Marry Your Billionaire: A Modern Cinderella

by C. J. Anaya

  “Okay, you two. Let’s film the ending of this date without the heavy make out session that no one seemed bright enough to capture on film.”

  Brody sighed as Madelyn took her place by his side and plastered on an interested expression at whatever he was supposed to say next. He wanted this circus act to be over and done with so he could have Madelyn all to himself.

  “How could you let this happen?” Felicia nearly screeched.

  Her hand grasped the miniature camcorder which showed her unauthorized footage of the passionate kiss Brody exchanged with Midge during their one-on-one date together. It didn’t matter that it hadn’t officially made it on the series because it was simply a matter of time before Brody made his intentions toward that little minx public on the show, and where would that leave her? Eliminated. Alone. Rejected once again by a man she was determined to have for herself.

  “It was risky enough for me to sneak out of the mansion and follow them. There were too many crew members around to do anything other than film the progress of their date,” Liz stated in exasperation.

  “I’m paying you good money to sabotage this interloper’s film time and relationship with my future husband. What, if anything, have you accomplished thus far?”

  Liz’s affronted look annoyed Felicia. She wasn’t nearly as efficient as promised. Felicia almost wondered if she would have to start sabotaging Madelyn Knightly herself, but she never liked getting her own hands dirty. It was always best to let others do her work and possibly hang themselves in the process.

  “I’ve opted to take it to the next level,” Liz stated. “With the nasty surprises I have planned for her, I can’t imagine she’ll voluntarily stay for too much longer. I’ve recently discovered that she doesn’t have much of a reason to be here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I have it on good authority that the only reason she agreed to be on this show was because one of the contestants canceled and her father asked her to fill in. She was supposed to be eliminated that very first night, but Brody wouldn’t have it. It would seem he is interested in her and plans on keeping her here. Madelyn doesn’t seem too thrilled about that idea.”

  “Doesn’t seem too thrilled? Are you kidding me? Were you not watching what you filmed? I don’t care what she says, her reaction to Brody’s kiss would suggest she very much wants to remain here, hoping for something of a more permanent nature with him.”

  “Well, I still say she’ll be an easy nut to crack. Leave it to me and she’ll be walking away from the show within the week.”

  “I want her gone by the next elimination round. Do you understand me?”

  Liz gave her a serious nod. “I did the background check you wanted. She’s clean. No sex tapes, scandalous affairs, or any criminal records that might have been hushed up by her father. She doesn’t even drink. Squeaky clean, that one, so blackmail is going to be out of the question, not that I think it will come to that.”

  “What are her interests?”

  “She’s an author, currently writing her first novel and nearly finished with her degree.”

  “Find out more about that. Specifically who is funding her college education. It could be her wealthy father, or maybe she has a sugar daddy we can expose on television.”

  “I’ll look into it.”

  “See that you do.”

  As soon as Liz left her suite, Felicia threw the camcorder through the air and smiled as it slammed against the wall with a satisfying crack.

  Madelyn Knightly could be Mother Teresa herself for all Felicia cared. No one was invincible. Everyone had a weakness. She would sniff out that weakness and bury her in it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  After the end of her one-on-one with Brody, Midge immediately grabbed Stacey and convinced her to fly back to the island with her before the rest of the crew, her father, or even Brody could stop her. Her father and Brody were too distracted plotting the next group date to notice her stealthy withdrawal from the premises.

  As they landed on the private airstrip and then disembarked from the helicopter, Stacey turned to Midge with hands on her hips and a disgruntled look on her face.

  “What?” Midge asked.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t want to wait for Brody. This guy has practically asked you to marry him, and you’re shooting him down as if handsome billionaires in hot pursuit of you are a dime a dozen. What is wrong with you?”

  Midge let out a despondent breath and tugged on one of her red curls. “Stacey, I know that Brody can be charming and convincing when he flashes you that intense, soulful stare, but this whole thing is a charade. He holds no more interest for me than he does Felicia.”

  The girls walked over to one of the Jeep’s waiting for the crew’s return. Stacey got in the driver’s seat while Midge rode shotgun.

  “Look,” Stacey said, turning the key in the ignition, “I know you think you’re being played and used as a pawn in all of this, but I honestly believe Brody is into you. You can’t fake the kind of chemistry you two have because it’s still there when the cameras aren’t rolling. I really think you should let down your guard a little and give the guy a chance.”

  Midge considered Stacey’s words carefully, but in her heart she knew what she knew. She had much more to lose if this thing went south than Brody did. Previous experience had taught her that men with money, power, and prestige generally tended to act in accordance with what served their own assets and interests best. Did she believe that Brody was good at heart? Of course, she did. His integrity with his company, his astounding work ethic, and his devotion to his mother were all aspects of his character that she greatly esteemed, but she knew Hollywood. She understood what bad press meant for a businessman like Brody, and he had a lucrative business to keep afloat. In the end, Brody would do what was best for his company, his family, and himself, and who could blame him, really? Midge certainly didn’t. Hadn’t she come on the show for selfish reasons? She was also taking care of numero uno by making sure her own college fund didn’t remain dry and barren. The free exposure as an author was a big draw as well.

