The Billionaire
Page 1
Table of Contents
The Contractor, Chapter One
The Billionaire
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
About Sammi Franks
The Billionaire
Seductive Sands: Book One
Sammi Franks
Contents
The Billionaire
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
21. The Contractor, Chapter One
About Sammi Franks
The Billionaire
* * *
Seductive Sands: Book One
* * *
By
* * *
Sammi Franks
Copyright © 2018 by Sammi Franks
1st Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover by Opium House Creatives
Formatting by: Love Kissed Books
Created with Vellum
1
Max
* * *
When I heard my younger brother had given up a six-figure job working for our father in order to live in a small beach town, I thought he was going through one of his phases. My father thought he was going through one of his phases, too, so he sent me to go retrieve him and insisted I stay with Bodhi until I convinced him to come back. He didn’t want anything changing Bodhi’s easily-persuaded mind.
After heading down from Seattle to a charming little town called Westport in order to find out for myself, I realized it was not a phase.
When Bodhi came here for a surfing competition two weeks ago, no one in our family thought anything of it. When he didn’t come home after the competition was over, we assumed he was taking his time getting back to city life. He was never one for commitment; he tended to make decisions based on how he was feeling in the moment. After a week on the job, Bohdi quit. Up and left without a word until two weeks later, when he announced he was entering a surfing competition down here and wasn’t planning on coming home afterwards.
I pulled up to the quaint neighborhood Bodhi apparently lived in now. He had a two-bedroom condo that overlooked the calm Pacific Ocean, painted yellow with a brown roof. I highly doubted this was Bodhi’s choice of color. He must have bought the place as-is to solidify his decision to move here. It was hard to take seriously any decision he made just because he changed his mind so often, and most of the times, those decisions contradicted themselves.
Bodhi let me in after I knocked on the brown door. I didn’t see a doorbell anywhere, making me frown. What condo didn’t have a doorbell?
It was two o’clock in the afternoon and he answered the door in a grey hoodie, with the hood covering his dirty blond hair, and matching sweatpants. He had socks on his feet, mismatched ones, and he looked as though I had just woke him up.
Classic Bodhi.
His half-mast eyes widened when he saw me. It was probably the finely tailored suit, the slicked back hair, the smell of success in the form of expensive cologne. I was the stark opposite of my younger brother and proud of that fact.
“What are you doing here?” he asked me, his blue eyes dull. “Did Dad send you?” Without commenting, he stepped aside, a silent invitation to come inside.
I was almost afraid to step in. I could smell the salt from where I stood and I didn’t know if I wanted to experience the scent even more than I currently was.
“I came here to bring you back to Seattle,” I told him in a low, calm voice. I tried to keep the judgment out of it but there were times it was difficult to do so.
“So Dad sent you.” His back was to me, leaving me to shut his front door, but I felt the eye roll even if I couldn’t see it. “I already told you guys I’m not coming back.” He plopped on a beat-up brown sofa and gave me a shrug. “I don’t understand what you guys don’t understand about that.”
“Because it’s not realistic.” I glanced around the room. The walls were a dark red, the curtains an off-white, covering square-shaped windows that overlooked the ocean. If I was quiet enough, I was positive I would be able to hear the waves crashing into the rocks beneath the houses lined up along the bluff. “Look at this place, Bodhi. What the hell is this place?”
“Typical Maxi,” he muttered. “Thinks he knows everything. Thinks his way is right and everyone else can go fuck off.”
I closed my eyes, trying to maintain my patience. I wished Isla was here. She was always good at calming Bodhi down. It must be a twin thing.
“That’s not what I said, Bo,” I told him.
“Didn’t you?” Another eye roll. I was surprised he still had eyeballs, truth be told. “To answer your question, this is my home. This is where I plan to live for the foreseeable future.”
“Which is what, the next few days?” I asked. “You have responsibilities back in Seattle.”
“What, you mean Dad’s company?” he asked. “Just because I came from that man’s loins doesn’t mean I’m suddenly responsible for a company he created. I didn’t ask for the job and I didn’t ask to be born.”
“That job makes you a lot of money,” I pointed out. “You wouldn’t have been able to buy this unique property.”
“I make money surfing.”
