Secret Billionaire

by Leah Torie

  She had to apologize. Not a little apology, like the one she’d offered at the time. Some sort of way to make her sister feel better about the whole situation. After all, Anna had come here to Oakdale because she needed her family.

  But without knowing what had hurt Anna so deeply, how could Jessie hope to help her?

  The bathroom was gleaming and Jessie had made a start on cleaning the windows when the doorbell chimed. She dropped her rag and hurried to answer it, hoping it would be Anna.

  A familiar-looking man stood on the step, looking uncomfortable. Mr. Tom Davies. At Jessie’s home. This day just kept getting better.

  “May I help you?” Jessie asked in an icy tone.

  “My mother insisted that I give you the bill to dry clean her coat.”

  Jessie shook her head in disbelief. “She was adamant that she wouldn’t pass on the bill when I offered to pay it. What changed?”

  Tom’s gaze was inscrutable. “She was in public. Privately, she felt differently.”

  “Oh, I see. She was embarrassed to accept my generous offer of recompense in case anyone overheard.” Jessie stared Tom down, looking him straight in the eye. “Maybe I’ve changed my mind about paying it.”

  His expression didn’t change but Tom’s stance became more rigid. It was clear he was growing impatient.

  “I’m not a go-between.” His voice was quiet but still oddly forceful. A quiver ran down Jessie’s spine as she glimpsed hidden depths. She decided the best thing to do was just pay the stupid bill.

  “Y’know what? Here. Let me get my check book and I’ll take care of this.” She turned around and went back into the house, leaving Tom standing on the doorstep. She knew she should have invited him in, but she didn’t want him walking around her private sanctuary.

  In the dining room bureau, she found her check book and went back to the hallway. Tom wasn’t where she had left him. He had entered her home unasked, and was looking at the frame surrounding a family portrait.

  “In some states, I’d be in my rights to shoot you for trespassing,” Jessie remarked, although she was trying to make a joke. She didn’t mean anything by it.

  “Then you ought to have closed the door.” His response was so simple and obvious, and yet, somehow, it riled Jessie up even more than anything else he’d said.

  “Get out of my house.”

  “You forgot the bill.” He held out the little white envelope. Jessie glared at it, then snatched it off him.

  “Fine! I’ll do it this way.”

  “What other way were you going to write a check? Don’t tell me you intended to leave it blank.”

  His stern voice made her color red. Jessie pressed her lips together and opened the envelope.

  “Two hundred dollars? To dry clean one coat? That’s impossible!”

  “See. If you’d written a blank check, that would have been a nasty surprise on your bank statement.”

  Jessie didn’t say anything.

  “You do read your monthly statements, don’t you?” He raised a brow and she wished this whole conversation would be over.

  “Let’s move back to the most important point,” Jessie said. “Why did it cost so much for dry cleaning?”

  Tom shrugged. “It does seem a little steep.”

  “A little? She could buy three new coats for that! I’m not paying a penny until I see an itemized receipt.”

  Tom smiled. Jessie’s confusion must have been apparent because he said, “I’m pleased you have at least some sense. If you’d written the check, I would have been disappointed.”

  Jessie didn’t know why her chest swelled when she heard that. Did she really want his approval?

  “I care not for your good opinion,” she said, to cover her true feelings.

  “Jane Austen,” he responded immediately.

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know?”

  “I did a double major in college. Business and English Lit.”

  Great. He was not only educated but cultured. That was something Jessie had never managed, much to her mother’s disappointment.

  “I just saw the TV show.” She shrugged because she didn’t like to admit she hadn’t even read one of the most famous books in the world.

  “I heard they made a movie of it recently. Care to accompany me to the cinema?”

  Jessie didn’t react at first, because she had to marshal her thoughts.

  “Is this... are you asking me on a date?” It seemed unlikely. They’d been arguing five minutes ago.

  “Possibly. Will you come?”

