The Billionaire & The Barfly (Coming Home)

by Adrianne James

  When the door closed, the sound died down, but she could still hear the shouts from beyond the door.

  “What the hell is going on out there?” Aubrey’s voice was a higher pitch than normal. She began pacing the room, back and forth, back and forth. Tears prickled at her eyes but she was afraid to let them fall. What if someone got a picture of her crying? What kind of story would they spin with that one?

  “One of the richest men in this country announced to the whole world that he was no longer the most eligible bachelor. He did this right outside your work. His biggest competition. It is a little disconcerting business-wise, and the media is looking for any story they can get. Henry sent me when he saw the news crews outside the building this morning.” Bruce spoke as if this were routine, as if he were used to this kind of reaction. As if her whole life hadn’t just been turned upside down.

  “So when will they go away?” she asked almost in a whisper.

  “When they get their story. You and Henry need to address them together. Right now, they are looking for anything to make a story out of. A baby bump, a ring on your finger, another man in your life.” Bruce looked over to her little brother. A shudder ran through her that he was going to be pulled into the craziness.

  “So Aubrey is dating someone famous?” Mackenna squealed. “Who is it? An actor? Musician?” Mackenna had jumped up and a light danced in her eyes. She was excited about the insanity outside their modest apartment. All Aubrey wanted was for it to go away.

  “A billionaire,” Bruce said. “Henry Maximus.”

  “Henry? The guy who lived a few blocks over?” Ben asked, finally speaking up. Aubrey had told him about Henry but never really told him everything. She just nodded. She didn’t know what to say at that point. What had happened? Just a few days before no one knew who she was. No one cared who she dated. Besides a once in a while mention in the paper about Maximus Gaming, she hadn’t even known what the owner of the damn company looked like. She had thought that since the merger was over, everyone would lose interest. She was wrong. So very wrong.

  “I know he moved a while ago. And I think his ’parents moved, too. Otherwise, we would have heard about the famous boy from the neighborhood about a million times by now,” Ben said.

  “Yeah, they moved a couple years ago. I used to walk their dog to make money when I was like ten or something. I was so angry they left, and I couldn’t find anyone else to pay me to walk their dogs. Their son was making a ton of cash, and they should have just given me like an envelope full of money to make sure I had enough for the rest of the summer. So selfish.” Mackenna rolled her eyes and went back to the window. She started waving and smiling at all the cameras outside.

  Aubrey could tell that Bruce was going to say something but she just shook her head. It was not the time to point out what a little brat Mackenna was being. From the looks of it, Ben was just as astounded by her words. She had never seen him look at Mackenna that way before—with such disappointment in his eyes. He used to think the girl hung the moon, Aubrey was pretty sure he was beginning to see that Mackenna wasn’t who he thought she was.

  “Hey, Aubrey, did I ever tell you what building I work in?” Ben asked randomly.

  “No, why?”

  “Oh, because I work at the coffee cart in Maximus Gaming.”

  Aubrey turned, her eyes narrowed. Maximus Gaming? He had to be kidding. Had Henry gotten him the job? She took a deep breath. She had to think. Was she actually mad at Henry for helping her brother out, if that is, in fact, what he did, or was she just irritated because of everything else? If he had gotten Ben the job, was it really a bad thing? No, of course not. But not telling her when she was worried about him and everything? Again, there was nothing to be upset over, even if she would like to have known.

  “Well, that’s a pretty big coincidence.” Aubrey didn’t want to tell Ben of her suspicions, but the fact that Bruce wouldn’t look her in the eye told her all she needed to know.

  “Ms. Vincent, if we don’t leave soon, you will be late for work. My advice to you would be to not answer anyone’s questions. Wait until you and Henry can sit down and talk about what gets revealed and what doesn’t.”

  “Okay. Let me just grab my things,” Aubrey said, not even bothering to correct him in calling her by her last name. She began gathering her briefcase and cell phone and a light jacket, almost methodically. So much was going through her mind, but mostly she wanted to make sure that Ben and Mackenna were able to get to school. With the way they stayed glued to the window, the press had to have seen them. “Bruce, after I get to work, can you make sure they get to school without being harassed?”

  “We’ll be fine!” Mackenna practically shouted. Aubrey huffed her obvious disagreement, and Bruce actually chuckled.

  “Yes, I will come back for them.”

  “Keep the door closed until Bruce comes back. And don’t talk to anyone, okay? I’m sorry you have to deal with this. I had no idea things would get this way.”

  Ben walked over and hugged her. When he kissed the top of her head and said it would all work out, she squeezed him tighter. She was supposed to be the one comforting him. He should be either freaking out or super excited. Wasn’t that the standard reaction? She may not agree with Mackenna’s antics at the window, but she knew they were normal for a teenager.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Aubrey pulled out of her brother’s embrace and looked to Bruce. He would be her shield. Even though she didn’t know him well, she knew that he would protect her.

  The door opened and Aubrey placed herself behind Bruce. She took two fistfuls of his jacket and stuck close to him. She could feel the bodies press in on them the minute they were out in the open. Everyone was shouting questions so loud and so quickly that they all blended together in a blanket of noise, none of which she could actually make out.

