The Billionaire and the Assistant: Eli's story (The Billionaires Book 3) Read online

  “Is everything okay, Alex?” He asked me.

  “I don’t know.” I replied. “You tell me.”

  At this he started scratching around the edge of his collar and then he pulled at it as if it was strangling him. Something was definitely going on.

  “Er, tell you what? What have you heard?”

  Ah, so there was something because he was worried I’d heard it. Maybe I wasn’t getting sacked. Maybe there was a merger, or Eli was retiring like Henry Carter had done. That meant I might not see him again. I felt my lip wobble. For fuck’s sake Alex, get a grip.

  Eli jumped out of his seat and bolted over towards me. He placed an arm around me and steered me to the dreaded ‘might be fired’ chair. I had no choice but to sit in it.

  “Hey, sit down. What’s wrong?” He asked. “Whatever it is that’s upsetting you. We’ll sort it, okay? If you’ve heard a strange rumor about me, then seriously forget it. I wouldn’t want to upset you.”

  “Well you are upsetting me.” I yelled. Oh my God, did I really just do that? I yelled at my boss. Now I really was having my contract terminated. “Are you gonna fire me?” I eventually managed to get out in a quieter voice.

  Eli’s jaw dropped to the floor. “Of course not. Where on earth have you got that idea from? You’re the best assistant there is. I wouldn’t be able to function without you around. You’re going nowhere, Alex, if it’s up to me. Of course, if you decide to move on then I wouldn’t try to stop you from living your life, but I’d be devastated.” He coughed again. “Professionally that is, although I’d miss you too of course. You know your personality. Er, that you’re a nice person.”

  He took a gulp of his coffee.

  The morning was getting stranger.

  “So I’m not getting fired?”

  “No! Whatever gave you that idea?”

  “You said you needed five minutes.” I realized then how very stupid I sounded. The guy had just asked for five minutes alone time. Maybe he’d needed to make a private phone call. He could even have needed to scratch his ass and wanted to do it in private. I had totally overreacted.

  I bit my lip. Why couldn’t I rewind this morning and start over? I had totally embarrassed myself.

  “And that made you think I was going to fire you?” He scratched the stubble on his jaw. “Is there something you need to tell me that I might want to fire you for?”

  “No!”

  “Well, I have no intention of firing you. I just needed five minutes. I was a little out of breath as I’d rushed in this morning.”

  “Oh, okay. Well would you like your messages now?” I said, and I tried to get the morning back to normal. It hadn’t escaped my attention though seeing that I was used to scrutinizing Eli that he hadn’t been the slightest bit out of breath when he’d arrived at the office.

  Something weird was going on.

  Eli

  Oh my fucking God. For one awful minute I thought she knew about the wager. Knew I was going to ask her on a date, and dreading that happening and having to reject me, she’d hovered in the doorway not wanting to come in. How could I possibly ask her on a date? Let’s be reasonable here. I was nineteen years older than her. Nineteen! Her father could be the same age as me for all I knew. She wouldn’t want to date an old man. Also she might sue me for sexual harassment or something. Then tell her father, who I’m now imagining being an Army vet who will come to the office and kick my ass. Then I’ll have no assistant and more importantly I’d never see Alexandra again. Wouldn’t it be better that I continued to admire her from afar and wished her the best in life? For her to meet a young virile husband who could make her happy and give her lots of babies?

  I flinched as the pencil I had in my fingers snapped in half. There was no way I could let another man get their hands on Alex. She was mine goddamn it. My mind went there, imagining all the lovers she’d probably had while under employment at King’s Enterprises and my neck tensed so much I could feel a headache starting.

  My cell buzzed, and I took it from my pocket.

  Aidan Hall: You asked her yet? Course you haven’t, you’re a pussy. Meanwhile I’ve been balls deep in Lori’s.

