Not The Billionaire

by Noorman, Krista

  “Is that—?” She didn’t get a chance to finish her question because Kurtis pulled her around the corner and headed for the loading docks to the rear of the manufacturing building.

  “Did you get a tour of the factory?” he asked.

  “You mean where they make the chocolates?” she rasped.

  “The very place.”

  “No, I didn’t.” She was out of breath from trying to keep up with him and starting to sweat all over on this sticky hot day, which made her feel very unattractive.

  He led her to a door beside a dock, where trucks bearing the Schultz Chocolate logo were parked. As she walked through the door he held open for her, she was instantly struck by the aroma of chocolate in the air.

  “Oh my gosh.” She breathed in deeply. “I think I just gained ten pounds.” Her eyes found Kurtis’s. “How does anyone get work done in here? Don’t they just want to eat all the chocolate that passes in front of them? I know I would.”

  Kurtis laughed. “Come on. I’ll show you around.” He made her stop at the edge of the work area for a few minutes while he spoke to a man who looked like the manager of the factory. He returned with what appeared to be a plastic shower cap, a hard hat, and a white jacket for them to wear.

  “You look cute,” he told her once she’d put hers on.

  “Oh, yes, it’s my best look ever.”

  He chuckled and led her to check out some of the machines. “This is the first step in the chocolate-making process. Roasting the cacao beans.” They watched for a while as he pointed out what the machines did, then he led her to the next area. “The beans then go through this process where the nib is separated from the dried bean. That’s where the unsweetened chocolate comes from.”

  “Interesting.” She listened as he told her more about the machines and the process of mixing the unsweetened chocolate powder with milk, sugar, and cocoa butter to make crumbly chocolate, then mixing it up until it was smooth and flowing.

  “The last step before putting it in the molds is tempering it by keeping it at a set temperature and constantly stirring. That’s what makes it shiny and firm to the touch.”

  “You know a lot about this process.” She was thoroughly impressed with his knowledge of all things chocolate.

  “I’ve been working here since I was a kid.”

  Her eyebrow lifted. “Really?”

  “Uh, well, I mean I was fresh out of college, so I was pretty much still a kid.”

  “I didn’t know you’d worked here that long.”

  “Over ten years.” He led her through the building to the area where the chocolate was packaged after the molding step. “We’ve got chocolate bars, and nibs and, of course, the famous truffles.”

  “Of course.”

  “Did you know … Granny Schultz taught Ephraim how to make truffles when he was a young boy, and he went on to make and sell them to put himself through college?”

  “I didn’t. And he built this whole company from there?”

  “His dad actually started the company, then when he got sick, Ephraim took over and used his business savvy to take Schultz Chocolate from a small, struggling company to what it is today.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  He nodded, his lips pressed together as he smiled proudly.

  “What is it about this company that you love so much?” she asked.

  “Everything, really. The history. The people. The … Schultz family, and the relationship they have with their employees. It’s like a great big family here.”

  “Sebastian said the same thing.” She smiled. “I have felt very welcomed by everyone. By the Schultzes. And by you.”

  He seemed to get quiet for a few moments, like he was deep in thought, trying to work something out.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m just glad you started working here.” He gave her a cute closed-mouth smile.

  “So am I.”

  They came full circle to the entrance of the factory again and removed their white jackets, hats, and caps. Kurtis waved at the man he’d spoken to before as he left the clothing on a table. He opened the exit door, but didn’t hold it for her this time. He stepped through first and peeked back and forth before motioning for her to follow him.

  She wasn’t sure why that bothered her. He was acting a little strange. But then he led her to the front of the building again, and they walked in like normal.

  “Did he die?” Genevieve asked, thinking back to the story about Ephraim.

  “Who?”

  “Ephraim’s father.”

  “Yeah. He had lung cancer and passed away before he got to see all of his son’s success.”

  “That’s so sad.”

  “I’m sure he’s looking down from Heaven with great pride.”

  She liked that he had said that.

  “You go on ahead,” Kurtis told her. “I have one quick thing that requires my attention, and then I’ll be up.”

  “Uh, okay.” She wondered what thing he had to do.

  “See you in a few.”

  She watched him walk down the hallway toward the executive elevator—the one they had taken the other day to the roof. She wondered why he kept using that elevator? It seemed there was a lot about him and his work there that she didn’t know yet. She was sure she’d learn over time. Maybe since he’d been there for ten years already, he had earned the right to certain perks. Maybe he was considered a prized employee—Employee of the Year, like he’d joked.

  She let out a sigh and took the plain old employee elevator to the marketing floor. This time when she reached her office, there was a new name plate on the door that read “Genevieve Willis. Event Coordinator, Schultz Foundation.” It made her giddy to finally see that there.

  And then she noticed a small white box in the center of her desk with a shiny gold bow on top. She lifted the top of the box to find a brand new iPhone within.

  “You said you didn’t have a smart phone,” Kurtis said from the doorway.

  She gave him a look of disapproval. “I didn’t say that so you’d go buy me one.”

