Surprise Billionaire

by Maggie Twain

  “My friend was hoping to date my brother, is what happened,” Sissy spoke petulantly to my Angel and I don’t like it one bit.

  I feel Angel’s hand wilt from my side. “Sissy, how many times must we have this conversation, Kristina will have to get over it.” I pull Angel into my side. “As you can see, I’m with Angel now, so you’d all better get used to the idea because she’s not going anywhere and neither am I.”

  Her hand returns to my side.

  My sister notices this. “My brother doesn’t like giving people second chances, which is something you should know about him, just in case, you know, you should ever happen to make the slightest error over the smallest thing.”

  I feel my blood pressure rising and remember that Sissy didn’t answer my earlier point. “Why are you here? I didn’t instruct you to come yet.”

  She shrugs, “I’m your organizer, duuurr.” That’s right, of course. Sissy always whips my new businesses into shape, which usually entails interior designing, new branding, publicity and of course, firing and hiring new staff.”

  I check my watch. The people who were here yesterday, Angel’s friends, they haven’t arrived yet, and there’s a group of new people sat at the large table being inducted. Shit.

  And it looks like Angel’s realized it too. “Thor, why isn’t Clare here, and Ben and Janice, and all the rest.”

  I have to breathe to keep from shouting at my little sis, what has she done? Worse, she’s made Angel sad.

  “Oh, don’t you know,” Sissy begins, “he always cleans out the old people, which is why I’m kind of surprised you’re still here.”

  I’ve heard enough, I grab Sissy by the wrist and pull her into the kitchen. She comes willingly enough.

  I exhale deeply and pinch at the skin atop my nose. “Ok, what’s the matter?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” She folds her arms and begins tapping her foot. “I told Kristina I’d do my best to set the two of you up and here you are coming down the steps with some…”

  “Don’t say it!” I interject with a warning hand. I’ve had just about enough of this. “Listen and listen carefully because this is the last time I’m going to tell you. I will never date your friend, so you will both have to get over it.”

  She pouts, she might be a strong woman but a telling off from big brother soon makes her look like a child again. “I … you know I just want to see you happy and settled. I’m … I’m so proud of you but there’s a big piece that’s missing and…”

  “And now I have it with Angel.” I allow my face to soften, I probably won’t fire her over this, which would be the last thing I’d ever want to do because… “and you’re wrong Sis…”

  “Wrong? About what?”

  “If I didn’t give people second chances, you’d be long gone by now.”

  She punches me on the shoulder. Looks like things are back to how they ought to be.

  “I want you to hire the old staff back, all except for that Alma woman.”

  She nods. “Anything else?”

  “Yes. Is that surprise still good for later?”

  She laughs, “oh, yes, of course. She must be very special if you’re going to this much trouble for her.”

  I give my Sissy a hug and say, “she is, now let’s go back and meet her properly.”

  Because it’s time my woman and I went out to have some fun.

  Chapter Nine

  Angel

  We’re in the back of Thor’s chauffeur-driven limousine, the dividing wall’s up and we’re heading to… well, he hasn’t told me where we’re going and every time I try to ask, he just pulls me in for a kiss and it always turns into something longer and by the time we’re done I’ve forgotten what I was meant to be asking. He knows how to frustrate me, but in the best possible way.

  When we’re not kissing, we’re talking. Talking about everything. I learn that Thor’s a keen golfer and owns his own course somewhere out west. He’s traveled all over the world, though only more recently when he began taking a more hands-off approach to many of his businesses. He tells me his favorite country is Italy, a place I’ve always dreamed of going but always knew I never would.

  “Italian food was the reason I wanted to become a chef,” I tell him and he links his fingers together like some evil genius. “What?” I ask. “What did I say?” I shake his arm and he starts laughing, so I shake harder and beg that he tells me what evil he’s planning.

