by Claire Adams
BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD
By Claire Adams
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 Claire Adams
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Chapter One
Dirk
As the sun set outside my office window, I turned my attention to Josie. She was playing silently, rolling a Barbie jeep back and forth across the crimson carpet. Her eyes were alive with energy as she sped the jeep in a wide arc, screeching to a halt beside her other toys. An unconscious smile spread across my lips as I watched her.
My little girl was the only thing that kept me going. Those bright blue eyes and blonde ringlets could get me through any tough day – and since her mother’s death, they were all pretty tough.
“Having fun over there?” I asked.
“Yup.” She looked up at me with a grin before she went back to playing.
“We’ll leave soon,” I said. “I just have a few more things to finish up.”
“Okay,” she shrugged.
She was always content and independent. Her days were spent with her nanny, Darla, but she spent her evenings with me. Darla would drop her off at my office, fed and happy, so I could spend a few hours with her before bedtime. It wasn’t perfect, but it was our arrangement.
Josie never complained. In her three years, she’d never been one to throw fits or cry unnecessarily. Even as a baby, she would only whimper softly, just enough to draw our attention to her needs.
It was hard to tear my eyes away from her to focus on my work, but I knew I had to. It was already nearing seven o’clock, and I hated to keep Josie at the office past eight. As well-behaved as she was, she was still just a little girl. An office wasn’t a place for her to spend her entire childhood. When my wife died, I swore to myself that I would be a good father to Josie. It was the only way I could honor Amelia’s memory, and I was determined to do exactly that.
I turned my eyes back to the computer, but didn’t get a chance to dive back in. My phone rang, sending a shrill brrring echoing through the office. I jumped at the sound and grabbed it quickly.
“This is Dirk Mathis,” I said, my professional tone firmly in place.
“Dirk,” a familiar voice answered. “I was hoping you’d still be at the office.”
“Stanley,” I said, simply. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s not business,” Stan said. I instantly sunk back in my chair and relaxed. Stanley was an important business associate, but he was also one of my best friends and had been for over ten years.
“What’s up, man?” I asked.
“Listen,” he said. “I’m going to pitch an idea to you. Before you shut it down, just consider it, okay?”
“Okay,” I said, hesitantly. Stan’s ideas were always a little worrisome.
“Eloise and I are going to a resort,” he said slowly. “It’s out in California. Jim and Tina are coming with us, and we all think it would be a good idea for you to join us.”
I froze. Stan’s invitation wasn’t surprising. He’d been subtly inviting me to couples’ events for months now. Ever since I told him I was dating again, he assumed that meant I was up for double and triple dates. I suspected the pressure came from Eloise, his wife, but I couldn’t be sure.
The truth was, I wasn’t dating yet. I hadn’t spent so much as five minutes with a woman who wasn’t my secretary or Josie’s nanny since my wife’s death. After over two years, it was easier to lie to my friends than admit the truth: that I wasn’t over my wife and I wasn’t sure I ever would be. The idea of dating another woman made my stomach turn over with nausea.
“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I appreciate the invitation, but-”
“See, I knew you were going to do that,” Stan said quickly. “But, just think about it, okay?”
“What’s there to think about?” I asked. “I’d have to find someone to watch Josie and-”
“Bring her with you,” he said simply.
“To a resort?” I asked.
“Why the hell not?” he asked. “She would love it. There’s a waterpark inside the hotel. It’s a three-year-old’s dream. She’d lose her mind, Dirk.”
“It sounds like a couple’s thing,” I said simply.
“So?” Stan asked. “Bring that girl you’ve been talking about. What’s her name? Trish?”
There was no Trish. Trish was just the latest lie I’d told Stanley to ensure he believed I was moving on with my life. If he or Eloise caught wind of the fact that I wasn’t, they would both become relentless in their attempt to set me up.
“I’ll get back to you,” I said, eager to get off the phone. It was getting late, and I didn’t know what to tell Stan.
“It’ll be fun,” he said. “We’ll golf and talk business. You, Jim, and I are in need of a sit down anyway. This could be the perfect opportunity.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
He sighed. “Don’t take too long. Eloise has been on me to invite you for weeks.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have put it off then,” I said, a smirk crossing my face. Eloise was always nagging Stan about something. It was my favorite thing to tease him about.
“Fuck off,” he said.
“Bye, Stan,” I said, laughing to myself.
He hung up, and I slowly set the phone back down on the receiver. Leaning back in my chair, I sighed and focused my eyes on the ceiling to consider my options.
This wasn’t something I could easily turn down. Stanley was right. He, Jim, and I had been trying to iron out our latest deal for months now. Our schedules never lined up, and this trip would be the perfect chance to finalize everything. Still, it wasn’t that simple.
