The Billionaire

by Sammi Franks

  “Oh, that.” Max laughed and turned his attention to my daughter. “Say, tater tot, you wanna take a trip on a big fancy boat and then look at some properties over the weekend? I promise to have you back in time for school.”

  Penelope squealed. “A boat? Yes! And I love property.” She nodded seriously.

  “What do you know about property?” I joked.

  “If you like it, I like it.” She smiled up at me.

  “And if we can mix business and pleasure, then I’m all about it.” Max leaned back in his seat.

  “Pleasure?” My brows arched.

  “Yes, spending a weekend with both of you will be more fun for me than you can imagine. I mean it.” He smiled and I melted completely inside, which scared me more than I cared to admit.

  “Why now?” I asked quietly.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.” He frowned and leaned back.

  I stiffened. “The way you’re acting, talking to me. I don’t get it.”

  Max licked his lips before speaking. “Well, I thought I’d try a new approach with you.”

  My brows rose. “Oh, and what’s that?”

  “Honesty. Bare naked honesty. From you, I’ll hide nothing and see what happens.” He grinned. “And I mean it when I say I want to spend time with you.”

  I studied him and slowly accepted his explanation. At the least, spending the weekend with my daughter could help my case. At most, working with Max could increase my earnings. Soon, I might actually be able to buy my dream house overlooking the ocean. I would do just about anything to give Penelope the best life possible. “You’re on. So, we leave Friday?”

  Max nodded. “Meet me at the marina after school. This weekend is going to be special.”

  13

  Max

  * * *

  When Bodhi showed up in boat shorts, boat shoes, and a muscle tank with a big picture of a sailboat on it, I died. I couldn’t contain my laughter if I tried. And I didn’t. He was this strange lazy hipster mixed with family money and it was obvious that no one could really pin him down. I couldn’t pin him down and I was his own brother.

  “I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Bodhi grumbled, shoving his hands in his white pressed shorts and shaking his head.

  “I can’t believe you’re wearing that,” I replied but my heart wasn’t in it.

  We both looked out at the parking lot, waiting for Victoria and her daughter to pull up in her expensive car. I glanced at my Rolex and back up at the parking lot. I knew I didn’t know Victoria well but she didn’t seem like the sort of person who showed up late to something like this, especially when that something was job-related.

  “You sweating, Maxi-pad?” Bodhi asked.

  I ignored the barb. “Just concerned about Tori,” he said. “Bre’s on the yacht, getting everything situated for us before we depart.”

  “She didn’t want to be part of the welcome wagon?” Bodhi asked. He kept smiling, shaking his head.

  It was another fifteen minutes before the familiar vehicle pulled up into the parking lot. I couldn’t make out the way Victoria appeared but from the consistent way she shook her head, I immediately knew she was frustrated. When she stepped out, she was in a white collared shirt tucked into a tight, high-waisted black skirt, muttering something under her breath. I wasn’t surprised to find her hair pulled back and stilettos on her feet.

  Always the professional.

  “You okay?” I asked, the minute I saw her face as she and Penelope made their way over.

  Victoria didn’t seem like the type of woman who wore her emotions on her sleeve. The fact that she looked visibly upset was enough for me to realize that something happened. I just hoped she trusted me enough to let me in on what was going on.

  Granted, it shouldn’t have mattered. I shouldn’t have cared. I barely knew her as it was. But I liked her. And I wanted her to know that if she was upset, I would notice.

  “Everything okay?” I asked. I tried to whisper just because I wasn’t sure if Penelope was aware of her mother’s frustration, and I didn’t want her to take notice because of me and my concern.

  “How’s my tater tot?” Bodhi asked. “Come on, you have got to see the pool table on this yacht. Does she know pool?” He shot Victoria a look. “Doesn’t matter. Come on.”

  I was grateful that Bodhi knew how to read a room - a trait that would make him an excellent bar owner. He could tell I wanted to talk to Victoria so he took Penelope onto the yacht while I lingered with Victoria. I grabbed her small wheelie luggage before she could stop me, but I didn’t lead her to the yacht.