  Motherfucking smart ass. Yet I couldn’t help but be amused by his text and touched by the fact that he’d checked in to see if I’d asked yet. Aidan kept telling me I deserved happiness and that I needed to find out once and for all if Alex was attracted to me. Haley, my Realtor at Green’s, had said she was, but that had been a couple years back. Plus where had been Haley’s proof? She’d put it down to how Alex had looked at me. Alex could have just been thinking I was pathetic that night at PlayKing’s when we were celebrating the partnership with Green’s. It could have been a look of pity on her face, or just general happiness for me that I’d secured such a great deal.

  Every bloody day for the last four years I’d been coming into work, as early as possible to see my assistant. I’d deliberately made meetings run late, so she had to stay out with me in an evening, knowing that any social plans she’d made she would have to cancel. I couldn’t get enough of her, but I couldn’t tell her either.

  That well known phrase came into my mind. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

  I wasn’t sure. If I lost her because she accused me of being a goddamn pervert, how was that better? It looked like I was going to be waging a war with myself all day about asking her out.

  Then, I had a lightbulb moment! Of course! She came out with me on late business meetings. What if I set one up, but the client didn’t arrive? Because there wouldn’t really be a client. I sat with my chin in my hands because Alex took charge of bookings so how would I work that out? Fuck, I’d have to call her and pretend to be someone else, change my voice. Then we’d go out for the business dinner and the client wouldn’t arrive because of course he didn’t in fact exist and then me and Alex would have dinner. It would be a date! She wouldn’t know it but it would be. I texted Aidan back.

  Elias King: Not asked yet but I’m just arranging a venue.

  He texted back within a minute.

  Aidan Hall: I’m watching you. If you don’t ask her by the end of the week I’m sending Lori in to sound her out.

  Elias King: I’m gonna ask. Quit busting my balls.

  Aidan Hall: Just trying to get someone else on em for ya.

  I walked through to where Alex was busy typing up a report. “I’m just popping out, Alex. Do you want anything?”

  “Er, Eli, have you forgotten I’m your assistant and I go out to get anything you need?”

  “Oh, yeah, you do. Well, this time I need to go out myself. I’ll be going past a McDonald's, fancy a naughty treat?”

  Her cheeks flushed, and I berated myself. I’d done it again—made her think something weird was going on. She’d be back to thinking I was about to fire her now I was going out doing my own thing.

  “No, I’m fine thank you. I brought in my own lunch.”

  “Okay. Well I’ll be back shortly. I’m expecting a call from, er, a Terry Saunders. Could you book him in for a business dinner tomorrow evening if he says he’s free? And you’d be able to come along, right? Take some notes.”

  “Yeah, sorry, yes, of course.” Alex said. “Well, enjoy, er, whatever it is you’re doing.”

  “I will.” I said far too cheerily and then I left the office where I slapped myself across my own cheeks in the elevator for acting like such a jerk.

  Alex

  It had to be another woman.

  I slumped back in my chair and could feel tears threatening my eyes. He was jumpy, secretive and now had gone out for lunch. Thinking about it, he’d looked extra smart today. He usually had his top button undone and his tie in his briefcase, but he’d come in today completely attired. Oh God, he’d met someone. I was going to die. Why not me? Why did he not want me? I pondered over his strange behavior this morning again. Right. At the meeting tomorrow evening I would wear my best outfit and try to be a little extra chatty. Maybe
I would even be the slightest bit flirty and see if I could engage Eli in seeing me as anything other than his assistant. Although if he’d already met someone I was probably too late. Oh my God as his assistant he’d want me to help book their wedding. I’d have to leave.

  I tried taking deep breaths to calm myself down. I hadn’t been fired but I might have to leave, anyway.

  The office phone rang.

  “Mr. King’s office. Alexandra Cross speaking.”

  “Good day.” A very British accent came down the line. “Terry Saunders here. I’m needing to set up a dinner appointment with Eli, the jolly old fellow.”

