(2 Book Box Set) Loving The White Billionaire: 2 & 3

by Monica Brooks

  “Don’t pay her any attention. I suspect she’s jealous because I’m with you and not with her.”

  “Yeah, easy for you to say, I swear she looks over at me every five seconds.”

  Without hesitation, Axel turned around in his chair to look straight at the rude woman. She looked shocked at his abruptness; I could only imagine the look he gave her. She quickly shifted her vision to her plate, and continued about her business. Axel turned back around with a smile on his face before the waitress came to take our orders.

  I smiled proudly as we ordered our food and waited for our meals. I felt so cherished at that moment in Axel’s brief moment of chivalry. He’d stood up for me. That was something that I wasn’t used to but was so appreciative of it. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him the entire night as we dined together. He didn’t know it yet, but we were definitely making love tonight.

  Chapter Six

  We decided to spend the rest of the trip in Italy. We’d woken up super early in the morning, and reached Italy within a few hours. Axel said that this time would be different. He said that we wouldn’t be staying in a hotel like last time. I wondered if maybe he had a vacation home, but didn’t press it; I would rather find out on my own.

  He also mentioned some friends who happened to be vacationing in Florence, Italy, and that we would be meeting up with them tomorrow. I felt a little wary; Axel had girlfriends in the past, but none of them were black. He reassured me that his friends were nothing to be worried about and that they would love me.

  He knew his friends better than I so I didn’t press the issue. We were in the back of his car, and I realized that he was more established in this country than any of the others. I noticed this immediately after the chauffeur greeted him by name.

  As we drove down the streets, I admired how different Tuscany looked from Paris, Barcelona, and Old San Juan. I didn’t know where we were going, but I was really excited about getting there. I noticed how different the vehicles here looked as well. There wasn’t a huge change, but most of the cars were of course manufactured here in Italy.

  Thinking about it, seeing a Ferrari or a Lamborghini wouldn’t be so rare, but seeing a Ford Mustang or a would be. Chuckling at my observation piqued Axel’s interest. He turned to me with an inquisitive smile.

  “What are you over there giggling about?” he asked as his arm draped around my shoulders.

  “I was just thinking about the cars and how rare it would be to see American made cars here.”

  “That’s true, I don’t even have one here.”

  “Oh, so you live here sometimes?” I asked.

  “Yeah, about three months out of the year, I’ll come here to do business and vacation.”

  “Oh, that must be nice,” I said with a smile as I thought about it.

  “You should come with me sometime. Though we’re only going to be here for a few days, I would like for you to be able to stay with me for a few weeks,” he said with sincerity.

  “That would be nice, but I do still have responsibilities back in San Francisco.”

  “You’re an accountant right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why not come work for me? I could use a traveling accountant,” he offered. I looked at him, not sure if he was cracking a joke or he was being serious.

  “Funny Axel, I can’t just leave my home and come travel with you. Besides, you’re based in New York, right?”

  “I have several offices across the states.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked facing him as I turned in my seat.

  “I don’t think you’ve noticed, Jaida, but I’ve grown really attached to you,” he said softly but seriously.

  “Seriously enough for you want me to live with you?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “Just think about it, don’t make any rash decisions. Whatever you come up with will be fine with me,” he said as the car began to slow down.

  I was about to say something when the car came to a complete stop. I became distracted by the shade of the trees as they enveloped the car, and also the gorgeous real-estate. My mouth was wide open as we drove up the long cobblestone lane until we were parked under the shade of more trees.

  The place was decorated by Mother Nature as flowers of various colors sat peacefully in their beds. The stone villa was the epitome of Italian culture. I was absolutely astounded by it grace and elegant simplicity. I didn’t even realize that Axel got out of the car until he was opening my door.

  Taking my hand, he led me up the driveway and into the house.

  “Oh my…” my voice trailed off as I took in this gorgeous place. Ethan’s house was beautiful. Cherry wood flooring lay perfectly glossed underneath an intricate Persian rug. The furniture was slate gray and fit well with the color schemes of gold and red.

  The dining room was open concept and sat beautiful decorated with a large cherry wood table and light gray dining chairs. The chandelier that hung above it was beautifully decorated and shone bright without having to be turned on.

  The kitchen lay on the opposite side of the cobblestone staircase that led to the rest of the villa. The flooring matched that of the staircase as I ventured towards it. Sunlight poured in through the windows of the tall sliding glass doors. The island that sat, jet black, in the middle of the kitchen, made a great contrast against the light gray cabinets that hung high on the walls.

  I turned around when I felt Axel’s hand grip the back of my arm and pull me towards the staircase which led to the rooms. There were three bedrooms, each of which mimicked the downstairs theme with golds and reds. Except for the master bedroom. The room had the same flooring as the living room, but the furniture was black leather. The walls were a rich crimson, and the tall windows were shielded by thick crème colored curtains. The bed was huge, California king bed actually, and it was draped by a rich black and brown silk comforter and matching pillows.