  The steps were difficult to navigate holding onto Bruce like she was, and the elevator was not an option as there were another dozen reporters standing guard. Quickly, Aubrey released Bruce’s jacket and ran down the steps next to him. On the third to last step, a single rock rolled under her foot and sent her crashing forward.

  Instead of hitting the ground like she had prepared for, two strong arms wrapped around her middle and righted her. On shaky feet, and even shakier breath, Aubrey turned to thank Bruce. His stony face shocked her, until a dozen flashes went off, catching her off guard—and still in his arms.

  Pulling away quickly, Aubrey resumed her position behind him, hiding her face from anyone’s lens. Thankfully, the town car that Bruce had brought had tinted windows. Once she slid inside, she could actually breathe. She could still see all of them, but she was hidden from the world.

  In the silence and privacy of the back seat, Aubrey let the tears fall.

  ~*~

  The scene outside Viola wasn’t much better. Aubrey had made sure to wipe her eyes and used a little compact she kept in her purse to freshen up before exiting the car. She made a beeline for the door, and thankfully, the security at the office was much better than at her apartment complex.

  Aubrey looked at her watch and quickened her steps. She had five minutes to get upstairs and into the conference room. Five minutes to mentally prepare herself for the most important meeting she had ever had, or could ever have. She didn’t know why they were risking everything on her, but she didn’t want to let them down.

  The elevator pinged, the doors opened, and Aubrey stepped out of the dark cart into the bright hallway filled with people. Everyone looked up and watched as she moved closer to the conference room doors. The skin on her neck prickled with every whisper that followed her. Uneasy nerves flared up, taking on the shape of a million angry butterflies fighting to the death inside of her stomach.

  Mike stood by the door, pacing. When Aubrey approached, he looked up and relief flooded his face. “Oh, thank God! You are cutting it close, aren’t you?”

  “Sorry about that. Getting here was something else this morning.” Au
brey didn’t want to go into detail. Chances were he already knew about her love life, just as the rest of the nation if they watched the morning news.

  “Are you sure you are up for this? I mean, you have the presentation ready to go, don’t you?” Mike began chewing on his lip, and Aubrey could practically hear his heart thrumming in his chest.

  “Yes, Mike. I do. I am ready. I can do this.” She knew her words were full of confidence… if only she were, too.

  “Okay, they’re waiting.”

  The door opened and Aubrey felt a whoosh of air pass by her. She closed her eyes for just a moment to relax and zone in on the moment. Nothing outside of that room mattered in that moment. What mattered was the presentation she was about to give and to get the contract signed before they walked out of the room.

  Aubrey stood at the front of the room with at least two dozen people watching her every move. She saw a few skeptical expressions pass over some faces and the others were stone. With every display she put up on the screen, with every figure she gave out, she lost more and more confidence in her idea. Not one smile or head nod in the bunch. She didn’t know what she did wrong. When she came to her conclusion, the group from Keith stood abruptly.

  “Interesting presentation. We had hoped for a more... unique idea.”

  “I’m sorry?” she asked, completely confused. She had given them that. Hadn’t she?

  “We had a teleconference early this morning with another company, and they had the exact same presentation. Down to the figures and regions to begin the plan in. If you can not find a way to honestly represent us, we will go elsewhere.”

  Aubrey stood at the front of the room, speechless. The men from Keith walked out without another word, and all eyes from Viola were on her. She swallowed back the knot in her throat and waited for someone to say something.

  “How could you?” Mike asked, rage clearly in his voice.

  Aubrey shook her head and tried to speak, to deny she had done anything wrong, but she wasn’t given the chance.

  “You have just condemned this company to death. The jobs of those two thousand people out there? They won’t have them in another six months unless something big turns this company around. That was supposed to be this meeting,” Mr. Fredrickson seethed. He picked up the conference phone from the center of the table and punched in a number. Aubrey looked around the room, hatred flying at her from all directions. There was one smug smile in the room. Jenna.

  “What did you do?” she asked. No one seemed to hear her but the wicked witch from the west.

  “I didn’t do a thing. You, on the other hand, told your little boyfriend your plans, and he ran with it. How does it feel to be used? To be treated as nothing more than a means to an end?”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “Security will be escorting you out of the building. I never want to see you in here again. Your final pay check will be mailed to the address on file.” Mr. Fredrickson said, then turned his back and left the room, the rest of the big wigs in tow.

  Aubrey collapsed into the nearest chair, completely confused. What the hell had just happened?

  She pulled her phone from her pocket while she waited for Nick to come and collect her. Quickly, she typed out a message to the one person she probably shouldn’t.

  I need you to come get me.

  Henry responded almost immediately.

  I will be there in five minutes.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nick stood quietly in the elevator with Aubrey. She couldn’t look anywhere but the floor. If she looked up, and saw the look of pity that she was certain was staring back at her from the security guard, it would all become real. Hell, the minute she stepped off the elevator, she knew that it would be a slap in the face how real it was.

