he waited a moment until he could be heard by them again.

  “Marcel Marceau once said, ‘a great magician makes the visible invisible’.” He turned, winking at Beth. “Tonight, I’m going to show you exactly how it’s done.”

  He clicked a button on the microphone’s receiver clipped to his waist, ensuring the audience couldn’t hear him any longer. “Don’t be afraid. Trust me.”

  “I’ll never be afraid again with you by my side.” She smiled, her heart still bursting in her chest.

  He turned Elizabeth to face the audience and then stood behind her. It was dead silent in the theatre again as everyone watched in anticipation. He lifted the sheet to cover them. “One,” he shouted and then dropped it enough for the crowd to see them. “Two.” He repeated the movement. As he brought it down again, he kissed her ear before saying, “Three.”

  The sheet was brought up to cover them for the last time. As it descended, it fell into a small heap on the stage and the crowd erupted with deafening cheers and applause. Aaron and Beth had vanished without a trace from the stage.

  Aaron pulled Elizabeth into a dark corner and pressed her up against the wall. He kissed her passionately, and she threw her arms around him. She loved the way this man loved her, and she knew she was going to love having him with her for the rest of her life and experience first-hand, the magic of a billionaire.

  THE END

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  Author Marie Higgins’s Bio

  MARIE HIGGINS IS AN award-winning, best-selling, multi-published author of Christian and sweet romance novels; from refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults. She’s been with a Christian publisher since 2010. Between those and her others, she’s published over 65 heartwarming, on-the-edge-of-your-seat stories and broadened her readership by writing mystery/suspense, humor, time-travel, paranormal, along with her love for historical romances. Her readers have dubbed her "Queen of Tease", because of all her twists and turns and unexpected endings.