  “I know you like your old fashioned ways.” He walked over to stand beside her and tapped his finger against the notepad on her desk.

  A giggle escaped her. “Yes, I do.”

  “But the company likes everyone to have them.”

  “Oh.” It disappointed her a little that the phone hadn’t actually come from Kurtis.

  “Look under the phone.”

  She lifted the phone and a layer of tissue paper to reveal a sturdy looking phone case in pink with the silhouette of a cowgirl barrel racing.

  “That’s from me,” he told her. “I hope the color’s okay.”

  “It’s perfect.” Nobody had ever given her such a thoughtful gift. Kurtis made her feel so special, and before she thought about what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, resting her cheek against his chest.

  He nearly stumbled back, but then his arms moved around her shoulders and held her to him. She thought she felt him kiss the top of her head softly, but she couldn’t be sure.

  “I’m glad you like it, Genevieve.” His voice was deeper than usual and vibrated through her body.

  “Thank you, Kurtis.” She pulled back and let go, even though she didn’t want to. Being in his arms felt good. It felt right.

  But when she looked at him again, his expression wasn’t what she expected. He seemed uncomfortable, awkward even, and she wondered if she’d crossed a line past professional that she shouldn’t have.

  SEVENTEEN

  The hug had surprised him. He hoped she would like the phone case. He’d wanted it to be more personal so she would know he’d been paying attention to every little thing she had told him about her life. But he hadn’t expected her to wrap her arms around him like that. It was probably crossing the line for him to inhale the coconut scent of her hair and press a quick, soft kiss atop her head, but he’d done it anyway. Because having her in his arms,
holding her close, felt so right. So natural. He never wanted to let go.

  And then she’d called him Kurtis, and their sweet moment was over as quickly as it began.

  It had been a close call earlier, seeing his father and Wayne Middlebury walking out of the building, and he’d totally panicked, knowing they couldn’t get by without Dad seeing him. That would’ve been the end of it. He wouldn’t have been able to explain so she’d understand. He would’ve been outed as the liar he was.

  She seemed to notice his awkwardness after their hug and moved to sit at her desk. He wished he could tell her that the hug wasn’t what made him uncomfortable. The hug was very comfortable, and he knew he’d never forget her warmth or the way her body fit perfectly against his.

  Genevieve opened her notepad.

  Gosh, he loved her little notepad. He took a seat across from her. “Cross anything else off?”

  She took out a pen and made a line through two items. “Meet with 80s band.” She looked up at him. “We know how that went.” Then she marked off another. “Meet with 20s band. Done.”

  “They were really good. I love the Roaring Twenties theme. It’s great, Genevieve.”

  She straightened her back confidently. “Thank you.”

  “So, we’re going all out with this, huh? Flapper dresses and vests and waistcoats?”

  “Doesn’t it sound amazing? I think it will be a big draw for the gala. People are used to black tie for these galas, but this puts such a fun spin on it. Can you imagine everyone dancing the night away to that band?”

  He shook his head and let out a sigh without realizing he was doing it.

  She gave him a curious look. “What was that for?”

  “You’re like a breath of fresh air blowing through these offices, Genevieve Willis. I think we needed you, and we didn’t even know it.”

  His words brought color to her cheeks, and she smiled shyly. “If only it was cold air.” She fanned herself with the notepad. “Is it extra hot in here, or is it just me?”

  He thought it was just him and his reaction to her, but she was right, it was starting to feel a little close. “I’ll go check on things. When I get back, I’m helping you get your phone set up.”

  She rolled her eyes as he walked out of the office, which was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.

  As he walked along the hallway, an uneasiness settled over him about the fundraiser. He would never be able to attend without being recognized. He had two options. Tell her before the regatta or find a reason not to be there. He knew deep down which option was the right one.

  As he approached the marketing cubicles, he saw a group of the employees gathered and noticed they were fanning themselves. He rolled his sleeves up as he approached, and they set their fans down, scrambling to look like they were working.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Schultz,” a young man greeted him.

  “Good afternoon, Gordy. Anybody know what’s up with the air in here?” Sebastian asked.

  “Air conditioning’s out in the entire building,” Gordy explained. “Maintenance has been called, and it’s being taken care of, but it’s been getting hotter and hotter as the day goes on. It’s like heat indexes over a hundred today.”

  “Why don’t you all go home for the day,” Sebastian told them.

  “Oh, it’s no problem, Mr. Schultz. We can take the heat,” Gordy replied, which got him a smack on the arm from the girl standing behind him.

  “I insist. Go home and cool off.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Schultz,” they all said as they began gathering their belongings.

  Sebastian walked to the receptionist’s desk. The employees followed not long after, all walking past him quietly until they were down the hallway, and then they started chatting and laughing together. It was clear they thought they had to be professional around him, and he hated how formal they were. If Gus had been there, they would have acted completely different. Everyone liked Gus. He was the fun one who joked around with them.

  He turned his attention to the receptionist. “Carol, you’re free to go home for the day. It’s way too hot in here. And can you call Holly and have her let the other departments know they should go as well?”

