The Billionaire Bull: A Billionaire and Virgin Romance

by Romi Hart

  Katarina wagged her finger at me. “I have a daughter about your age, Miss Jasmine. Nothing would make me happier than to make sure you get home when you need to.”

  With her insistence, I scheduled an Uber ride early at 4:30 AM to be picked up at Alex’s. It was early enough that my father and brother would still be asleep. The oxen would even be snoozing at that time.

  Before I left, I ruffled Alex’s hair gently as he slept. “Bye, Alex.”

  One eye popped open. “Leaving so soon?” He grabbed my hand and squeezed.

  “I’ve got work all day.” Stooping down to him, I kissed his lips. “I had a wonderful night with you. I love you.”

  Smiling, he murmured, “I love you, too.” As I walked towards the door, he called after me, “I hope I see you soon.”

  “I hope so, too.”

  He flopped his head back down on his pillow with a dreamy grin on his face and watched me walk out. His bed looked so cozy and inviting with him in. I wished I could have stayed all day.

  Since it was Veterans Day, there weren’t any classes, freeing me to work the lunch shift. After Katarina dropped me off at home, I took a quick half hour nap but still went in to the restaurant before anyone else. My brother and my dad were still in bed when I left. Being off for just one entire day, recharged me and I was ready to return to my hectic work and school schedule again.

  Payday was coming up, and I had to get payroll in order to be ready for it. I sat in the back office, going through the time cards of all the staff. It was a tedious task, but someone had to do it.

  It surprised me when my brother came into the restaurant shortly after I had. Joseph stumbled in looking just as surprised as I was to see him. “Hey! What are you doing here so early?” I asked him, noticing the dark grey bags under his eyes.

  He rubbed his eyes with a fist. “Came in to get some work done.” He guzzled down a Monster energy drink. “What are you doing here?”

  “Same. Trying to catch up on everything." I held up a time card. "Payroll."

  My little brother looked dead tired. He nodded, running his hands through his hair. “Great. Thanks for doing that. I’ve to go to work on the server schedule next week since Maritza is still going to be out.”

  I raised my eyebrows in confusion. What was he talking about? Maritza was out?

  “You know because of her appendix?” Joseph explained. He searched my face for recognition.

  Anxiety swirled inside of me. I had no idea Maritza was out sick for her appendix. She was our head server. I had been so caught up with work, school, and Alex that I hadn’t even noticed our head server had been out.

  I stood up in shock worried about Maritza. Before I could say anything, Joseph assured me. “She’s okay. I sent flowers to her hospital room.”

  I sighed, relaxing a bit. “Thanks for taking care of that.” I paused, thinking about how hard Joseph worked since I started school. “Thanks for taking care of everything.”

  He nodded, gulping the last bit of Monster left in the can.

  Stepping around the desk to get a better look at my brother, I saw how deflated he looked. “You look awful.” Joseph looked sickly and grey. He even seemed thinner and smaller.

  He sighed. “I feel awful, Jas. I know I’m the one who told you to go to school, but I honestly had no idea how much work it would be without you here all the time.” He chewed his lip.

  “I’m sorry, Joseph.” My chest tightened in guilt for taking off yesterday.

  Joseph vented his frustration. “It’s just that Dad’s new changes to the menu are eating up so much more time than I expected.” He shook his head. “And Maritza is out. I asked Nia if she can cover, but Nia’s in school just like you are.” He groaned. “We are busier than ever before, which is great! But, I miss sleep. It’s hard to be the Sous Chef and the GM.”

  We both looked down, gazing at her feet. Any mention of a general manager indirectly brought up the subject of my mother. “I wish dad would just hire one. This restaurant needs a proper general manager.” I crossed my arms tightly around myself. My brother nodded, silently agreeing.

  “Jas, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” He lifted the Monster to his lips, but then realized it was empty. He shot the empty can into the trash.

  “Okay. I’ll figure something out. You’re going to get sick working this much.” I put my arm around my brother and led him to the couch in the office. “Take a nap.” My brother and I used to fall asleep on this couch when we were little kids, waiting for our dad to finish up with work. When we’d wake up, we’d be in our beds at home, not even remembering our father carrying us there.