  “I’ll have to check my calendar,” Jessie replied quickly. Too quickly. She wished she were better at situations like this, but they almost never came up.

  “Here’s my card. Call me.”

  He turned to leave.

  “Wait! What about the dry cleaning bill?”

  “I’ll tell her you paid it. She won’t know you didn’t.”

  “What if she needs that money?”

  “She doesn’t. She has a good retirement pension.”

  Jessie’s family had enough money to be comfortable. She wouldn’t struggle to pay the bill, but she didn’t understand this situation. It felt like a charade.

  “Okay. Then why did you bring the bill here at all?”

  He cocked his head to the side, looking playful. Jessie imagined he would do well around her horses.

  “She made me promise. And I always keep my promises. Will you keep a promise to me?”

  Jessie’s integrity made her immediately nod. “Sure.”

  “Call me when you know your availability.”

  He turned and left.

  Jessie stood in the doorway for several dumbfounded seconds. Last time she saw him, he’d been so uptight and rude. Today, he was... funny. Was it because his mother wasn’t there? Or was he naturally a very changeable person?

  Chapter 6

  Jessie was so preoccupied with wondering whether she should accept a date with Tom or not that she forgot all about her rift with Bibbi until Becca called later that afternoon.

  “Hey, Becca, how’s the wedding planning going?” Jessie wanted to hear all about it. She’d just returned from the hospital and her mom had been in a foul mood because she’d wanted to see Anna again, and Jessie had no explanation about where her sister was.

  “Jessie, you are never going to believe what Bibbi has done!” From Becca’s tone, nothing good had happened.

  “Go on.”

  “She’s canceled the reservation for our double date tonight! The restaurant just called to confirm they were taking a deposit for late cancellation!”

  Jessie winced. She had completely forgotten about the double date.

  "How did she cancel it? Did you tell her where we were going?”

  “Uh... I maybe made the reservation while I was waiting for a cab outside Bibbi’s salon. She probably heard me.”

  “That’s unbelievable that she would meddle! What are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know. They gave the table to someone else, now.”

  “Ugh. That’s just mean. Okay, I need to think...” Jessie trailed off and ran through all the eateries in Oakdale, trying to figure out what might be available. “I will fix this. Somehow. I’ll call you when I have.”

  Jessie put the phone down and pulled out Tom’s business card. It didn’t say what his business was, except that he was the CEO. He seemed like the sort of guy who probably had connections.

  “Hey, Tom,” she began.

  “Jessie. I was hoping you’d call.”

  Jessie’s smile froze as she realized she hadn’t decided if she would go on a date with him or not.

  “Listen, my friend’s in a bind and I’m wondering if you can help her out.”

  “What does she need?”

  That was a promising beginning. Jessie tried to explain the problem. “She had a dinner reservation but our other friend canceled it. She has a date and it’s her first ever date.”

  “Ev
er?” He sounded skeptical.

  “Even as a kid. She’s a doctor.” Jessie said it by way of explanation.

  “Okay, so she needs a table for two?”

  “Uh... that’s where it gets more complicated.” Jessie cringed as she realized how this was going to sound. “The table’s for four. Her date is a twin, and he’ll only go on this date if it’s a double date with his brother.”

  Tom whistled through his teeth. “That is complicated. Am I about to find out where you fit into all this?”

  Jessie sighed. “I’m accompanying the brother. But it’s not a real date. I’m just helping out Becca. And chaperoning her.”

  “I’ll make some calls.”

  “Thank you!” Jessie elongated the final vowel to try and show how truly grateful she was.

  She put the phone down and looked at the clock. She would have to hurry if she wanted to be ready in time.

  Jessie had showered and was drying her hair when the phone rang. She hurried downstairs in a towel to answer it.

  “Tom? Did you get it?”

  “It’s Becca. You never called me back.”

  Jessie deflated. “Sorry, I’m waiting to hear from someone who is trying to pull some strings at a restaurant for you.”

