Billionaires Next Door : A Contemporary Romance Box Set

by J. P. Comeau

  It was a genuine concern that even adults had.

  “That is something to think about, Addison.” I turned my focus to Heather, whispering in her direction, so Addison didn't hear. “Especially since some adults end up paralyzed for life after horse riding accidents.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Heather said. “Michael and I ride horses all the time. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Addison changed the subject, and it seemed like she was a pro at it. That was disheartening for a girl her age. “Michael said that if I do good, that he won’t have to spend as much money on boarding school.”

  “It sounds like Michael is trying to get you a scholarship,” I said.

  Heather looked away while sipping her soda.

  After lunch, all three of us walked outside.

  “When can I see you again, Daddy?”

  “I’ll have my lawyer contact yours,” Heather said, putting Addison’s hand in hers and walking away.

  Addison looked back at me until they reached their car.

  There was no doubt in my mind. Addison would become a regular part of my life, regardless of what Heather wanted.

  13

  _____

  ANNIE

  I was at work, going through some paperwork and trying not to stare at my phone. I had texted Richard earlier in the day, but he still hadn’t gotten back to me. It was out of character for him, too. Ever since we first became friends, when Jake and Julianna started dating, he was always quick to reply. I could anticipate a reply within an hour at the latest.

  The fact that he had grown distant after I opened up to him was unsettling.

  I buried my face in my designs for yoga pants. Branching out into activewear seemed like a good idea to go along with my holistic health line of products. Having worn them for years, I understood the importance of making them breathable and moveable. Many of the yoga pants currently on the market cropped up, too often riding up in places no one wanted to admit.

  I’d seen several of my students pick their wedgies during class, trying their best to be discreet.

  I wanted to use a material that would allow the pants to move without bunching up. I’d been researching different ones online as I sat there, designing a few styles on a notepad, too.

  After happily nodding at my work, I went into my desk drawer and fished out an herbal tea K-cup. I chose a detoxifying blend with peaches. The dinner with Richard was delicious, but eating such dense food had made me feel sluggish those past few days. The herbal combination in the tea would take care of that problem.

  I made a mental note to develop a detoxifying herbal tea of my own, jotting down a few herbs that worked well for stomach bloating. The idea of creating detoxifying protein bars seemed interesting, too. Something to consume that was full of vitamins and protein, was relatively low in sugar and would help with stomach inflammation.

  I also took a moment to check my phone.

  I still hadn't heard back from Richard. The longer he took to reply, the more insecure I became.

  As my tea was brewing, I casually scrolled through his social media profiles. He hadn’t been active on any of them in over twenty-four hours, which made me feel better. If he had been online, that meant that he had his phone in his hands and chose not to reply.

  It reminded me of how my last relationship ended. Edward slowly started drifting away, taking longer to respond to every text message, while still appearing online on social media. It didn't take long for me to figure out who he was fooling around with, either.

  Realizing I was starting to overthink every little thing, I jotted down some ideas for making a mental clarity type of tea. Part of holistic health included taking care of the mind, something that I felt western medicine often overlooked.

  As soon as my tea was ready, my cellphone went off, and I just about flew out of my chair. I was a bit disappointed to see that it wasn’t Richard, though. I didn’t recognize the number, either.

  “Hello?”

  “Yes, is this Annie Belmont?”

  It sounded like a much older man, probably around Richard’s age. “Yes, it is. Who’s this?”

  “I’m Marcus Brereton, and I’m interested in investing in your lifestyle brand.”

  “Oh, wow! Where did you hear about it?” I quickly shut the door to my office.

  “Well, I’ve been following you on social media for quite some time now. You are the epitome of healthy if I do say so myself.”

  I blushed. Even though my online clout had increased over the years, I didn’t expect that type of phone call. “That means a lot to me, thank you. I haven’t launched one yet, though.”

  “That’s why I’m calling, Annie. I’m an investor in New York. You’re in California, right?”

  “Yes,” I said, trying to calm myself down. “I live in River Valley. Small town, down-home. You've probably never heard of it.”

  “It sounds quaint and charming. Anyway, I’d love to set up a virtual meeting to discuss the line with you sometime. On your website, you mention that your main interest is supplements. What else do you plan to develop?”

  “Oh, well, yes. Supplements are my number one interest, but I’m also designing activewear, herbal medicines, soaps, candles, and am considering lotions too. I make all of it myself, and have even picked out some fabric for yoga pants.”

  “That’s fantastic, Annie. So listen, what time and day work best for you? I’d love to do this sooner rather than later, as I’m sure you do too.”

  I went through my desk planner, deciding it was time to give some classes to Crystal. "How about tomorrow? Anytime is good for me.”

  “Perfect, Annie. I’ll call you at 10:30 AM. Have a great day!”

  I collapsed into my chair as soon as he hung up, stunned that an investor was interested in my lifestyle line.

  Crystal walked into our office a few minutes later, her yoga mat in hand, and just stared at me. “Either you did too much yoga, or something big happened.”