  “Yes, Mr. Schultz.”

  He wished he had a similar rapport as Gus had with their employees. He used to be more like that. When he was younger, he was always hanging around the office or the factory. People knew and liked him. But ever since Serena had decimated his heart, something in him had closed off, which had earned him the reputation he now had. Only people who’d worked at the company for more than five years knew what Sebastian was once like.

  It was distracting sitting across the desk from Genevieve. About an hour ago, after she’d cracked the window and insisted they stay and get a little more work done, she had slipped her feet out of her sandals and rested them on the corner of her desk. Sebastian pretended to be working on his laptop, which he really should have been doing, but his gaze kept traveling to her bare feet and along the length of her calves to where the bottom hem of her flowy pink sundress with the little white polka dots rested just above her knees. It got even worse when she ran her fingers through her hair and twisted it up in a bun at the nape of her neck, securing it with a couple pencils stabbed through from opposite sides. Little wisps of hair now hung around her face and along the back of her neck, some sticking to her perspiration.

  Is it getting hotter in here? He wasn’t sure he could stand much more.

  When she picked up her water bottle and pressed it to her full lips as she took a drink, he knew he was done for the day. He stood and pushed the chair out quickly.

  “Time to go home,” he announced.

  She glanced at the clock on the wall. “But we still have twenty minutes.”

  “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m melting in here.”

  She gave a knowing nod and started packing away her things.

  “I’ll walk you out.” He said it before he remembered the possibility of someone seeing him, but it was too late to take it back now.

  “Thanks.”

  As they made their way out of the building, he was happy to see that it was pretty much a skeleton crew since most people had been sent home from the overheated building. He held the door for her and was feeling relieved that they were almost in the clear, when he spotted Franky walking toward the building with Skylar.

  “Hey, man.” Franky held his hand out for a fist bump. “Thought you’d be tucked away in your office like always.”

  Sebastian was frozen in place, unsure what to say. Franky knew the situation, but he didn’t know this was the girl they’d told him about. He glanced over at Genevieve, who looked from Franky to him and back again.

  “Hi, I’m Genevieve.”

  Franky’s lips turned up in a smile, and he took her already outstretched hand and gave the back of her hand a kiss, which made her let out the most adorable giggle.

  “Wow, the men at this company sure are gentlemen. Kurtis is always holding doors for me. And now this.”

  Skylar chuckled.

  Sebastian rolled his eyes at his friend. “This is Francis Middlebury, a close friend of the Schultz family.”

  Franky’s eyebrow lifted, and then he met Sebastian’s eyes with an expression of understanding. “Yeah, I don’t work here. I’m a friend. And Kurtis here is always a gentleman.”

  Genevieve smiled at Sebastian then looked at Franky again. “It’s very nice to meet you, Francis.”

  “You too,” he replied. “Please, call me Franky.”

  “Okay, Franky,” she said with a smile.

  “What are you two up to now? Sky has to pick something up, then we’re headed to dinner. Care to join?”

  Sebastian thought Genevieve looked a smidge uncomfortable, but he couldn’t be sure. “If you already have plans, it’s fine,” he reassured her.

  “I kind of do.”

  “Then we’ll try another time.”

  She turned into Sebastian
a little, lowering her voice to speak privately to him, and he loved the intimacy of it.

  “I’m supposed to go to my mom’s tonight, but I should still have time to go to dinner.”

  He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “If you already have dinner plans with her, that’s okay. Another time.”

  “No, not dinner, just a visit. I’m mostly going to check on Charisma.”

  “We don’t have to spend a long time at dinner if that’s what you want.”

  She nodded then turned to Skylar and Franky. “Okay. Dinner sounds great.”

  Their entire exchange gave Sebastian a glimpse of what the future could be like for them—the closeness, the understanding, the two of them in each other’s confidence. He wanted it all.

  “I’ll only be a few minutes,” Skylar announced as she walked toward the building.

  “We’re not taking your car, are we?” Sebastian called after her.

  “Yes!”

  Franky let out a little whistle as he spun around. “I love her car.” He looked at Genevieve. “Have you seen it? Sexy red Porsche 911 S.” He pointed toward the car parked across the street.

  “My legs are too long for the back seat,” Sebastian complained.

  “I can sit in the back with Genevieve if you want.”

  His eyes bored into Franky’s.

  “Or not.” Franky burst out laughing.

  “So, you’re all good friends,” Genevieve said. It wasn’t a question. More of an observation. Like she was trying to piece together the relationship between him, Franky, and Skylar.

  “Yeah, good friends,” Sebastian spoke before Franky could say anything.

  Skylar came out of the building a few minutes later as promised.

  As they walked to her car, disappointment settled over Sebastian. He wanted Genevieve to get to know his family and friends, but not under these circumstances. Circumstances that he’d put them in by lying about who he was. He’d dug himself this giant hole that kept getting bigger. And now that Franky was involved too, he felt like he was sinking further and further into the lie.