Billionaire Neighbor

by Lulu Pratt

  After hanging up the phone, I head to the bar and blindly grab the closest bottle.

  I need a drink, or three, to help dull the pain in my heart.

  Jade has been the one bright spot in my life, and now she’s gone. A woman like her comes around once in a lifetime, and I just blew my shot.

  Instead of looking forward to closing the next business deal, I’ve spent my day-to-day moments looking forward to my stolen time with Jade. Now I have nothing to look forward to. No more dates to plan, no more dinners by the ocean and no more late-night phone calls just to hear her voice.

  I already know that no number of apologies will make this right, but I must do something.

  Chapter 29

  JADE

  Leave it to Rachel to be out of the country when I need her the most. I really hate hotels and now here I am stuck in one, spending money I should be saving, especially with my recent unemployment. After rolling onto my back, staring at the ceiling, I contemplate my next move. Mentally I wasn’t at all prepared for what has happened over these last few days, but maybe this was the push I needed to set me on the path to my heart’s desires. My phone rings for what seems like the hundredth time and I instantly regret turning it back on.

  If it’s not Asher on the end, it’s Magdalene, and right now neither one of them deserves my attention. They can save their apologies for someone who cares.

  What they should do is call each other if they want to talk to someone so badly.

  I grab my phone without looking at it and hit the ignore button. It’s high time I start thinking of myself and putting my needs ahead of everyone else’s. My hands tremble as I scroll to the name I’m looking for and hit the call button.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi Bradley, it’s me, Jade,” I say. “I’m not sure if you remember me, but—”

  “Of course I remember you. You’re the amateur chef who’s going to give me a run for my money. How are you?”

  “I’m okay, but my job situation has suddenly changed, and I think I’m ready for a fresh start,” I say. “So, if you have any advice or suggestions, I’m all ears.”

  “Excellent,” says Bradley. “I’ve been looking forward to this phone call since the night we met. You have so much potential and I’m happy you’re ready to put those skills to good use.”

  We chat for a few minutes as I take down a few notes I’ll need to get started.

  “I’m pretty sure my friend Ray has an opening left at his culinary school,” says Bradley. “His place is downtown, maybe you’ve heard of it?”

  My heart skips two beats and I nearly drop the phone. “Ray, as in Ray Manicozi?”

  “Yep, one and the same,” says Bradley. “Hold on for just a minute and I’ll give him a call. He’s always looking for new talent and I think you’ll be a perfect fit for his program.”

  The line goes silent and it takes everything inside me to contain the scream in the back of my throat. Ray is the cream of the crop when dealing with anything in the culinary world. If you know anything about food, you’ve heard his name before and you know he’s the best of the best.

  I’ve driven by his restaurant several times in hopes of simply catching a glimpse of the famous chef, and right now, Bradley is on the line talking to a cooking legend, about me of all people. Not only that, but he’s talking to him about getting me into his school. I never would have imagined that Bradley would go to these lengths to help me, a person who is practically a stranger. I only called him in hopes of learning a few tips and tricks, but this mind-boggling conversation has exceeded my expectations tenfold.

  “Hello, Jade, are you still there?” he asks.

  I sit up straight in the bed and nearly drop the phone. “Yes, I’m here,” I say as calm as I can muster. My voice is steady, but my hands aren’t, and I hope Bradley can’t hear the shaking through the phone.

  “Great! So, I talked to Ray and he’d love to meet you if you’re free today around one o’clock.”

  “Today?” My voice is a screech.

  “Is today not good for you? I can call him back,” Bradley adds warily.

  “No, no, don’t do that. Today is perfect,” I assure him. “I’ll be ready to meet with Ray Manicozi… today… in person… today.”

  Bradley laughs for a few seconds. “He’s just a regular person, so don’t be too nervous. Ray is an amazing chef, but he’s an even better guy. It’s been a pleasure for me knowing him on a personal level, so I know what he likes, and I think he’ll like you and see your potential just like I did,” he says.

  “Thank you. Thank you so much,” I say, biting back tears. “You have no idea how much this opportunity means to me. Trust me, I know this is an experience of a lifetime and I promise I’ll give it my all.”

  “I’m not worried,” says Bradley. “Just go in there and be yourself. Call or text me if you need anything else.”

  “I will,” I say before ending the call.

  I wouldn’t believe what just happened if it hadn’t happened to me.

  My love life is in shambles, I don’t have a job, I am living in a hotel as I have nowhere else to go, but at least my new career path is off to a good start. I get out of bed and rush over to my pile of belongings lying in the corner of the room, hoping to find an appropriate outfit for the meeting.

  I settle on a crisp white button-down shirt paired with black slacks and low heels. Since I only have an hour and twenty minutes before my meeting, I rush to take my shower before beginning to get ready.

  The shower is quick and my make-up application goes by even faster as I take on the ‘less is more’ approach.

  No need to doll up too much, my cooking skills are the star of this show.

  I lock the door to my hotel room before heading down to my car so I can battle the traffic to the culinary school. Luckily, the drive isn’t too bad, and I weave in and out of traffic like a pro, making it to the school ten minutes early.

