Cruel Billionaire

by Luma Rose

  “How was your weekend away?” she asks. “Based on the smile you’ve worn since you arrived, I’m gonna say things went well. Did you even ski?”

  I chuckle. “Not the whole time.”

  She throws her head back with a groan, her chin-length platinum hair swaying with her movements. “Jesus, I’m so jealous. I forget what it’s like getting dick on the regular.”

  “You’re gorgeous, intelligent and accomplished. There’s no way you have a problem getting men. Maybe if you work a little less, you’ll find someone.”

  She rolls her eyes.

  “Every time I talk to you, you’re working.” I raise my eyebrows.

  “Business is good. What can I say?” She shrugs.

  “And what exactly is it you do again?” I ask, because she’s never answered me directly and as far as know it’s not a company she’s running. She’s a lone wolf.

  “I work with computers.” She grins, but there’s something mischievous underlying her smile.

  “Yeah, you said that.” I shake my head. “Have you ever thought of going to work for Lincoln Cross? From what Garrin says, his company does really well. I’m sure you could kill it over there.”

  The usual playfulness in her face vanishes with a bland expression. “Yeah, not gonna happen.”

  I lift my wineglass with my right hand. “Did something happen between you two? You guys never dated or anything in high school, right?” I sip my wine.

  “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s get back to your weekend. Tell me all the dirty details.”

  I go through all the activities we did—the skiing, the lookout, the private chef—and skim over the sex just to satisfy her.

  “There’s something else, though.” I fidget with my earring with my right hand.

  “Did he ask for anal?” She mocks seriousness and I roll my eyes.

  “No, not anal, but he did ask me to spend the rest of my life with him.” I raise my left hand and place it on the table to show her my ring.

  Her mouth drops open and she stares at the ring, to me and back to the ring. “Holy shit!” She yanks my hand toward her to get a better look and my stomach hits the table, making me grunt. “You’re engaged?”

  “I am.” I smile, hesitantly waiting to see how she feels about this news.

  “Wow, Isla. That is… just wow.”

  I pull my hand back from her. “Are you happy for me?”

  I hadn’t realized how much I need her to be happy for me until the words are out of mouth.

  “Of course I am! Come here.” She stands and I follow suit. We meet at the side of the table and share a hug. My muscles relax with relief.

  “I wasn’t sure what you’d think,” I admit.

  She pulls away and holds me at arm’s length by the shoulders. “I mean, it’s fast and a little surprising given Garrin’s reputation, but it’s clear for anyone to see how happy you’ve been since you started dating. So of course I’m happy for you.”

  “Thank you.” I pull her in for another hug and we each return to our seats. I’m not sure I entirely believe her, but then I guess Garrin does have a reputation in this town, and I can’t sweep that fact under the rug.

  “He did a killer job picking the ring. It’s gorgeous.”

  “Right? I couldn’t have picked anything better myself.”

  “Wow. You’re getting married. To a Classhole no less.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “Do your parents know?”

  I lift my wineglass to my lips again. “I told my mom with Garrin last night. She was surprised but supportive. My dad was already sleeping for the night, so I told him this morning. He’s pretty weak at the moment, but he seemed supportive. A little wary, since he hasn’t officially met Garrin, but he supports it based on whatever my mom told him.”

  “That’s awesome. Have you told his father?” She tilts her drink back.

  I shake my head. “I don’t know if he’s told him. Garrin doesn’t have the best relationship with his dad.”

  She nods, then claps her hands together, skipping to the next topic. “So, when’s the wedding going to be? I imagine it’s going to take some time to plan the kind of wedding expected for Garrin Stone.”

  My stomach knots. “We haven’t really discussed it yet. I know he’s expected to have a huge society wedding, but if I’m honest, it’s not really what I want.”

  “You mean you don’t want everyone in the country with a net worth over five hundred million who you’ve never met before to share in your most special day?” She mock-gasps.