  “Oh, okay. Call me as soon as you know what’s happening. And not a word to Bibbi. I don’t want her messing this up twice in one day.”

  “Cross my heart,” Jessie said, then ended the call and went back to getting ready.

  Ten more minutes passed before the phone rang again.

  “Hello?” Jessie decided it was best not to try and guess who was on the line, this time.

  “Seven o’clock at Francois’.”

  “Oh my gosh, thank you, Tom, you’re the best.”

  “I can’t believe the lengths I just went to, to arrange for you to date someone else.”

  Jessie laughed. “It’s pretty funny when you think about it.”

  “Indeed. Oh, and try the mussels. They’re delicious.”

  “Thanks for the suggestion. Bye.” Jessie stood holding the receiver for a couple of minutes before she heard a mumble from the earpiece. “Hello?”

  “You didn’t hang up,” Tom said.

  “Neither did you,” she replied.

  “Touché.”

  “Okay. I’m going this time. For real. See you.” She pressed the end call button and dialed Becca.

  “Jessie?”

  “Hey. I have solved the restaurant problem. We have a table at seven for four at Francois’.” Oh, that could get confusing, Jessie thought.

  “The French place? Wow. How did you pull that off?”

  “Let’s just say I had a little help.”

  “Well, I’m sure impressed. I’ll call the guys. See you there.”

  “Bye.”

  After a hasty call to Anna to ask her to watch Taylor for the night, Jessie went to the kitchen and poured herself an ice-cold lemonade. The twists and turns of the day so far had been dizzying, and she was sure there were more to come. She wondered what to wear to this date. She didn’t want to look like she was a slob, but at the same time, she didn’t want to give Becca’s date’s brother the wrong idea.

  She opted for something smart but with a high neck and long sleeves. It wasn’t really the weather for sleeves, but she didn’t like the idea of going on a date looking underdressed. Besides, this was Becca’s night to shine. Jessie wasn’t sure she cared about dating anymore, since no one in Oakdale would ever marry her because of Taylor. Although she might make an exception for Tom.

  After completing minor chores and being interrupted frequently by Taylor, Jessie finally was ready to go. She went downstairs and almost walked straight into her daughter.

  “Sweetheart! Where’s Aunty Anna?”

  “She’s not home, yet.”

  Jessie frowned. “I’ll call her.”

  She dialed her sister’s number, but it just kept ringing.

  “That’s odd.” She turned to Taylor. “She’s probably just sitting in traffic somewhere.”

  “Traffic? Like, waiting at the lights?”

  “Yeah. Something like that. Go on up to your room and start getting ready for bed. I’ll keep trying Aunty Anna.”

  Taylor skipped upstairs and Jessie tried to calm the growing butterflies in her stomach. She called her sister three more times, but still no answer.

  The time was quarter to seven. Jessie called Becca.

  “I can’t make it, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re abandoning me?” The betrayal in Becca’s voice was hard to hear.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. There’s no one to watch Taylor.”

  “I thought your sister was staying with you.”

  “She’s been MIA all day. She said she’d be home but she isn’t, and I can’t get a hold of her.”

  “Please, Jessie. They’ll go home if you don’t show.”

  The stress turned the butterflies into a heavy rock that weighed Jessie down. “I can’t bring her with me. There’s no solution. I’ve spent most of my day trying to make this date happen for you. I’m sorry.”

  Jessie suddenly felt very self-conscious, dressed up like she was free to go out in the evening. Tears swelled in her eyes and she choked out a sob as Jessie slid to the floor.

  “Oh, hun, don’t cry,” Becca said. Jessie couldn’t help it.

  “I tried so hard,” she sobbed.

  “I know, and I’m grateful.”

  The door opened and Anna came in. She looked down at Jessie, crying on the hallway floor, and her brows knitted together.

  “Becca? Anna’s here. I’ll call you back.” Jessie hung up and gazed at Anna.

  “I’m so, so sorry, Jessie.”