  The bathroom was so regal. I was most impressed with the marble bathtub. There was a globe at the top of the tub, and I guessed the water flowed from beyond there. I would definitely have to find out later. Turning around to finally face Axel after my tour, I nodded my head in approval.

  “Okay so, how soon did you need an accountant?”

  We decided to dine in tonight. Axel headed out about half an hour ago to get some seafood while I stayed back. I decided to venture outside into the backyard. As I walked into the backyard, I noticed how this whole place seemed to be shrouded by large hanging trees. I was so enthralled by the beauty that I ventured further. The green grass, pretty flower, and warm sunlight reminded me of the picture I saw in the magazine.

  As I walked further, I noticed that there seemed to be a break in the trees, more like light at the end of a tunnel. I came closer to the gap to notice that I was standing at the edge of a cliff. I was shocked to see that we were on a secluded beach that was also shrouded by trees.

  When Axel mentioned working for him as a traveling accountant, I thought he was joking. There was no way he could trust me enough to hire me so soon after we’d just met. And not only that but to live with him. I put off living with Ethan until we were married, but could that have been the reason he cheated on me? Would I have found out sooner before the second time?

  Raising my small hand to my brow, I wiped off the condensation from the waves of the ocean. Though we were pretty high up, there was no way we could escape the humidity. Could Axel be serious about me living with him? And if he was, was I ready? I couldn’t imagine living with a person I’d just met not two weeks ago. But here I was in another country with him.

  Oh, I could hear emu mother now. She would be incredulous if I told her that I was in Europe with Axel. He was the first man after Ethan, and not only that; he was white. I’d never experienced it myself, but I knew that my mom would freak out if I brought a white man home as my lover. Crossing my arms at the thought, I shook my head slightly to clear it.

  It’d been almost a week since I’d talked to h
er. I probably should. Ethan said that I could use the office phone that was in one of the bedrooms to make a call. He told me that it works long distance so there was nothing to worry about.

  But I wanted to be outside right now. I felt the need for some fresh air, and this was the perfect solution. This was the perfect place to sit and think. There were no sounds of screeching tires and blowing horns. And I couldn’t hear the sound of voices in the distance.

  So I thought. I thought about what I was going to do when I got back. I thought about picking up where I left off. But then I caught myself. After this whole vacation, how could I go back to my normal life?

  And on top of that, where would Axel fit in? I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted a man before him, but how was he going to get along with my family? None of my brothers ever brought home a woman of any other race besides black. None of my uncles had married out of their race, not even my friends. I didn’t know how I would be looked at if I were the first one.

  Who cares? If I’m happy, my mom and my family will be happy for me…right? I shook my head again before running my fingers through my curls. My thoughts were frustrating me. Why couldn’t I just know how my family would react so that I could go to sleep easy knowing the outcome?

  I began to pace. I started to think about how they reacted with Ethan. At first my brothers were super protective; they took him for what they called “The Ride” where they basically interrogated, threatened, and roughed Ethan up. If Ethan survived it, which he did, he was free to date me.

  If only they knew the pain and heartache he caused. There was no way that I could tell them. I knew that they wouldn’t be able to sit by and do nothing. They were big on respect, and Ethan did was the total opposite. But Axel was respectful to me, he treated me like an absolute queen. He treated me the way I deserved to be treated.

  “Jaida!” I heard as I whirled around. The booming sound snapped me out of my thoughts and shocked me back into reality.

  “Hey,” I said trying to collect myself as Axel walked up to me.

  “Hey, what are you doing all the way out here? Are you alright?” He asked as he came closer and measured my expression.

  “I’m just over thinking.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Yeah, over dinner, what seafood did you bring home?” I asked as we began to walk back towards the house. The sunset was beginning to set below the horizon.

  “I brought home prawns, clams, and lobster.”

  “Oh God, you are speaking my language!” I rejoiced as we stood in the kitchen.

  “And I brought home some Arneis for us. It’s been aged twenty years.”

  “Ooh, nice,” I said as Axel began unpacking the seafood.

  “I’m going to cook these in a garlic butter sauce if you don’t mind.”

  “That sounds delicious!”

  “That’s what I like to hear,” he said as he reached in the cabinets above him to grab a large pot.

  “We could talk now if you wanted.”

  “This is true. Though I have to say,” he said as he filled the pot halfway with water before returning it to the stove, “I’m a little nervous about what you’re going to say. When I saw you outside earlier, you looked flustered.”

  “I was a little. It’s just about my family,” I started.

  “And? Did you get a chance to talk to them?”

  “I didn’t really want to,” I admitted.

  “Well, why not?” He asked; he was concerned.

  “Because I didn’t want to tell them about you.”

  He looked taken aback. “Why not?” he asked, his voice dipped lower than before.

  “You’re a great guy, and you’ve made me very happy so far, but the truth is…I’m scared,” I said.

  “You don’t think your family will accept the fact that I’m white,” he stated with understanding in his expression.

  “I know that they won’t. I keep trying to stay optimistic but the truth is, they won’t accept you.”