  “Ms. Vincent, for what it’s worth, I don’t think you would ever sabotage Viola.” His words meant the world to her. At least someone believed in her. She had expected to hear from Bridgette at some point before being escorted out of the building, but she didn’t. Maybe she hadn’t built a real bond with her after all. She had thought she made a bond, a friendship with Bridgette. She didn’t think she could feel any worse than she had when she was accused of sabotage of an entire company, but knowing that the one friend she thought she had didn’t care enough to say goodbye hurt so badly she thought an ice pick was being stabbed through her heart.

  “Thanks, that means a lot.”

  The elevator lurched to a stop as a ping bounced between the walls, alerting her to the insanity that was about to ensue. Nick held the button that kept the elevator doors closed. Aubrey looked up and nodded, letting him know that she was ready. Even if it was a lie.

  They were able to take a few steps out of the elevator before anyone noticed them. It started with a single reporter who walked over calmly with his camera guy. She could see him looking back at the masses who, unlike him, were not paying attention.

  “Aubrey, why were you fired? Are you a mole for Maximus Gaming?” The microphone was stuck out in her face, and the bright light of the camera felt like one of those interrogation room spot lights. What she wanted to know was how they already heard she had lost her job.

  “Move aside, please,” Nick said as he pushed passed the reporter. Aubrey didn’t answer his question just as Bruce had suggested. Unfortunately, Nick’s voice carried in the echoes of the lobby of Viola and that caught the attention of the rest. For the second time in a little over an hour, Aubrey was surrounded by people shouting at her, wanting to get her picture.

  She couldn’t handle it. Too much was happening too fast and she had no clue what to do. She stopped walking and held up a hand, waiting for everyone to quiet down. She only wanted to speak once. It took a few moments, but eventually, the reporters got the hint and stopped shouting over one another.

  “I am not going to answer any questions. I am not going to be followed and harassed. I will call for the police, and I will have restraining orders placed against every one of you and your companies if I have to. Henry already made a statement about our relationship. That is all you need to know. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go.” Her voice wavered and she knew that her eyes must have been brimming with unshed tears as she spoke. Her hands were shaking, and all she wanted to do was crumple to the ground and cry but she refused to give them anything else to talk about. She had to hold it together just a little longer. She just had to find Henry.

  During her little tirade, Aubrey saw the town car show up outside the doors. She knew that Henry was inside. If she could just get to the back door and slip in, she could find out what the hell was going on.

  Too bad the reporters were not pleased with what she had said. Instead of backing off as she had hoped they would, their questions just grew in intensity. Instead of asking if she were a mole, they asked what kind of charges Viola would be pressing for selling secrets and breaking the confidentiality agreement all employees must sign. Instead of asking what brought her and Henry together after so many years, they questioned her fidelity.

  Aubrey tried to get to the car on her own, but it became impossible without actually laying hands on someone. The town car’s door opened and suddenly, Aubrey was forgotten. Instead of Bruce getting out and helping her into the car, Henry got out and distracted the reporters. He exchanged a quick look with Nick, who then grabbed Aubrey’s arm and lead her around to the other side of the car. By the time she was getting into the back seat opposite Henry, the information-crazed group barely noticed her. The few who couldn’t get close to Henry tried to get her attention but she ignored them. With her door firmly closed behind her, Henry said goodbye to everyone and got in himself.

  “Well, that was a first,” he said a bit awkwardly. “I am so sorry, Aubrey.”

  “What the hell happened?” Her voice was low but filled with ice. She was scared and angry about the way her morning started, she was confused and hurt with what happened at Viola, and she was just plain irritated with the circus that was currently
outside of the car. It should have been an amazing day. It should have been filled with stupid giddy smiles and a pleasant soreness between her legs with a want for more. Instead, she was bombarded with bullshit.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t expect this,” he said, with a sweeping motion of his hand to outside the car. “I knew that the merger would have people following me, but I have never had them worry about who I date before. I hope you know how truly sorry I am. If you don’t want—” he stopped talking, a catch in his throat. Aubrey could see the concern and worry in his eyes. What she didn’t know was if it was for her and the life that had basically crumbled in the past hour, or for him—thinking about losing her.

  “They are only half of it! What the fuck happened with Keith? I know I didn’t tell you anything. How did you find out our pitch? How did you get our exact numbers? Please, tell me that this whole thing wasn’t about growing your pocketbook and getting back at me for the stupid horrible shit I pulled in high school.” She hadn’t even considered it until it came flying from her mouth. Blinking back tears, Aubrey turned to look out the window at the city blurring past her window. If that had been his game, he did a hell of a job. Maximus would be the only big company in the gaming industry left, and she was utterly humiliated and heartbroken.

  “Listen to me,” he said sternly. When she didn’t look, he put a finger tip to her chin and pressed, encouraging her to look at him. She complied, fully aware that her eyes were shining like wet glass with unshed tears. “Please, don’t cry. I don’t know what happened with Keith. All I know is that we had a meeting scheduled for this morning. I wasn’t even there. I rarely am anymore. And no, this, you and me, has nothing to do with work. But I will find out what happened, and how we gave your presentation before you. I promise you that. As for the media circus out there, I don’t know what is going on. We can keep a low profile for a while and hope they go away, or we can talk to them when we have all the facts of what happened.”