“When was the last time you surfed, Bodhi?” I asked. I was done being patient. The three-hour drive - thanks to traffic - was wearing on me and the scent of the nearby sea was clouding my senses, like a woman wearing too much perfume. “Get your head out of your ass. You need a plan. And moving here because you feel like it isn’t going to do anything for you.” I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes. “Let me guess; you used all your savings to buy this place and you realize that to survive, you’re going to need to get an actual job.”
The look on his face told me I was right but I didn’t expect him to admit it out loud.
“I’m starting my own business,” he countered. “I’m serious, Max, I’m not going back. I like it here. I like the people, I like the atmosphere. I’m not going back to Seattle or to Dad.”
“And Mom? Isla?” The women of our family were our weak spots. If I couldn’t convince him to come back because it was the logical choice, I could throw in my ace and see if that worked.
He hesitated. I could see it in his eyes. Just as I was about to head back to the door, expecting my brother to follow, he stopped me. His brow furrowed and his blue eyes became defiant.
“They’ll just have to visit me,” he said. “They’d probably like this place better than Seattle anyway.
”
I clenched my jaw. It sounded like he wasn’t leaving, at least for now. Which meant I was stuck here too, for the time being.
2
Victoria
* * *
My phone rang and, thanks to the assigned ringtone, I didn’t even have to look to see who was calling. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply and considered whether or not I really wanted to deal with my ex-husband on a perfectly nice evening. I’d already poured myself a glass of pinot noir to sip while I planned my week and I knew he’d ruin my mood. “What do you want, Joe?” I sighed.
“I miss Penny,” he whined. Although his tone was so off, it felt forced.
“Her name is Penelope. You know how I feel about nicknames,” I grumbled as I held the phone in one hand and my wine glass in the other. I stared longingly down at my planner, but obviously I was out of hands and something had to give. After being married to Joe for six years, it wasn’t going to be the alcohol.
“I know,” he muttered. “And I see you still have that stick lodged up your snooty ass.”
I almost wished he was here. If he’d been able to look me in the eye, he’d have shrunk back and slinked away with his tail between his legs. Regardless, if the gloves were off, I might as well stop playing around and go straight for his throat. “So, it’s our daughter you miss and not access to my bank account?”
He coughed and cleared his throat before responding “I have no idea what you mean. I’m doing fine. I don’t need your money.”
My brows rose. “Oh, really? That’s strange.”
“What’s so strange about it?” he snapped.
I laughed quietly. “Only that I spoke with Bennie the other day and he suggested otherwise.”
“Luck comes and goes. You know how it works.” He huffed.
“I know how it works for you. Or doesn’t. I funded your habit for years.” I stood and began to pace around the kitchen. I thought better when I moved around. “You bled me dry. You loved your casino more than you loved your family. So, tell me again about how much you miss Penelope?”
“I do,” Joe spluttered, like he usually did when I called him out on his bullshit.
“What do you miss most about her?” I licked my lips and lounged against the counter while I waited for him to come up with something.
He groaned. “I miss her…” He sighed. “I guess the way she…”
I decided to help him. I could only listen to him struggle for so long. There were a half dozen tasks I needed to accomplish in the next few hours before I could even think about dropping into bed. “Maybe you miss her Robin Hood impersonation?”
“Robin Hood?” There was an edge to his voice, a slight tremor he always had when he was caught in one of his deceptions.
“Yes, Joe. Did you really think I was so stupid I didn’t know that every time you had visitation with Penelope, you had her steal all my cash first? Did you really not guess why I stopped carrying cash?” I let out humorless laugh. “See, because I absolutely noticed that once she stopped acting as your human piggy bank, you stopped coming to pick her up.” I swallowed hard. Remembering this pained me. “I confronted her. And would you believe she blamed me for your disappearance…every bit of it. It’s my fault you left. It’s my fault you stopped wanting to see her.”
“I have no idea what you’re blathering on about.” Joe choked out the words. “I never said that.”
My next words were spoken dangerously low. “Yes, you did. You said that and worse. She told me everything. She started angry, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder, and I could see so much of you in her.” My throat tightened. Thinking about Penelope’s pain cut through me like a knife. “So much hate and bitterness all aimed at me.” My eyes burned with tears I refused to let fall, even if he couldn’t see them. “No more, Joe. No more money. No more hurting my daughter.”
“She’s mine too!” He protested angrily.
“Ha!” I snapped. “Penelope’s yours only insomuch as you contributed half of her genes. In every way possible, every way that counts, she’s all mine. I take care of her. I provide for her. I love her and see to her every need. I even joined the PTA.”
