Her Intelligent Billionaire: A Clean Friends to Lovers Romance (Billionaire Tech Tycoons & Titans Book 4)

by Gigi Marlowe

  She gently pressed her palms against his cheeks until he smiled at her. He remembered how he had done this to Jill the first time she had cried around him. They had been in middle school then, and Dillon had been utterly clueless on how to convince Jill that she should stop crying. In an act of desperation, he had grabbed her face in his and pressed his hands against her cheeks. Later, Jill had told him that it was the look of sheer panic on his face that had made her stop crying and start laughing.

  At this moment, however, Jill did not look panicked. She looked beautiful. Her lips looked softer than normal and her eyes sparkled in a way he had never witnessed before. It must be all this talk of love, Dillon thought to himself. It's gotten me all confused. He pulled away from Jill and cleared his throat before he said, "You have to say that, you're my best friend."

  "No I don't," Jill declared indignantly. There was an honesty in her tone that made Dillon blush. Satisfied that Dillon had accepted her compliment, Jill took another sip of her drink. As she sat it down on the coffee table, Jill raised a questioning eyebrow to the drink’s label. "This is new," she said as she examined the label. It read "AI Consultation: Dillon Quinn" in bold white letters.

  "It's a marketing strategy I came up with. When I meet with potential clients or host events, I can distribute these. I thought this would be better than business cards."

  "Are you looking to expand your clientele?"

  Dillon perked up in excitement. He loved talking about his business, especially with Jill. She was one of the few people in his life who really understood what he did as an AI consultant. "I want to start exploring the use of AI for creating realistic prosthetics for wounded veterans." Jill excitedly put her drink down on the table before she bounced to her feet.

  "Dillon," she blurted, "this could be groundbreaking!"

  "Imagine if we could build a prosthetic that could function more like the body part it was replacing."

  "Would it be possible to construct a way for the appendages to communicate with the amputees they are created for?" Jill started to pace as her mind contemplated all of the possibilities Dillon’s research could hold.

  Dillon grinned. He had known that Jill would immediately understand his vision. "That's exactly what I want to do. Our soldiers have been through enough. They fight to protect our country, watch those they serve with perish, and sometimes even lose pieces of themselves." Dillon looked down at his hands. He opened and closed his fists focusing on the way it felt for his muscles to function on their own. "The least we can do for them is to create better prosthetics. If I can't do that, Jill, then what's the point of having all this money?"

  "But you don't have to stop there." Jill collapsed next to him with a faraway look in her eyes. Dillon knew that look. He knew he was about to be besieged by one of Jill's elaborate technology-induced daydreams. She had them often while they were going through school. He would listen to her prattle on how hydroelectric technology could be used to create self-sustainable water homes or how airborne pollution could be harnessed to fuel cars using similar technology that ran air purifiers. Dillon loved when Jill went on one of her flights of fancy.

  "What did you have in mind?"

  "What if you made sturdier prosthetics for children in underdeveloped countries? Imagine if you could create a prosthetic that not only responded to environmental stimuli but that could also grow with the user." Dillon's eyes squinted as he considered Jill's proposal.

  "That's never been done before, Jill. I don't even know if that's possible. Kids grow so fast."

  "But a prosthetic with AI technology embedded in it would be smart enough to read the growth of the child and the environmental stimuli. This could improve the lives of so many children."

  Jill flattened the brown paper bag that the chips had come in and pulled a pen out of her purse. The two then spent hours discussing the possibility of Jill's idea. The only reason they stopped their conversation was because Dillon's assistant, Jax, had come in to see if Jill wanted him to set up the guest bedroom for her. Both Dillon and Jill had been shocked to discover that it was almost midnight.

  "We haven't done this since high school," Dillon said as he walked Jill to the door. "Are you sure you won't stay the night? It's late." He let his hand linger on the doorknob. He didn't want her to leave. With Jill there, he had forgotten all about Abigail. Tonight, he had felt more like himself than he had in ages.

  "I really can't stay. I've got to be at work early tomorrow morning." Jill looked pointedly at the door. Dillon let out a long sigh. "I promise I'll drive safely," she added.