  I clutch my chest and take two deep breaths to help steady my nerves before walking inside the building. My senses are immediately taken over by a myriad of smells, which are both familiar and foreign simultaneously.

  Ray exits an office to the left and immediately heads to me wearing a black chef’s coat with his name stitched on the left-hand side.

  “You must be Jade,” he says reaching out to shake my hand. “Bradley has told me so much about you.”

  “Yes, sir,” I say nervously. “Or should it be ‘Yes, Chef’?”

  Ray pats the back of my hand and laughs. “Relax,” he says. “We’ll get to the formalities of the kitchen eventually, but for now I just want to show you around.”

  I nod and cautiously follow him through two sets of double doors until we reach a white pristine kitchen. There’s not a pot, pan or knife out of place. I can tell the floor has recently been cleaned, and everything looks sterile enough to eat off.

  “Everyone is out to lunch right now, so I figure this is the best time to show you everything,” he says. “Take note of how clean the kitchen is. Any time the students leave, it should look just like this, so I hope you don’t mind cleaning. Most students come here expecting to only learn how to cook, and maybe a few knife tricks, but they’re mistaken. I have a course that takes several weeks to complete where we go over the process of proper sterilization.”

  “Oh, that won’t be an issue for me at all. I was previously employed as a nanny, and part of my job included keeping the residence clean from top to bottom.”

  “Good,” he says. “There’s nothing worse than a dirty kitchen. I can’t tell you how many restaurants with delicious food end up getting shut down by the health department because their kitchen standards aren’t up to spec.”

  We walk from one station to the next with Ray pointing out different things. I feel like a kid walking through an amusement park for the first time. Each thing he points out is more exciting than the last.

  “That’s it,” he says. “It’s not much, as I tend to prefer smaller
, more intimate classes, but I promise once you finish my courses, there’s not a kitchen in the world that won’t scramble to get you.”

  I instantly know how true that statement is. People who get their training here go on to do big things within the industry, and now I have a shot at being one of those people.

  He leads me back through the double doors and holds open the door leading into an office.

  “Please have a seat,” he says, motioning to the chairs in front of his desk.

  He takes a seat and starts rummaging around in a drawer for a few seconds. Eventually, he finds what he’s looking for and pulls out a very thick folder filled with several pamphlets.

  “Here,” he says, sliding everything across the desk to me. “Flip through and let me know if this is something you are really interested in, because my time is valuable, and I don’t want it wasted on someone who isn’t sure of themselves. Cooking isn’t a hobby for me, it’s my life and I need students who share that same value.”

  I nod and take my time flipping through all the pages, that is, until I get to the page about tuition. In my mind, I knew going to school with such a prestigious chef would cost a pretty penny, but the number staring back at me is astronomical, and significantly higher than the generous estimation I made in my head.

  I’d have to sell a kidney or two just to afford the supplies for this place. Even if I use all my savings, that still wouldn’t be enough to cover all the expenses.

  I hate that I got my hopes up just to watch them come smashing into the ground, ultimately breaking up into tiny pieces.

  “Listen,” I say, slowly closing the folder. “I’m grateful you took the time to give me this tour. It really means a lot to me to even meet you and see everything your school has to offer. To be completely honest with you, I’m going through a major life change and I may have put the cart before the horse by not really ironing out the details to this plan. I want to come here and learn everything you’ve mentioned, but the tuition—”

  “Is already taken care of,” he says, reclining back in his chair.

  I drop the rest of the papers on the desk and stare blindly, waiting for him to start laughing, but he doesn’t.

  “Um, what?” I ask in disbelief. “I don’t understand.”

  “Bradley went to bat for you, and he never does that for anyone, so you must have really impressed him. I’ve known him over twenty years and you’re the first person he has ever recommended… ever. He explained that you’re transitioning from your last job as a nanny and that I’d be a fool to pass you up, and I’m no fool. There’s a lot you should be worried about, like how to keep your chef coat stain free, because I require a pristine coat to enter my kitchen. Your tuition is the last thing that should be on your mind. Just don’t make me regret my decision.”

  “Can you… do that? Just waive the tuition?” I ask nervously. Once again, I don’t want to get my hopes up just for him to come back later and say he made a mistake.

  Ray laughs and nods his head. “It’s my school. I can do what I want, when I want. Just think of it this way, you’re on a scholarship, and you must maintain high marks to keep it. It’s not often I do something like this, so I’m telling you now, I expect great things from you. I’m welcoming you into my school without knowing your skill level, or even tasting your food, because I trust Bradley.”

  I’m trembling and don’t even bother to fight back the tears forming in my eyes. “I won’t let either of you down, I swear,” I say. “I’m going to work harder than anyone you’ve ever seen.”

  “I believe you,” he says with a smile. “Now dry those tears, and go celebrate. This is a special moment for you, and you deserve to go have some fun with it.”

  I gather all the paperwork and get to my feet. “I’ll be here bright and early every day once classes start,” I say. “You can definitely count on me.”