  I chuckle. “Weird, right?”

  My phone buzzes on the table, and I look over apologetically at Everly. “Sorry, just let me grab this in case it has something to do with my dad.” I lift the phone and turn over the screen so that I can see who it is, but I don’t recognize the number. I press the button to take the call and lift the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Is this Isla?” a woman’s voice says on the other end.

  “It is. Can I help you?” This must have to do with the campaign.

  “Oh, good. This is Harper Stone, Garrin’s sister.”

  My eyes widen, and I look at Everly, who’s looking at me with curiosity.

  “Oh, hi,” I stutter.

  “Who is it?” Everly whispers across the table.

  “I just heard the big news—not from my brother no less—and I just had to touch base with the woman who will be my new sister. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  Her voice is chipper and full of excitement, which sets me at ease. I’d worried that maybe she was calling because she wasn’t happy about the engagement. Harper was a freshman when we were seniors, and I don’t really remember her other than she was always taking pictures of herself and all her friends.

  “Well, I’m just out for dinner with a friend at Haven.”

  “Oh, I love that place!”

  I smile at what seems to be her natural enthusiasm for all things.

  “It’s one of my favs too.”

  “How about I join you? I’m not too far away, actually, and I’m dying to get to know you.” I cringe to Everly.

  “Uh… sure. Yeah, okay.”

  “Awesome! I’ll see you in ten.”

  The line goes dead and I stare at my phone.

  “Who was that?” she asks, sipping her drink.

  “Garrin’s sister. She kind of invited herself to join us, and I didn’t know what to say. Do you mind?”

  She shrugs, always one to roll with it. “The more the merrier. Besides, she’ll be the one who can give us the real dirt on her brother.” She grins wickedly and I chuckle.

  “Not sure there’s much dirt to get, but okay.” I shrug and take a healthy sip of my wine.

  Though she sounded easy-going and on board with my engagement on the phone, I’m nervous to meet Garrin’s sister. I don’t know much more about her than the fact that she’s three years younger than him and some kind of social influencer.

  Our dinner arrives and Everly and I continue to chat. Thirty minutes later, we’ve finished our meals and the plates have been cleared when Harper makes her entrance.

  “I’m sorry I’m late!” she says like she was invited.

  It’s all I can do not to laugh.

  “I’m always late. You’ll figure that out soon enough. Give me a fake time for that wedding so I make it on time.” She smiles and looks between Everly and me. “Isla,” she sighs.

  I nod and smile, standing from my chair.

  She yanks me into a hug and squeezes me with way more force than I would have thought her little body is capable of. “I knew Garrin was always into brunettes.” She pulls away and looks over at Everly. “No offense.”

  “None taken.” Everly laughs.

  “It’s good to meet you, too. Harper, this is my friend Everly.”

  “I know.” She reaches out and they shake hands. Then she whips back around and reaches for my left hand, yanking it up in front of her eyes like she can gauge a diamond’s wo
rth with a naked eye. “Damn, brother. You did good.” She looks from the ring up to me. “I was worried that without my input, he’d mess it up, but I guess I underestimated him.”

  I chuckle. “He did just fine on his own, I’d say.”

  “Definitely.” She sits down and gets herself situated, so I take the opportunity to study her for a moment. She’s a petite little thing and her bubbly personality seems evident. Her hair color matches her brother’s—dark brown—but her eyes are a light hazel that are somewhat mesmerizing since they’re surrounded by long dark lashes.

  “Excuse me, miss, can I get you something to drink?” Our waiter returns to our table, seeing that we now have an addition.

  “Yes, we’re celebrating. Bring us your best bottle of champagne.” She looks from him to both Everly and myself. “Have you had your dessert yet?”

  “No, we weren’t sure we were going to,” I say.

  She gives me an are-you-crazy look and returns her attention to the waiter. “Bring us a tray of your various desserts too. Three plates and three forks. We’ll figure it out.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gives her a little bow and retreats.