  "I could send a car for an outfit for you in the morning. That way you could just stay here." Dillon wiggled his eyebrow mischievously. "We could keep brainstorming," he suggested.

  "No way, mister. I'm going home," Jill shoved him playfully. "If you wait up for me, I'll call you when I get home." Dillon promised he would stay awake. As he watched Jill pull away, he shook his head regretfully. Jill never wanted him to lavish his lifestyle on her. He often tried to pamper her, but she steadily refused. She had told him that she didn't want him to ever think she was trying to take advantage of his wealth. Usually, he appreciated her sentiment. But it was instances like tonight that made Dillon wish she was more willing to let him take care of her.

  Dillon walked back to the notes he and Jill had made about prosthetics for children. He reread them slowly. They were good ideas that he could realistically see weaving into in his upcoming designs. Nothing like this had been attempted before. Dillon felt apprehension over such an intimidating project. Suddenly he remembered something Jill had always said to Dillon while they were growing up. “Just because it hasn't been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done. Besides, you’re so intelligent, you’ll figure out a way.” She had always believed in him.

  She’d tell him this every time she would explain her latest track and field goals. Dillon reached for his computer with a boyish grin. Jill had always been fearlessly ambitious. In high school, she had wanted to be the best in every facet of her life. She had set goals for herself that Dillon had thought impossible, but she had merely smirked and told him that she would do it.

  I can do it too, Jill, he thought. Dillon opened his laptop to record the details jotted down on the brown paper bag. "Ding!" A mailbox icon flashed in the upper right corner of his computer. Expecting it to be a spam, he clicked it only to realize that it was certainly no spam. Instead, he read over an invitation to be a keynote speaker at a convention for the leading minds of AI development. Excitement flooded through him. Although this wasn't the first time he had been asked to speak at a conference, this was the largest convention he'd ever been invited to. It was a prestigious honor. Then, to his continued amazement, he saw that he and an associate of his choice had been asked to lead a panel discussion on the possibilities for AI use.

  Dillon racked his brain for who could possibly come with him. He knew he needed to choose someone that he could collaborate well with. As he started to weigh his options, his phone chimed. A quick glance told him he had received a text from Jill. She had made it home safely but was too tired to talk on the phone. Jill, Dillon realized. Jill would be perfect.

  Dillon made up his mind that, no matter what, he would convince Jill to come with him to the convention. It was the perfect opportunity for her to hear all about the newest advancements in AI and mingle with some of the leading minds when it came to AI innovation. She would make connections that could benefit her for years to come. "Who knows," he said to himself, "this might be the catalyst for an amazing new chapter in Jill's life."

  Chapter 4

  Jill stared at the towering ceiling of the Alyeska Resort. As she and Dillon waited in line to get their hotel keys, she tried her best not to betray her feelings of utter astonishment. To think she had almost refused Dillon's offer! It had taken her completely by surprise when he had asked her to accompany him to this conference. After all, it was aimed at the leading minds in technological innovation, and s
he was just an enthusiast who had just recently started working as an AI medical researcher.

  When she had voiced her concerns to Dillon, he had assured her that she was precisely the right person to speak on the panel with him. In a rush of spontaneous excitement, she had agreed to it. Then she had been unsure of what would await her at the conference. Now, she wished she had given more thought about what it would entail to be on this panel. She looked nervously around at professionally garbed men and women. Everyone seemed so much more comfortable than she felt.

  Jill stepped closer to Dillon and resisted the urge to lace her arm through his for comfort. Almost as if on cue, Dillon looked down at her and beamed with childlike enthusiasm. "You are going to love this," he exclaimed. Then, to Jill's relief, Dillon held out his arm. "Let me be your guide into the world of AI innovation." With a bright smile, he nudged her with his elbow until Jill accepted his arm. Together, the two walked to the nearest table.

  "Name please," the woman behind the table asked without looking up.

  "Jill Sinclair." The woman scanned her list quickly before putting a finger next to Jill's name. She highlighted it pink before finally looking up at Jill and Dillon.

