Compromising the Billionaire_A Scandals of the Bad Boy Billionaires Novel

by Ivy Layne

  “Hmph,” I said, “I guess I could see how you might not want the president of a motorcycle club hooking up with your little sister.”

  “I wasn’t thrilled, but Charlie wasn’t speaking to me at the time, and she’d moved out of Winters House, so unfortunately—or fortunately, given the way things turned out—I didn’t get a say.”

  “Why wasn’t she speaking to you?” Chase and I didn’t always get along perfectly. I could imagine all sorts of circumstances that might have Aiden’s little sister angry at him, but I wanted to know what had really happened.

  I wanted to know even more when he slid me a hesitant look as if he didn’t want to admit what had caused their rift. I poked him in the side. “Tell me. What did you do?”

  “What makes you think I did something?” he asked, trying to sound offended.

  I pressed my lips together to fight a smile. “You look guilty. And I have an overprotective brother of my own. I don’t know your sister, but I’m already guessing whatever happened was your fault.”

  Aiden rolled his head back and stared at the ceiling for a long moment, either trying to find the right words or praying for deliverance. Finally, he said, “I fired her. She was working at Winters, Inc. as a vice president—Gage was still away in the military—and all she did was work. She had no life. She was exhausted, and she hated her job, but she wouldn’t admit it. We always thought Gage would take his place at the company. But after my parents died he joined the Army and pretty much never came home. Charlie—” Aiden’s voice faded out, his eyes unfocused as he drifted in memory.

  “Charlie wanted to help, didn’t she?”

  Aiden let out a breath and nodded. “She was so young when our parents died. She doesn’t even remember Gage’s parents. I practically raised her, and ever since she was a teenager all she talked about was coming to work for Winters, Inc. I knew, even back then, that it wasn’t right for her. I encouraged her to try other things, but she was dead set. The company was her legacy. But I couldn’t watch her anymore, always stressed, unhappy. I hated seeing her unhappy.”

  “Couldn’t you tell her to slow down?”

  Aiden laughed. “I could. I did. Over and over. She refused to listen. If I worked late she worked late. Finally, I fired her. She was pissed. She was beyond pissed. She stole a fifteen thousand dollar bottle of whiskey, got drunk, and ended up kissing her next-door neighbor.”

  “Lucas Jackson?” I guessed.

  “Lucas Jackson,” Aiden confirmed. “Eventually, she forgave me. Now she has a business flipping houses, he helps when he’s not running his hacker team at Sinclair, and I’ve never seen her happier.”

  “Which you think justifies firing her,” I concluded.

  “Doesn’t it?” He raised an eyebrow at me. I shook my head.

  “I’m glad she’s not still mad at you, but just because you think you know best doesn’t mean you get to make decisions for other people. You’re just like Chase, setting up admissions interviews at grad schools when I’ve told him I’m not ready to go back yet.”

  “You’re stalling, Violet. You wouldn’t have started your master’s in the first place if you hadn’t wanted to go. You’re treading water when you could be moving forward. Your brother’s only trying to help.”

  I shoved my shoulder into Aiden’s arm and scowled. “Arguing with you about this is pointless, isn’t it? You’re going to be on his side.”

  “Not exactly. I can personally vouch for Emory’s MBA program. I’ll make a few phone calls and—”

  “No,” I said.

  “Don’t be stubborn, Vi. I can help with this. I’m not promising you’ll get in. That depends on your grades and GMATs, but I’m guessing those were both pretty good since you graduated college with honors.”

  “They are good, but that’s not the point, Aiden. You and Chase are just alike. So sure you know what’s best. So ready to steamroll everyone else, and you think it’s okay because it’s for their own good.”

  “I can’t help it if I’m always right,” Aiden said. “It’s a burden I have to bear.”

  I might have thought he was serious, his delivery was that good, but I caught the slight raise of his lips and the twinkle in his warm brown eyes.

  “You’re not always right,” I said darkly. “You didn’t fire me when you should have. You didn’t know I wasn’t going to cause serious trouble. Keeping me on was stupid.”