  The man sounded a little eccentric, but I guessed Eli knew him of old or knew he was legit. “Yes, would you be free to dine at Elena’s at seven tomorrow evening?”

  “Jolly good, I’ll see him then.” He replied and hung up before I could elicit any further details from him. I’d have to hope Mr. Saunders knew the restaurant as he’d not asked me for the address.

  Eli

  Surely to God, she’d not fallen for that accent. It was the only thing I could think of, having played a rich British aristocrat in a school play years back. I’d kept the call brief, so that I didn’t accidentally slip into my own voice and have her think I was a complete lunatic. Because of course leaving my office to impersonate a British businessman was entirely normal. Anyway, it was done. I had a date with Alex the following evening even if she didn’t know it yet. If we had a good time, maybe I could properly ask her out on a second date? Maybe…

  Chapter 2

  Eli

  The following day I was out at a site visit all morning meeting my Realtor, Haley Martin. I’d known Haley for three years now since I’d first made my alliance with Arthur Green and his Real Estate agency. It had made no sense for me to build up a separate business when I could work with a man who knew real estate inside out. We’d made Haley my liaison, with her friend Tiffany—who also worked for Green’s—as second in command.

  Both women were fabulous at their job. I had a great professional working relationship with both of them, but had to say that Haley was how I’d wished my daughter had turned out in personality. She was fresh and genuine, and since I’d known her and she’d settled into her relationship with Chase and Todd (yes both of them), her confidence had grown. She’d bloomed in front of my eyes.

  Today she stood outside a condo in Brooklyn. I walked over to her and shook her hand.

  “Whatever,” she said and gave me a hug.

  “I can’t help myself, I’m a gentleman.” I told her, receiving a smile in return.

  “You most definitely are, and a pleasure to work with, and I, as the best Realtor ever, have found you the most amazing condo that will make you even more billions to go with the ones you already have.”

  “Music to my ears, Miss Martin, and of course you’ll also benefit from one extremely high commission.”

  “I know.” She replied. “Which will come in very handy in buying lots of things for the baby.”

  “The, what?” I immediately looked down at her stomach, which looked the same as usual to me.

  “Yes, I’m pregnant. Only eight weeks so very early on, but I wanted to give you the heads up because should I fall victim to morning sickness or any other delightful symptoms then of course you’d be seeing Tiff here, not me.”

  “Congratulations.” I said to her. “That’s amazing news. You’ll be a fantastic mom, Haley. How are the fathers-to-be?”

  “Both convinced they fathered it. We won’t know until it’s born and then for baby number two, we’ll do a swapsie.”

  I felt myself stiffen. Haley was so open about everything, like she was discussing getting a pint of milk. It was just as refreshing, but I couldn’t help needing a second to catch up with her lifestyle.

  “So will you do a DNA test?”

  “Yeah unless it’s entirely obvious. Though seeing as it’s behaving at the moment I figure it’s Todd’s. If it starts being a pain in the ass causing me grief, then I’d hanker a guess at Chase’s.”

  We both laughed at that. She couldn’t have two more different men in her life. Chase was blond and had a killer sense of humor, whereas Todd was dark haired, dark eyed and had a calm demeanor.

  “Well, as long as the baby doesn’t turn out like mine, you’ll be fine.”

  She clutched my arm. “Is she really that bad?”

  I shook my head. “I’m afraid so. It’s a terrible thing to say about your own daughter, but she doesn’t have a redeeming bone in her body. I’ve tried with her, but every time I feel I’m getting somewhere I find out she’s just been playing me along to get something or pitching me against her mother. I don’t know where it all went so wrong.”

  “Well, I guess the fact you’ve never repeated either the marriage or the child experience shows what a nightmare they both were for you.”

  “Yeah, it has taken me a long time to consider dating again.”

  Haley stared at me a little too long. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  I smirked. “What do you think I’m saying?”

