Beauty and the Billionaire (A Once Upon a Billionaire Novel)

by Cidney West

  Now that she realized she was living in the same house with someone she didn’t know existed before…well, maybe she should have asked more questions.

  He paused, one hand midair, his fingers hovering around a switch. Mira tensed, sensing his body stiffen at her question. Part of her thought it might have been better to stay in her room and hide under the covers until the power came back on.

  She thought he’d refuse to tell her, but after a long pause, he said, “Hunter. Hunter Masseron.” He said it with apprehension like he wasn’t sure he should.

  Mira mouthed his name to herself to remember. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Masseron. Do you live here all the time?” Not that she knew anything about billionaires or their habits, but she was under the impression they usually owned multiple properties.

  Hunter wiggled his fingers, finally flipping a switch and then another. “You ask a lot of questions.” The fuse box door squealed as he slammed it shut. He grabbed the lantern and swept past her without a word. Mira followed quickly, knowing she’d never find her way back to her room otherwise.

  She fast-walked to keep up with his long strides as they backtracked. She tried to pay attention to where they were, for future reference, but the dark made it nearly impossible to spot land–er, house–marks.

  Mira finally recognized the stairs leading to her room. Hunter didn’t let up his pace, waving the lantern for her to pass him once they reached the landing. “I don’t know which room you have,” he said.

  She had trouble remembering herself, opening two wrong doors before she found it. Hunter leaned in and hit the light switch, the overhead light coming on before he immediately shut it off again. She could only see the back of his head anyway.

  “It’s fixed.” He stood out of the way, holding the lantern behind his back.

  Hunter stood there until Mira took the cue and darted into her room. “Thank you…” she said, realizing he’d already disappeared into the dark.

  CHAPTER 4

  Hunter’s heart pounded in his chest. Of all the places in the house that woman could have wandered…why did it have to be his wing? Then that close call when he’d stupidly held up the light to his face, and all of her questions. Not that it mattered if she knew about him, but he felt safer leaving people in the dark.

  He had to admit she seemed okay on the surface. And what he’d seen of her…she was pretty with soft eyes and round cheeks. Not that she’d want anything to do with him once she’d seen his entire face. Besides, he’d had his share of beautiful women and where were they now? Not a one had shown up to support him, despite his generosity.

  Not that he cared, and he knew it was probably fair enough. He kept beautiful women; he didn’t have relationships with them. Not that he still didn’t have plenty of money. That wasn’t destroyed with his face. And he supposed he could still have all the women he wanted with that alone. But the partying and the girls…it just didn’t appeal to him anymore.

  So why was his pulse on fire now? Was it just the scare…realizing she could have seen his face? Hunter wasn’t sure. Talking to someone for the first time, to someone who didn’t even know his name, was both frightening and exhilarating. He’d kept to himself for so long…was this a sign that he missed venturing outside of his tiny circle at Rosefield?

  Hunter shook away that thought as he marched back to his quarters. It wouldn’t be a good idea to mix with the new help. Yes, they’d run an extensive background check on Mira and talked to her references, but he still didn’t know what she was like. She might very well treat him differently once she saw him, so that could never happen.

  This night was a fluke, anyway. Penny would talk to Mira tomorrow and she’d never venture near him again. That’s what he wanted and that’s how it had to be.

  So why did his heart sag at the thought? And why was he trying to work out a way to talk to her without risking being exposed? Hunter couldn’t answer and that probably scared him the most.

  Even with the power on, Mira still didn’t sleep well. And it wasn’t because she was scared. All she could think about was her mysterious employer, and even after giving up and looking him up online, she didn’t have any real answers.

  All she learned was that a mysterious incident had occurred. Reports could only speculate about what specifically, but Hunter Masseron had gone into hiding, becoming a recluse in his early twenties. It was a strange twist after the party-happy life he seemed to have led before.