  “Good,” says Ray. “Get those info sheets back to me as soon as you can so I can get you set up in the system and order your supplies.”

  We shake hands again and he politely walks me to my car. I slide in before patiently waiting for him to go back inside before I start screaming.

  I can’t believe this just happened. I just got in one of the most prestigious culinary schools in this country… for free! I’m stunned he let me in right there on the spot, without even asking me to cook something to showcase my skills. I’m not sure what Bradley said to him to make Ray have so much faith in me and my abilities, but I’m eternally grateful.

  No matter what, I can’t jeopardize Bradley’s reputation by letting him down, and I certainly can’t risk embarrassing myself.

  I drive back to the hotel in a complete daze. Despite how crappy things have been lately, this bit of good news almost makes everything worth it. Ray is right, I deserve to celebrate.

  I park the car and practically skip over to the bar inside the lobby to order some well-deserved room service. My meal’s price is a hefty one, but I don’t care about any of that right now. This is my moment and I’m going to enjoy it no matter the cost. The folder is clutched in my hands and I can’t wait to get upstairs and start going through it.

  I kick the door to the room closed behind me, slipping off my shoes as I plop down on the bed just as the hotel phone starts to ring.

  That was fast. Room service must be calling to let me know my order will be up soon or that there is a problem with my order.

  “Hello?”

  Chapter 30

  ASHER

  I check my phone for the hundredth time, but there’s still no word from Nathan. Even though my world is falling apart all around me, I still mustered up the strength to go to work, sitting through one boring meeting after the next. Contracts and business deals used to consume every waking moment of my life, but right now I want nothing more than to be out looking for Jade. I can’t even pretend to care about the proposals being presented.

  Nathan said he would find her, and I should just trust that he will. He’s never let me down before. I stare off into space, oblivious to the fact that my name is being called and all my colleagues are staring at me.

  “Huh, what?”

  “The projections,” says Joe, waving a thick stack of papers at me. “We’re still waiting on you to sign off on everything so we can move forward. Have you had a chance to go over the documents yet? We were hoping to get this squared away today.”

  I flip through the huge stack of papers in front of me and my mind draws a blank. Usually, I have things highlighted, with several pages of my own notes to go over, but this is the first time I’ve laid eyes on these documents, and there’s no telling what kind of deal has been contracted.

  Is it a front-loaded deal, or will there be installments? Have the inspections been completed for us to get the necessary permits? The honest answer is, I have no clue, therefore I don’t know where to start with my line of questioning.

  “Um,” I begin. “I haven’t looked at these just yet, but I will. Things have been a little hectic lately, but I’ll be back on top of everything soon.”

  Joe looks around the room, and I see the nervous glances being exchanged between everyone.

  They’re starting to doubt me, and to be honest, I would too.

  “I’m more than happy to hand this off to someone else if they want it,” I say. “It’s not mandatory that I be the one to review it.”

  Let them run the numbers and panic over the possibility of failure. Right now, I’d be perfectly okay taking that chance if it takes some of the responsibility off me.

  Several people cough, and others suddenly become very interested in the glasses of water in front of them.

  “Um,” says Joe, interrupting the silence. “No worries, we’ll extend this project another week or so to allow you the opportunity to review everything. We value your input, and I think I speak for everyone when I say, we wouldn’t feel comfortable moving forward on a project you haven’t signed off on. Now, on to the next order of business. The McGilly
s have contacted us about a liquidation acquisition. The CEO, and head of their family, recently died and neither heir has a desire to continue running the company. Personally, I don’t think this will be a worthwhile move on our part, but the McGillys have been longtime associates of ours, and they really want us to be the one to broker a deal for them.”

  My phone suddenly goes off, causing everyone to look around the room angrily. Under normal circumstances, phones are forbidden in our meetings, but these aren’t normal circumstances, and there’s no way in hell I was leaving my phone in the office.

  What’s the use in being the boss if I can’t occasionally bend the rules a little?

  I check the caller ID and realize this is the call I’ve been waiting for, so I jump up from the table, leaving my stunned business associates behind.

  “Yes, hello, Nathan? Did you find her?” I ask, already making a beeline for the elevator.

  “Yes, sir, I found her. She’s in a hotel, and I’m texting you the information now,” he says. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the room number yet, but I figured you would want what I have as soon as possible.”

  “What you have is fine, I’ll figure out the room number myself even if I have to knock on every door until I find her.”

  I jog the rest of the distance to the elevator and hit the button several times.

  “Asher, wait!” Joe calls after me. “What’s going on? Is someone hurt? Do you want us to finish the meeting or wait for you to come back?”

  Right now, I don’t give a shit what they do.

  “Honestly, I don’t care.”

  I’m a man on a mission and I have somewhere to be. I step inside the elevator and push the button to close the doors just as Joe makes it to me. I hate to run out on everybody like this, but Jade is far too important to me and I can’t sit here waiting for the meeting to end.

  I have to get to her and see for myself that she’s okay.

  “Thanks, Nathan, you’ve been a lifesaver,” I say into the phone. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”