  “You’re here, aren’t you? Maybe I wasn’t stupid. Maybe I knew you. Maybe I knew I could trust you and you just needed to learn you could trust me.”

  “Don’t be sweet when you’re being annoying.”

  I had more to say, but Aiden stopped me with a kiss, wrapping his long fingers around the back of my neck and moving his lips over mine in a warm, gentle caress that had me leaning into him, wanting more before the scuff of the waiter’s shoe reminded me where we were.

  That kiss lingered on the edge of my mind all through dinner. The food was delicious. Aiden didn’t fight me for the naan, and by the time dinner was over I was stuffed and relaxed.

  Being with Aiden was easy. We never ran out of things to talk about. Movies, books, hobbies. Sometimes we agreed, often we didn’t, but either way, we had fun. The push and pull of conversation with Aiden was entertaining and a little like foreplay. A lot like foreplay.

  Never before had I regretted living with my brother. I already knew I wasn’t bringing Aiden home to my place. Not as long as Chase was there. A glaring brother standing over us was as good as a cold shower.

  Aiden was signing the check when he looked up and said, “Tell me you’re not ready to go home.”

  “I’m not ready to go home,” I said, honestly.

  “Do you want to go out somewhere else? Or somewhere quiet?”

  “Somewhere else like a bar or club?”

  “Something like that, yeah.”

  I shook my head. “Somewhere quiet.”

  The smile that spread across Aiden’s face lit his dark eyes. I thought in that moment that I would do anything to make him smile like that. He took my hand under the table and squeezed before he said, “Come back to Winters House with me. No one will be there. We can watch a movie. Or I can show you my tie collection.”

  “Your tie collection? Exactly how many ties do you have?”

  “Way too many. And they’re all displayed in my closet. Which is right next to my bedroom.”

  “Mmmm. I’ve always admired your ties.” Not exactly true. Aiden’s ties were nice, but I wasn’t that into men’s accessories. I had, however, always wanted to see his bedroom. Especially after Vegas. A thought occurred to me. “Doesn’t your cousin Gage live in Winters House? He won’t be happy to see me.”

  Aiden looked away as he led me out of the restaurant and around to the parking lot. I didn’t miss the muscle twitching in the side of his jaw. “Gage and Sophie had plans for dinner and a movie. They won’t be home. Lise and Riley were going out with Charlie and Lucas. Even Mrs. W and Abel—our housekeeper and cook—have the night off. The house should be empty.”

  “That sounds good,” I said as I got into the car. I wasn’t afraid of Gage. I was cautious. “I don’t want to cause trouble with your family. Gage doesn’t like me.”

  “I can handle Gage,” Aiden said. “Between my cousin and your brother, we’ll figure it out.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Violet

  Winters House was a short drive from the Indian restaurant, deep in the heart of Buckhead, the most exclusive residential neighborhood in Atlanta. Driving through the winding wooded streets, you’d never guess you were in the heart of a major metropolitan area.

  The beeping cars, the high-rises, the shopping malls and highways all melted away, buffered by trees and hills and the serenity offered by huge houses on huge lots. Winters House was one of the biggest.

  Aiden pressed the remote on his visor and a set of black iron gates swung open smoothly and silently. Lined by towering oak trees arching above, the drive
wound deeper into the grounds of Winters House until the structure itself came into view.

  An enormous Mediterranean-style mansion, built in a square around a central courtyard, the creamy stucco walls and red tile roof were warm and welcoming despite its size.

  Directly ahead I saw a second set of gates barring the entrance to a porte-cochère that led to the inner courtyard. Aiden turned to the left and followed a narrower branch of the drive around the side of the house, arriving in front of a generously sized six-car garage.

  I couldn’t help but notice that every bay was full. Odd, since Aiden had said no one was home. He was around the front of the car, opening my door before I could open it myself. I’d grown up in a pretty house, but the Winters family garage was nicer than most people’s living rooms.

  The garage door opened into a mud room that was the same. Every jacket neatly hung, car keys on labeled hooks, custom cabinets for storing outdoor shoes and padded benches so you could sit comfortably while you put on your boots. Distracted by my first glimpse of Winters House, I almost didn’t hear the voices a room away.