I had Josie to think about. Even if I took her with me, who would watch her while I was busy talking business with Stanley and Jim? Who would keep her entertained while I played a round of golf? I thought. It just didn’t seem logical to join my friends without anyone to help me with my daughter.
And yet, the invitation pulled at my brain throughout the evening. I wanted to go. I did. If not to socialize, then just to take care of much-needed business. It was tempting.
I glanced over at Josie, still playing quietly on the floor. She was stroking her toy bunny as she so often did. I’d always meant to buy her a real pet bunny, but never got around to it.
While I watched her, my mind turned to my wife. I looked at the picture I kept on my desk. Amelia smiled up at me from behind the glass, her brilliant green eyes glowing as if they were still alive. Just her picture was enough to make my stomach tighten and my eyes water. I missed her so much it hurt.
Stanley thought I was dating, but I wasn’t sure I ever could. Pushing my memories of Amelia to the back of my mind was impossible, especially with our daughter sitting ten feet away. Amelia and Josie were similar in almost every way. Their blonde curls and adorable button noses were identical. Even their facial expressions mirrored each other. There were times when Josie would smile just right, and it was like Amelia was back, standing there in front of me all over again. The only thing Josie got from me were my eyes, my blue eyes that had never seemed like much until I saw them on my daughter’s face.
“You ready to go, sweetie
?” I asked.
Josie nodded and jumped to her feet.
“Put your toys away,” I said.
She quickly piled all her toys into the box I kept in my office, keeping only her stuffed bunny tucked beneath her tiny arm. With a smile, she held out her other hand for me to take. I wrapped my fingers around it as I turned off my office lights and led her through the dimly-lit hallways.
As always, we were the last to leave the office. Josie held tight to my hand as we stepped into the elevator and rode it down to the lobby. Waving goodbye to the security guard, we stepped out into the brisk evening air.
“It’s chilly,” she said, softly.
“Did you bring a jacket?” I asked.
“No,” Josie said, shaking her head.
“We can take the car,” I said. “So you won’t be so cold.”
“No,” she said quickly. “I like to be cold.”
“Oh, you do?” I chuckled.
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s walk. Home isn’t that far, right?”
“Just two blocks,” I said.
Josie nodded and squeezed my hand. We hurried across the street and set off toward home. As we did, my mind drifted back to Stanley’s invitation. A vacation sounded amazing, and a California resort sounded even better. I couldn’t remember the last time I traveled anywhere that wasn’t for business.
The idea plagued me all the way back to my apartment. Still, the big question was how I could make it work.
My friends expected me to bring a date. They thought this Trish person was real and important enough to take on vacation. In reality, she didn’t even exist. And, Stan had been so excited for me, I couldn’t just tell him that I’d broken up with her. He’d badger me to give it another chance. It wasn’t as if I could just clap my hands together and find myself a girlfriend in-
As the thought entered my brain, another one flew right over it. I saw the little gold card in my mind’s eyes, and my stomach twisted nervously.
A friend of mine had given me the card months ago. It was for a high-end escort service. He’d said the girls were professional and not at all like hookers. Some of them even refused to have sex with clients and simply chose to work as girlfriends or dates for hire. I never thought much of it. I had tucked the card away and never thought of it again, but with Stanley’s offer fresh in my mind, I wondered if it was worth considering.
Josie and I hurried inside our apartment building and rode the elevator to the penthouse. As we stepped over the threshold, she ran immediately to her room. She knew it was almost bedtime and the quicker she changed into her pajamas, the longer she would have to read with me on the couch before lights out.
While she was busy in her room, I walked slowly to my study and began rifling through my bottom drawer. I was almost certain the gold card was somewhere at the bottom. I shifted some papers and pulled out a few loose business cards when a bright corner caught my eye. With a deep breath, I grabbed it.
I was surprised to see that my hands were shaking as I read the information on the front. It wasn’t like me to shy away from anything, but this… This felt like a big deal. Like a step I wasn’t quite ready to take.
“Daddy!” Josie called from the living room. “I picked out a book!”
“Did you brush your teeth?” I asked.
She paused. I heard her tiny feet pounding back down the hall to her bathroom. She brushed her teeth while I continued to contemplate the card in my hands.
It could be perfect. A nice, easy vacation with my friends. It would be good for Josie to experience something new. As I held onto the card, I liked the idea more and more.
“All done!” Josie yelled.
“I’m coming!” I called back.
I tucked the card into my back pocket and hurried out to find Josie already nestled into the couch cushions. She was wearing warm pajamas, her blonde curls falling over her shoulders. I smiled and hurried toward her as she held out her favorite book for me to read.
My mind was a million miles away as I turned the pages, but by the time Josie fell asleep against my shoulder, I knew what I wanted to do.
