This is Love (High Stakes Billionaires)

by C. J. Thomas

  A hand reached out and I shook it, greeting the man and his date.

  Still lost inside my head, I couldn’t remember what was said or what I had heard. The only thing on my mind was learning what was wrong and who was in trouble.

  Continuing to wedge myself through the swelling crowd, I lifted my head only to find Charlotte’s coffee bean eyes watching me from across the room. I wondered if she had been notified too, or if the secret was only delivered to me. Regardless, her focus was squarely on me and the look on her face led me to believe she could see past the façade and into the truth playing out across my face.

  The murmur from the crowd grew louder as the room started to spin.

  Thinking the worst, my chest tightened along with the muscles in my neck.

  I hoped that Mom and Dad were okay and that this had nothing to do with any one of my siblings. Whatever the news was, I knew it had to be serious for it to come to me first instead of passing through Charlotte. Despite her strength, she was our baby sister, the one we consistently protected from the outside world no matter the cost.

  Moving between rooms, I found myself heading up the stairs to the second floor.

  I supported myself with my hand on the railing as I rose above the much smaller circles of people enjoying conversation in the quieter rooms of the house. The next thing I knew, eyes were on me, and not just any eyes, they were the eyes of the man behind tonight.

  Staring at Mr. Rothschild, my stomach churned as I watched his smile turn downward into a scowl.

  I felt my legs grow heavy as lines of disappointment crossed over his face. And I knew the reason behind his grimace. But before I had time to think any further into his stony expression, his wife was rushing toward me as I reached the top step.

  “Thank God, Nolan.” Mrs. Rothschild moved swiftly on her feet. “I was afraid they weren’t able to find you.”

  Peeling my eyes away from her husband, I asked, “What is it?”

  Mrs. Rothschild stole my hand and began dragging me down the hall to the study. “It’s your parents,” she said frantically.

  “Are they all right?” My eyes glazed over.

  “It’s your father.” She glanced over her shoulder. “He’s on the phone now and would like to speak to you directly.”

  The moment we pushed through the study door, Mrs. Rothschild hurried to the desk where the phone line had been left open. She picked up the phone and said, “Don, I have Nolan here.”

  I stepped forward, reaching for the phone.

  Mrs. Rothschild covered the microphone as she handed over the receiver.

  I took the phone into my hand with a racing heart and lifted it to my ear as I watched Mrs. Rothschild skirt around me and close the door behind as she left.

  “Dad, what’s going on?” My back began to sweat. “Is everything all right?”

  “Nolan, what were you thinking?” His sharp tone took the place of a lecture.

  My brows squished. “What’s going on?”

  “What’s going on is me having to hear about you bringing a stranger to the event the Rothschilds entrusted you with running,” he barked through the line.

  Dropping my head, I pinched the bridge of my nose. Suddenly, everything made sense. The look on Charlotte’s face, the disappointment in Mr. Rothschild’s eyes. This was a family matter, but it certainly wasn’t the emergency I had expected.

  “How’s your vacation, Dad?” I asked mockingly. “Is Mom enjoying your company?”

  “Everything is fine, Nolan,” Dad said as I realized I should have seen this coming. “That was until we were interrupted by the news coming from tonight’s gala.”

  Turning to face the door, I lowered my tailbone and rested it on the edge of my father’s wooden desk. “Everything is fine. The house is packed. And drinks are being served.”

  “Those aren’t my concerns. All that should be expected.”

  “I’m sorry you were interrupted tonight, Dad. But the woman I brought tonight is incredible.” The dimly lit room brightened when I thought about Sophia. “There is no reason for you to worry.”

  “Nolan, I shouldn’t have to be the one to tell you, but you should have invited Audrey.” Dad exhaled a heavy sigh. Then he proceeded to tell me everything I already knew—how Audrey specifically stayed in town for an extra couple nights with hopes that I would ask her to join me tonight. “That was why I had you host the event instead of one of your brothers.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  I could hear Dad shaking his head through the line. Then I could hear Mom adding her two cents in the background, telling Dad about how he had to remind me to play politics if only to stay on good terms with the Rothschilds.

  “Nolan, your brother was counting on you. You know how important his campaign for governor is to him—to our family. What you did tonight is unacceptable.”

  Rubbing the grit out of my eyes, I asked, “And what do you expect me to do?”

  “Send her home,” he said without hesitation.

  My head jerked up.

  My heart stopped.

  And my fist clenched.

  “You know I can’t do that,” I said.

  “This isn’t about you.”

  “I know it’s about Coop.” My eyes rolled.

  “Wrong,” Dad said.

  My brows pinched.

  “It’s about family legacy.” He paused as if to let the thought soak into my thick head. “Maintaining the reputation I have built for this family. Ensuring that the Fosters don’t lose the influence we have acquired after giving our blood, sweat, and tears to achieve. That is what tonight is for. It’s not about you, Nolan. It’s about us.”

  Biting the inside of my cheek, I stood and rolled my shoulders back. “I get it.”

  “Then do what you have to do.”

  I turned back to the desk and nodded.

  “And, Nolan, don’t make me regret choosing you to handle tonight’s event.”

