Boss Empire

by Victoria Quinn

  “Yeah?” She looked down at her food and took another bite.

  “I’d like to come over for dinner with your parents…if you want me there.”

  She looked up again slowly, subtle surprise on her face. “You want to meet my parents?”

  “Well, yeah. I want to celebrate your birthday with you.” Whether she was with friends or family, I wanted to be there. I’d never met a woman’s parents before, but Autumn had already met mine. I’d ask Titan for some advice before I went over there.

  “I’d love that,” she said. “I just didn’t think you’d be ready for something like that.”

  “To celebrate your birthday?” I asked incredulously.

  “You know what I mean, Thorn.”

  “I prefer it when you call me babe.”

  A smile melted across her lips. “You know what I mean, babe.”

  “I want to be there.”

  “You’re sure?” she asked.

  “Yes.” I held her gaze with my own steady one. “You’re going to have to coach me through it, though, because I’ve never met a girlfriend’s parents.”

  “Because you’ve never had a girlfriend.”

  “Well…yeah.”

  “My parents are really nice. They’ll love you.”

  “Did you tell them about me?”

  She nodded. “I did.”

  I tried not to smile. “So…you said I was your boyfriend?”

  “Well, I certainly didn’t tell them you’re some guy I’m fucking.”

  I chuckled. “Good call.”

  “At first, they were weird about the Titan thing. They didn’t want me to be a rebound. But I explained to them what that situation really was. They didn’t understand in the beginning, but I told them it wasn’t really that strange. Royalty has marriages for convenience rather than love. Anyone who’s someone seriously considers a business relationship for a marriage. When I put it into perspective, they understood.”

  “And they know that’s not what we are, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” I wasn’t with Autumn for any other reason than the fact that I adored her. “Should I bring anything?”

  “No. My mom lives for this sort of thing.”

  “Reminds me of mine.”

  “I have a feeling they would get along well.” She turned back to her food and kept eating.

  The notion of our parents meeting would suggest we were getting married, but the idea didn’t freak me out. It didn’t make me feel anything. “So, is your dad the threatening type? Is he going to grill me?”

  “I’m a twenty-seven-year-old woman,” she said with a chuckle. “My dad doesn’t need to grill the men I see.”

  “Did they meet your ex?”

  “Max?” she asked. “Yeah, they liked him. They don’t like him anymore, but they did at the time.”

  Maybe they wouldn’t like me because they thought I would do the same to her, which I wouldn’t. Autumn could put on whatever spin she wanted, but I still thought the guy was an idiot. His wife couldn’t hold a candle to Autumn—no way. “They’re probably going to grill me pretty hard, then. But I’m prepared. I’ll sweep them off their feet.” I was good-looking, a billionaire, and I came from a great family. The thing they would care most about was the way I treated their daughter.

  And I would treat her like a queen.

  “Help me.” I walked into Titan’s office without knocking. She was holding up a pair of white heels so she didn’t see me coming through the glass doors.

  “What do you think of these?”

  I shrugged. “They’re nice. Why?”

  “They’re my wedding shoes. I just got them in.” They were an off-white color, and real diamonds were constructed into the shoe. They were perfect for a woman as classy as Titan.

  “To be honest, Diesel isn’t going to give a damn about your shoes. Even when your legs are thrown over his shoulders and your shoes are right next to his face, he’s still not going to give a damn. Just my thought…”

  She smiled then set the shoes into the box. “You’re right.”

  “He’s gonna want some lingerie. Tell me you got some of that.”

  “Actually, I did.” She nodded to the boxes stacked on the table against the wall.

  “Then he’ll be a very happy man. Good call.”

  She set the shoes on the table along with everything else. “What did you need help with? I need some help too.”

  “With what?” I asked. “Do you need something for the wedding?”

  “No. I’m just having a hard time keeping my hands off Diesel. I’m not sure if I can make it another day.”