  Victoria tried to follow her daughter on the ship, as though she were making it a point to avoid me and the question that hung between us. I gently grabbed her wrist and tugged her to me, looking down with concern in my eyes.

  “Hey,” I tried again, my voice soft. I hoped it was non-threatening. “Are you okay?”

  “Of course I’m okay,” she snapped. When she realized how she sounded, she winced and closed her eyes, as though she was trying to gather her patience together. “What makes you think I’m not?”

  “You get this little wrinkle right there, over your nose.” I reached out to touch said wrinkle, trying to smooth it out. I hadn’t realized how intimate it would be, touching her skin. I probably shouldn’t have assumed that would be an okay thing to do, but to my delight, she didn’t object. “So.” I cleared my throat. “What’s going on?”

  She looked like she was going to argue again, but something stopped her and she had a look of pure surrender on her face. “Before I left the house to come today, I got into a heated conversation with my ex, Penelope’s father,” she admitted. “Apparently, he and his Neanderthal lawyer have filed papers. He wants full custody of my daughter and he wants me to pay him child support.”

  I blinked. “What?” I snapped. “This has to be a joke. They can’t be serious.”

  But the look on her face said she most definitely was not joking and she didn’t appreciate the fact that I suggested she was.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled.

  “No, it’s not you,” she said. “You don’t know my ex.”

  “He sounds like a prick,” I said. “Luckily for you, I know a great attorney. You won’t pay the deadbeat a single dime. And he definitely isn’t getting Penelope.” I paused and leaned forward. “He is a deadbeat, isn’t he?”

  “Does he pay child support? No, but I’d never try to keep him away from his child because of it. In fact, if he actually tried bonding with Penelope instead of using her, I’d be fine sharing custody,” she confessed. I was surprised with how open she was being. I wondered if she had any girlfriends she could confess all of this to. “But he’s sporadic with his visits. It’s always when he wants, never when it’s convenient for us. And half the time, he doesn’t show up at all, so my daughter, who just wants to spend time with her father, starts looking out the window. When she realizes he’s not coming, she runs up to her room and slams the door, and the next day, she comes down like nothing happened. When he hurts her like this, I don’t want to let him see her at all, and the selfish me would revel in that decision. But I constantly have to remind myself that he’s her father. For better or worse, Joe is her father.”

  I waited until I knew she wasn’t going to continue, that she had finished what she wanted to say. Then, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close to my chest.

  “What,” she began, “what are you doing?”

  “You look like you need a hug, Tori,” I told her. “Once we hit open water, we’ll call the lawyer I mentioned and when we get to Seattle, I’ll make sure you have a meeting with him. Like I said, he’ll take care of you.” I stepped back but kept my hands on her shoulders. “Now, you ready to go on a booze cruise for the next few days?”

  She shot me a look and I laughed. This weekend was going to be a blast, I just knew it.

  14

  Victoria

  * * *

  I’d barely come
aboard when a young, beautiful, sleek-bodied blonde walked toward me wearing white shorts, a deep V-neck black top, and a smile. Naturally, I hated her on sight. Not one to run from a challenge, I held out my hand and pasted a cool, confident look on my face. At least, I hoped that was what my face conveyed. “You must be Bre.”

  Her smile faltered at my greeting and her handshake was weak at best, cold at worst. “I am.” She turned to face Max. “I guess I’ll be going to work on the condo now. I should have a plan together by Monday. We can get together after you return.”

  “Sounds like a plan. We can meet at Victoria’s office.” He rested a hand on my lower back in a way that caused a warmth to spread throughout my body.

  “Oh.” The disappointment was obvious in her voice, even if her face hid her true feelings. “I thought we might meet here.” Bre shrugged. “Of course, you’re the boss.”

  Max met my gaze. “So, do you have time for us all to meet here on Monday?”