  Recognition dawned on the woman's face as she looked at Dillon. She blinked furiously and then stuttered, "Mr. Quinn!" She stood quickly from behind the table and extended a shaking hand to Dillon. "I loved your latest article in Wired. I'm a huge fan, sir." Dillon smiled cordially as the attendant pumped his hand vigorously. "Could I get a picture with you? My brother and I are such huge fans of your work," she looked at Jill and repeated, "huge fans! There's no way he'll believe that I got to meet you." Jill counted to three before she took the picture on the woman's phone. When she was done, the assistant handed them their hotel keys.

  "Thank you," Dillon scanned the woman's name badge quickly, "Elizabeth," he said. She blushed from her neck to the top of her forehead when Dillon said her name. Jill resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had always objectively known that Dillon was attractive. But she had never seen someone fawn over him so much. As the woman batted her eyelashes, Jill grabbed Dillon's arm and gently tugged at him.

  "Thanks," she curtly said. As she led Dillon away, he shot her a quizzical look. Irritation coursed through Jill. "She was eyeing you like a piece of meat," she grumbled. "You're a man just like any other man here." Jill looked around the room, and a thought struck her. Dillon was not like every other man here. He stood tall and confidently by her side.

  His charismatic good looks, and intelligent eyes were a stark contrast to the almost mundane appearance of every other man in the room. Even his clothes bespoke a sophistication and class that was hard to find. His dark grey suit was tailored perfectly to his broad shoulders and fit frame. Jill gulped. Why had she never noticed this before? More importantly, why did she have to see this now? Jill quickly released Dillon's arm and looked down at her itinerary to try and distract herself.

  She cleared her throat before saying, "It looks like all we have to do today is check-in."

  "Good. There are some people I want to introduce you to." Dillon put his hand on the small of Jill's back, sending shivers up her spine, and led her to a group of people talking near the back of the room. She was keenly aware of the heat from Dillon's palm seeping through her blouse. The thought distracted her entirely. "This is your chance to network with some of the biggest names in the industry," he whispered into her ear.

  "Richard, Ida, Lewis," Dillon called as he and Jill approached the group. All heads turned towards them. Jill felt her knees shaking in apprehension. There before her stood three technological advancement geniuses. She had read many of their articles in Time Magazine and in Wired. Her tongue felt like it had swollen to the size of a golf ball in her mouth. How could her Dillon know so many tech gods?

  Ida, a shorter woman with a black bob, smiled widely at them. "Dillon!" She said as she took Dillon's hand in both of hers for an affectionate handshake. "I'm so glad you could make it, darling." Her voice held a soft musical quality that made Jill feel at ease.

  "Who's your friend?" Richard asked. He lifted his thick eyebrows and greeted Jill with a nod of his salt and pepper brown hair.

  "Yes, who is your friend," Lewis said. He took Jill's hand in his and gave her hand a soft kiss. As he dropped it, he let his eyes wander appraisingly over Jill's body. "I'm Lewis Charles. Pleased to make such a lovely acquaintance." Lewis was around the same age as she and Dillon. He had light brown hair and, in many ways, was almost as handsome as Dillon.

  Unused to such a behavior being aimed at her, Jill scrambled to come up with a retort for such a roguish flirt just as Dillon took a protective step towards her. He put one arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Jill noted that although his face looked calm, Dillon's eyes were fixed coldly at Lewis. "This is Jill Sinclair. A brilliant new mind in the field of medical uses for artificial intelligence."

  "Welcome," Ida beamed. "It's so good to see another woman as a leading mind in technological advances." Ida winked at Jill before nodding to Lewis. "We need more women like you in science and technology fields to teach scoundrels like Lewis how brilliant we can be.”

  "Hello," Jill said. She felt unsure of her place amongst these intellectual giants, but she did not want to let Dillon down. She wasn't sure if he should have called her a brilliant new mind, but she did know that she would have the confidence to prove that he was right.

  "I'm no scoundrel," Lewis interjected with mock pain. "I merely appreciate the beauty of God's creation," he added with a wink to Ida and Jill.