  “You said you’d watch Taylor,” Jessie snapped, in that special way that only sisters can manage, simultaneously more hurtful and more connected than anyone else in the world.

  “I’m here now. Go wash your face. You’ll only be a few minutes late.”

  Jessie got up and went to the downstairs bathroom. She splashed cold water over her eyes, was glad she didn’t wear makeup, and patted her skin dry with a fluffy white towel. She took a few seconds to center herself, then she stepped out.

  “Go get ‘em, Jessie,” Anna said, looking extremely sheepish.

  Jessie picked up her purse and went straight to her car. On the way, she called Becca using her handsfree kit and let her know everything was going ahead.

  By the time she pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot, Jessie felt calm and ready to face the evening.

  Francois’ restaurant was pretty upmarket. Jessie wondered how a place like this survived in a small town where few people had the money for regular outings. Gazing around the place, she wondered if the patrons had driven out here from other towns. Across the room, she spotted Becca sitting at a table opposite two men. All Jessie could see of the men was the backs of their heads, so all she knew for certain was they both had brown hair.

  She smiled at the Maître D’ and walked over to Becca.

  “Jessie! You made it!”

  Becca stood and gave her a hug. Jessie smiled.

  “So sorry. Last minute... last minute problems.” She didn’t want to mention Taylor yet, and she wasn’t sure why.

  “This is Noah, and his brother Toby, who is your date for the evening,” Becca said, and Jessie sat opposite Noah. It seemed so formal. She didn’t remember dates being quite so... official, before.

  “Hi. I’m Jessie,” she said to him.

  “What do you do?” he asked.

  “I run a riding school here in town. You?”

  “I work at a nonprofit helping homeless puppies.”

  “Wow. That’s so sweet. Have you ever been here before?” she asked.

  “No.”

  The conversation petered out and Jessie glanced at Becca, who was deep in conversation with Noah about a movie they’d clearly both seen. Toby caught Jessie’s gaze.

  “She’s a good friend of you
rs, I guess?”

  Jessie nodded.

  “That’s why I’m here. She sounded so happy.”

  “So did Noah.”

  “This whole double date thing... have you done it often?” she asked.

  “A couple of times. Usually it makes girls give up before the first date, though.”

  “So why keep doing it?”

  He looked thoughtful for a moment.

  “Because if they’re going to give up so easily, they weren’t going to make good wives.”

  Jessie thought about her day. “I had a ton of obstacles today, and I didn’t give up trying to get here. But I’m pretty sure I’m not marriage material. Maybe the two things aren’t related.”

  Toby shook his head and gazed into her eyes in a way that might have been quite stunning if she’d been interested in him.

  “They’re definitely related,” he said with conviction. “I believe marriage is forever, so both parties have to be able to overcome anything that might part them.”

  “And the rest just get left behind? No. That’s too harsh. I believe everyone deserves love,” Becca chimed in. “There’s someone out there for everyone.”

  Jessie said nothing. If there was someone waiting to marry her, they’d be standing around for a very long time, because she had decided she wasn’t the marrying type.

  When the meal was over, Jessie thanked Toby for his company. After an awkward goodbye, when he seemed to be waiting for her to offer her phone number, she turned and left. Maybe if Becca and Noah made it to a second date, someone else could accompany them to sit with Toby.

  Back home, the house was peaceful. After the awkwardness of that double date, Jessie’s home felt like a sanctuary.

  “Hey, Jessie, how did it go?” Anna asked.

  “Is Taylor in bed?” Jessie looked around in case she wasn’t.

  “Yeah. Fast asleep.”

  “I think Becca likes her date.” Jessie tried to be diplomatic.

  “And what about yours?”

  She sighed. “He was interesting company for an hour or two but I’m not looking for anyone.”

  “Want coffee?” Anna tilted her head like she already knew the answer.

  “That would be great, thanks.” Jessie sat on one of the kitchen chairs and watched her older sister make coffee happen.