  In the end; however, the difference between Midge and Brody was their level of commitment to one another. She feared she might give up almost anything simply to help protect him and further his career, and she also feared that he would willingly allow that and then leave her emotionally wrung out and abandoned once his image was restored and the show was over.

  If she had to play along, she wanted to protect herself in the process, and those kisses weren’t helping one iota.

  Never again.

  “Hello? Are you still with me, Midge?” Stacey gave her a soft nudge in the side.

  “I’m here. Sorry. I was just considering what you were saying. I don’t plan on lowering my guard, Stacey, but I do promise to avoid Brody when we’re not shooting. That should dispense with anymore uncomfortable confrontations.”

  “I don’t mind the confrontations. That’s how I know you two aren’t faking it. If you held little or no interest in one another, those confrontations wouldn’t even happen, and they certainly wouldn’t be as explosive as they are. It’s pretty yummy, actually. I wish we could film that and put it on the show.”

  Midge shook her head, but had to chuckle at Stacey’s contagious, upbeat attitude.

  “I forget that on-set there are eyes everywhere, including yours.”

  “Oh, and don’t think I’ll be closing my eyes anytime soon. Camera ready, that’s me!”

  As they pulled into staff parking, Midge turned to Stacey and gave her a grateful smile.

  “Well, it’s been a very long, grueling day. I think I’m gonna hit the hay.”

  “Yes, it must be so difficult to be ravished by Brody Prescott. I pretty much hate you, by the way.”

  “Ha! So what’s on the schedule for tomorrow?” Midge asked as the girls got out of the Jeep and walked along the beach toward the mansion.

  “They’ll be filming Brody’s date with Cambr
ia, I believe, and the day after we’re all flying to our next location for the followng week of shooting. Your itinerary should be on your bed by now, so just prep yourself. Most likely you’ll be able to take it easy for the next two days since you already went on a date with Brody.”

  “That’s a relief. I need to get some work done on my novel.”

  “Romance?”

  “Of course.”

  “Is Brody Prescott the main character?”

  “You’re never going to let this go, are you?”

  “Never. I’m convinced you two are meant for one another. Your love will rise above the challenges. The bright flame of your passion will never be extinguished. Your—”

  “Before you continue to wax eloquent about my severely disturbed love life, I think you should consider writing romantic fiction, Stacey. Your talents are wholly wasted here with my father.”

  “Mark my words, Midge. Brody Prescott is the billionaire for you.”

  Midge smiled at Stacey’s tenacious personality. She was like a dog with a bone once she got an idea in her head. Brody seemed to be of the same persuasion when it came to ideas he intended to pursue. She sincerely wished he wasn’t quite as tenacious as Stacey, but in reality he was worse.

  Much worse.

  Midge grabbed the doorknob to her suite just as someone touched her on the shoulder.

  She startled at the unexpected contact and turned to find Brody glowering down at her. His eyes were dark with repressed emotion and a muscle twitched in his jaw.

  Would nothing go her way today? She cursed herself for wasting so much time talking to Stacey when she could have holed herself up in her room with Brody Prescott safely on the other side of her door.

  She arched an eyebrow in an attempt to collect her scattered emotions.

  “Can I help you, Mr. Prescott?”

  “Brody,” he corrected. Then he took a step closer, backing her up against the door. “Why did you take off like that? We hadn’t finished our discussion.”

  “Our argument, you mean?” Midge discreetly reached for the door knob behind her and nearly sighed in relief as the cold metal slid comfortingly within her fingers. “I think we covered all of the crucial topics for today.” She slowly turned the handle, satisfied with the soft click it made.

  “Madelyn, we were nowhere near close to working out this misunderstanding between us. I want you to trust me.”

  “This isn’t a conversation to have in the hallway. There’s always going to be someone listening in.”

  Midge glanced down the hallway, feeling certain a crew member would sniff them out at any moment. She couldn’t believe Brody had managed to get away.

  “Fine, then we’ll discuss it further in your suite.”

  “We will not be discussing it further, period. I said my peace, and I’m done talking about it.” She pushed the door open, backing into the room and slamming the door shut in his face. Only it didn’t work out quite like she’d hoped. Unfortunately, the persistent bachelor planted his foot inside the door and entered the room, shutting it with much less force than she’d used.

  “Get out of my room.”

  “No.”

  It was one word, but stated with that husky voice and calculating calm it made her blood throb within her veins. Why did he continually have this affect on her? Every word uttered and every touch he administered made her feel as if he were speaking to her and touching her for the first time. She would never get used to it nor would she ever get enough of it.

  Enough of him.

  Midge pushed against his chest, attempting to force him toward the door even though she really wanted him to stay.

  Traitorous feelings!

  “I said, get out of my room.”

  “And I said, no.” His arms circled her body and pulled her against his chest.

  She should never have initiated contact. What a colossal mistake.

  Midge tilted her head up to let out an angry retort, but the deep blue of his eyes caught her attention and made her say something entirely different.

  “I’ve never seen eyes as blue as yours. Are you wearing colored contacts or were you just born with eyes meant to melt the most cynical hearts out there?”