  I sat in the armchair facing her desk. “God gave you fingers for a reason, Titan.”

  “You know I can’t do that. It’s not the same anyway.”

  “Then I don’t know what to tell you. This idiotic suggestion was your idea.”

  “True. I guess I’m the only one to blame.” She sat down then closed her laptop. “So, what were you saying?”

  “Today is Autumn’s birthday.”

  “Oh, it is?” she asked. “I’ll wish her a happy birthday.”

  “I’m going over to her parents’ place for dinner tonight to celebrate.”

  She did a double take. “Thorn Cutler is meeting his girlfriend’s parents? I can’t believe it.”

  “Me neither.” I knew how to dazzle anyone in a meeting, so I could do the same for these people. Gaining people’s confidence was my specialty, and I’d use a lifetime of learning to do the same with Autumn’s mom and dad.

  “You want advice on how to make a good impression?”

  “No. I know I can make a good impression. I’m a good-looking billionaire. I’m practically Prince Charming.”

  “Uh, Thorn.” She shook her head slightly. “Autumn is worth over a hundred million.”

  “So?”

  “You being a billionaire isn’t going to mean anything to them. That’s not what a parent cares about when it comes to their daughter.”

  “Then, what do they care about?”

  “That you make her happy. That you treat her well. Prove that to them, and you’re in.”

  I thought I made her happy. I did my best to treat her well. Would that be good enough? “I’m not sure how to do that, Titan.”

  “Well, you’re going over there to celebrate her birthday with her parents. That’s a pretty good sign. You could just skip it, but you aren’t. That will mean something to them, especially if she tells them you asked to come.”

  “Looks like I’m off to a good start.”

  “I think you just need to be yourself.” She propped her chin on her knuckles, her left hand resting on the desk. The diamond ring sat on her finger, the humble size perfectly matching her personality. “I know you really care about Autumn, more than you even realize. If I can see it, I’m sure they can too.”

  “I do care about her… I want them to like me.”

  “Then you’re golden, Thorn. Just don’t brag about yourself. I’m sure they know exactly who you are, so you don’t need to mention your money or accomplishments.”

  “Alright. Noted.”

  “Is that all you needed help with?”

  “Actually, no.” I’d given this a lot of thought and hadn’t come up with a solution. “I don’t know what to get her as a gift. There’s a diamond bracelet at Tiffany’s that’s really nice, but I never see her wear jewelry. She either doesn’t wear it because she doesn’t like it, or maybe she can’t afford something she really wants…”

  Titan shook her head. “Don’t get her diamonds. It’s impersonal and empty.”

  “Uh, I don’t think most women would say that.”

  “The only time you should buy diamonds for a woman is if it’s an engagement ring. For this first birthday together, you should do something a lot more meaningful. I know you’ve only been seeing her for a month, but it needs to have some thought in it.”

  “Okay…” I tried to think of somet
hing, but I was drawing a blank.

  “I can’t help you with this, Thorn. This needs to come from you.”

  I rubbed my temple and sighed.

  “You’ll come up with something. You’re one of the smartest men I know.”

  “Just last week you called me an idiot.”

  “And you are an idiot,” she countered. “Sometimes.”

  Autumn didn’t have a car, so I drove my Bugatti to the house in Connecticut. I wasn’t trying to show off. The only cars I had were luxury vehicles that cost millions of dollars. If I had my driver take us, I thought that might look worse.

  We pulled up to the house, a two-story white house with blue shutters. It had a nice yard with a large oak tree right out front. Trees were everywhere on the property, sprinkled with snow from the blizzard that came through last week.

  I tucked her gift under my arm and then walked to the front door.

  “Is that for me?” She was in black jeans and a beige sweater. An olive green scarf was wrapped around her throat, and she wore a thick black jacket on top. She’d had gloves on when she got into the car, but she’d stuffed them into her pockets.

  “Yeah.”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

  “It’s your birthday, baby. I wanted to get you something.”