  “You’ll never believe it, Crystal. An investor from New York just called. He’s been following me on social media, reading about my ideas for a lifestyle brand, and is meeting with me tomorrow. Can you believe it?”

  “Oh, my God!” She shrieked so loudly that some of the students looked up at us through the office window. “But how are you going to get to New York so quickly?”

  “It’s a virtual meeting, so I’ll just do it from my loft upstairs tomorrow morning.”

  “What about your classes, though?”

  I smiled at her.

  Crystal stood up straight, her eyes wide. “Wait, are you saying that I can teach? Are you serious?”

  “I was considering it anyway, so I took this as a sign that you’re ready. To be honest, you’re more than ready, Crystal. I want you to teach all four of my morning classes tomorrow, and then I’ll teach the afternoon.”

  She clasped her hands together and jumped up and down. I could have let her teach sooner, but I wanted to be sure.

  “I cannot thank you enough! Oh my gosh!”

  “This will include a raise, of course. And with that comes full benefits, paid time off, and the whole nine yards.”

  She sat down at her desk and shook her head in blissful excitement. “Annie, ever since I moved back to River Valley, I have waited for this moment.”

  After Crystal earned her Ph.D. in Holistic Health and Medicine, she had completed her internship in Hawaii. Since she was a California girl at heart, Crystal had no problem adjusting to life in Hawaii. Just like me, however, she wanted to settle down in River Valley.

  “You’re going to do so well,” I said to Crystal. “And I agree with you. I never had any desire to leave River Valley for the long-term. It’s home, you know?”

  “Exactly,” she said. “And now that I have a full-time job, I’m ready to move forward with my personal life too. I’m not dating anyone right now, but wish I was.”

  I sipped some tea as she started to make some for herself. “Wh
at kind of guy are you interested in?”

  “Oh, you know. Stereotypical tall, dark, and handsome. Which is hard to find around here.”

  “Well, you can find them, but they’re usually jerks. The kind you shouldn’t get involved with, but inevitably do because they’re so charming.”

  Crystal sneered. “I’ve had my fair share of bad dates. I just want something normal, you know? Nothing too crazy, just a guy to go out with and have some fun. Maybe splurge on the occasional cheeseburger.”

  She and I laughed. “Remember all of the junk food we used to eat in high school? I’d give anything to have my old metabolism back.”

  “Me too. I think I’ll join one of those dating sites tonight. Put myself out there and see what happens.”

  I shook my head, casually glancing at my phone, only to be surprised that Richard still hadn’t texted me back. “Those are nothing but trouble, Crystal. I say, do things you enjoy doing and see who you meet. Let it happen naturally.”

  She nodded and sat back in her chair, scrolling through her phone. As soon as I turned around to face my desk, I received a text notification.

  My heart started beating wildly as I stared down at Richard's name on the screen.

  “Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Busy at work.”

  There was something off about his tone, even through text. I could feel the insecurity rising in my stomach, suddenly regretting everything I had said to him at the coast. I put it all out there, telling him that I wanted a commitment, and now he’s scared.

  “That’s okay,” I texted back.

  I didn’t want my insecurity to show. If Richard wanted to see me or carry on the conversation, let it be on his terms.

  “How about dinner at my place tonight?” he asked.

  My insecurities went away, just a little bit, knowing that I would see him. “That sounds great! What time?”

  “Sevenish. See you then.”

  I locked my phone and shoved it into my purse, wanting it as far away from me as possible. Something was off with Richard, or I was being neurotic. Either one was possible.

  “Is everything okay, Annie? You seem upset.”

  I kept my head down, pretending to look over some information for my lifestyle brand. “Yeah, just tired.”

  There was a long pause, and I knew Crystal was eyeing me. “I’m not buying it.”

  I let out a sigh, knowing she wouldn’t believe me. We’d been friends for far too long. I swiveled around in my chair to face her.

  “Richard invited me over for dinner tonight,” I said, sounding just as depressed as I felt.

  “That’s a good thing, Annie. Why are you so down? I thought you liked him.”

  I nodded. “I do. That’s the problem. I could tell that something was off with Richard, and it’s probably my fault.”

  Crystal placed her phone down on her desk. “Why would that be your fault?”

  I explained everything to her, going into detail about our day trip to the coast. How I had fallen asleep at his house, he carried me to his guest bed, we got lost in each other. And then I told her how I had made a fool out of myself by saying I wanted to be in a committed relationship with him.

  “How did he react when you said that? Was he standoffish? Or was he happy?”

  I thought back to that day and remembered the joy on his face. He even said that he wanted to make things more serious, too. “He was happy and said he wanted the same thing, but you know guys, Crystal. They never reveal their true feelings to you. Of course, he wouldn’t say, 'Sorry, I don’t want to be that serious.' I ruined it, Crystal. I know I did.”

  I placed my head in my hands and started to cry. She came over and hugged me, trying her best to make me feel better. “You need to give yourself a break, Annie. Any guy would be lucky to have you, and I’m not just saying that to make you feel better. I guarantee he’s just having a bad day at work. He’s probably cold because you two have been friends for a while. Now that you’re dating, there’s no need to be in an 8x10 picture anymore.”