  "You must excuse him, Jill," Richard interrupted. "He's killed off the majority of his brain cells by sitting too close to computer monitors." He placed a firm hand on Lewis's shoulder. "It was a pleasure meeting you. We'll have to meet up for dinner tonight." He suggested to Dillon before he escorted Lewis away.

  As Dillon's eyes watched Richard and Lewis's retreating backs, he unconsciously traced a small circle on the curve of Jill’s side with his thumb. In fact, he pressed her so firmly against him Jill could no longer make out Lewis and Richard’s silhouettes in the crowded room.

  "You have to excuse Lewis, Jill. He's really harmless," Ida said.

  "It's no trouble, really."

  "He should learn how to filter his thoughts," Dillon said under his breath. Jill doubted that anyone but her had heard what he’d said.

  Ida leaned in closer to Jill. "Tell me all about your research. My own studies have been centered around using AI to help with agricultural production, but I've always held a special interest in its potential for medical use."

  Dillon relaxed at her side as Jill launched into her research. Jill wasn't sure how much time had passed while she, Ida, and Dillon swapped findings and ideas. By the end of it, Jill felt as if she had known Ida her whole life. She admired the woman's creative ideas and her courage to take steps into the unexplored regions of artificial intelligence performance. Much of the afternoon passed in a similar blur.

  Dillon introduced her into the complex world of networking with technology minds. She was amazed at how many people he knew. He talked as easily with military leaders as he did with NASA engineers, and CEOs, and he did so with a confidence she had never seen in him before. He was calm, cool, and collected. She wondered at his ability to read the atmosphere of a group of people and then adapt to it so well. He was smooth, smoother than she had ever seen him before.

  That night, Jill pulled out her sleek black dress. She and Dillon had agreed to meet Richard, Ida, and Lewis for dinner at a French restaurant off the resort grounds. Even though Dillon had assured her that the dress code for the evening would be formal, Jill still wondered if she was too dressed up. Hoping that she wouldn't stick out, she left to meet Dillon in the lobby. When she was walking down a grand staircase, she saw Dillon waiting for her at the bottom.At the sight of him wearing a handsome, black tux, Jill breathed a sigh of relief.

  An unreadable look passed across Dillon's face upon seeing
Jill. She blushed before quickly asking, "Do I look okay?"

  "I don't know if you've ever looked better." Gallantly he held his hand out to hers. He looked up into her eyes, and she was immediately struck by the thought that Dillon looked like a prince from a fairytale. Jill hesitated. Then, trying to master her newfound flood of bewildered emotions, she placed her hand in his. Sparks shot through her fingers at their touch. He's not your Prince Charming. He's just your friend, Dillon, she reminded herself.

  Jill and Dillon rode to the restaurant in comfortable silence in the back of a town car Dillon had ordered at the resort. Jill couldn't help but be reminded of how different this Dillon was from the man who she grew up with. He was no longer geeky and lovable. He was a billionaire that was comfortable with his inherent intelligence. No, that wasn't right, she corrected herself. He was still the Dillon she had grown up loving, but now he was also a man who spoke with authority. An authority that suited him, she thought as she watched Dillon instruct the driver on what time to return.

  "Jill," a voice beckoned from the doorway of the restaurant. Jill and Dillon turned to see Lewis leaning casually in the entryway. She thought he heard Dillon give a quiet grunt under his breath, but she couldn't be sure. Although Jill wasn't sure herself how she felt about Lewis, she could tell that Dillon did not like him. It was true that his openly flirty nature caught her off guard, but she had a feeling he meant no offense by his behavior.

  Assuredly, Lewis walked to the car. "Richard and Ida have reserved a table for us on the back patio closest to the band." He smirked as he held his arm out to escort Jill. Unsure, she looked at Dillon. His face was a mask of neutrality.

  Dillon cleared his throat loudly. "Good to see you again, Lewis. How is your girlfriend?"

  "Oh, she and I had to end it," he said, trying to sound dismissive but Jill thought she heard a bitter bite to his words. "She couldn't handle being with someone who ran a tech dynasty." He shrugged to Dillon. "It takes a strong-willed woman to have the courage to be with someone with as much power as we have." Dillon's eyes flashed with a mixture of emotions. Jill wondered if he was thinking of Abigail.