  “If you haven’t eaten and want to order dinner, we can wait,” I say.

  Harper waves me off. “Please. I got here just in time for the best part of the meal.”

  “I have a feeling I’m going to like you,” Everly says, grinning over at Harper.

  “Thanks!” She doesn’t have big lips, but her smile transforms her entire face. There’s something very sweet and innocent about her. It would be very hard not to like this woman. “Now, tell me all about how my brother wined and dined you and won you over. I want all the details so I can razz him about them for years to come.” She puts her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her hand and waits.

  I’m not sure how much Garrin wants me to tell her, so I stick to the basic stuff—our dates and how the proposal went down. The champagne arrives halfway through my story and we toast. Then the desserts arrive and we all take a small portion of everything and add it to our own plates. Harper basks in every detail and ‘ooh’ and ‘aahs.’ I get the impression she’s a romantic at heart.

  We each finish off a couple glasses of champagne, and by the end my head is a little fuzzy.

  “I need to lay off the champagne,” I say.

  “Nonsense! This is a celebration.” Harper fills up my glass again then does the same for Everly, who shrugs and tips her glass back.

  I follow suit and swallow a mouthful, enjoying the bubbles hitting my tongue.

  “I’m so excited I’m going to have a sister!” Harper claps her hands in front of her. “I always wanted a sister growing up.”

  Truth is so did I. Growing up as an only child was lonely most times.

  “I’m excited too.” I smile.

  “Did it suck just having Garrin as your only sibling?” Everly asks.

  I give her a look letting her know her question isn’t cool, but it’s the champagne that’s loosening her lips.

  Harper’s face transforms with a sad sort of smile. “No. Garrin was the one who took care of me after my mom died. I was only six.” Her gaze dips down to the table and the corners of her mouth follow it with a frown. “He protected me from our father.”

  Everly and I share a look across the table.

  “Anyway”—Harper claps her hands in front of her and looks up—“I can’t wait to do sisterly stuff with you.”

  “Same.” I return her smile. “What do you do for a living? I talked about it with Garrin, but he was never very clear.”

  Whatever I said bursts her bubble, because she rolls her eyes and slumps back in her chair, picking up her fork and digging into the cheesecake. “Did he tell you how he’s always on my ass to get a real job?”

  I can’t stop the giggle that escapes. “He did not.”

  She huffs. “I’m a social media influencer. I make my money on affiliate links or advertising products for companies who send them to me. He thinks it’s a total waste of time.”

  “What do you think?” Everly asks.

  She shrugs. “It’s good for now. I like helping other people choose products that will work for them and keeping them away from the scams.” She shrugs. “I don’t know. I just haven’t found what I’m passionate about yet, I guess.”

  I reach over and squeeze her hand. “You just turned twenty-five. You have time to figure it out.”

  She crosses her arms over her chest. “Not if you ask my brother, I don’t.”

  This is obviously a sticking point between the two of them. I make a mental note to ask Garrin to go easy on her.

  “Tell us about your brother, Harper. What deep dark secrets should Isla know about?” Everly asks.

  I roll my eyes at her while Harper eats the cheesecake and thinks it over.

  “Oh! Back in ninth grade, he had a big crush on that woman who played the mom on Gilmore Girls.”

  Both Everly and I burst out laughing.

  “Yeah, his screensaver on his computer used to be her, and I remember he used to hide some magazine with her on the front in his nightstand.” She shrugs. “I was a snoop.”

  “That is some funny shit,” Everly says.

  “I can’t wait to tease him,” I say, wiping my tears from laughing.

  Harper grins conspiratorially.

  I ask our waiter to bring us some bread to sop up the alcohol in our stomachs, but then Harper insists he also bring a bottle of wine, which kind of defeats the purpose.

  Everly fills all our glasses and sets the bottle back on the table. “We’ve got wine and carbs. All we need is one of the Chrises to make this a real party,” Everly says.

