Southern Charmed Billionaire

by Frasier, Kristin

  “Hell yeah it’s false!” I yelled out to them practically wanting to throw my coffee mug at the screen, my Brooklyn side coming out in full fury.

  “So, it gets juicier. He hired her to become pregnant, to fake a pregnancy to make his Grandfather happy on his last days on Earth.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet,” she cooed, adding a high pitch squeal. It rivaled that of a kindergartener playing at recess.

  “I know,” she replied in an equally annoying baby tone.

  “As it turns out, he didn’t even have cancer.” There was an audible gasp in the audience, so scripted that I just had to laugh lightly at it.

  “If I'm understanding this correctly, she is not pregnant but the two are still an item. Is that right, Kim?”

  “That’s correct. Aaaaaand they are the latest, hottest Charleston gossip. Speaking of the latest Charleston gossip, Brittany Branch stopped by our studios to issue her statement on the matter. Take a look at this clip right now.”

  “Oh dear God…” I muttered. “What on earth do you have to say now?” I blew my hair out of my eyes, bracing for the worst of it.

  There she was, heavily made up to perfection and probably using this footage for her reality show.

  “What do you think of your family’s recent antics?”

  “I think it’s fu— stupid. Moving on.” The word was bleeped out since it was a family friendly network.

  “Oh, you do know we are on live TV.” Kim corrected Brittany with the melodic tone of a songbird and the bullshit smile of a political candidate running for office.

  “Of course, duh.” She rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed. Boy was she a piece of work!

  “Any other thoughts or comments on the matter?”

  “My brother dear may be dating her for real, but she’s still Brooklyn trash with her daddy in jail. Oh yeah, I forgot to add that. TTYL.” She waved at the camera and stared deeply into the lens, as if she knew exactly who would eventually hear her memo loud and clear: me.

  My blood boiled. She really, truly was a horrible, horrible person. But the truth was, if I were going to live an authentic life, I had to take Atticus the First’s advice: be like Ford, hit this on the head with my own PR.

  “We caught up with Atticus Branch senior, on this matter and his clip is very funny. Take a look.”

  There he was, in his comfortable Wranglers, cowboy hat, and his retriever at his country home, rocking in his chair while overlooking the rolling hills and majestic mountains. The visual instantly made me feel peaceful. Gosh, I needed to get back there fast.

  “My oldest grandson finished his EP, my youngest granddaughter completed her first modeling portfolio breaking out of her shell, and my other granddaughter, well I’ll just have to let the good Lord do His work with her because…”

  He shrugged. He had nothing!

  There was a flash of Brittany’s last final words immediately following his statement. “My family doesn’t get that I have like a real career with Charleston’s Finest show. Ugh. But whatever.” She rolled her eyes like a professional valley girl.

  I sat there, stunned, yet waiting for anything more to appear on the screen. When the gossip queens moved on to another story, I turned off the TV and sat there just dazed, absolutely dazed, taking everything in slow bits, trying not to have a full fledge panic attack about the entire town knowing my business.

  And knowing my father was in prison.

  Part of me wanted to grab the largest bucket of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, a bottle of Rosé bubbly, and hide under the blankets all day. That part of me would have watched movies and pretended this wasn’t real, that this wasn’t happening.

  But cowardice wasn’t in charge. She didn’t run the show.

  I did – and like everything else, I’d have to face this head-on.

  I took a brave breath. I’d have to do damage control on this, especially with that last part where she outed my father being in prison. Even if my own boyfriend didn’t approve of what I knew I needed to do, I had to do it. This was my life and I had to own every part of me. I knew this somehow would be connected to the success of my business launch. If I was authentic, then I’d truly shine and have nothing to hide.

  I marched downstairs, poured another cup of coffee, and wrote out my speech, rehearsing it before filming it to upload to my Kate’s Kitchen Facebook page.

  “Hey guys, it’s Kate Longhouse with Kate’s Kitchen. You may have heard a lot about me recently in the press. Perhaps you’ve even seen the gossip segment on Charleston’s local news this morning.

  “I really hope you’ll give my bakery and my Paleo cupcakes a chance despite what you may have heard or think. At Kate’s Kitchen, you will not only find a yummy, delectable selection of healthy treats here, but it is here where you can count on finding inspiration from me and my story. You see, it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or who your parents are. If you are a hard worker and you have vision, anything can happen.

  “It’s true, I was very poor growing up. And yes, I do have a father in prison. But I’m honest and I’m hardworking. And I’ve always sought to do better in my life.

  “I am from Brooklyn. I took the bus to get to Charleston. There is no shame in my hustle and I have proudly come to grips with this. There is nothing that can be said about me that's going to make me feel shameful and knock me down. Nothing.”

  I conveyed that last part of the message with my eyes, hoping that Brittany would get that download.

  “I believe everything works out as it should. I guess these interesting stories are making the Charleston people interested in my bakery, so for that I'm thankful. I learned from the best of the best. Granddaddy Branch taught me all publicity is good publicity.

  “Part of bettering my life was being a part of a small white lie. It was created to add some joy to someone else’s life; a life that we all thought was coming to an end – which ended up being another small white lie. But if it were not for these small white lies, I would not be making this video inviting you to my grand opening.