  Those blue eyes widened in surprise and then darkened with desire.

  “Twenty-twenty vision,” he said in a low voice. “Though they’re only useful to me if they’ve managed to melt your heart, Madelyn.”

  Her hand lifted of its own volition. Her fingers lightly traced his eyebrow and then brushed along his cheekbone to the underside of his jaw. He turned his face into her hand and planted a soft kiss there. Then another at her wrist.

  Her skin tightened and tingled at the contact while her blood heated within her veins. She blinked herself out of the stupor his magnetic gaze had captured her in and moved to pull away, but his arms held her locked and secure against him.

  “You need to let me go.”

  He let out what sounded like a soft growl. Midge didn’t expect that possessive refusal to make her feel wanted or desired, but it did.

  “Never,” he ground out.

  Stalemate.

  Unless she could distract him with some other topic and extricate herself from his grip.

  “What are you going to be doing on your date with Cambria?”

  His jaw tightened. “Why would you bring that up? It isn’t what I came here to talk to you about.”

  “It’s either that subject or more tales of Hawaiian mythology and folklore because I’m not interested in discussing anything that has to do with you, me, or our fabricated relationship.”

  “You seem to think you have a choice at the moment, but I have you trapped in my arms in your own suite.”

  “I’ll scream.”

  He lowered his lips until they were hovering over hers.

  “What makes you think I’ll give you the chance?”

  He crushed his mouth against hers in the most electrifying kiss yet. Without anyone present his kisses took on a whole new level of heat and intensity with no sign of him letting up or letting go.

  Though Midge had done her best to mentally prepare herself for another round of Brody’s sizzling affections, she nearly lost herself in the powerful pull he held over her, and then she realized that was exactly what she needed to do if she wanted to remove herself from the situation before she willingly gave as good as she got.

  For the first time during one of their kisses she threw her arms around his neck and fully engaged herself in the kiss while discreetly directing him backward and in the direction of her large bed. His surprise, yet eager acceptance of her capitulation released some of that tension in his arms. Once she positioned him exactly where she wanted, she managed—with great difficulty considering how much she was truly enjoying this impromptu kissing session—to rip herself from his grasp by giving him one mighty shove backward which caused him to fall flat onto the mattress with a loud grunt.

  His utter bewilderment at her sudden and aggressive behavior gave way to an irritated glower at her next utterance.

  “My bedroom door may not have a lock on it, but the bathroom certainly does,” she cried as she ran to what she hoped would be her safe haven against Brody’s relentless pursuit of her.

  She slammed the door just as Brody took inventory of the situation and jumped from the bed.

  The door locked with a satisfying click, but the lock was flimsy at best. Nothing as sturdy as a dead bolt, but surely he wouldn’t be so barbaric as to—

  The door fairly shook with the brunt force of Brody’s…fist? Shoulder? What exactly was he using to batter against the door?

  Midge took one step back as it shook yet again.

  “Madelyn, this is completely childish. We could have talked all of this out and cleared up this ridiculous misunderstanding between us by now,” Brody said in a calm voice that belayed his intermittent hits against the door.

  Midge did her best to stifle a laugh though her grin was unavoidable. Much to
her dismay, she actually enjoyed the fact that he hadn’t given up on her. Which was ridiculous. Like any man, he would let her go just as soon as he got what he wanted from the relationship.

  She shook her head to dislodge the irrational thought, fortifying her resolve to avoid succumbing to Brody’s charms or his currently attractive caveman persona.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to pencil you in some other time, Mr. Prescott. Do feel free to speak with my secretary.”

  “Not good enough, Madelyn.”

  Midge looked behind her, trying to remember if there had been a window in the bathroom.

  “I’m afraid it will have to be. I’m planning on taking a bubble bath now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all,” he said in a casual tone. “Do you need someone to scrub your back for you?”

  Her eyes sparkled at the mischief in his voice, and her mouth turned up into yet another smile despite herself.

  “I’m a big girl, Brody. I believe I can manage.”

  “It would have been rude of me not to offer. I certainly could have used some extra help while scrubbing off the green food coloring you doused me with.”

  Midge couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh. She came near the door and rested her head on it, imagining Brody might be doing the same thing.

  “You had it coming, you know. Forcing me to stay on the show was bad form, Brody. You have no idea what else I have planned for you.”

  “I’m not eliminating you, Madelyn.” His voice was low and alluring. “Do your worst, young lady. I never give up on what I want.”

  His bold declaration sent butterflies directly to her stomach. The wide grin on her face shouldn’t have been there. His pursuit of her shouldn’t have amused her and delighted her the way it did, but there it was.

  Brody Prescott was a force of nature, an unyielding tsunami upon the normally smooth waters she’d been treading for so long, and she wondered how on earth she was going to stop him. She didn’t know, but after scrutinizing the top of the door and noticing a small window just above it she figured she’d found a way to momentarily throw him off. She moved to the cabinet to her right and opened it, grabbing her body wash—appropriately dubbed Morning Mist—and then moved to stand on the sturdy end table next to the door.