  My tongue wet my dry lips.

  “Remember, son, you’re not my only child who can run Foster Enterprises.”

  15

  Sophia

  I kept waiting for Nolan to return.

  I didn’t like knowing that something could be seriously wrong. Continuing to fidget with the rings on my fingers, I hoped that everything was better than it had sounded. If only for Nolan’s sake. Because he deserved only the best.

  Turning back around, I glided across the floor having just made a circle around the room.

  I needed to busy myself while he was away—distract my thoughts from the concern I heard in his voice just before he made sure I was going to be all right during his absence. But by the time I came back to the exact spot he had last seen me standing, he was still nowhere to be found.

  The tips of my fingers were cold as I rocked up on my toes.

  Something felt off, I thought as I kept searching for Nolan. He was taking far too long and with each minute that ticked on by, I started to fear the worst.

  A pair of blue eyes beneath a silver head of hair met with mine across the room.

  He smiled, and I turned away.

  Every possible scenario played out inside my head. Before I could keep it from getting out of control, each story grew more graphic than the last. Clenching one hand over my stomach, I fought with the darkness spiraling between my ears. But no matter how hard I tried to fight it off, it only grew worse.

  With my head swiveling back and forth, I did everything I could to take my mind off of what bad news Nolan was having to deal with. And when the warm aromas drifted off a nearby plate of food, my stomach grumbled. I kept my eye open for the next platter of food to arrive—the silver platters that were so abundant when Nolan was by my side—seemed to stop coming my way. Instead, I sipped my wine as loneliness slowly climbed up my spine.

  Casting my gaze down into my glass, even my wine was two sips away from being completely gone. I felt awkward standing off to the side but I didn’t want to stray too
far for fear of missing Nolan when he did come back.

  Because I knew he would. Even if it took hours, something assured me that he would come back and rescue me from these feelings of insecurity I couldn’t shake. But the longer I stood, frozen in place, the more it seemed as if people kept glancing at me sideways.

  When I felt a swift cool breeze swirl around my ankles, I turned to look for Nolan behind me. Hoping he had made his way back, it didn’t take me long to catch sight of his sister, Charlotte.

  Our eyes met.

  I smiled.

  She returned it, but just barely, before turning away and pretending I didn’t exist.

  I was growing impatient, feeling restless. I couldn’t help but feel that I was the topic of conversation in the many curious circles that surrounded me. Even Christine passed by without so much as a nod of recognition, and once that happened I felt completely overlooked.

  I was nothing without Nolan. Never in my life had I felt so out of my element. The party continued without Nolan and I couldn’t help but feel like a ghost to everyone now that I was without the man of the hour standing by my side.

  I needed him back. Needed him to save me from further public humiliation. Needed him to be there for me, just as I was there for him when he gave the welcome speech. I knew I didn’t belong. People didn’t have to remind me. And I hated that I was beginning to regret having come here with Nolan in the first place.

  “Appetizer, ma’am?”

  Spinning on a heel, I found a silver platter held up to my face. When the sweet fried goodness hit my nose, my stomach growled loud enough to be heard and my cheeks blushed in embarrassment.

  “Got to you just in time.” The waiter grinned above his bright white catering uniform.

  “You have no idea,” I said, taking a couple fried chicken waffle sandwiches off his plate.

  The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Don’t forget the pure Vermont maple syrup.”

  “Don’t you worry,” I said, setting my wine glass on the table next to me. Then I snatched a small dipping cup of syrup and took my first bite.

  Closing my eyes, I covered my mouth and moaned.

  The explosion of flavors hit my system like the detonation of a bomb. It was the perfect salty-sweet combination that left me wanting more. And before the waiter continued on his rounds, I stole one more sandwich for good measure.

  “Now I’m regretting not trying one myself.”

  Her voice was a smooth melody that got me to turn and look to see the face behind it.

  The very attractive woman was tall and I had to tip my head back just to meet her gaze. Not bothering to hide my enjoyment, I watched as she assessed me with her shadowy eyes.

  Swallowing down my food, I was unable to stop myself from doing the same. I admired her revealing red club dress, though it hardly seemed appropriate for tonight’s function. It hugged her curves perfectly and had a slit up the side as revealing as the deep V-neck cut that highlighted her large boobs. She was young and gorgeous and clearly lived in a world that was far different from my own. And as far as I was concerned, she only had one noticeable flaw—far too much makeup.

  “Here, have one of mine.” I offered her the delicious treat that only reminded me how hungry I was.

  She eyed the piece of meat with disgust. “I wouldn’t dare take that enjoyment away from you.”

  I stopped chewing, thinking too much into her comment. I knew that I was moaning and experiencing immense pleasure from what I was eating, but I wasn’t making love to it like her tone suggested.

  “Besides,” she cocked her hip out to the side, “I’m sure it’s the best thing you’re going to experience tonight.”

  My jaw dangled on its hinges mid-bite. I’d been giving her the benefit of the doubt from the moment she’d opened her mouth, but now that she’d showed her true colors, I couldn’t say I was surprised that she was a bitch.

