Christmas Billionaire Read online

  At this, Laura’s face screwed up, and she giggled.

  “Dear, God! Never describe yourself like that again!”

  “You know what I mean! I’m a neat freak!” I insisted, pushing her again.

  “Yeah, you’re a pain in the ass!” Laura retorted, and I rolled my eyes.

  “That’s not what I meant…” I grumbled.

  “Anyway, speaking of a pain in the ass, guess who’s supposed to be at your father’s gala tomorrow night?”

  “Really? You want me to name everyone there who could be considered—”

  “Nope! Just one. Dexter.”

  “Oh,” I replied, trying to hide the blush that Laura could practically sense. She wasn’t a fan of him, hence her comment but she knew that I had a crush on him.

  “So, are you going to get all dolled up for him? We could get a makeover tomorrow before the party,” Laura insisted suggestively, her eyebrows raising to match her tone.

  “No!” I insisted testily, “Absolutely not! I’m not getting dolled up for anyone. I have way too much going on to worry about that right now.”

  “Uh-huh, sure,” she rolled her eyes, acting completely unconvinced.

  “I’m not!” I narrowed my eyes, though my heart started to pound nervously as I thought about him being there and seeing him again.

  The last time I had seen him was a little over two years ago. Despite my father and his father owning the same company, and Laura, I had severed all ties with that fast-paced world and didn’t want a reason to return.

  Besides, I told myself, genuinely assured that this was the truth, Dexter wouldn’t be interested anyway.

  Chapter 5

  Dexter

  I had seen Mr. Wilson and his constituents more this week than I had seen my house. However, the deal was slowly ending, and I was thrilled that there seemed to be a major payload in my near future.

  While I continued to have them on the hook, however, they still weren’t completely in the boat. As I stepped into my father’s office to give him a final update before leaving for the weekend, that unfortunate fact was evident and resounding in my mind.

  I knocked on the open door before I entered and my father waved me inside.

  “Close the door, Dexter,” my father instructed as he shuffled the files on his desk, set his pen down, and tore his reading glasses off the bridge of his nose, “So…” he beamed, “how did the meeting go today?”

  I knew from experience that the hopeful expression on his face wouldn’t last long. The second I started to speak, his face would drop and he would return his glasses to the bridge of his nose, his disappointment entirely palatable.

  Afterward, he would stare at me with discontent as though I was wasting his time, regardless of what I had to say until I simply gave up on trying to converse.

  “It went well!” I answered honestly, “They are taking the weekend to talk it over with the rest of the firm but—”

  “Jesus Christ, Dexter!” my father cut me off abruptly, “This foreplay you’ve got with this client has gone on since October. Do the deed already. You have to strike while the iron’s hot!” he shook his head in my direction before returning his glasses to his face and acting exactly as I knew he would.

  “Yes, but this is a delicate situation. This guy is old school, and he wants to make sure he’s making a good investment.”

  “He’s seen what we have to offer,” my father hissed, “If we showed him any more of our hand, we’d be rolling over and spreading fucking eagle for this guy. Why can’t you close this deal, Dexter?”

  “Don’t you trust me? I know what I’m doing,” I insisted, narrowing my eyes and stepping closer to him, trying to curb my anger.

  “That’s debatable,” my father hissed condescendingly as he returned his attention to the files on his desk.

  “I know what I’m doing. I’ll get it done,” I answered solidly but my father paid me no mind.

  I ground my teeth as I allowed the ripple of annoyance to scurry down my spine before I said another word.

  “And…there’s something else…” I added carefully after swallowing both my anger and my pride to wait patiently and see if I would even be granted a response.

  My father allowed a few seconds pass without even the acknowledgment of his raised, disapproving eyes, but eventually, he dragged his gaze up to stare over his glasses. His lips pursed and his eyes narrowed, giving off the essence of annoyance. I could probably have told him the office was on fire and he would have continued to keep the stoic look of aggravation etched into his expression.

  I wanted to talk to my father about the party that I was supposed to attend the following evening, but knowing that my father was no longer in a mood to talk to me, I knew there was nothing left to say. He wouldn’t hear it anyway, and even if he did, his words wouldn’t be helpful. If anything, they would incite a scene I didn’t care to create.

  So, instead of saying anything more, I simply shook my head.

  “Never mind. It’s not important,” I turned to leave and was happy I had wheeled myself around before I heard my father speak.

  “I’ve always told you, Dexter, only start a conversation if you intend to go through with it. Being so vague and unsure is like pulling your gun in the Wild West; it will likely get you hung.”

  I rolled my eyes and felt my lips snarl with contempt but refrained from saying anything more. Instead, I walked forward, leaving the negativity my father ignited inside of me in the doorframe.

  If anything came of it, I would simply insist I was taking my father’s advice.

  Thank God, it’s Friday, I decided as I left the office, making small talk with the secretary and other coworkers, as I usually did. Throughout my socializing, I was sure not to give anyone any indication that I was only a few words away from punching that smug look off my father’s face.

  While I would likely be hailed as a hero for doing something like that, I would undoubtedly be fired and that certainly wouldn’t be beneficial to my bottom line.