  “Life happens. It gets messy. But in the grand scheme of things, if we go with the flow and we don’t give up, a beautiful picture will be revealed with all the missing pieces.

  “We have to own all parts of these pieces. Not just the good but also the bad. We have to embrace all of the colors necessary to make the picture right. I embrace all my colors and all my pieces and I encourage you to do the same.

  “I will personally be there awaiting your business and I truly hope you’ll get to know me and try out these delicious goodies. They taste good, but they’re actually good for you, too!

  “I also want to thank my boyfriend’s kind sister for disclosing my business plan because you know what? My notebook had plans for something smaller than a store. Sometimes we are thinking cupcake truck, but God is thinking cupcake store. Don’t be afraid to dream big. Don't let anyone water down your dreams or steal your sparkle. See you soon.” I blew a kiss into the camera, ending the video.

  I put up a teaser on my Instagram, uploaded the video to my YouTube channel and decided to take a nap. God, knows I needed one!

  When I woke up, I was surprised to see a tag from Lacey on Instagram. She had made a video. I could tell by the little play emblem. I clicked to watch.

  “Hey guys, Lacey Branch here. I’m Atticus’ other sister. The sane one.” She got that in quickly, which made me laugh. Oh guuuuuurl! No you didn’t!

  “You guys are going to love these Paleo cupcakes. I’ve personally tasted them, and I, like, crave them every day.” Her blue eyes sparkled as she licked chocolate off her finger. Underneath her video she explained the day she spent making cupcakes with me and using avocados. Oh, that was a fun memory.

  There was no better way to wake up from my nap than this: seeing someone else take steps towards their expansion and being part of it.

  Okay, that or sex.

  With Atticus.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Kater />
  Even though I hit the ground running once we returned from Bali, those flappy butterflies filled my stomach day in and day out until the opening day for Kate’s Kitchen.

  I encountered a few more ridiculous rants from Brittany. She was a hot mess to put up with, but I didn’t expect anything less from Brittany the Bitch, who filled her days tweeting about her brother dating a kitchen worker. I really couldn’t care less. I was actually starting to grow amused by her behavior and felt pity for her.

  “I’m just a girl from Brooklyn dating a billionaire with a heart of gold. How’s that a crime?” or “So sue me. I bake cupcakes. Oh no, lock me away!” I’d sometimes subtweet back into the Twitterverse just for the fun of it. Not too often, just here and there. I didn’t want to look like I was playing too much in Brittany’s pigpen. I was too busy building up my baby and dating a billionaire.

  And speaking of, dating a billionaire it sure had its perks. I told Atticus my French-décor inspired vision, and what does he do? He whisks me away to Paris to visit the best bakeries so I could take personal photos of them to help design the bakery of my dreams.

  I was in my element, planning, and Atticus was in his, going on a small tour and writing more music for the new young adult dystopian that was set to start shooting in the fall.

  He had proposed to me at least a dozen more times but I told him I would not make any lifelong commitments to any man until I knew him two years. In my mind, that was the real way to see a man’s true colors.

  Three months after we landed back home, the news I had been waiting for finally aired regarding Granddaddy’s false flag with cancer.

  Sitting down in Atticus’s one hundred year home he purchased on the square, sipping our fine wine, a habit I was spoiled to death by, Atticus shook his head in shock. I had to bite my lip so I wouldn't spill the beans that I had known all this time.

  "I... I just can't believe he'd go that far. I just can't."

  "Are you sure?"

  “Are you serious?” he asked.

  "What? It seems to me the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." I winked at him. "We had a fake pregnancy. Come on."

  Six months. Our “love child” would have been born. The beautiful irony was this month, instead of scrambling to give birth to a false baby, my business – my real baby – was having it’s grand opening. I was ready to launch.

  I had worked hard and slaved for hours in the kitchen. I hit up every high-end Pilates and barre fitness studio to not only stay in shape from all the cupcakes I was sampling – all from trying to get the flavor just right – but I networked with owners and became a business woman in my own right. I didn't want to just be about cupcakes, Kate's Kitchen would be a Paleo empire. This was just the beginning.

  I woke up at 5 am in my boyfriend’s bed having barely slept a lick on opening day. A beautifully wrapped aqua box—my bakery’s main color— greeted me on the bedside table. I rolled my eyes playfully at his persistence; I wasn't going to say yes until two years. He knew that!

  "Open it!" The lights flicked on and Atticus sat up in bed with eager eyes as I opened it. Inside was the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen.

  "I had this made for you. Do you like it?" It was a dainty skeleton key covered in micro diamonds. The chain was rose gold and the oval of the small hole was as vibrant as the colors of the Bali sea. The key matched the same key that unlocked our first fantasy together.

  It was perfect. So perfect I was without words.

  “It’s an aquamarine stone. It represents the month of the moment you walked into my life and us—our inception. You’re my special key, Kate. You unlocked my door and opened my heart.”

  I hugged him dearly and cried, feeling so overwhelmed again by the love he showed me. It has been the best six months of my life and yes, I loved him. Yes – me! I loved Atticus Branch III! I really did with all of my heart. But with everything I had been through in my life, I had to take sure steps. And bless his heart, (as they say in the south) he understood this and patiently waited.