  I bit my lower lip and considered my response. If I declined a meeting anywhere other than my office, would I be left out? Honestly, I wasn’t even sure why I was being included. If I joined them on the yacht, would I be the third wheel? There was only one way to find out. “I think I can fit it into my day.” I grinned.

  “Okay, it’s settled. I’ll pick up Victoria and we’ll meet you here…say ten in the morning.” He nodded and I understood this to mean everything had been settled.

  I liked a decisive man, a thinking man, an articulate man. Max was all of these. And yet I still sighed. The last thing I needed was another man in my life. I had goals, and remarriage certainly wasn’t one of them. I needed to make sure Penelope was safe and we had our dream house before I ever considered taking off my blinders.

  I lifted my hand to wave as Bre stepped off the boat and exited the marina. It was a half-hearted effort at best. Mostly, I was lost in thought. My heart was beating faster than normal because I knew soon enough, we’d be speeding by my beautiful ruin of a fixer-upper.

  “You ready to go? We’re about set. We have takeout ready for dinner tonight. I picked up some snacks. And we’ll go out for breakfast in the morning and take it from there.” He smiled warmly at me. “I like eating out. Less mess.”

  “I usually eat in. Less money.” I shrugged.

  “It should go without saying, but this weekend is on me.” Max stared into my eyes. “I can see that bothers you, since you strike me as the kind of woman who likes to be strong and independent.”

  I swallowed hard. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to pay my own way and being self-reliant,” I argued.

  He nodded in agreement. “This is true, but when you’re doing me a favor, you have to let me cover your expenses. Don’t worry. I’m writing it all off as a business expense.” His brows knit together, creating a determined look I hadn’t experienced before.

  “So serious,” I commented. “You usually seem more relaxed and confident.”

  “I usually am, but you are a challenge. Let’s go,” he urged as pressed his hand against my blouse and touched my skin. His touch helped me relax.

  “Okay.” I inhaled deeply. “I have clothes to change into. You know, yoga pants, a tank top, flip flops, that kind of thing. Naturally, I’ll dress up for the showings.”

  Max smirked. “Naturally.” He chuckled and jerked his head to the gang plank. Come on.”

  Once on board, I was directed to the cabin I’d share with Penelope. “You can change and meet me back on deck, if you’d like. I love watching the land disappear. And when it grows dark, I lay back in the loungers and watch the stars.” He must’ve seen something in my eyes…surprise, perhaps. “If I weren’t a man of business,” he remarked, “I would’ve been a man of science.”

  “You’re nothing like I expected,” I blurted out, even as my cheeks warmed.

  “Is that so?” He chuckled. “Then this weekend should be quite the treat.” Max backed out of the cabin, shutting the door behind him.

  I rushed to change my clothes, realizing I hadn’t seen my daughter for a good ten or fifteen minutes and by now, she might be missing me. When I reached the top deck, I found her eating a cupcake with Bodhi. She looked so happy and relaxed in a way I didn’t usually see her around the house. “Hey,” I teased, “what about dinner?”

  “Bodhi already fed me.” Penelope smiled and I noticed there was a hint of frosting on the tip of her nose.

  I stepped closer and wiped it off with one finger. “Well, then I suppose it’s alright.” I sighed and glanced at Bodhi who was eating a cupcake with her. “Did you have dinner too?”

  “We had hot dogs and tater tots, you know…for our little tater tot.” He laughed and his tan face lit up. “We’re having cupcakes, then we’re going to go and play video games.” He stiffened. “I mean…we’ll be doing some serious online learning.”

  I laughed. “Nice cover. You two couldn’t wait for us all to eat together, or did I miss dinner?”

  “Tori, come over up here,” Max called from the deck above.

  “Are you two okay?” I felt like I was abandoning her, but if she was happy, I wasn’t going to stand in her way.

  “Yeah. Bodhi’s okay.” She shrugged.

  I smiled at him and mouthed ‘thank you’ before joining Max. When I reached him he held out a champagne flute. “What’s this for?” I asked, my stomach filled with butterflies as my fingers brushed his while taking the glass.