Chapter Two
Marissa
I stared at my appearance in the full-length mirror fastened to my bathroom door. The evening gown I chose for the date was perfect for my client. He was older: a classic gentleman. Every time he enlisted my services, he took me to a fancy event complete with champagne fountains and elite socialites. My forest green dress hugged every curve of my body while remaining modest and delicate. George would love it, as would everyone else.
As I smoothed out the material, I wondered how much longer George would continue hiring me. We’d become fast friends on our first outing. He appreciated my beauty and grace, and I appreciated his understanding that things would never become sexual between us. I was a high-class escort in New York City, but my services never included sex. I was a date for hire, sometimes a girlfriend, but never a prostitute.
George understood this about me. While other clients often pushed for more, he never did. I enjoyed him for exactly that reason.
With a sigh, I slid my feet into a pair of gold heels and stepped up to my vanity mirror. My thick black hair hung in loose waves over my shoulders. It cascaded down my back and caught the light when I tilted my head just right. My brown eyes were lined subtly with eyeliner and dark mascara. As I swiped lipstick over my plump lips, I pursed them together and admired the effect.
I was pleased with my appearance, but already ready for the night to end. As much as I truly liked George, I was growing tired of the night after night functions. Just once, I wanted to curl up in my favorite pair of pajamas and watch a movie, something action-packed and exciting with little to no romance. I longed for the days when I would be able to put my life as an escort behind me and just be myself. Marissa Gonzalez. Twenty-five-year-old girl.
On my way out of the bathroom, I grabbed my gold clutch and tossed my cell phone inside. With a last glance in the mirror, I shut off the lights and hurried into my living room.
My apartment was small and inconsequential. I could’ve afforded a slightly nicer place, but I chose to save my money and put it toward paying off my debts. Soon, I hoped to be financially free to get a new job, a new apartment, and a new life.
I was halfway to the front door when my phone vibrated roughly inside my clutch. Confused, I pulled it out and glanced down at the screen. It was my boss. She knew I had a date tonight, and it wasn’t like her to call me before a big night.
“Veronica,” I said into the phone. “How are you this evening?”
“Marissa,” she said. “I need to see you at the office immediately.”
“Is something wrong?” I asked with a frown. “Did George cancel our date?”
“No,” Veronica said. “It’s about another client. Someone new.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “But, I’m supposed to meet George in an hour. I’m not sure I have enough time to stop by the office before I-”
“Just get here.” Veronica’s voice was short, and I knew better than to argue.
“Be there soon.”
I hung up and hurried outside. It took me almost no time to hail a cab and climb inside, but the office was clear across the city. I nervously checked the time every other minute, worried that I would be late to meet George.
When the cab finally stopped in front of the office, I jumped out and jogged inside, my gold heels clacking loudly against the hardwood floors. I could feel my panties riding up beneath my dress, and the sensation was anything but comfortable. My mood was quickly becoming foul. By the time I reached Veronica’s office, I was slightly sweaty and pissed off.
I knocked three times on Veronica’s door and stepped back. I could hear her fingernails tapping mercilessly against her keyboard. My eyes rolled up to the ceiling as I prayed for patience.
If I wasn’t so dependent on my job, I would have blown off her request, but I knew that wasn’t an option. No one said no to Veronica, and
if they tried, they were dismissed without a second thought. Despite my annoyance, I couldn’t do anything to jeopardize my income.
“Come in,” she finally called. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. As I stepped inside, her piercing blue eyes slid up to meet my gaze. She grinned and gestured toward the chair in front of her desk.
Slowly, I walked across the room and sat down. My eyes never left Veronica’s as I waited for her to explain what was going on.
“So,” she said. “I got an interesting call this evening.”
“Oh?” I asked.
She nodded. “New client. He sounded a little green. Definitely inexperienced.”
“Young?” I asked.
“No.” Veronica shook her head. “Older than I would have thought. He’s a father. Has a three-year-old daughter. I think that, more than anything, made him a bit nervous to call.”
“I see,” I said, though I didn’t. I still wasn’t sure why I was there.
“I need you to handle him,” Veronica said.
“Okay,” I nodded. “Sounds easy enough.”
“It won’t be,” she said. “I could tell from his voice that he isn’t prepared for this sort of arrangement. He needs kid gloves, Marissa, and you are the best girl I have when it comes to keeping things professional.”
She emphasized the word professional, and I knew exactly what she meant.
“He’s a businessman. Well known,” Veronica continued seriously. “Word will spread quickly. Your refusal to have intercourse with your clients will be helpful here.”
“I understand,” I said. I glanced at the clock on her desk. I only had twenty minutes to meet George.
“Listen,” Veronica said. She leaned across her desk and fixed her eyes on my face. Her dyed blonde hair fell slightly into her eyes as she moved. “I know you have a full schedule lately, but this client needs to be your priority. He has money. God, he has money. It will be worth both our whiles if you devoted more attention to him than usual.”