  “Well, that was very sweet.”

  I took her hand and walked up to the front door. “They have a very nice place.”

  “Yeah, they love it. It’s always quiet. Whether it’s summer or winter, it’s beautiful here. When my mom saw it, she said it was her dream house.”

  “It was really nice of you to buy it for them.” She’d never said that, but I picked up on the subtle hints.

  “They’re my parents…they did a lot for me.” She rang the doorbell.

  I was close with my family, so I found it attractive that she was close with hers. Not everyone was generous when they had money. Oftentimes, people just became greedier. Autumn wasn’t that way at all.

  The door opened and revealed a woman in Autumn’s likeness. With jet-black hair, green eyes, and a short stature, she looked like Autumn’s sister. Her eyes fell on her daughter, and she beamed with obvious pride. “My baby is home.” She pulled Autumn in for a tight hug. “Twenty-eight…I can’t believe it.” Her mother was thicker than her daughter, having a bigger waist and thighs, but she’d still aged very well.

  “I know,” Autumn said as she hugged her mother back. “Time goes by so fast.”

  Her mother turned to me next, and she gave me the same look of joy that she just showed to her own daughter. “You must be Thorn. We’re so excited to have you over. Please come in.”

  “Thanks. Pleasure to meet you.”

  She shook my hand. “I’ve seen you on TV a lot. You look just as handsome in person.”

  “Oh…thank you.” This was getting off to a good start.

  Her father came into the entryway, a man with black hair that was quickly fading to gray. He wore a collared shirt and dark jeans. He was slender, like he spent most of his time on his feet. “Glad to have you join us.” He shook my hand.

  “I’m happy to be here, sir.” I’d never called anyone sir before. People were always calling me that instead.

  “I’m Walter,” he said. “This is my wife, Emily.”

  I nodded. “Pleasure to meet you both.”

  “Let’s sit down and eat,” Emily said. “I made Autumn’s favorite.”

  “Lasagna?” Autumn asked.

  “Yes, sweet pea,” her mother said.

  Seeing their closeness touched my heart in a way I could never explain.

  We sat at the dining table, and I left the present toward the opposite end. Her mother served the food. We started eating, and then Autumn exchanged a few words with her parents, asking about their lives while she hadn’t seen them in weeks. She told them about the conference in Chicago and her working relationship with Titan.

  I scarfed down the food because it was delicious. “This is amazing, Emily.”

  “I’m glad you like it, Thorn,” Emily said. “Cooking has always been my favorite pastime. There’s a cooking school just in town, so I’m there a lot with a few friends. Do you cook often, Thorn?”

  “Not really,” I said honestly. “I made Autumn dinner once, but I served the only dish I know how to make.”

  Autumn smiled at me.

  Emily smiled wider. “That’s sweet.”

  “You guys have a lovely home,” I said. “Reminds me of Home Alone.”

  “Thank you,” Walter said with a smile. “When Emily saw it, she knew she had to have it. And Autumn was generous enough to make that happen.”

  Autumn shifted her gaze to her food, her cheeks reddening.

  “You guys have a wonderful daughter,” I said. “The first time I met her was in her office. I was trying to make a deal with her, but she didn’t bow down. She met my confidence with her elegance. I’ve never been so impressed in my life.”

  The pride shone in Emily’s eyes. “I’m not sure how we got so lucky to have a daughter like her. When she was young, we knew she was special. Ahead of her peers and ambitious, she passed all of her courses with flying colors. And to top it off, she’s extremely compassionate and generous.”

  “She must get it from you two.” I wasn’t trying to kiss their asses. It was just the most logical explanation. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I inherited a lot of traits from both of my parents. I learned my professional tactics from my father and my affectionate manner from my mother.

  “I’d like to think she does,” Walter said.

  The conversation shifted, and they asked me about my company and my involvement in Autumn’s business relationship with Titan.