  He sighs, “ok, let me tell you … the thing is…” instead, he pulls me closer and then our lips are clashing, our tongues are dancing and his hand completely consumes my breast. By the time he’s done, the bulge in his pants is obscene and I’ve forgotten what I was saying.

  The car stops and when Thor opens the door and takes my hand to help me out, I’m amazed to find we’re at the famous Laurent’s. I gasp because it’s only the most upmarket shopping mall in the entire state.

  “Thor?”

  He shakes off my objection and pulls me in the direction of the swanky building. “You’re my girl now, and this is how my girl gets treated.”

  I find myself turning into him as my mouth falls silently open and my eyes begin to sparkle. “Say it again!”

  He picks me up, gives me a spin and when he puts me down his hands are on my shoulders as he gazes directly into my eyes. “Angel, you are my girl and my girl gets treated like a queen.” He opens the door to the mall and my eyes are immediately taken by all the bright lights and designer stores I’ve heard so much about but knew I’d never possess the funds to even consider making a purchase. “Besides,” he continues, “the way you won my sister over is deserving of a reward.”

  I laugh and recall the memory. At the second attempt, she’d been much nicer, almost like a different person, in fact. Whatever Thor had said, it had worked.

  “And why is that?” I ask.

  Thor grunts, “because she’s an ice woman, usually, the way we grew up, she kind of had to be. We both did, just minus the woman part for me.” I giggle and he continues. “But it looks like you’ve melted her the way you melted me.”

  I’m almost giddy when he pulls me in the direction of a shop selling designer dresses. It’s not necessary at all, I’d be happy merely taking a walk in the park with Thor, but if my wearing a nice dress will make him happy then of course, I’ll oblige for him. But there’s one other concern on my mind and so I find myself tugging at his hand. “Oh, hey?”

  “What is it, my Angel?”

  I’m still shaking his arm. “You have to promise you’re not going to buy any businesses and put someone out of a job today.”

  He tips his head back to laugh. “Just so long as they treat you the way you deserve then there’ll be no problems.”

  Together, we approach the sales lady and instinctively, she checks out the clothes we’re both wearing, Thor in simple jeans and t-shirt and me in, well, my usual attire, and I pray that she’s not questioning whether we have the bankroll to be in a place like this. I suspect that nothing bad was meant by it, that it was an automatic reaction, like how hairdressers immediately glance at your hair when you walk into a salon, but I’m nervous all the same. I don’t suppose she saw us get out of a chauffeur-driven limo.

  She nods at Thor, “Hello, how may I…”

  “Please be nice to us!” I blurt out and immediately cover my mouth.

  She smiles and gives me a sympathetic tilt of the head. “I’m nice to all our customers, so you have nothing to worry about there.”

  Thor doubles over in hysterics and my skin turns red. When he straightens, he finally notices the size of the store and his eyes widen. He takes the lady aside and I hear him say, “help find my girl the nicest dress in the store and I’ll be back soon.” He hands the lady a bank card and turns back to me. “There’s something I’ve got to do but take your time and have fun.” And with that, he walks out, leaving me with the saleslady.

  I grin shyly, “typical man,” and I stare after that ass with a longing.
<
br />   I try on numerous dresses but I’m a girl with simple tastes, which is why we settle on an all-red halter that clings to my curves and makes my ass and breasts look delectable. The lady, who’d introduced herself as Lacy, was careful never to show me the price tag.

  “You can wear it to go, if you wish?”

  I agree, and Thor’s strolling back in the store just as I’m leaving the fitting room. From the other side of the store, he stops, his eyes widen and his jaw drops.

  I step over to him and give a little twirl. “You like it?”

  He swallows and without taking his eyes off me, he says to the woman, “I’ll take it … I mean, she’ll take it.”

  We walk out hand in hand and I say, “I know what you’re thinking and I bet now you’re regretting being so far from home, right?”

  The look he gives me in that moment is priceless. “Yeah, just keep tempting me, my Angel, but I want you to know this, we’ll be back at my home eventually and as soon as we are,” he leans close so he can groan the words into my ear, “I’m gonna fuck you senseless all night long.”