  He vehemently shook his head. “I can’t do that. There is so much to do.” He resisted, but I pushed him down on the couch.

  “I’ll take care of the server schedule and morning prep work in the kitchen.”

  He sat on the couch bolt upright ready to jump up and work. “Are you sure?”

  I unfolded the blanket slung on the back of the couch. “I’ve got it.”

  He relaxed onto the couch, throwing his feet up and closing his eyes. “I’m so tired. Thanks, Jas.”

  I threw the blanket on him and softly patted the top of his head with my palm. “Of course.” Looking down at him snuggled on the couch, I remembered when we were little and he would come into my room, scared of monsters under his bed. He’d crawl in next to me, clutching his stuffed dinosaur, Ty Ty. It didn’t take much to get him to go back to sleep. All he needed was my company and in a minute or two, he was sound asleep, snoring even.

  Scooping up the timecards and grabbing the server schedule book, I quietly tiptoed out. Disappointment welled deep in my belly. There were still four more weeks left in the semester. Could Joseph make it that long so I could, at least, finish the semester?

  He looked absolutely terrible. I’d be a horrible person if I asked him to hang in there for four more weeks. There was a huge possibility that I would have to drop out mid-semester. All my hard work would be for nothing.

  I spread out all the paperwork in the General Manager’s office that used to be my mom’s. Hardly anyone ever went in there. It was dusty from rarely being used. Even the soft chewy peppermints that melt in your mouth had been left in a little porcelain bowl on her desk. My mother loved those mints. But gross. Those peppermints were a decade old.

  I grabbed the bowl to toss the peppermints into the waste bin but looking down at the red and white striped candies nestled in the bowl, I couldn’t do it. I put the bowl back down where it was with a pain in my chest.

  Directing my attention back to a time card, the inevitability that I’d have to drop out of school hummed in the back of my mind. My life as a college student had been short-lived. It was foolish to think I would have been able to keep up the lie all the way until graduation.

  Before the lunch rush started, I’d finished payroll, worked out the server schedule, and had the kitchen prepped and ready to serve. When my father came in, he grunted at me in approval. I wondered how long it would be until my dad actually used words to communicate with me again.

  I was in the kitchen, slicing octopus when Nia skirted by me whispering in my ear. “Man. Here. Eat!” Her eyes were wide and serious. I dropped the knife slowly. It couldn’t be. She saw the look on my face and nodded fiercely as she quickly strode back out to the dining room.

  When the door swung open, I saw Alex and his teammates, Ronnie and Perry, sitting at a table. It wasn’t great that Alex decided to come in, but seeing him with his friends allayed my fears. There was no way my dad was going to make a scene especially if Alex had not come alone. Safety in numbers, right?

  I tried to convince myself that my father would never jeopardize the chance an anonymous Michelin judge had come to lunch that day. Michelin starred restaurants were frequently visited by incognito judges to ensure consistency in the restaurant’s quality. The restaurant had to always adhere to the highest standard of fine dining because we just never knew when
we were being judged.

  Returning to slicing the octopus, I clenched my jaw. My dad was definitely going to be furious, but he would talk to me about it later. The worst I expected was my father chewing me out at the end of the day, but I had plenty of hours before then to mentally prepare myself.

  Suddenly, my dad stormed past me and out of the kitchen with his eyes aflame. He pushed the door open with such force, it swung back hard with a furious swoosh. I hung back in the kitchen momentarily in disbelief that my dad was going out there to talk to Alex.

  Then, my dad's booming voice growled, “You are not welcome in this restaurant!”

  Dropping my knife with a clatter, I rushed out to the dining room. Guests sat in shock, watching my father shake his clenched fists at Alex and his friends. “You will not be served! Get out!”

  Alex held his hands up in defeat while his friends looked around startled and uncertain. Alex, Ronnie, and Perry stood up carefully while the entire dining room, guest and staff, stared open-mouthed. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  Alex

  My bright idea of going to El Buey as an act of goodwill to Jose Fontaine ended up being the worst possible plan of action for peace. After our unsuccessful talk at the Fontaine house, I thought patronizing the man’s restaurant would undoubtedly show him I supported Jasmine and her family’s business.