  “Titan and I have been good friends for over ten years now. Once she was shot, I took over her holdings to help her out. Her fiancé has an empire even bigger than hers, and he had to manage that while taking care of her. My family company isn’t as extensive as the other stuff Titan does. It’s been in my family for over a hundred years now, so it’s pretty self-sufficient.”

  Her parents asked me a few more questions about work before the conversation died away. They didn’t interrogate me like I thought they would. They seemed accepting of me right from the beginning.

  “Should we do gifts before cake?” Emily asked.

  “Mom, you guys don’t have to get me anything,” Autumn said. “I’m almost thirty.”

  “No matter how old you are, you’ll always be our little girl.” Walter grabbed the gift and set it in front of her. It was a small gift, rectangular in shape.

  Autumn ripped off the paper and then revealed a bracelet inside. It was silver with three different charms. Each one had a different letter. D, A, and M. It took me a second to figure out what it meant. The A in the middle was the initial for Autumn’s name. And the two charms on the outside represented Mom and Dad.

  Thank god, I didn’t buy her diamonds. I would have looked like a total ass.

  “Aww…” Autumn stared at it with a smile, the affection in her eyes. “That’s so sweet.” She clasped it around her wrist and examined it. “I love it.”

  “Now we’ll always be with you wherever you go,” Emily said as she patted her daughter on the arm.

  The touching scene caused me to fall for Autumn even harder. Something about her relationship with her parents made me feel warm inside. Autumn was a strong woman who didn’t back down in a fight. She could hold her own in any hostile situation. But when she was with her family, she was sweet and vulnerable like everyone else. She wore her heart on her sleeve and filled the room with affectionate warmth.

  “Thanks, Mom and Dad.” Autumn examined the bracelet again before she pulled her arm away.

  “It’s nice,” I whispered. “Very thoughtful.”

  “Yeah…” Autumn cleared her throat and controlled her expression.

  I grabbed my gift and handed it to her. “It can’t be returned, so I hope you like it.”<
br />
  “I know I’ll love it, Thorn.” She ripped open the box then pulled out the scarf sitting inside. It was maroon in color with a small pattern woven into the fabric. Made of a luxurious cashmere, it was soft to the touch. She examined the pattern and finally deduced what it was.

  I had it designed with formulas I noticed in her lab, equipment she used on a daily basis, and her name written in the stars. Science was her life and her passion, so I wanted to make something that was meaningful to her. She didn’t care about money, only the legacy she would leave behind. She’d already contributed so much to the industry, and I wanted her to know she wouldn’t be forgotten. Her name would always be written in the stars—and in my heart.

  When I left Titan’s office, I’d spent the next hour trying to think of something I could give Autumn. She wore scarves often, so I knew she loved them. But a simple scarf wouldn’t have been enough. She may never wear this, but at least she would know I paid attention to every little thing she did.

  “Thorn…” She ran her fingers over the material then looked at me. “This is so sweet…”

  “Your legacy is in the making, baby.”

  She was touched by the gift her parents had given her, but she was even more touched by this. Her eyes softened, and if I looked closely enough, I could see the slight film of moisture coat the surface of her eyes. “I love it.”

  “Good,” I said. “I’m glad.”

  Her parents examined the scarf next, both of them interested in the markings I’d had personally detailed into the fabric.

  “I got such great gifts this year,” Autumn whispered. “Thank you.”

  Titan gave me the best advice, and now I was so grateful I’d asked for it. Autumn didn’t care about expensive things. She had money, but she obviously didn’t care about buying an expensive car or jewelry. She was down-to-earth and humble.

  Diamonds would have been idiotic.

  I was so glad I thought of this. I could tell she really loved it.

  And the smile she wore meant more to me than everything I owned.

  Her father and I stayed in the dining room while the ladies went into the kitchen to clean up. We talked about sports, the coldness this winter season, and his reaction when Autumn told him she wanted to drop out of MIT.