My Antisocial Billionaire: A Clean Billionaire Romance (My Billionaire A-Z Book 1)

by Katie Evergreen

  He snorted out of his nose, sneering at her like she was a madwoman.

  “Blake told me it could work, he even said he could help me make it happen. And no, not because he had another agenda, thank you very much, but because he saw what I see, he saw how important this could be.”

  Josh held out his hands like she was a runaway horse.

  “Just whoa,” he said. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Ellie. He really said that?”

  Ellie took a breath and nodded.

  “He really said he would help you?” Josh said, licking his lips. “Like, give you the money?”

  “No,” she said. “Not like that.”

  And not at all, now, she thought. Blake had enough on his plate, she doubted he’d have the time to help her launch LifeWrite.

  “We should do it, then,” Josh said, walking to the other side of the counter. “I helped you with the original plans, we should try to make it happen.”

  It was Ellie’s turn to snort.

  “You helped?” she said. “All you did was criticize.”

  “Exactly,” he replied, smiling. “That’s how good teams work. If I’d told you how great everything was you would never have tried to make it better. I was criticizing you for your own good, the same as with your hair, your physique. That’s what a good man does, he pushes a girl up to her full height, he makes her the best she can be.”

  Ellie screamed inside her head, walking out of the kitchen. She barged past Josh, heading for the bathroom. What she really needed was a glass of wine and a bath—preferably together.

  “What?” said Josh. “Don’t you dare cut me out of this, Ellie. I was there for you all those years when you were making LifeWrite, it’s as much mine as yours.”

  She walked into the bathroom, ready to slam the door behind her. Josh was standing in the kitchen, looking at her with an expression of pity.

  “Poor Ellie,” he said. “Don’t you see it? You’re nothing without me. I made you, I was always there for you, even now. You might think you can do better than me but I promise you there’s nobody else out there who will love you like I do. Nobody else who will stick by your side like I will. Blake Fielding might be a billionaire but he’s no Josh Bigsby. And deep down, Josh Bigsby is the man you love.” He smiled that arrogant smile of his. “Go have a wash, then we’ll talk about the future. Because a future with me is what you deserve, nobody else will be there for you.”

  Ellie shut the door on him, leaning against it and doing her best to hold back the tears—tears of anger, yes, but tears of sadness too, and tears of resignation. Because if today had told her anything, it was that Josh was probably right.

  17

  Blake stared into the river, lost in the gently meandering water. The sun shimmered on its surface like liquid fire, stirred by the breeze which blew upstream. The trees rustled, the birds sang, and if he really tried he could convince himself that he was back home, a kid again, ready to ride his bike down the hill with his friends.

  Then he heard voices, and reality came crashing back down like a demolished building. He glanced over his shoulder to see a group of people walking up the path, talking excitedly about something. He pulled his cap down, adjusted his glasses, and watched the river until he was sure they were gone. He’d been lucky so far, the taxi had carried him through a throng of reporters right to the main parking lot, and he’d made it to the river without being identified. It wouldn’t be long before somebody worked out it was him, but he couldn’t quite face the thought of walking into the building yet.

  Because somebody in there was his mortal enemy.

  They were trying to destroy him. Not his life, but everything his life stood for. It might be too late to stop it, but he at least had to find out who it was.

  He closed his eyes, and visions of Ellie appeared there. She lifted herself onto her tiptoes and offered her lips to him and he kissed her the way he’d kissed her in the elevator. It had been so unexpected, but at the same time he’d known she was going to do it, almost as if he’d been able to read her mind. It was the most unlikely scenario for a kiss. He’d just had the worst news of his life—apart from the day he’d found out that his mother had died—and his self-confidence was at an all-time low. All had seemed lost. But then she’d kissed him, and it was as if she’d given him some of her strength, some of her vitality. Suddenly there was hope again.

  I don’t know who sent you, he’d said to her, and he meant it. It was almost as if some divine force had caused Ellie Mae Woodward to be walking along this very path yesterday, a force that had wanted their fates to collide. Sophie had called them old souls, and he had known instantly what she meant. Some souls have wandered the earth for a long time, searching for each other. And when they meet, they are already in love.

  Then why did you let her go? he asked himself.

  The answer was obvious. The answer was right here. There was only room for one thing inside his head right now, inside his heart, and that was the business he had spent his whole adult life building. He had to save it, and he had to help the people who worked for him.

  Besides, he was now one of the most hated men in America. Even if he managed to find out who had done this to him, and even if he managed to prove his innocence, he would always be tainted. The internet was a harsh place, and people didn’t forgive easily. By pushing Ellie away he had saved her from a life of misery, a life where she would have to explain herself to friends and family and strangers every single day. She was the most amazing woman he had ever met, and she deserved better than what he could give her. He would ask David to help her set up LifeWrite, but he would make sure their paths never crossed again.

  It broke his heart, and he had to turn away from the river to stop himself thinking about her. Gathering as much strength as he was able, he marched down the path toward the main building. A few people were clustered outside and they pointed at him, whispering to each other as he entered through the large doors. The reception desk was still frantically fielding calls, oblivious to him, and the security guard did a double take before letting him through the barriers.