  “That you might be ready to date again.” She began to walk into the condo. “There’s a restaurant in the lower lobby. We’re having coffee, my treat, and you’re going to tell me everything.”

  “Oh my God, you are seriously gonna ask Alex out? She’s going to have a heart attack.”

  Haley once again wore another great beaming smile and then smacked herself around her cheeks. “Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? Two years, Eli. Two years I’ve been nagging you to ask this girl out. She’s been obsessed with you for years. How she hasn’t met anyone else in the meantime and you missed your chance I don’t know. “So, how are you going to do this?”

  “Well…” I said and Haley narrowed her eyes.

  “What?”

  I told her about the fake business meeting. Then I watched as she cracked up, clutching at her stomach. “Oh my God, Eli. Don’t. The baby presses on my bladder. I do not want to urinate on the floor of this lovely restaurant.” She guffawed again. “So she’s going on a date, not knowing it’s a date. How about when you take her home? Wouldn’t you normally kiss a date goodnight?”

  Fuck. I’d not thought of that. My mouth twisted to the side as I mulled it over.

  “I’ll give her a chaste kiss on the cheek. That would be perfectly acceptable for a first date.”

  Haley collapsed in a fit of laughter again.

  “Your professionalism is debatable today, Miss Martin.”

  “I’m gonna blame it on pregnancy hormones. You kinda can’t say anything then. They’re highly unpredictable.” She sat up straight. “Do your British accent. Go on, let me hear it. What did you say to her?”

  “I’m not because you’re just going to laugh at me again.” I wiped at my mouth with a napkin.

  “No, I won’t. I promise. Look, I’ll close my eyes and see if you fool me with your accent.”

  She closed her eyes.

  “That would be jolly good, thank you.”

  Haley laughed so loudly that other patrons of the restaurant turned to her and frowned. “Oh my God, that was terrible. She fell for that? Alexandra Cross needs taking out of the naïve life she’s living. Go get her, Tiger.”

  When she looked at me again, my arms were folded over my chest. “Sorry, Eli. Hormones.” She said before adding a “Roar.” Then she smiled and winked at me before we finished up our coffees and headed to look at the development.

  The condo was as amazing as Haley had described if not more so. With an uplift in terms of what each apartment provided, adding extra luxury, would mean a very healthy return on the investment. “Let’s do this, Haley.” I told her.

  “Fantastic. I’ll start negotiations when I get back to the office. The great thing is I know the developer has spread himself too wide lately in buying up real estate so I believe I can secure a good price on this.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without
you, Haley. Please tell me you’re not going to leave after having the baby.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. I’ll be leaving those two at home to fight over who does what. We’ll be lucky to get anywhere near the baby with Chase around. He’s already started buying gender neutral clothing. I’ll end up giving some things away to charity because no one needs thirty-two pairs of bootees.”

  “Sounds like you’re going to have your hands full.” I said to her.

  “Nothing I’m not used to.” She quipped, with an accompanying wink. “Anyway, a little heads up about my friend, Alex.” She added.

  “Friend?”

  “Yes, you unobservant jerk. I meet Alex once a week for cocktails although mine are now non-alcoholic.”

  “So, Alex knows about the baby?”

  “Yes, and so prepare for the heads up.”

  “Okay, and by the way I’m only letting you off with calling me a jerk because you’re holding me ransom with this valuable information.”

  “Okay, so listen up. Alex is giving herself a year to find a man and then if nothing is happening, she’s going to get a sperm donor.”

  My jaw dropped. Whatever I thought Haley was going to say, it wasn’t that.

  “Say that again?”

  “She’s twenty-nine and while she says she can cope without a relationship, she’s not prepared to go through life without a baby. So in a year’s time, if there’s no man in her life, she’s going to have a baby on her own. Which means,” Haley stared at me pointedly. “While you’re considering dating this woman, you’re gonna have to think more long-term. The daughter you have already is a nightmare, but Alex wants kids. If you don’t then you need to cut her free.”