  Under his breath, Aiden said, “Fuck.” He turned around, placed his hands on my shoulders and started to urge me back to the garage.

  “I wanted to be alone with you,” he said. I wanted the same thing.

  Aiden had the door half open when a woman’s voice called out, “Aiden. When did you get home? And who do you have with you? You didn’t say you were going on a date.”

  Letting out a defeated sigh, Aiden turned, sliding his arm around my shoulder, bringing me with him. In front of us stood a younger, female version of Aiden. Her hair, cut just below her chin, fell in tousled curls more auburn than brown. Avidly curious ocean blue eyes skipped from me to Aiden and back again.

  “You must be Violet.” She stuck out her hand.

  “I am,” I said, cringing a little at the stiffness in my voice. The ice queen always made an appearance when I was shy. Sometimes I didn’t know how to turn her off. I didn’t want to freeze out Aiden’s curious younger sister, but I couldn’t seem to warm up my voice when I said, “Charlie? Aiden’s told me so much about you.”

  I shook her hand, trying to relax as Aiden rubbed my back in a long, soothing stroke.

  “I thought you all were going out.”

  Charlie grinned at Aiden. “Obviously. But Gage ended up working too late to catch a movie, so he and Sophie were home, and then Vance and Maggie had a thing, so Riley and Lise said they’d watch Rosie, and we all ended up staying here and ordering pizza. We were about to watch a movie, if you guys want to join us.” Her eyes danced as she said, “Or not.”

  Aiden wrapped his arm around me and gave me a squeeze, murmuring, “We might as well go in, but I’ll make our excuses and we’ll think of something else.”

  “It’s fine,” I said, in that frosty voice, when both of us knew it was anything but fine.

  I wanted to meet his family. Eventually. Not tonight. Not yet. I could only imagine what Gage had told them about me. I already knew he detested me. I wasn’t ready for a house full of Winters.

  Aiden’s arm dropped from around me and he took my hand as we walked from the mud room into an expansive family room. An enormous flat-screen hung above a dark stone fireplace. A three-sided sectional, filled with lounging Winters, faced the fireplace and TV.

  Behind it, windows looked into the courtyard of Winters House. In the center, a lit fountain glowed through the darkness. I caught a glimpse of a huge white kitchen on the other side of the mud room door, and past the family room, a wide hall continued to the front of the house.

  I shifted uncomfortably beside Aiden, fighting the urge to step behind him when Gage’s glare landed on me. If he could have struck me dead where I stood, I imagined he might have tried. I forgot about the rest of them and met his furious gaze with one of pure ice.

  I understood why Aiden’s cousin didn’t like me. I understood well enough that I didn’t even think he was wrong. If I’d suspected someone of taking advantage of Chase, I would have reacted exactly the same way.

  That didn’t mean I liked it.

  And it didn’t mean I was going to back down. If Gage Winters thought I was afraid of him, he would only be more open in his dislike.

  Aiden tugged me forward, placed his hands on my shoulders, and said to the room, “Everyone, this is Violet. Violet this is everyone.” He went around the room pointing out his family and giving their names.

  After his description, it wasn’t that hard to figure out who was who. The only one I didn’t guess right away was Annalise, one of the twin cousins. There was something about her that tickled the back of my mind. I would have been sure we’d met, except I knew that we hadn’t. The shape of her eyes, or the shade of her hair. I didn’t know what it was, but I would have sworn I knew her.

  I was so distracted staring at Annalise I almost missed it when Gage, who was sitting on the side of the couch closest to us, turned to face Aiden and said, “Is this a good idea? Bringing her here?”

  Aiden gave his cousin a look that would have silenced most men, but Gage appeared immune. Even his wife Sophie, sitting behind him, squeezed his arm when she saw Aiden’s face. Gage ignored her.

  Before Aiden could say something he might regret, I stepped forward and met Gage’s eyes. “Would you prefer I leave? I can call for a ride if you object to my being in your home.”

  “I do object,” Gage said, through gritted teeth, “but Aiden doesn’t seem to care.”