  “That’s not even the biggest issue. What you need to worry about is how you feel about it.”

  Axel was right. I knew he was right, and that was the biggest issue. My family was a big part of my life. I couldn’t imagine them shunning me for bringing Axel home. I knew they wouldn’t like that he was not their Ethan, but what I needed to do, was realize that it wasn’t about them.

  “Honey, don’t stress yourself over it right now. Let’s just enjoy our time here, have a little wine, eat a little seafood, and relax,” he said bringing over a couple of mallets, plates, and some more silverware to the dining room table. I grabbed the wine and found some wine glasses on the table.

  “Have a seat, I’ll prepare everything,” he said before he walked away towards the kitchen.

  Sitting in the chair he’d pulled out for me, I scooted closer to the table. As Axel sat down with the food, I took the cloth he offered to me, poured us some of the wine, and began eating my meal.

  “Wow, Axel this is so good!”

  “What are you talking about? This is delicious!” he corrected with humor.

  “Axel you’re ridiculous!” I said through laughter.

  “You know you like it,” he said after taking a bite of his prawn. The crisp sound shocked me; it was as though he bite into an apple.

  “Wow, I’ve never eaten a prawn before, but I have to tell you I didn’t expect it to sound like that!”

  “It’s like an apple right?” he asked, naming exactly what I’d thought.

  “Exactly so,” I said biting into mine and swallowing it before I spoke, “Oh these are so delicious,” I said closing my eyes.

  “That they are.”

  “Where did you get this?”

  “My friend owns a shop in town. I helped fund his business for him, so in exchange, I get all the seafood I want; no charge.”

  “Well, that’s nice! He has quite the selection. So you own a house here, you have friends who live here, and you have your own car here.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “So what made you decide to settle in Italy?”

  “I love the culture, and this place was a major steal,” he said while cracking open a lobster claw.

  “It’s a wonder you don’t live here full-time,” I said prying open a clam.

  “This place is beautiful, and yes I have connections and friends here, but I get lonely out here,” he said sincerely.

  “I can understand that.”

  “If you think about it, this place wasn’t meant for just one bachelor; this house was built for a family.”

  “If I had someone to live with, I would never leave this place,” his eyes were locked with mine as he said it.

  “That makes sense,” I answered. I didn’t know what to do at that point. His eyes were so intense that I felt a little uneasy. I felt nervous as though I were put on the spot.

  “Don’t worry, Jaida, I’m not asking for an answer from you. But I am not going to kept it a secret; I want you, and I want you for as long as I can have you.”

  I didn’t respond to him, and I knew he didn’t expect me to either. He only felt the need to state how he felt, the rest was up to me. I smiled slightly before picking up my glass of wine and toasting with Axel. Taking a few sips of wine, I placed the glass back on the table. This would be an exciting ride.

  Chapter Seven

  I woke up to the soft warm breeze as it floated through the window to kiss my skin. My right leg and arm were draped over a body pillow while a sheet was the only thing covering my nakedness. Axel was not next to me, I only knew this by the sound of brushing against teeth. Stretching, I sat up on the bed, and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. The weather was absolutely perfect. I couldn’t have imagined it better myself.

  We’d opened it the night before, lit some candles, and played smooth jazz while I gave Axel a massage. My mind went straight back the sight of those muscles drenched in warm oil. I remembered how beautiful I thought he was. He laid there c
almly as I worked on him, moaning every once in a while when I applied pressure to the right spot.

  He said that he was a little tense from all the plane trips and not enough exercise to combat the cramps. It made total sense but, surprisingly, I was fine. It was probably from all the sleep that I got during our vacation. I asked him about his sleep.

  “Did you get any?”

  “Well, every now and then I have trouble sleeping. It’s something that developed when I was younger.”

  “Is it insomnia?” I asked as I pressed against his deltoid.

  “Not quite, and if it is it’s so infrequent. I just brush it off as having too much on my mind,” he answered.

  “Well, what are you thinking about?” I asked before rubbing some more oil onto his well-defined back.

  “The company, and of course you.”

  “Aww, honey,” I said bashfully.

  “I’m serious. I can’t keep my mind off of you. I always imagine the future with us, especially now that we’re here. You know, I’ve never brought another woman here,” he said sincerely.

  “Really? Not even once?”

  “No, not even my mother has been here.”

  “What? How did you manage that?” I asked thinking about my mother. She was in my apartment before I’d even seen it. She was so nosey like that.

  “My mom doesn’t like planes. She said the only way you could get her back to Italy would have to be by boat,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Well then, why not buy her one?” I asked.

  “She’d really like you,” he commented.

  “Why? Because I’m trying to get you to buy her a boat?”

  “Precisely, you’re like a sale person, but sexier,” he added in a seductive tone.

  “Why haven’t you?” I asked him as I applied pressure to his lower back.

  “Because my mom get motion sickness too easily. You see, before my mom came to America from Italy, she was pregnant with me. My dad thought that all of her sickness was due to the morning sickness, but it was actually from the yacht that my dad had purchased for her as a gift.”