  I sigh, I really shouldn’t tease him because in the end, I’m only frustrating myself.

  Thor takes me to a restaurant on the top floor and the place is so cozy, intimate and exclusive that there are only five tables in the whole place. We order cocktails and drink from each other’s straws and the food arrives in tiny, little portions in such amazing colors and it all tastes so exquisite, all nine courses. We can barely take our eyes off each other and it’s now I know that I never want to be with another man for as long as I live. Thor is perfect in every way.

  When we leave, I’m feeling a little tipsy and when I’m like this I tend to get mischievous. It’s all in the way I’m walking so that my breasts crush against his arm. When I stop to check out a store window, it’s all in how I bend forwards in full view of his gaze. And I admit that, whoops, once or twice I might have accidentally, sort of, kind of, accidentally grazed his…

  “So I was right,” he growls, “that second time was no accident,” he scans left, right and behind, and I suspect he’s searching frantically for a janitor’s closet. Looks like he’s fresh out of luck. “I’m warning you, my Angel, I will have you home eventually.”

  “What?” I give him my best look of innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Right,” he bites his bottom lip, “you know, I’ve an old riding crop I might need to put to good use.”

  He buys me a new pair of heels, an excursion that lasts about three minutes, and then we’re in a leather goods store where he insists on buying me a new bag. Each time, I tell him it’s unnecessary but he always perseveres.

  We’re leaving and walking back to the car at a clip. He tells the driver to take us back to Carrington’s and then we’re alone again on the back seat with the dividing wall concealing us. I half expect him to take me here and now, and I’m willing him to do so, but he’s in full control of his lust and even when I stroke him through the denim of his jeans, he still manages to hold off. Though it’s a close call.

  “Just you wait,” he pants.

  It’s early evening when we arrive back in town and having just got off the phone to his sister, he tells the driver to stop about a mile from our destination so that we might enjoy a walk alone. He tips his driver and we exit.

  As soon as I’m out the car, I throw my arms around his shoulders. “I just want you to know that I’ve had the most wonderful day of my entire life.”

  “I’m glad,” he grins, “I’ve had the most wonderful day too,” and then we’re sinking into a deep kiss as small groups of mid-evening couples, well-dressed and in love, pass us by on all sides.

  It’s a beautiful late fall evening, chill but not cold, at least not yet, but the weather’s about to turn. I’m still hot from the ride, clutching the whole way to my man, but I’m glad it’s only a short walk to the restaurant and warmth. We pass the bars and clubs, loud with music and vexing with students getting thrown out for being drunk. One of them is undoing his zipper to pee against a wall and the liquid trickles down the street to collect where the ground levels out, right where there’s a group of homeless sitting before their small polystyrene cups begging for change.

  When we approach, Thor does his usual thing, squeezing their shoulders, shaking their hands while, I suspect, discreetly handing over dollar bills, or saying words of love and encouragement. “If you’re ever cold, please come to Carrington’s. There’s always a meal there waiting for you.”

  I know he wishes he could do more. Thor was lucky, he got out, but not everyone has his grit, determination and resolve. But he’s right, it’s an awful waste of human potential. He shakes another homeless man’s hand, pats his dog, and moves onto the next, a woman who’s sobbing her eyes out, I guess because maybe she’s newly down on her luck.

  Thor crouches down, “hey there,” and when Alma looks up, he staggers back.

  Chapter Ten

  Thor

  One moment, I was the happiest man alive, not a care in the world, and the next there’s something painful twisting in my heart.

  Finally, it struck me, out here on the street, that throughout my time crusading for my cause, I’d taught a few lessons, made a few points and supposedly put the world to rights whilst making a fucking fortune in the process. But it had never dawned on me that while I was putting people out of work for being cruel to the homeless, that I myself was making more homeless people in the process.