  I was so wrong. When Nia seated us, I thought we were in the clear. Surely, the staff would have stopped us at the hostess stand if Jose didn’t want us on the premises. Like every man who has been taken by surprise by an enemy at a meal, I sat down at the table and relaxed.

  Perry, our goalie, asked Nia questions about the menu. He was from Austin, Texas and loved red meat so naturally, he had a ton of questions. Nia was pretty sweet natured and was happy to explain everything in detail. While they talked, I looked over the menu, deciding on what to get for lunch.

  Foolishly, I forgot momentarily that we were even at Jose Fontaine’s restaurant and that I had anything to worry about at all. Jose was a reasonable man, and heck he was a businessman after all. He certainly wouldn't turn away paying customers. I didn’t expect to see Jasmine while I was there but knowing she was nearby somewhere made me happy.

  As Nia described the different kinds of buey available for lunch, I heard Jose before I saw him. “You!” Lowering my menu, I knew that bellowing voice. Jose’s finger was aimed right at me, yelling at me to get out.

  Patrons around me stopped eating and talking. Everyone was frozen staring at our table. Startled, the staff stopped what they were doing. Every eye in the restaurant was on us. Beads of sweat sprung up on the back of my neck. My peace negotiations had gone terribly wrong.

  Nia pushed up her black frame glasses with a trembling finger and gave us an apologetic smile. “Uncle Jose, is there a problem?” Her voice was topsy-turvy, the pitch rising and falling oddly. Nia seemed to be spooked pretty badly.

  Was everyone afraid of Jose Fontaine?

  Jose's face relaxed when he looked at his distraught niece. His tone softened. “Nia, escort these gentlemen out, please.”

  Nia inhaled sharply as she fidgeted with her small notebook and pen unsure how to corral us out. When this poor girl got up this morning for work, she hadn’t expected she would have to be a referee.

  Taking it upon myself to be a gentleman, I addressed the entire dining room calmly. “We’re leaving.” Ronnie and Perry, following my lead, standing up.

  Ronnie looked at me in disbelief. “Really dude? I’m so hungry.”

  I gave him a look and shrugged my shoulders. He waved a hand at me dismissing me. When Ronnie was hungry, he was a ravenous ogre.

  To appease him, I said, “Let’s go to Cha Cha Burrito down the street.”

  Ronnie’s eyes lit up as he pointed to Perry and me. “Nachos?”

  “Sure. We’ll get nachos.” Perry and I exchanged looks. Perry rolled his eyes and shook his head at Ronnie, his dreadlocks bouncing from side to side. Our friend had a one track mind: food.

  Jose crossed his arms stubbornly and watched us walk away from the table. Unexpectedly, Jasmine swept in from the kitchen to us like a tornado. She pointed at Ronnie, Perry and me. “Sit down. You’re not going anywhere.”

  We all looked at Nia, who opened her mouth to speak but said nothing, most likely realizing she had no idea what to say. Jasmine said to her, “Serve them, Nia. It’s okay.”

  Jose’s eyes scorched into Jasmine, but her eyes blazed right back at him. Jose was as speechless as all the rest of us. Through clenched teeth, Jasmine quietly said to her father, “Office. Now please.”

  Nia scuttled behind us and led us back to our table. “The woman of the house has spoken. Please have a seat. Let me tell you about our specials. Again.”

  Jose followed Jasmine back into the kitchen. I guessed that she was taking him back to the buey cave. In my mind, I imagined Jasmine and Jose battling it out under the maturing slabs of meat. I’d never seen Jasmine so angry.

  Proud of Jasmine’s grit, I wondered what she was saying to Jose. Nia came out with appetizers: croquettes and cured beef sausage. “Everything is on the house today.” She put the delicious looking plates down on the table.

  She gave me a stern look. “Don’t think about leaving money on the table like last time.”

  Ronnie looked at me questioningly. “You paid last time?”

  I shrugged it off, dismissing it as nothing.