  “The Chrises?” I tilt my head and my forehead wrinkles.

  Everly rolls her eyes, but Harper answers. “Yeah, you know… Pratt, Hemsworth, Pine, Evans. Any and all of the above.” She makes an air checkmark and clinks glasses with Everly.

  “Oh, duh. That’s a club I want to be a part of.”

  “Let’s do it, then,” Harper says, sitting straight up with her index finger held up.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Let’s start a wine, carbs, and Chris club.” She leans into me, hazel eyes wide and imploring.

  “We could meet every other week and drink wine, eat carbs and watch one of the Chrises movies.” Everly jumps right on board. Miss Workaholic suddenly wants to make set plans twice a month?

  It sounds like a good time to me, and I expand on the idea in my drunken state. “We could get our own bracelets like the guys and write WCC Club on them!” Harper laughs, but Everly looks over at me in confusion. “All the Classholes have these leather bracelets that have YWFC branded on them.”

  “What does it mean?” she asks.

  I shrug. “Garrin won’t tell me.”

  “Me either,” Harper says. “I’ve must’ve asked a million times over the years.”

  “Interesting.” Everly looks more introspective than tipsy at the moment, so I change the subject.

  “What are we going to do about finding the two of you a man?”

  They both roll their eyes and simultaneously list a million excuses why they don’t need a man, but I swear, one of these days I’m going to find them each a Mr. Right, just like I did for myself.

  38

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Garrin

  I’m surprised when security buzzes up to tell me that my fiancée is here to see me. Surprised but happy. I didn’t think I’d get to see her tonight since she was out for dinner with Everly.

  Her close relationship with Nova Brookes’ sister is slightly concerning, but there’s not much that can be done about it at this time.

  As soon as Isla enters my office and closes the door behind her, it’s clear she’s been drinking, reminding me of the night at the museum fundraiser, except without the anxiety coursing through her system.

  “This is a surprise,” I say, moving to get up.

  “No, stay there,
” she says and waves me back into my chair.

  I do as she says and sit down, perplexed. She walks over, if not a little wobbly, and occupies the space between me and the desk, leaning her ass back against it for balance. Then she leans down and kisses me. I take the opportunity to slide my tongue into her mouth. Before it gets too heated, she pulls away.

  “I missed you. Is it okay that I stopped by?”

  “You’re always welcome.” I grip her hip and rub up and down with my thumb.

  “You work too much.” Her pouty lips tip down.

  “I’m only working so late because I knew, or at least I thought, I wouldn’t see you. I’m trying to get ahead of things. How did you know I was here?” I ask.

  “I have my ways.” She pokes me in the chest.

  I raise an eyebrow.

  “All right, I asked Langley when he picked me up whether you’d gone home yet. Harper said he’d know.”

  My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. “My sister?”

  Isla runs her index finger from the top of my hairline down to the bridge of my nose, softening the wrinkles. “Yeah, I met your sister tonight. She is awesome.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t even want to know how Harper engineered their meeting, but I’m glad things seemed to go well.

  “That’s one word for her.” I lean back with my arms on the armrests, studying the woman in front of me. My fiancée. It still feels surreal that I’m going to get married.

  She’s gazing down at me with half-drunk eyes, her head tilted and a half smile on her plump lips. Her hair is a little mussed, the messy waves reminding me more of the way she looks when she gets out of bed than how she looks during the day at work. I squeeze her hip. Lucky for me, she left her coat in the car, so the curves of her body are on display in her tight-fitting black dress.

  There’s no part of me that worries I’ll tire of having this woman in my life. My only worry is that I’ll have to do wrong by her to protect the other people in my life.

  “Well, I really liked her,” she says.

  “I really like you.” I let my hand drift up and down her side, brushing the swell of her breast. “Marry me.”

  She drunkenly giggles. “I already said yes.”