  It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

  “Alma?” Angel hisses whilst giving me a look that hurt. I didn’t want my Angel to feel any guilt for what I’d done.

  Alma, recognizing her former subordinate, yanks a blanket over her head. It was shame Alma was feeling right now. I too was feeling that.

  “Alma, what happened?” Angel asks, but we all know it’s obvious what happened.

  There’s a sniff from beneath the filthy blanket. “Go away, I don’t want to be seen like this.”

  Angel is shaking her by the shoulder. “Alma, we already saw you, please talk to me.”

  After a few seconds, Alma slowly removes the blanket from her head, but she’s still unable to look directly into the eyes of the girl she used to bully, the girl she used to steal from. “Well, you’ve seen me now, so have your laugh at my expense and leave.” Her face is red and puffy, like she’s had a rough twenty-four hours.

  “Alma,” I say crouching down again, “my Angel would never laugh at the misfortune of others.” I know that to be true.

  I’m joined up close by Angel. “Alma, why were you always so mean to me?”

  She splutters tears. “Because I’m a bad person, which is why I deserved to lose my job and home. You did the right thing by firing me, Mister Thor.” Well, if nothing else, she was certainly contrite. “I’m sorry, Angel, you deserve better than to be bullied by me.”

  Angel stands and pulls me aside. “Thor, my love,” she presses against me and I know what’s coming, she is my Angel, after all, “is there anything we can do for her?”

  I take a breath and can only gaze into that beautiful, loving face. “You’re the one who will have to work with her. If you think she’s changed, or can change then…” besides, I still have a surprise waiting for Angel, something my sister is seeing to right this minute, and it potentially changes things.

  She kisses me softly on the cheek and returns to Alma. “Why don’t you come back tomorrow morning and we’ll have a chat,” she takes something out of her bag and goes to shake Alma’s hand, “until then…”

  Alma, taking what I assume to be some money for a hotel, begins balling her eyes out and embraces my Angel in a hug.

  When we’re out of earshot, Angel stops and throws her arms around my neck, pulls me in for a kiss and then we’re breathing heavy as our tongues slide across each other and my cock strains to get out. She finally pulls away and sighs into my ear, “I can’t wait to see your home.”

&nb
sp; Walking then became difficult. But I think I’m going to be very happy tonight.

  We arrive back at Carrington’s where my sister and a few designers are finishing up with the new floor plan.

  “Wow,” Angel gazes around at the walls with their new coats of paint, hangings and furnishings, “this might take some getting used to.”

  Sissy and I share a glance from across the floor. It looks like she’s done that thing I requested of her, all the things, in fact, but one thing in particular.

  “Angel,” I say as I grab her hand and pull her towards the kitchen, “come with me.”

  “Oh, what now, oh…” she’s remembered there was supposed to be a surprise and her entire body suddenly turns rigid with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, “what is it?”

  “You’re about to find out.”

  There’s a man with his back turned to us and he’s leaning over a bunch of recipes. He wears an all-white uniform and a chef’s hat. He turns around suddenly, “ciao,” he says, clapping his hands, “you must be Angel.” The way he says it makes it obvious he’s not from downtown but some whole other country, Italy, perhaps.

  “Angel,” I gesture to our newest member of staff, “I’d like you to meet Valentino Rossi,” the mention of his name triggers a memory in her head from our earlier conversation. “You’re going to be spending the next year working as his subordinate and he’s agreed to teach you everything he knows.” And after that, if she wants, she’ll be Carrington’s head chef.

  In typical Angel style, she’s shy and nervous to be face to face with one of the world’s greatest chefs and only just manages to reach forward to shake his hand, her eyes barely able to meet his. “Pleased to meet you, signore.”

  “Please, call me Val,” he beams a great wide smile and his enthusiasm is infectious. It won’t take Angel long to become comfortable with him. He’s a little man with a fat belly, exactly how all great chefs are supposed to be and I’m thrilled he agreed to move across state to work at one of my other restaurants.