  She looked at me and smirked as I swallowed down the last of my food.

  Something told me she knew that I’d come here with Nolan. Perhaps it was the way she was looking at me, or her reason for targeting me as easy prey. But what I couldn’t understand was why she obviously felt threatened by me, unless…

  She was one of Nolan’s exes.

  “You’re not from around here, are you?” she sneered.

  I shook my head, glancing down at the slider I wanted to eat so badly but couldn’t. Not with her judging eyes keeping detailed notes on everything I did.

  “Figures.” She flicked her hair and pulled a small sip from her flute of champagne. “Classic mountain move.” She rolled her eyes back to me. “Men up here are so desperate for fresh meat it’s pathetic.” A man walked past and greeted her. She smiled, keeping her friendly exterior perfectly intact. And not a second after he was out of ear shot, she turned and said, “Nolan is no different. It’s just that you’re the surprise everyone is talking about tonight.”

  My stomach dropped.

  Surprise everyone is talking about?

  What I had been feeling before was real. I knew I could trust my instincts when I thought I was the topic of conversation. I hadn’t been making any of it up. It was real. The judging eyes. The whispers. Everything. People were gossiping about me. “I’m not sure there’s much to talk about,” I retorted.

  Her eyes drifted down my body as she snickered.

  I instantly regretted having said anything. It didn’t come out the way it had sounded in my head. There was plenty to talk about when it came to me and the life I lived.

  She flicked her brows. “You don’t even know what you did?”

  What I did? I didn’t do anything.

  My eyes scanned for Nolan. I needed him to come back. I needed him to interrupt my conversation so I wouldn’t have to hold my anger back any longer before I did something I really regretted.

  Leaning close to my shoulder, the catty woman lowered her head and murmured, “You took the spot of Audrey Rothschild.”

  I gave her a questioning look as my entire body boiled with confusion.

  “The woman Nolan Foster should have come here with.”

  My heart stopped.

  All the blood in my face drained until I went pale.

  And as I wobbled on weak knees, I watched the woman nod and smile as she glided away like she hadn’t completely shattered my hopes of enjoying the rest of my night.

  “Don’t mind her, she’s constantly pissed off at the world.”

  I blinked away the tears pooling in the corners of my eyes and turned to find a man staring at me, grinning. He filled the void left from that bitch of a woman before I even had time to properly process all that just happened. Together, we stared at her as she began flirting with a man twice her age.

  “What you’re witnessing now,” he pointed at the bitch, “is the only thing she’s good at.”

  I didn’t know what to say, how to react. I wanted to slap the bitch off her stupid face, but instead I reached for my empty glass of wine. Where the fuck was Nolan? I was lost without him and wasn’t sure how much more I could take before deciding that this ridicule wasn’t worth it anymore.

  The man turned and faced me. “I wouldn’t take whatever she said to heart. She has a tendency to make people hate her.”

  I faked a giggle, wanting so badly to appreciate all that he said, but I was still so worked up by how she’d managed to get under my skin in such a short amount of time that I couldn’t think about anything but her.

  “Here, let me get you another,” he said after eyeing my empty glass.

  “That’s okay—” I tried to stop him, but he was already waiving the waiter over.

  His ears weren’t working and I knew that no matter what I said he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “I think I’ve had enough wine for the night.”

  Leaning close to my ear, I felt his hand slide over my waist, rounding to the small of my back.

  My body stiffened with wide eyes, suddenly feeling my personal space being violated.
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br />   “Drink this now,” he said, putting the glass of wine in my hand, “and later I’ll give you something stiffer.”

  My eyes popped when his hand landed on my ass, giving it a firm squeeze. Pushing him away, I freaked. “I think you need to leave.”

  “Don’t be like that, baby.” He put his hands back on me.

  And just when I was about to lose my shit and scream, he was being pulled off of me by the man of the hour. Nolan saved me just in the nick of time.

  16

  Nolan

  I stayed tucked away inside my father’s study for far longer than I should have.

  But I couldn’t find it in me to leave.

  His words left me feeling paralyzed. All the emotion and excitement of the night had been sucked out of me and I didn’t like being forced to make impossible decisions. And to have been so naïve to think that the family emergency was an actual crisis was something that I wouldn’t forget. Of course word had made its way to Dad in California. Him calling the house was a reminder that he still micro-managed everything the family had their hands in—including who I dated.

  I blew out a heavy breath and slammed my clenched fist into my opened palm.

  Dad’s threat to strip me of my family responsibilities had my nostrils flaring. I could handle the immense job he had awarded me, and his warning to take it all away simply because I refused to date Audrey Rothschild was ridiculous. The fact that she had managed to steal the show had me furious. It seemed as if she was the only thing on everyone’s mind.

  Except mine.

  But what really got under my skin was what Dad said I had to do about Sophia.

  Dropping my chin to my chest, I felt empty.

  There was no way I could send her home. Not after all I had done to make sure she felt comfortable when agreeing to come as my date. I knew the risks, but never had I expected it to interrupt Dad’s vacation in California.

  I turned my head and glanced toward the framed photo of my parents perched on Dad’s desk.