  But oh, he waited in pleasurable style. Trust me.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Kate

  It was only 7 am but the line was already formed outside of the bakery.

  My bakery.

  I couldn’t believe it. My nerves were rattled, but I was more excited and thrilled than anything. I smiled at the strangers, whom I’d soon know as friends, some of which I’d soon regard as family. I’d know their names, their children, their ballgames, their pets. Oh! Which reminded me:

  Mental note, Kate: Start your doggie Paleo treats very, very soon.

  My heart warmed and swelled as I unlocked the door, seeing the magical bakery in the glory of the morning light.

  Kate’s Kitchen.

  Dreams really do come true.

  On the seventh month of our love affair, one month into the launch of my baby's life, Atticus senior came into my store, informing me I did not owe him a cent back on my business loan.

  “You've added legacy and heritage here in the community and I'm proud of that.” He smiled as he hugged me, and then placed an order for several dozen cupcakes.

  His words would forever stay with me, and would his kindness, which I knew I’d remember for eternity wherever the next life took me. That’s the type of impression he had on me and had on my soul.

  On the twelfth month of our love affair, Atticus proposed and was finally persuasive enough to persuade this Scorpio; I finally said yes.

  On the twenty-fourth month of our love affair (two full years later, after the night I ran into him in darkly lit hall in the concert venue), I walked down the aisle wearing a dress fit for a queen with the biggest smile on my face.

  I may have looked like a Queen but inside, I was still just a girl from Brooklyn.

  I was one lucky woman and my lucky stars finally aligned just right.

  Fuck me.

  Epilogue

  Kate

  The lights felt hotter on my skin than I’d imagined them to feel out on the red carpet like this. Being married to Atticus provided a brand new life, an exciting one, and this probably was on my top five coolest things we’d ever done together—attending the opening night of the rumored-to-be number one box office hit on its opening weekend.

  The young adult dystopia series finally wrapped and we were right there caught in the middle of all the lively action and energy. I tucked my arm tight around my man, showing my love and support. I don’t know who beamed more: him or me.

  “I’m here with the acclaimed singer/songwriter Atticus Branch and his lovely wife, Kate. His moving melodies heard on this film, are not only the film’s anthem, but you have been nominated for your first Oscar. How does that feel?”

  Oh, I’d never grow tired of ever hearing that word for my man: Oscar.

  Chills soared up and down my body as the blanket of buzzing electricity swarmed around my solar plexus. It was pure love and excitement.

  “Like a dream, honestly. I’m thankful to be here. As an artist, it’s your greatest dream, and personally it’s my greatest achievement to have written something that got picked up in such an epic film series such as this. I’m taking it all in day by day, savoring each moment, that’s for sure.”

  “Well, I’d do the same thing, too! So tell me, what are you two naming your bundle of joy that’s baking in that oven right now?”

  I placed my hands over my growing belly, beaming with joy.

  “We’re naming him Atticus Brooklyn Branch. Brooklyn, my first album, which where ‘Scars That Tie’ is on, is significant. It brought out a new light in me that I lost a long time ago. And this woman right here, she helped me find it again.”

  He softly kissed my blushing cheek.

  “I want to remember that for the rest of my life. And I will. Brooklyn made the woman that’s making our baby.”

  “You never forget where you've come from and what made you who you are today.” I smoothly chimed in, surprising us both.

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nbsp; “You’ve heard it from us, E! Atticus and Kate Branch. Any new projects for you two? I mean, you’re so busy! You two are not only a power couple, but you have your hands in many baskets. Kate, your Paleo treats are quite a hit now with Whole Foods and other grocery stores picking up your line. Any plans of slowing down when the little one comes?”

  “Not one bit. Not one bit.” I laughed as I rubbed my belly.

  Just because I was married to the most handsome rich man I’d ever known, I would not lose ambition. I was determined to live a life that made my children proud. Determined to live a life that adds value to this world.

  As I looped my arm through Atticus’ tux, I was glowing. I was on cloud nine. I was so proud of him. He finally got what he’d always wanted: Respect on his own merit. Finally, he wasn’t known for his money. He was known for his talent.

  And I knew him for his heart.

  Did you enjoy reading about the mysterious club Kate and Atticus attended? Well then you may enjoy reading Bella Bentley’s—Caught Up in You!

  It brings the same heat, same intrigue with characters you’ll love in this 75k erotic romance novel!

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  Kristin Frasier is a sucker for the hapilly-ever-after. She longs for her own white knight to come calling, but in the meantime she’s more than happy to bring you swoon worthy hunky males that want nothing more than to please you!

  Don’t miss out of any of Kristin’s new releases. Sign up to her newsletter here. Visit Kristin on Facebook. Or find her on Twitter.

  About the authors

  Kristin Frasier is a sucker for the happily-ever-after. She longs for her own white knight to come calling, but in the meantime she's more than happy to bring you swoon worthy hunky males that want nothing more than to please you!

  Don't miss out on any of Kristin's new releases! Sign up to her newsletter HERE