  Ronnie shook his head. "I owe you, man. Not this time. But next time. Next time, I totally got you." He rubbed his hands together looking at the food. "Bon appetit!" Perry and Ronnie began to eat, but I couldn't get my mind off Jasmine and her father out back.

  Joseph came up to the table. He held a hand out to me. “We weren’t properly introduced last time we met.”

  “Alex,” I said shaking his hand.

  “Joseph.” Thinking about the family portrait at their house, Joseph looked to me like a perfect blend of his father and mother. He leaned down to me and said, “You know, Jasmine looks a lot like my mom except when she’s angry. She looks like my dad.” He pointed to his eyes and nose. “You know, the eyes and the flaring nostrils.”

  I agreed. “Yeah, I saw!” I dropped my voice, “What’s going on back there?”

  “She’s got him back in the cave. She’s yelling at him! I can hear it from the kitchen. Told him his behavior was completely unprofessional in front of guests. She even said that it was that kind of unprofessional behavior that leads to yanked Michelin stars.” He thumped his chest. “I know that must have hurt him.” He looked around at the full restaurant. “She’s kind of right though.”

  Just then, Jose barreled out of the kitchen like a bull let out of its pen. He barked at Joseph. “I’m out for the rest of the day. Cover the kitchen.”

  Joseph and I watched as Jose rumbled out of the restaurant. Joseph put a hand on my shoulder. “Come with me.”

  I held a finger up to Ronnie and Perry, who were chowing down on the appetizers. “Be right back.” They seemed to be too preoccupied with the tasty food. No one objected.

  Joseph led me through the kitchen to the back of the restaurant. He jerked his head to the door of the buey cave. "She's probably really upset. You should talk to her.”

  Looking back at Joseph, I pushed open the door and said, “Thanks, man.”

  He nodded his head before rushing back inside the kitchen. “Take care of her.”

  In the cave, Jasmine was huddled in a corner, sobbing. I gathered her in my arms. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head, tears falling from her swollen red face. “I’ve never talked to my father like that before.” Wiping under her eyes with her fingertips, her voice cracked. “He can’t act like that! In the restaurant in front of people of all places!” She paused to catch her breath. I told him that he needed to respect our relationship. You’re the man I love. He needs to understand that!” Her hands flew up pointing at the door. “Then, he just left! Didn't say anything more. Just sto
rmed out!”

  I held Jasmine close to my chest while she cried. “It’s going to be okay,” I assured her.

  “I’m so terrified, Alex. What have I done?” She buried her face into my chest and wept.

  I wasn’t sure what she’d done, but I knew one thing for certain, she was a force to be reckoned with when she was pissed off.

  Jasmine

  I don’t know what came over me. In the kitchen, when my dad thundered out to the dining room, I was rendered dumbstruck. My father’s voice was explosive; a bomb detonated suddenly in the middle of lunch.

  I came to my senses and rushed out to the dining room to see what was happening, still hoping my ears deceived me. Still hoping my dad wasn’t causing a dreadful scene. Since it was a holiday, the restaurant was crammed full of guests, more than what is usual for our lunch run. It was the worst time for an outrageous display of behavior by the owner of the world-famous restaurant. Not that there would ever be a good time for that.

  When I saw my dad yelling at Alex and his friends in front of a full restaurant, I just lost it. The restaurant stood at a standstill as my father towered over Alex’s table, screaming at him. Instantly, I searched the restaurant from face to face, hoping no one was a Michelin judge, food critic, or culinary journalist, who would recount for the media in detail my father’s seemingly erratic and disorderly conduct.

  A man in the corner held up his iPhone, recording the entire abhorrent scene. My stomach crunched into itself from mortification. Time seemed to suspend itself as a whirlwind of emotions nearly toppled me over. My father risked the prestige of our restaurant just for the meaningless satisfaction of kicking Alex out.

  Why was my father, so hell-bent on breaking Alex and I up at the cost of everything he had worked for?

  My body, as if possessed by someone else, charged forward into the melee to face my father. My breath quickened in my agitation. Exhaling felt like I was spewing fire. I rushed to the table to face my father, who looked at me in defiance.