Billionaire's Second Chance

by Claire Adams

  When I said I thought my parents were selfish people, Gram had simply smoothed the hair back from my face and smiled knowingly saying, “Pain works itself out in different ways, David. Just remember that.”

  Now, standing in front of the enormous wall of windows watching the sun rise high over the water, I wished that my grandfather was here so I could talk to him and tell him what I was about to do. I knew it was a huge risk I was taking, but I also knew exactly why I was doing it and that made me slightly uncomfortable.

  “I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do, Pop,” I whispered as I leaned my forehead against the cool glass and closed my eyes. “But I gotta try.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Payton

  A little more than 24 hours after Dax and I agreed to the terms of our deal, I watched a team of burly men remove my things from the apartment my parents had rented for me before Daddy died. I wasn’t taking much more than my clothes, some artwork, and a few pieces of furniture, so the movers were done loading the truck pretty quickly, but I noticed the movers sneaking peeks at me as they moved in and out of the apartment. I pretended not to notice as I wondered which one of them would be the first to sell photos of the move to TMZ or the National Enquirer.

  When I asked if they knew where they were taking my things, the guy in charge assured me that everything was taken care of and that all I needed to do was meet them at the penthouse and tell them where to place the furniture. I took a last look around the apartment before I closed and locked the door.

  I’d decided to keep the keys for as long as my mother continued to pay the rent on the place. I knew that given our stubborn natures, there was a good chance I’d want to spend a night or two someplace other than the penthouse and this seemed like a safe hideaway for those times. I tried not to let the emotions overwhelm me, but as I looked around the place, I recalled the last time I saw Daddy.

  He’d stopped by for a visit after his monthly trip to the hospital where he’d undergone his usual tests and then stopped to visit the children’s ward and bring the kids some Bears t-shirts and caps. He was always a big hit with the kids, but the fact that, more often than not, one or two of the children he’d met on the ward had died in the month between visits weighed heavily on him.

  Daddy would always stop by my place after his ritual and we’d drink coffee and play cards until late in the evening. Sometimes we’d talk about Jonathan, and Daddy was always careful to mention that Mother missed him, too. I would nod, but I would resent the fact that he would spoil the warmth of our time together by telling me a lie.

  “Stop it, Payton,” I said, shaking my head to clear my mind of the memory. “You’re moving on to bigger and better things. Let it go.”

  I slowly closed the door and turned the key in the lock. It sounded too final.

  #

  Two hours later, I was ushered into my new living quarters by a man who informed me that he was the building supervisor. I was annoyed that Dax wasn’t there since he’d agreed to be around on moving day so we could go through the final draft of the contract I’d typed up and then sign it.

  “Where’s Mr. Connor?” I asked.

  “He was unexpectedly called to the office, but he said to tell you he’d be home for dinner,” the man said as he unlocked the elevator that would take me and the movers directly into the penthouse. The man handed me a key and said, “This is your elevator key. It’s the only way to access the penthouse, so you need to put it somewhere secure and make sure you always carry it with you.”

  “What if I get locked out?” I asked.

  “There is a substantial lock-out fee, but since you are Mr. Connor’s guest,” he said with a pointed emphasis on guest without finishing the rest of the sentence. I resented him already, but I smiled politely as he gave me a lesson on how to utilize the smart-tech, all centrally located on a panel just left of the elevator. I understood most of what he explained, but my mind was on unpacking and settling in before Dax came back.

  “…and if you need any services down at the spa or restaurant, here is the button you press to make your requests,” he finished.

  “Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to show me all of this,” I said, flashing him the sincerest fake smile I could muster.

  “I’ll send the movers up with your things,” he said in a polite tone that matched my smile. I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t dare.

  Forty-five minutes later, I was instructing the movers where to place the chair and dresser I’d brought with me and was feeling more than a little foolish. My furniture, although high quality and quite expensive, looked like IKEA knock-offs next to the high-end, modern furniture that graced the suite of rooms Dax had set up for me.

  I hadn’t toured this part of the penthouse when I’d been there a few nights before, but I had wondered what was hidden behind the doors near the staircase that led up to Dax’s bedroom. Now I knew.

  The room was an enormous replica of Dax’s master bedroom, except it was done in softer tones of tan, chocolate, and cream.

  It stretched across the entire end of the penthouse and was larger than my two-bedroom apartment on Michigan Avenue. I had the movers store the furniture I’d brought in the bedroom-sized, walk-in closet while I looked around. The closet was more of a dressing room and had a dresser in the middle of the room that looked like a display shelf for either shoes or purses. I pulled open the drawers and found they were lined with paper that smelled of lavender.

  “Nice touch, Connor,” I mumbled as I closed the drawer and spun around in place taking the entire room in. This space demanded a wardrobe, and while I had plenty of clothes, I did not have the wide range of clothing that the room seemed to demand. It occurred to me that my mother would have felt right at home here, and I laughed mirthlessly at the thought of it.