  There were some old photos of him at events–a handsome young man with chocolate brown eyes and dark brown hair. He seemed to be the center of his social world with plenty of friends, and certainly plenty of girlfriends–a new model or actress hanging on his arm at every event. And she couldn’t blame them. Mira didn’t care about his money, but he was kind of hot. His smile gave his eyes a mischievous sparkle that made him look like trouble. Fun trouble, but still.

  It was tough to merge that information with what she’d experienced that night. That Hunter Masseron was quiet and evasive, stomping around in a deteriorating robe with hair lying in jagged pieces around his neck, living in a dilapidated house. It was a far cry from the custom suits that hugged him perfectly in the online photos, his hair coiffed and stylish. He looked young and carefree in those photos. So, what had happened to change him?

  Not that Mira couldn’t understand. She’d been younger and carefree too at one point. Now, she was worried about taking care of her father while he recovered. In other ways, though, she knew she wasn’t that different from before. But Hunter…something bad had happened to him. He didn’t change so drastically without a good reason.

  Mira got herself up and ready early, not sure when she was expected to show up. She had breakfast with her new colleagues and then everyone separated to take care of different duties. Courtland appeared to handle the meals, but maybe that was only because Penny was injured. In any case, Mira stuck with Penny, who promised a grand tour and orientation before she got to work.

  They took the elevator to the first floor. She knew there was a lot to take care of but seeing everything in full sunlight made her gulp. This was a lot to clean. Penny seemed to sense her unease, patting her hand as she wheeled around to stand beside her.

  “Don’t worry,” Penny said. “I know it looks overwhelming but it’s not so bad once you get into a rhythm. And we’re not expecting you to clean every inch.”

  “That’s a relief,” Mira muttered, gazing up at the vaulted ceiling in the grand foyer. She would need a crane to reach up there.

  Penny laughed lightly, the sound echoing. “You’ll do just fine.” Her face turned more serious, her blue eyes darkening. “Now, I do have one rule you must follow. You’re not allowed to enter the west wing. Those are Mr. Masseron’s private rooms. Just stick to the rest of the house, and you’ll have no problems.”

  Mira flushed, dropping her eyes to her toes.

  “What’s the matter?” Penny took her hand, ducking her head to see Mira’s face.

  Mira cleared her throat. “I think I accidentally violated that rule last night.” Her voice rose an octave as she rushed through the story. “I had no idea that was his…wing. I’m sorry.”

  Penny studied her a moment, but her eyes looked far off. “And you met Hunter? And he spoke with you?”

  Mira nodded. “I guess he was up to fix the power and I sort of…ran into him.” She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She should have kept to her room. What if they fired her for this? She wouldn’t find another job like it. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea…”

  Penny perked up, like coming out of her musing. “No worries. It was an accident and those happen. But Hunter really took you along and talked to you?”

  Mira wasn’t sure why she was hung up on that, but she confirmed it again. “Sort of. It wasn’t like we had a deep, meaningful conversation, but he didn’t leave me to die in the basement, so I feel like that was a victory.” Mira paused, flushing again. Why did she say that?

  Instead
of getting angry or defensive, Penny’s eyes started twinkling, her lips twisting up in a smile. “I’ll be sure to tell him that.”

  “Please don’t.”

  Penny laughed. “I’m teasing. Hunter may be…quiet…but he’s no monster.”

  Mira swallowed, wishing she could just keep her mouth shut. This was important and she didn’t want to get kicked out her first day. But Penny laughed it off, not seeming ruffled by Mira’s blunders, and they continued the tour. Penny explained what some of Mira’s responsibilities would be but seemed to be holding back in case Mira decided she couldn’t handle it. It didn’t matter to Mira; she was staying anyway.

  After the briefing, Penny directed Mira to some simple dusting duties to start her off. It sounded easy enough until she was shown the ladder. She gulped again. Bracing herself, she carried it to the gallery–a long wall near the front of the mansion holding paintings, like in palaces she’d seen and read about. Staring at the first oil painting, one of Hunter’s ancestors, she set up the ladder to start dusting the frame from the top. It was a gold gilded frame with filigree and curves and would take a little bit of work to clean.