  “Hey Billy, is Michelle in?” Blake asked. The guard nodded, gesturing upstairs.

  “They all are,” he replied. “They called a meeting for this afternoon.”

  Blake’s heart sank. He thanked the man and ran for the elevator, taking it straight up to the tenth floor. It was quiet up here, most of the top-level staff fighting fires on the fourth floor where the customer service teams were based. There was nobody in the board room, which was good, and Blake made his way to the corner office that Michelle used. As he approached, he heard voices, and he slowed down to try to work out what they were saying.

  “… can’t do this!” said a voice he recognized as David. “We have to at least let him know. He has to be here to fight his corner.”

  “He had his chance,” said Michelle in the haughty sneer that Blake had come to hate. “Agnes has made a decision. We can’t sit back and let the company sink. He committed a grave offence, a stupid one, and now he has to pay.”

  Blake took a deep breath, then he stepped through the door, startling both of them. Michelle was sitting behind her huge desk, her eyes cold. David was standing in front of her, both hands planted on the desk, his expression desperate.

  “Thank goodness,” David said. “You’re here.”

  He walked over and grabbed Blake in what felt like a football tackle, slapping his back.

  “What’s going on?” Blake asked when David had let go. “Why has Agnes called a meeting?”

  “Why do you think?” Michelle asked. “Shares are down another twelve per cent, and another hundred thousand users have dropped off the map since the video went online last night. You’re killing us, Blake.”

  He nodded, trying to work out the best way of finding out the truth.

  “Any news on the hack?” he asked, and Michelle laughed.

  “There was no hack,” she said. “You can’t fool anyone wi
th that. You’re a sexist pig, Blake. Just accept it and move on.”

  Blake looked at David, and David shrugged.

  “Nothing,” he said. “We had the team work through any possible breach of the network from here or from Russia. There’s no evidence the system was ever hacked. I don’t know what to say, Blake, but every shred of evidence points to the posts coming from your own machines.”

  “Because they did,” Blake said. David frowned.

  “What?” said Michelle, standing up. “You’re admitting it?”

  “No,” he said, keeping his tone as calm as he was able. “They came from my machines, but I didn’t write them.”

  “What are you saying?” David asked. “Somebody used your cell, your computer?”

  “Somebody who knew the passwords,” said Blake, not taking his eyes off Michelle. “Someone who barely left my side.”

  “Be very careful what you say next,” said Michelle, her expression carved from ice. She pointed a long, thin finger at him. “You are in dangerous territory.”

  “I know it was you,” Blake said. “I have proof. I saw Andrew, he showed me the metadata. I couldn’t have written some of those posts, and you know it.”

  “The words of a desperate man,” Michelle said.

  “Desperate men are dangerous,” Blake replied. “The post on the 4th January, this year. I was in hospital with Andrew while his wife was in surgery. No cell, no laptop. I couldn’t have made that post. David, you remember that?”

  David nodded, his expression brightening.

  “Sure, you left your phone here. I was trying to call it all morning, and when I came to your office I found it on your desk. You weren’t back until the next day. You think…?”

  He looked at Michelle as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “I don’t think,” said Blake. “I know. Michelle knew all of my passwords, she regularly accessed my accounts for work. She planted the posts there, then activated them yesterday morning. Andrew will back me up, we can convince the board.”

  Michelle stared at him, then her mouth curved up into a cruel smile.

  “You think that will convince them?” she said. “You think that even matters? The world has spoken, you’re as guilty as they come.”

  “Did you do this?” David asked, his expression furious. Michelle didn’t reply, but everything in her expression told Blake the truth.

  “Why?” Blake asked.

  “Why do people do anything?” she said. “Money, power, love. You thought you could leave me. You were wrong.”

  “You did all this out of spite?” Blake spat. “It’s my life, Michelle.”

  Michelle turned to the window, staring out at the flawless blue sky.

  “It’s too late to change it, Blake,” she said. “I win.”

  Blake had such a sudden rush of anger that he felt faint. How could she do this to him? She had to be a genuine sociopath to have planned his downfall with such wicked precision. But she’d practically admitted it in front of him, and in front of David too. That was surely enough to pull the board onto his side.

  “This has to go to Agnes and Maurice,” David said. “I’ll tell them we need to meet today. Like, now.” David pulled out his cell, resting his other hand on Blake’s shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, Blake. We’re going to fix this.”

  And for the first time since yesterday, Blake actually believed him.

  18

  “Come on, it will do you good. Fresh air, sunshine, clear your lungs of that city smoke.”

  Ellie stretched one leg out of the water, letting it cool. The bathroom was thick with steam, the water so hot it was almost uncomfortable. It felt good, though, hot enough to ease some of her aches and pains, and to sweat the disappointment of the day out of her. The only alcohol in the apartment had been an ancient bottle of prosecco in the fridge, and she’d just poured herself a second glass. The feeling of gently melting into the water was a pleasant one—at least it had been, until her mom had called.

  “I’m really busy,” she said, tilting her head back and almost dropping the cell into the water.

  “I can hear that,” her mom said, her voice full of sarcasm. “Be sure to wash behind your ears.”