  I walked through the small hallway that led from the dressing room to the bathroom and found myself standing in the middle of an Italian marble creation that took my breath away. Along one wall was a bamboo counter with two immaculately white sinks and a mirror that ran the entire length of the wall. Each side of the sink was split into several cupboards, and when I opened them, I found shelves, lazy Susan trays, and a host of drawers in a variety of sizes already neatly holding brand new boxes of cosmetics and bottles of hair products. Next to each sink was a stack of fluffy towels that were so thick and soft, I had the urge to wrap myself in one.

  But it was the tub and shower combination that took my breath away. I’d been raised by wealthy parents and had stayed in nice hotels over the course of my lifetime, but I’d never seen anything like this before. The entire wall behind the shower and tub was made of windows so that you had a wide view of the lake whether you were standing or sitting. Cream-colored marble formed the base of the shower, which was slightly raised and then enclosed on all four sides by glass with wide, round shower heads mounted on opposite walls. Several feet away was a recessed tub that looked almost large enough to do laps in and next to it was a cabinet full of salts, oils, and bubbles. I felt like I’d stepped through the looking glass as I walked out of the bathroom and back into the suite.

  A king-size, square, platform bed occupied the center of the room and was covered with a simple duvet and loaded with pillows in calming shades of tan, chocolate, and cream. Underneath the bed was a thick, fluffy rug that looked like the softest lamb’s wool. I slipped off my shoes and stepped on it to confirm my first impression. On either side of the bed was a sleek nightstand made of dark wood, each with a selection of the latest New York Times bestsellers. I chuckled as I saw that one of the books was an unauthorized biography of Dax written and published by a gonzo journalist from L.A. I set that one on top of the stack and moved to the sitting room off to the right of my new bed. Opposite my bed was another wall of windows that looked out over the lake, and I stood marveling at the view before moving to the sitting area.

  This part of the room was on the outer edge of the suite, and was surrounded on two side
s by the floor to ceiling windows. It was small and cozy, with an L-shaped sofa that I imagined would be perfect for curling up under a blanket and reading, and several plush chairs with footstools. The only thing that bothered me was that all the furniture was white and I wondered how long it would take before I got something on the fabric since I wasn’t known for my neatness. I rolled my eyes as I reminded myself that, in this house, there were probably cleaning people who took care of stains before they even happened.

  I chuckled softly as I imagined a team of pre-stain treaters sweeping in to preserve the pristine environment.

  “Is there something funny about this room?” Dax said.

  “What the hell?” I yelled as I jumped back and hit my knee on the coffee table I was standing in front of. “Jesus, Connor! What are you doing sneaking up on me?”

  “I wasn’t sneaking, I was coming to see if everything was to your liking,” he said.

  “Well, you’re too quiet,” I scolded as I reached down and rubbed my knee. “Don’t do that.”

  “I’ll never do it again,” he said so solemnly that I couldn’t help but smile. Dax grinned back at me, “But seriously, do you have everything you need?”

  “The whole place is stocked with all kinds of goodies,” I said. “So, yeah, I think I’ve got everything I need.”

  “I didn’t know what you’d want, so I just ordered one of everything that looked good,” he shrugged. “Anything you don’t like, let me know and I’ll send it back and get you something you do.”

  “This wasn’t part of the deal,” I said eyeing him suspiciously.

  “Yes, it was. I said I’d pay all of your expenses and I’m nothing if not a man of my word,” he said before looking over his shoulder down the hallway. “And on that note, would you like to come have some dinner? I think the chef has finished preparing our meal.”

  “You’re kidding? You didn’t just call Grub Hub and have them deliver?” I deadpanned.

  “They didn’t have anything that sounded good, so I had to bring in the big guns,” he teased.

  “Fine, let me wash up and I’ll join you in…”

  “Join me in the dining room,” he said. “You know how to get back there?”

  “Very funny,” I said. “Yes, but don’t put your phone down. If I get lost, I’ll text you.”

  He chuckled as he left the room, closing the door behind him. I shook my head as I went into the closet, unzipped one of the garment bags, and pulled out a casual, olive-colored, silk summer dress and took it into the bathroom with me.

  I quickly showered and twisted my wet hair into a loose knot at the back of my neck before dusting a bit of blush on my cheeks and swiping inky, black mascara on my lashes. I finished my look with a touch of red lipstick and then pulled on my dress. I smiled at my reflection.

  If Dax was going to treat me like an honored guest, then I was going to behave like one.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Dax

  By the time Payton finally joined me in the dining room, I’d grown irritated by her lack of punctuality, but it was all forgotten when I saw why she’d taken so long. The silky dress clung to her in all the right places, and the wisps of blond hair that framed her face gave her an ethereal appearance that made me swallow hard before I could speak.

  “You look…like you’re settling in just fine,” I said searching for the words that would convey how I felt without actually saying it.

  “I love that bathroom; in fact, I might just camp out in there,” she smiled as she moved toward me and accepted the glass of cool white wine I held out. Her fingers brushed my hand as she took the glass, and I turned to look out the window in order to mask the effect of her touch.

  “To new beginnings,” I said, holding up my glass for an awkward side toast. She smiled and clinked her glass against mine before taking a sip.