  See… I told myself as I finally escaped the watchful eyes of my coworkers, being a selfish bastard certainly has its perks.

  When I met Garrett at the gym, he was looking a little sluggish and thus, it was my turn to give him a little bit of his own medicine.

  “What’s the matter, dude? Two nights out on the town getting to you? I bet you’re feeling old. Do you feel old, because I hear that over the hill is calling your name!” I jeered as I watched his face redden and the veins in his overly large neck bulge.

  “This coming from the pussy who couldn’t even go out with me last night?” he retorted.

  “Yeah, because I had to work. You know, a job, the thing normal people have.”

  “Why would I need a job when I have a best friend that doubles as an ATM?” he asked snidely, “Who’s the idiot in this situation?”

  “Yeah, well I’ve been that idiot for a long time and don’t want my muscled friend to starve, so…you know,” I raised my shoulders nonchalantly as I walked over to the weights.

  “Besides, I have a job!” he answered as his insult started to turn itself around on him.

  “Being a personal trainer, with the way you live life, in Pennsylvania? Yea, that’s beer money, and that’s about it.”

  “You’re particularly dickish today,” Garrett observed finally, “I’m hungover. I can be a dick, but you should be fine because you have a real job.”

  “Yeah, I am,” I answered, not wanting to get into it.

  “Have you still not closed that deal?” Garrett asked, this time sounding more understanding than he had previously.

  “No, but I’m close,” I admitted, “Still, Supreme Lord Asshole doesn’t want to hear that. He wants me to wave a magic fucking wand and make everyone do whatever I want.”

  “Well, he’s figured it out,” Garrett lamented.

  “Yeah, with everyone but me and that seems to piss him off more.”

  “Well, you are his son,” he repl
ied.

  “And that’s an excuse?” I spat, “Just because I’m the unfortunate heir, I have to bend to his every whim?”

  “Well, no. I mean, your dad’s a dick. Everyone knows that but maybe he expects more of you than he does of everyone else.”

  “No,” I hissed, “You had it right the first time. My dad’s a dick, and that’s all there is to it.”

  After the unsuccessful week I’d had of baiting my line and receiving crap for doing what I thought was right, this was the last thing I wanted to hear.

  “So, I guess that means you’re ditching the party tomorrow night?”

  “Nah…I don’t want to go, but I have to,” I insisted, “Are you gonna be there?”

  “No. I have to finish my community service, which I’m grateful for but I wish it were any other night.”

  “Yeah, I still have to sign up for mine. I don’t know what I’m gonna do and I only have a few more days to figure it out before the court decides, and then I’m definitely screwed.”

  “You still haven’t picked anything? Why didn’t you do the cleanup with me?”

  “I told you, it’s too public. You know my dad would kill me and then fire me if he found out. I have to be incognito.”

  Garrett narrowed his eyes in thought.

  “Well, I think I saw something for the Santa Claus at the mall? At least you’d get to wear a disguise,” he chuckled.

  I seriously thought about it.

  “Actually,” I finally admitted, “that might work.”

  “Dude,” Garrett answered with a sneer, “You don’t really think…”

  “Not only would I be in costume,” I continued, working out the plan in my head, “My father would never be caught dead at the mall, among normal people, you know, having fun.”

  Garrett’s disapproval slowly started to morph into a warmth for the crazy plan.

  “You are right. Your father hates to go places and be around people enjoying themselves unless they’re giving him money.” However, after another moment of thought, he snickered, “It’s just, the thought of you…as Santa Claus.”

  “What? I’m jolly!” I insisted, “I mean, I can be jolly.”

  “Maybe they’re also looking for a Krampus,” Garrett offered teasingly.

  “Ha! Ha!” I retorted, only half listening to him, “I know you didn’t mean to, but Garrett, I think you’ve actually come up with a pretty good idea.”

  “Great! So, glad I could help,” he offered sarcastically.

  I chose not to respond. My mind was on other things, and it took a moment for my mind to work out all the details, although the more I thought about it, the more I knew it would be perfect.

  Thus, my mind eventually wandered back to another issue I was having.

  “So…you really can’t go to the party? Shit,” I insisted suddenly.

  “Sorry, dude. I can’t save you this time,” he teased. Garrett was used to my random bouts of silence, followed by a question or comment that had nothing to do with what we were previously talking about, “But hey, is Brent's hot-ass daughter gonna be there? Maybe you won’t miss me at all.”

  I knew that I thought way too hard about it before I answered, but I didn’t care. After all, I hadn’t seen her in two years, and it would be nice to catch up.

  “I don’t know,” I responded finally, “Isn’t she a teacher now or something?”

  “How the hell should I know? All I remember is that she was hot and I would’ve given anything to touch her tits. I never gave a shit about anything more than that.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Well, she might not be there. She hasn’t been the last few years, and her father doesn’t talk too much about her when I’m around.”

  “Probably because he knows you want to bang her,” he offered, and I shot him a dirty look.

  “Dude, if I had a daughter like that, I wouldn’t let her anywhere near us.”