  “I care,” Aiden said, his voice coldly furious, “but I generally ignore you when you’re being an asshole.”

  Aiden took a step forward. I said quietly, “Aiden. Don’t do this. Why don’t you just take me home?”

  He looked down at me. “Because I won’t be run out of my own fucking house.”

  Charlie stepped between Aiden and Gage and threaded her arm through mine, pulling me from Aiden’s side toward the kitchen. “Let’s get a glass of wine,” she said. “Or beer. Whatever. Let’s get the hell out of here before those two go at it again.”

  “Go at it?” I asked, my ears trained behind me to catch bits of the continued argument. I heard the word ‘liar’ in Gage’s voice. Then Aiden’s, though he was too quiet for me to make out his response.

  “Oh yeah,” Charlie said, laughing to herself. “Let’s just say when Gage came home, his reintroduction to the family was not smooth. Somehow he got it in his head that Aiden was interested in Sophie.” With a sidelong glance, she reassured me, “Which he was not, but our aunt Amelia pulled a prank and Gage ended up jumping Aiden at the dinner table. They didn’t stop until Mrs. W poured a pitcher of water on them.”

  “It was funny,” Sophie said from the doorway of the kitchen, “but I could do without a repeat.”

  I stood at the square, marble top kitchen island and watched as Charlie pulled a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. She held it up, raising an eyebrow in question. After casting a longing glance at the mud room and the door to the garage, I nodded my head and said, “Yes, please.”

  Charlie poured me a glass of wine, as well as one for Sophie and for herself. She grabbed another glass out of the cabinet when Annalise snuck into the room. Leaning against the counter Annalise smiled and said, “I couldn’t decide whether to get out my phone and start recording or get the hell out. I missed the first fistfight. It might be fun to have one on record.”

  Alarmed, I looked through the open doorway of the kitchen into the family room. Aiden and Gage stood in front of one another, their postures stiff, voices angry, but it didn’t look like anyone had thrown a punch.

  “Don’t worry,” Annalise said. “I bailed when I realized they were just going to yell at each other. I’ve heard enough of those two bickering to last a lifetime.” Looking at Charlie she said, “Be grateful you were too young to get stuck with them. They might be close as brothers, but sometimes they fight like an old married couple.”

  Charlie handed out our glasses of wine an
d ranged herself in front of me, one eyebrow raised. “So, you’re Violet. I’m curious—are you an ice-cold carbon copy of Elizabeth? A scheming liar trying to destroy Winters, Inc. from the inside? Do you have a nefarious plan to brainwash my older brother and run off with the family fortune?”

  I absorbed Charlie’s questions as I took a careful sip of wine. In my coolest, most unruffled voice I said, “Is that the story Gage is spreading? Creative.”

  “Maybe,” Annalise cut in, “but is any of it true?”

  As if to give the impression I was thinking over my answer, I took another sip of wine and studied the gleaming white coffered ceiling.

  “It depends. An ice-cold carbon copy of Elizabeth? I won’t deny the ice-cold part, but I’m not a copy of anyone, particularly that harpy.”

  Charlie laughed and shook her head. “I heard you put her in her place. She’s such a bitch.”

  “And then some,” I agreed.

  Sophie’s low voice interrupted. “And the part about the company?”

  “Gage isn’t wrong about that. Not entirely,” I said, carefully.

  “And yet Aiden spent the weekend with you,” Annalise said. “He took you out to dinner. He brought you home.”

  “He did,” I said. “I think the real question is, do you trust his judgment? Do you think Aiden is susceptible to the manipulation of a woman? Or anyone for that matter?”

  The three Winters women looked at me, nonplussed. I took another sip and set the glass down on the island. From the other room, I heard Gage accuse Aiden of thinking with his dick, and I decided enough was enough.

  “I’ll make this easy for you. I met Aiden under false pretenses. My intentions were good, but I lied. I thought he’d done something to hurt someone I love, and I was trying to set it right. He knows the truth now and he doesn’t care. I’m not interested in Winters, Inc. I’m not interested in the family fortune. The only thing I’m interested in is Aiden. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time I go home.”