  “Mmm, that’s delicious,” she said turned and followed my gaze asking, “Pinot?”

  “Yes, I got it as a gift from a Chicago fan the night I was awarded the franchise,” I nodded. “I was saving it for a special occasion.”

  “And me moving in is one of those?” she asked as she turned and looked up at me. I glanced sideways and smiled before quickly turning toward the dining room.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked, trying to find a way to move from standing to sitting so that I didn’t have to maintain such an awkward angle as I talked with her. I pulled out a chair for her and waited until she’d adjusted before I sat down. “I hope you like fish. I had the chef create a summer menu to celebrate.”

  “Wow, it’s like we’re really doing something special,” she said as she surveyed the table. I’d asked that the table be set with the best china and silverware, and I’d ordered a simple arrangement of freesias in a crystal vase as the only decoration. Set against the backdrop of the lake, the table was an elegant contrast to the shifting shades of purple and grey as the sun sank behind us.

  “I like to think I’m a good host,” I said as we were served the first course by a waiter who silently set bowls of ceviche on each of our plates and then disappeared into the kitchen.

  “You certainly know how to hire a chef,” she said, smiling at me after tasting the ceviche. I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not, but when she continued eating, I assumed she had meant it as a compliment.

  “Is there anything else you need?” I asked after a long silence. “I mean, tonight. In your room?”

  “Actually, yes,” she said as the server cleared our plates and replaced them with a crisp, green salad tossed with fresh berries. Payton’s attention turned to the salad, “Oh, now this looks delicious!”

  She speared a forkful of lettuce and fruit, and then slipped it into her mouth and chewed. I looked out the window, trying to will myself not to imagine the things I’d like her to do to me with her lips and tongue. I took a deep breath and then dug into my own salad.

  “So, you need something?” I asked.

  “Mmm hmm,” she nodded as she chewed. The smile she wore made me a little nervous.

  “And that would be?”

  “Eventually you’ll know,” she grinned as she picked up a plump blueberry and popped it in her mouth.

  “Well, it would be easier if you’d let me know in advance so I can send someone out to pick up whatever you need,” I said growing irritated with her coy attempt at mysteriousness.

  “Mmm, don’t worry, Dax,” she said reaching over and resting her hand on mine. “You won’t need to send out for anything.”

  “I did not agree to that part of the contract,” I said, pulling my arm away and sitting up straighter in my chair. The sex clause in the contract annoyed me. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to have sex with Payton (I most definitely did); it was that I didn’t like the fact that she’d treated it as part of the negotiation. It made me feel uncomfortable having her approach sex from such a straightforward, unemotional perspective.

  “Oh, Dax, stop being so uptight,” she laughed as she finished her salad and waited for the server to clear our plates. She pulled the wine bottle out of the frosty bucket and asked, “More wine?”

  I nodded and she refilled both of our glasses as the server set dinner plates in front of us. The scent of lemon and dill wafted up from the poached fish, making my mouth water. We ate in silence as I thought about how I wanted to reply to her dismissive remark. Halfway through my meal, I put my fork down and leaned back from the table.

  “What?” Payton asked with her fork in mid-air.

  “I don’t like the way you talk to me,” I said, feeling my way around the words before I said them. “I’m not a prude, but I don’t like being blackmailed into having sex with you.”

  “Well excuse me for trying to find a practical solution to a real problem,” she shrugged as she continued eating.

  “Jesus H. Christ!” I exploded pushing myself away from the table. “Stop the goddamn shrugging!”

  “What the hell?”

  “Nothing says ‘I do
n’t give a shit’ like a shrug,” I shouted. “It’s infuriating to have a conversation with you and then have you shrug it off like none of it matters!”

  “Calm down, Connor,” she said setting her fork down and leaning back in her chair. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at me as she said, “You’re the one who started this whole thing. Not sure if you remember that.”

  “I remember just fine,” I shot back before turning and looking out the window at the lake. I added, “I’m just not sure what the hell you think you’re doing.”

  “I’m playing by your rules,” she said bluntly. “You don’t like it because you were expecting to be able to manipulate me into doing whatever it was that you wanted and then telling me to get lost, weren’t you?”

  “No, I wasn’t,” I lied.

  “Dax, look at me,” she said from across the room. Reluctantly, I turned to face her. Every muscle in my body tightened in defense, but she gave me a teasing smile as she said, “Are you always so tightly wound?”

  “I don’t think that not wanting to link my sexual desire and performance to a written contract makes me tightly wound, Ms. Lasky,” I replied tersely.

  “Lighten up, will you?” she laughed. Something about her laughter made me even more irritated. It reminded me of the upwardly mobile girls on Wolcott Street whose families were on the verge of being middle class. Those girls, with names like Jessica and Lauren, looked down their noses at boys like Finn and me. We were the ones they thought would not only never escape the working-class grind, but would drag them back down into it if they showed even the slightest interest, so they spoke down to us. The tone Payton was using was both presumptuous and dismissive, and reminded me of all the ways in which those girls had made me feel small and unworthy.