  Her phone chimed with a message and she sighed in exasperation as Victor’s number appeared again. She blamed Kristy for this, a former coworker at the advertising firm. Kristy thought Victor was the greatest thing since twenty-four-hour mascara and probably gave him Mira’s number. Not that Kristy would have understood the ramifications, but still.

  For some reason, Victor became obsessed with Mira, and wouldn’t accept her refusal to go out with him, even though she’d been forced to be blunt when he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Once she left to work in Massachusetts, she didn’t have to deal with him as often, though she’d still run into him sometimes when she visited her father. But recently, Victor had managed to get her cell number.

  When Mira talked to Victor the first time he called, she flat-out told him not to call her again, but he hadn’t changed and refused to leave her alone. If this kept up, she’d have to get a new number. Mira pulled a face and slid the phone back in her pocket. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage him.

  Shaking Victor out of her head, she took a soft cloth, put on her wireless headphones, and climbed the ladder. Honestly, this wasn’t that much less glamorous than her previous job at the small art museum she worked at in the Berkshires, which is what she planned to do long-term until her father’s heart problems. She’d majored in art history and loved anything to do with working with art.

  She worked in a pattern, systematically dusting each frame. But each frame made her cringe. They needed real cleaning, not just dusting. And the oil paintings themselves also needed care, layers of dirt and dust muting the colors. Mira realized Penny couldn’t do everything, but Hunter could no doubt afford to send these out for professional care. Why didn’t he? Besides being antiques, these works of art were personal–they were his family. Mira could only imagine having original oil paintings of her predecessors.

  Something moved to the side as she examined one of the paintings up-close. She turned, the door at the very end shutting. She’d almost missed it. Mira tugged one of the headphones off her ear. “Hello?” she said. “Can I help you?”

  No one answered though she froze for a minute, listening for any signs of life. When none came, she put her headphone back on and got back to work.

  CHAPTER 5

  Hunter waited a beat, then hurried out of his hiding place before Mira decided to investigate. She seemed like the type who might. He hadn’t meant to watch her. But he’d heard the noise as she fought with the ladder and had to know what was going on. Then the fact that she wasn’t just arbitrarily dusting those frames but appeared interested in them had kept him around. Obviously for too long.

  Hunter sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He felt restless and he didn’t know why. For some reason, he wasn’t content to stay in his part of the house and let everything be. And, more than ever, that’s what he needed to do. When it was only the four of them, he could wander where he wanted to. But with a fifth person now in the house, he couldn’t risk it. So, why was he risking it?

  He slowed down, reaching his upstairs apartments. He was sure Penny had given her a tour by now and laid down the rules. That was technically a good thing, though it nagged at him that Mira wouldn’t be in his part of the house. Even if she was in his part of the house, what was he going to do? Watch her through crevices like a pervert? That wasn’t his style. Or, at least, it wasn’t in the past.

  The elevator at the edge of his wing dinged, the door opening. Jimmy stepped out, dragging along a tray on wheels. He caught sight of Hunter and smiled. “Where would you like to have lunch today, sir?”

  Hunter grimaced. It made him feel like his father when they called him “sir.” He gazed down the hallway, not sure where he was heading, and finally waved at the study.

  Jimmy rolled the cart into that room, setting up on the table near a window. “Nice view from here,” Jimmy muttered, laying out the plate and silverware, including a white cloth napkin. Then he rolled the cart out of the way and motioned for Hunter to sit. “Do you need anything else?”

  Hunter shook his head, sliding into the Louis style chair. He looked out the window, catching sight of Mira walking through the backyard, carrying a tray of food. He guessed it was her lunch break. She picked a spot, spread out a cloth on the grass and sat down in front of the tray.

  “Everything all right?”

  Hunter swallowed, remembering that Jimmy was still in the room. Hunter removed the cloche covering his lunch, going about his business. “Everything looks delicious.”