  I looked up at her and tilted my head. “An 8x10 picture? What are you talking about?”

  “Whenever people start dating, they stay in a virtual 8x10 picture. In other words, they’re only showing you their best traits. Think about it. Would you want to date a guy who came off as, for lack of a better word, an asshole with no emotions?”

  I shook my head, no.

  “That makes sense. If Richard and I had just started dating, he’d probably be a bit nicer. But we’ve been friends for so long, so what’s the point? Well, I feel a little better. Thank you.”

  Even though what she said had made perfect sense to me, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong between Richard and me.

  14

  _____

  RICHARD

  I was sitting at my desk, scrolling through work emails, and wondering what my next move would be. Annie had texted me several hours before, and the fact that I hadn’t yet replied, probably made her nervous. I didn’t know how I wanted to proceed with her, and I wanted to wait until I knew for sure what my decision would be.

  Then I realized that no matter how much I wanted to put our relationship on the back burner, I couldn’t be away from Annie for too long. She had become like a drug to me. As stressed out as I was the day we went to the coast, she took my mind off of the Heather situation. Just being around her made me feel at ease, which I needed since I’d always been a worrywart.

  When Annie had immediately replied to my text, I took it as proof that she’d been waiting for me. It made me feel a bit guilty.

  “Hey, how’s your day going?” I looked up from my phone and saw Gavin’s head, just poking into my office.

  He was a bit more laid back than I was, so I was more than happy to chat with him for a while. I motioned for him to come in.

  Gavin sat down in a chair across from my desk, and I contemplated telling him everything. Danielle had suggested that I keep things with Heather to myself, but I desperately needed someone to give me some advice. Gavin had been my oldest friend, and he was kind of like a male version of Annie. He was down to earth and laid back and able to come to a decision fairly quickly.

  “Well, I’ve had better ones. You’ll never guess who’s back in town.” Gavin just stared at me, waiting for me to tell him. “Heather!”

  “Oh God,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You didn’t hook up with her, did you?”

  I leaned back in my chair and ran my hands through my hair, wondering how Gavin was about to respond to my next bombshell. “You were here in town when we broke up, man. So, of course not. But she brought a little surprise back with her to River Valley.”

  “What? What kind of surprise?”

  I pulled out my phone and showed him Addison’s picture. Gavin’s mouth fell open, and he gasped, seeing the resemblance between us.

  “Is she yours? Well, that’s a dumb question.”

  I nodded.

  “What the, I mean you didn’t know? She has to be what, five-years-old?”

  “Addison is her name, and she’s seven.”

  Gavin continued shaking his head back and forth. He was speechless, which was a first.

  “I had the same response as you did, man. After all of these years, Heather has to tell me about her now. The timing couldn’t be worse.”

  “Why would Heather keep this a secret from you, though? You’re a good guy. It’s not like you two broke up because you screwed her over or anything.”

  “Nope,” I said. “Even though I was hesitant to settle down, not once did I cheat on Heather. I didn’t become known as a playboy until well after we broke up, you know.”

  “Exactly,” he replied, nodding at the same time. “It seems to me that Heather would want you to know. You have a successful career, a mansion, are well educated, and aside from being seen with some questionable women over the years, you’re a good guy.”

  I rolled my eyes at his comment about the women I had
dated.

  “Dating history aside,” I said with a sneer, “yes, I agree that I’m a decent man.”

  “Especially the money part, Richard. Do you know how many women would have killed to be in her shoes? To be able to stick it to a guy who practically swims in money? To walk up and hand him paperwork telling him that he needs to pay child support?”

  “Exactly,” I replied. “Not only does Heather want back child support payments, but she’s also requesting a large, lump-sum payment for reasons yet unknown.”

  “Can she legally do that, though? If she chose not to tell you, I don’t see how that’s legal. It’s one thing to make you pay now, but going back in time doesn’t count. And why an additional payment?”

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  “The only thing I can think of is blackmail,” I said. “Although I don’t know what kind of information Heather has on me. It’s no secret that I’ve frequented strip clubs, so that’s not going to ruin my career.”

  “Maybe she’s still bitter about you not leaving this company and starting your own. Women can be pretty unforgiving.”

  Shaking my head, I groaned. “I suppose she has something on me that she’s not telling, and maybe I’m giving myself too much credit. Now that I’m moving up in the company, something like this could ruin me. River Valley isn’t that big of a city, either.”

  I slumped back in my chair, worrying about what to do. Gavin stood up and pointed his finger down to my desk. “You need just to pay her off, Richard. Something like this could permanently damage your reputation.”

  I held my hands up, suggesting that Gavin calm down.

  He shook his head wildly. “No, think of the headlines: Real Estate Millionaire Sued For Back Child Support Payments Over Love Child. Thanks to the internet, your career and this company could be ruined in less than a day.”

  “It’s not as easy as just paying her off,” I replied. “First of all, she showed up to court today wearing vintage Chanel, real pearls, and an engagement ring the size of a boulder. She doesn’t need my money.”

  Gavin sat back down. “Did she marry into money or something?”