Page 7 of The Wrong Billionaire
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” I say. My mouth has gone dry, and I sip some water.
“I’m sorry I was late.” His voice, like Marcus’s, is deep and rich.
“That’s okay. Um… I know you’re the patron of the Foundation. If you have things you should be doing, this can wait…”
“No, it’s okay. The press would much rather take photos of Aurelia. Anyway, it’s nice to see you.” He sips his whiskey and smiles.
I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve kept in touch on Instagram since we graduated, commenting on each other’s photos and sending videos of dogs wearing shoes or cats falling into wastepaper bins.
I like him. A lot. He’s been a good friend. But there’s never been anything romantic between us. The laser-focused attention of one Ashford boy was enough.
You’re the most beautiful woman here tonight. I can’t believe Marcus said that. Or that he still likes me. His jacket around my shoulders feels as intimate as his arms around me. It smells of his cologne, something undoubtedly expensive and deeply sensual.
I’m thinking about the wrong brother! I shake my head to dislodge Marcus and smile at Caesar.
“So… how are you?” I ask. “Marcus said you’re running the company now.”
“Not quite. He’s being modest. Dad’s still technically the CEO, but Marcus and I pretty much run it together. I do strategy and operations. Marcus looks after the international side of things, and he’s the driving force behind our expansion. He has a lot of vision.”
“So he’s not just a pretty face?”
He grins. “No, but it helps.”
I smile. “Aurelia looks well, too.”
“Yeah, she oversees the public side of things. She’s grown into the role. A natural drama queen.”
I chuckle, remembering the fifteen-year-old beauty sulking when Caesar told her she couldn’t come on the boat with us because we had alcohol. “She was always… theatrical.”
“Yeah, some things don’t change.”
“And how are your folks? Both well?”
He looks at his whiskey glass for a moment. “Dad’s fine,” he says. “Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.”
My eyes widen, and I inhale. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” He hasn’t mentioned it to me, and they’ve obviously kept it out of the headlines.
“She’s just finished chemo, and she’s doing well. But it shocked Dad. He’s talking about retiring.”
“Gosh. How old is he?”
“Fifty-nine. He literally only dropped it into the conversation a few days ago in passing. We haven’t had a chance to sit down and discuss what will happen if he does.” He smiles. “But enough about me. Tell me about you. You’re back from Australia permanently?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry that didn’t work out.”
“Yeah, me too. I missed home, anyway. It’s good to be back.”
“Are you working?”
“Yes, I started halfway through last year at Pohutukawa Primary School in Birkenhead. It’s a nice little school. And I live just around the corner, so I can walk to work every day.”
“Are you enjoying it?”
“I love it. We had such fun doing the artwork for the Art Auction. And it’s always good for kids to help those less fortunate than themselves.”
He nods. “I can see that.” His gaze drifts away and he scans the bar. I chew my bottom lip. He’s a busy man, and Aurelia has already scolded him for disappearing. He might have to go soon. I need to get a move on.