  Jimmy gave a nod, leaving. Hunter ignored his food, gazing back out at Mira, who sat cross-legged, chowing down on a sandwich. “Jimmy?” Hunter shouted.

  “Yes?” Jimmy popped his head back in and Hunter wondered if he’d just been standing in the hallway.

  Hunter hesitated, wondering if he should really say what he was about to say.

  “What do you need?” Jimmy stepped inside, waiting with his hands clasped.

  Hunter took a breath, plunging forward. “Invite Mira to dinner tonight.”

  Jimmy’s brows arched ever so slightly like he was consciously trying not to react. “To dine with you, sir?”

  “What else would I mean?” he snapped, then sucked in a breath. He dragged his water forward, hugging the glass to keep steady. “Just invite her.”

  Jimmy dropped his eyes to the floor, bowing slightly, then left. Hunter let out the breath he’d been holding, his eyes settling on Mira again. Maybe he should call Jimmy back and tell him he’d changed his mind. But the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth. Instead, he followed Mira’s example and ate.

  By the end of the afternoon, Mira was tired but pleased with the work she’d accomplished. Not that it was noticeable, but she’d survived. She gathered with the others in the kitchen, grabbing a pastry from a box on the table and settled down. Apparently, someone either left the house or delivered the pastries because she recognized them from a shop in the nearby town. Penny poured coffee, sliding it her way, and Jimmy and Courtland stood around, chatting.

  When they finished, the two men stood closer, and after a few seconds, Mira realized they were all staring at her. “What?” she said, shifting in her seat. Did she not do well that day after all? Was she fired because she met Hunter Masseron?

  Jimmy and Courtland had goofy smiles plastered on their faces, looking to Penny expectantly. When Mira turned to her, Penny smiled, patting her hand. “You did very well today, Mira. Like I said, you’ll do just fine.”

  “Thank you…” No one looked away. “Is that all?”

  “Actually, we have some news for you.” Penny’s eyes beamed.

  “News,” Courtland repeated, wagging his eyebrows.

  Mira’s stomach knotted up. The word “news” was not always a good thing. But they all looked pleased, so…how bad could it be? “What is it?”

  The t
wo men looked to Penny to deliver it. “Well, Hunt–Mr. Masseron–has invited you to have dinner with him tonight.” Her eyes brightened, and Courtland and Jimmy nodded, still smiling.

  Mira set her pastry down, her stomach dropping. She didn’t understand. Why would the wealthy owner of this mansion want to have dinner with his substitute housekeeper? “I was under the impression that he wanted to be left alone.”

  The three of them exchanged glances, like trying to figure out how to respond to that. Maybe they didn’t know either. “Normally, yes,” Penny ventured, “but I suppose he’s making an exception.” She put on a friendly, reassuring smile.

  But Mira didn’t feel reassured. She felt nervous. This wasn’t part of the job description. She thought back to the photos of Hunter with different women she’d seen online. What if…? Mira swallowed, sitting up straighter. “I realize he’s…rich…but if he thinks that I…you know…well, I won’t.” Mira gestured, hoping they would catch on to what she meant. But all three blinked back at her. Mira could feel herself flushing, but it was too late now. “You know…that he might think I’d be willing to…” She desperately didn’t want to have to spell it out for them.

  But then Courtland leaned toward Jimmy, whispering, “What is she talking about?”

  “I’m not going to sleep with him,” Mira blurted out.

  At the same time, all three of them went, “Oh!”

  “No, no, no,” Penny said, shaking her head. Jimmy and Courtland mimicked her. “Hunter isn’t like that. He would never try and take advantage of you.” Then her eyes softened. “And I wouldn’t let him, anyway.”

  Mira exhaled, feeling her whole face burn. “I didn’t mean to assume he’s–”

  “No worries.” Penny grabbed her arm, giving it a squeeze. “It’s only dinner. And trust me when I say you won’t have to worry about any funny business.”

  Mira forced a smile, wishing she could rewind and handle that better. But they didn’t seem to mind, thankfully. If anything, they seemed more concerned about how she felt, which was a surprise.