  “I mean in life,” she said. “Things might be happening, I need to be here.”

  “Lissa will give you some time,” said her mom. She must have been feeding the chickens because there was a sudden flurry of clucks and squawks. “It sounds like you could do with a break from work, or from whatever else is bothering you.”

  The ‘whatever else’ was probably sitting right outside the bathroom door, eavesdropping on her conversation. Ellie pulled her leg back into the water, a shiver of warmth running up her body.

  “Tell you what, just come for the weekend. I’ll wire you the money for tickets. One weekend, recharge those batteries.”

  The honest truth was it would be good to get away for a bit. Mom’s farm was an island of peace and tranquillity, a haven where she had always felt better about herself and the world. True, mom would fuss about her hair and complain about her diet and lecture her on her love life and tell her what she should be doing to improve her business plan, but she would also put extra pillows on her bed and braid her hair and give her plenty of cuddles.

  “I’ll make pecan pie,” said her mom, and Ellie laughed.

  “Okay, okay,” she said. “I’ll come. I’ve got this weekend off anyway. I’m fine for money.” She hoped her mom wouldn’t hear the lie. “I’ll fly up tonight. You’re right, it will be good to get away from it all. From work, from you know who.”

  And from Blake, she thought. Here in the city there was no way she’d be able to shake him from her thoughts. She could still feel him on her lips, taste him on her tongue. She could still remember the heat of his hands on her skin, his fingers winding through her hair.

  “Can you pick me up from Portland?” she asked, hoping her mom wouldn’t be able to feel the heat of her cheeks through the phone. She sat up, water sloshing.

  “Of course, dear,” said her mom. “I’ll be there, just text me your flight.”

  “I will,” Ellie said. “Thank you.”

  “You’re always welcome,” said her mom, a twinkle in her voice. “And you know you’re always welcome to bring a guest. Like the man you were out with last night.”

  “Goodbye, mom,” Ellie said, jabbing a wet finger on the End Call icon. She placed the cell on her dressing gown and took a big gulp of her wine. She could almost feel the Oregon wind on her skin, the fresh, forest-scented air in her lungs, Blake’s hand in hers as they strolled through the trees.

  Stop it!

  Why had her mom planted that image in her head? Ellie downed the rest of the glass then rinsed off her hair, climbing out of the bath and into her dressing gown. Josh was waiting for her when she opened the door, his eyes looking her up and down and a sly smile appearing on his face. Behind him, the TV was tuned to the news.

  “Oh just go away, Josh,” she snapped, heading for the bedroom.

  “You never used to put a dressing gown on,” he said as she slammed the door behind her. Why was he such a creep? And why wouldn’t he just get the hint? At least she didn’t have to take him home to the farm any more, like she used to. He’d always put Ellie down in front of mom, making cheap shots at her lack of domesticity at the dining table, or laughing at her attempts to saddle the horses—even though he’d never set foot on a farm in his life. To her credit, mom had often put him in his place and come to Ellie’s defence, but it just made her sad to think that her mum had needed to do that. What kind of man belittled his girlfriend everywhere they went?

  Maybe she could go to Oregon and never come back. There were plenty of coffee shops there, after all, and Josh would never come looking for her.

  “By the way,” he said from right outside the door, his voice making her shudder. “I thought you should know, that idiot is on the TV again. Blake whatshisname.”

  El
lie’s heart seemed to make a leap for the door all by itself.

  “So what?” she heard herself say.

  “Just thought you might want to know what kind of trouble he’s got himself into now,” said Josh. “That loser is heading for the trash heap.”

  Ellie saw red—literally, her vision darkening with the force of her rage. She wrenched open the door so hard it crunched into the wall. Josh stood there, an expression of surprise on his round face. Ellie took a step toward him, jabbing a finger in his direction. She couldn’t believe she was doing it, but it was as if she had Blake standing beside her, feeding his strength into her mind and body. With Blake, she knew, she could do anything.

  “He’s not a loser,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “In fact, I only know one loser, and I’m looking right at him.”

  Josh’s wet lips parted as he tried to object, but Ellie cut him off.

  “You, Josh. You’re a loser. Just look at yourself, you’re so desperate, so pathetic. You hang around me like there’s a hope I might come back to you. But I never will. It’s not just that you’re weak, it’s not just that you treated me like garbage. It’s not even that you lied to me every single day we were together. It’s that you believed it, you believed you were better than me, and that you were doing me a favour by deigning to be with me.”

  She had to stop so that she could claw in a breath.

  “I’m never going to be with you, do you understand? I’m never going to say yes. You make my skin crawl, Josh, you make me feel ill. Is that clear enough? You can spend every single day hanging out here or at my work, but nothing will make me like you, nothing will make me care for you, and even if you were the last man on Earth I wouldn’t be with you.”

  Josh’s eyes looked like they were about to roll out of their sockets. Ellie took another breath.

  “That’s why you’re a loser, Josh. Because you lost me. Forever.”

  Josh’s mouth gaped like a landed fish. He clutched at his chest as if her words had actually pierced his heart. Then, just as she knew he would, he got angry. His face creased, his eyes growing dark. He sneered at her.