“Yes, you’re the perfect mother. You tried to act like the perfect wife.” Joe snorted. “You had to run everything. Had to be in charge. You left no room for me to be a man. That’s why I left.”
I gasped. “You have some nerve, you lousy bastard. Do you really want to open that door? If you do, I’ll strut straight through it and lay out all your shortcomings. You pathetic excuse for a man.”
“If I’m so terrible, why is there no one else? Why haven’t I been replaced?” He sneered. “We’ve been divorced for a couple of years now, but you haven’t been on a single date. You’d take me back in a heartbeat if I wanted you.”
I had been taking a sip of my wine, hoping the warmth would soothe me, when he spoke. I almost spit out my wine. Instead, I swallowed hard. “If that’s what helps you sleep at night…”
“Penny needs her father,” he argued.
“Yes, Penelope needs a father figure, but it won’t be you. It could never be you.” I sighed sadly. “Goodbye, Joe.” I ended the call. And then, since he had a propensity for calling back a dozen times until he felt he’d said his piece, I turned off the phone.
Behind me, on the stairs, I heard a board creak. I swiped at my eyes and took a big swig from my glass, then set it down before turning to face my little girl. “Penelope, you should be asleep,” I murmured as glided across the hardwoods to greet her.
“How can I sleep when you and Daddy are fighting?” Her green eyes were wide with fear. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I just wanted to make him happy. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Her head hung and I knew that despite the years since the incident I’d referenced, she was still ashamed of her behavior.
“You were only four then. You didn’t know better. Now you’re a big six year old girl.” I held open my arms to her and she fell into them. “And parents are supposed to tell the truth. I’m sorry Daddy lied, but don’t worry. I’ll protect you. I’ll keep you safe.”
“From him?” she asked quietly.
I gripped her even more tightly. “From everything.”
3
Max
* * *
I left Bodhi’s the next morning - although I didn’t actually consider that place his home - and drove straight to the only realtor in this town. I needed to show Bodhi that if he kept his focus and started actually giving a shit, he could have what he wanted and still make the money he should because of his family name.
Google was very forthcoming with information and I pulled up to a small suite attached to a long row of what appeared to be small-town businesses. In fact, the more I looked around this place, the more I realized big business hadn’t really touched it. I should probably talk to my father about purchasing land out here. It looked like it would be profitable during the summer.
Tabling that idea, I decided to focus on my new one: I needed to teach Bodhi a lesson. Buying a luxury condo right on the water was my goal. I wanted him to see that he had more potential than what he was doing with his life. That he had brains behind his careless attitude, if he would just apply himself.
I walked into the white building and the door slammed shut, causing the blinds to knock into the window. The lone woman at her desk jumped and glared.
“Hi,” I said, ignoring the ice-blue daggers she shot at me. “I’m interested in purchasing some property here.”
She looked down back at what I assumed was her planner. “Did you have an appointment?” she asked, her voice clipped. It almost sounded like she was annoyed with me, which seemed odd because it wasn’t like I was interrupting her.
I opened my mouth, ready to respond, but a chuckle came out instead. To be honest, it wasn’t my intention to laugh. It really wasn’t. But I couldn’t help it. Was she serious? This was a small beach town with a population of two thousand people. I had no idea how she managed to stay in busines
s because I was positive she didn’t have very many clients. How could she? Which meant appointments weren’t required. I hoped she would make an exception, considering she was going to get a pretty hefty commission if she could show me a decent property I actually wanted to buy. Maybe I didn’t plan to live here, but I could potentially rent it out or use it as my weekend house.
“I’m sorry,” she said, furrowing her brow and looking at me with pursed lips. “Is something funny? Did you have an appointment?”
“To be honest, I didn’t think you were actually serious about the appointment,” I said. “I just figured -“
“You figured you could step into my business and in five seconds be able to figure it all out?” She dropped her eyes and snapped her planner shut. “Let me guess: Seattle? You look local state-wise but definitely not from here. Not from the area.”
I furrowed my brow, sliding my hands loosely in my pockets. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to be funny or if she was genuinely prickly. Either way, I didn’t care for it. I wasn’t used to being completely written off, especially from someone who didn’t know me.
“Is there something wrong with Seattle?” I asked. I was trying to be patient. I needed her help and I didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with her, but I also didn’t like being reduced to a geographical place. Perhaps I should not have done the same thing to her.