  “We can’t very well have a booze cruise without the booze. So, some sparkling wine to start our trip.” He grinned. “Captain Jack has us reaching Seattle mid-morning. So, we can start looking at places in the afternoon, once you’ve had a lunch consult with my lawyer friend.” Max winked.

  “Seems like you have this all figured out.” I nodded. “I’m not easily impressed.”

  He leaned near my ear. “You will be. I have big plans for you, Tori.” Standing, he murmured, “A toast. To a brighter future.”

  I nodded absentmindedly. Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of the house, with the big old wooden ‘For Sale’ sign out front. It was weathered, the paint barely visible after all these years of sun and rain pounding on it. I was so absorbed studying it, and imagining the place as it would be if I owned it, I barely noticed Max had moved to stand behind me, one hand around my waist.

  “Wow. That place is amazing,” he commented. “Why didn’t you show me that place yet?”

  “It’s not for sale,” I blurted out.

  “Oh. It sold?” He frowned. “You’d think they’d take down the sign.”

  I sighed. “It hasn’t sold yet, but the place will be mine.” I’m not sure what I was thinking. Why would I tell him that? He had the money and means. He’d snatch the place up in a heartbeat if it fit his grand plan. And me, I’d have to give up one more dream. My shoulders sagged. “I’ve wanted it for more than twenty years. It’s the reason I chose my career.” I blew out a breath. “I’ve been saving to buy it for so many years. Once, I had about fifty thousand dollars saved up. You know, money for the down payment and to begin renovations so it was livable.” I licked my lips while I continued staring longingly at the dilapidated mansion on the cliffs. “Then Joe stole it and gambled it away.” Looking up at him, I had tears in my eyes. Admitting how gullible and trusting I’d been shamed me. “Now, I’m closer. Hey, if you go crazy buying this weekend, I might meet my goal again.” I tilted my head while I studied him, trying to read the indiscernible look on his face. “I hope you understand.”

  Max frowned. “I do. I really, really do.”

  15

  Max

  * * *

  I understood what it was like to fall in love with a piece of property. Unlike me, Victoria had no way of purchasing the property without hard work. Her ex was a piece of work to have squandered her hard-earned savings. I wanted to reach out and buy it for her right then. The problem was, I knew Victoria would never accept such a thing if she didn’t feel she earned it.

  When it
was time for dinner, the sun was just beginning to set. Since Penelope and Bodhi feasted on the nutritious cupcakes and tater tots, it was just me and Victoria dining on Chinese food.

  I had a steward set up a small table for the two of us where we could eat and watch the sunset at the same time. We still had our flutes of sparkling wine. It would have been romantic if it weren’t for the plastic chopsticks and Styrofoam. Still, the mood wasn’t bad and the weather was perfect.

  She looked beautiful, her hair swept back into a less-than-perfect ponytail. This was the first time I had seen her casually dressed and she looked more relaxed in these clothes than I had seen her since I met her. I wanted her to know that she could always feel this way around me - comfortable, safe - but I knew with someone as ferociously independent as she was, it was on me to earn that trust.

  “How’s your food?” I asked. I watched as she ate with expert precision, using the plastic chopsticks as though they were extensions of her fingers. Her posture was perfect - shoulders rolled back, back straight. I felt as though she always felt she needed to be on.

  “Good,” she admitted after she swallowed her food and dabbed the corner of her lips with the paper napkin. She held it in a loose fist, ensuring the gentle breeze wouldn’t blow it in the ocean. “Chinese Express is my go-to for takeout. I think Penelope is a little sick of it, if I’m being honest.”

  I nodded. I wanted to ask her so many questions; questions about her ex, questions about Penelope, and her family, and the property she wanted. I just didn’t know how to bring that up naturally. It was none of my business. And while I appreciated what she already shared with me, I didn’t want to push my limits.

  “Can I get more of this sparkling wine?” she asked after finishing the contents of her flute.

  My brows shot up, surprised.