  As much as I wanted to be insulted, I knew he was more accurate than I would like to admit and thus, I didn’t retort.

  “Still, she’s probably married by now. A lot can happen in two years.”

  “That doesn’t mean she’s happy…or maybe they’re swingers,” Garrett offered, again seeming far too genuine for the comment he was making.

  “Dude...”

  “What?”

  “You’re weird.”

  “Are you honestly just figuring that out?”

  “No, but it needed to be said.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Chapter 6

  Mazie

  After eventually guilting me into it, Laura succeeded in talking me into having a girly day with her. I was never one to dress up, but she used her femininity to be good at her job.

  Thus, she always looked stunning, and the annual company Christmas party was certainly no exception.

  So, we got our nails and hair done, got ourselves gorgeous new dresses, had massages and facials until we could barely fit actually getting ready for the party into our schedule.

  Eventually, though, after a long day, we found ourselves at my house having a glass of wine before slipping into our dresses.

  I hadn’t gotten this dressed up in ages; albeit, being a teacher, there weren’t too many opportunities to go all out unless you were on the hunt for a significant other, which I most definitely was not.

  Despite what everyone else seemed to want to believe, I was happy with my life, and I didn’t want the complications of a relationship to hinder what I had going for me.

  “I can’t believe how much my father and Mr. Myer have expanded the company,” I expressed to Laura, “After he took you under his wing, it seems like my father gained a new perspective.”

  “I know. Remember when there was almost only family working there?”

  “Of course, I do! We were the secretaries!” I replied with a laugh.

  “Yeah, remember Dexter and his friend…what was his name? Lenny? Gavin? Garrett? Anyway, we would sneak away and explore the offices.”

  “The few people outside of our relatives who did work there hated us,” I agreed.

  “The four of us were always getting into trouble, though. I would’ve hated us too.”

  “I know. My father would continually be apologizing for our antics while Mr. Myer basically told them to get over it or leave.”

  With wide eyes, she nodded in agreement.

  “I think he even told one of the employees, ‘If you even last that long, which I doubt you will, my Dexter will be your boss!’” Laura insisted with a giggle, “Little did any of us know that now, despite Dex’s capability, if he wanted control, he’d have to pry it out of his father’s cold, dead hands.”

  “Maybe it’s for the best, though. I mean, do you really think that Dexter would be a good leader?” I wasn’t convinced. Even though he was extremely attractive, he never seemed like the leader type.

  “Yeah, I definitely think he’d do well. It would probably be a big adjustment for him, and eventually, the power would go to his head, but in the time in-between, when he started to get the hang of it but didn’t know everything yet, he’d be good.”

  “So, you mean, it would be a great place to work for like, a week?”

  Laura snorted a laugh before downing the rest of the wine in one large swallow.

  “Pretty much,” she insisted.

  “Yeah, that reality is one of the many reasons that I would starve before I worked for my family’s company.”

  Laura’s shoulders rose and fell in a slightly contrite manner.

  “Hey, Mazie, that’s not your thing. Everyone knows that. You have a passion for teaching. You love what you do.”

  “You’re right, and when I look at the kids, I try to imagine what they could be, what they will be. There isn’t one that goes through my classroom that I can’t imagine something great for.”

  “At that age, everyone still has potential,” Laura offered cynically.

  “At any age, there’s still poten
tial,” I insisted, “But seriously, in every grade I’ve ever taught, there has never been any child that didn’t have something wonderful going for them.”

  With that, my mind wandered to Susie, and I hoped that her father had made the right decision after our talk yesterday.

  Even with the issues that are clearly driving her need for attention, I knew that if she put her energy into the right things, she could turn her bad experience into a story of inspiration and healing.

  “Yeah, you’re far too virtuous to work in marketing. You see the good in everyone,” she grinned and scooted closer to me, and I could already tell where this was going before she even opened her mouth, “Girl, you’d be the perfect mother. You need to find yourself a man and start having some babies of your own. Maybe you can use tonight to step out of your shell a little.”

  “I don’t have a shell. I’m just not crazy.”

  Laura’s lips pursed and I could tell she didn’t agree with what I was telling her.

  “Besides,” I rolled my eyes, “I’ve told you before, Laura. When it’s time, the right man will come along, but I seriously doubt that will be anytime soon.”

  “We’ll see,” she replied before changing the subject in a hurry, “Come on! We should get going. We can only be fashionably late tonight. After all that work we did, I want to make sure that people notice us, not what time we got there.”

  Thankfully, Laura had let the conversation of me, my comfort zone, and any possible future babies go for the time being and thus, we had an enjoyable ride over to my parents’ house.

  Once we got there, I parked in the spot that had always been and likely would always be dedicated to me and we went inside.

  Before we even got through the foyer, though, we were bombarded by family friends and business associates of my father.

  It was nice to see everyone since I hadn’t seen a lot of those people in more than two years, but by the time I found myself in the main entertainment room where the food was set up, I had lost Laura.

  Now I was all alone, fielding questions of what I was doing with my life from people who didn’t think I should be pursuing a career unless I was making six figures, and it was getting claustrophobic