Billionaire Temptations: Rich, Ruthless & Obsessed

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

I opened my eyes and quickly jumped out of bed, running to the bathroom and hovering over the toilet.

“Are you okay?” Max asked with concern.

“I don’t think so.” I began vomiting.

Max entered the bathroom and pulled back my hair, rubbing my back as I vomited a few more times.

“Do you have the flu?” He handed me a tissue.

“It’s possible. A few students at school had just had it, so I know it’s going around.”

“You better go back to bed and get some rest.”

“I can’t. I have that huge project to turn in today. I have to go to classes.”

“But if you’re sick, you can’t.”

I stood up and splashed some cold water on my face. “I’ll be fine. I have no choice.”

“We have about an hour before we need to be up and ready, so let’s go back to bed for a bit.”

He helped me into bed and climbed in next to me. I snuggled up against him and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, he was waking me up.

“Emma, you have to get up, or you’ll be late. Are you okay?”

When I opened my eyes, Max was standing over me, fully dressed and ready to leave.

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I climbed out of bed. I didn’t have the energy to shower, so I just threw my hair up in a ponytail and pulled on a pair of black leggings and an oversized sweater. Fall had settled in New York, and it was getting chillier by the day. I wasn’t used to November weather anywhere but Miami. Max gave me a kiss and said goodbye.

“I’ll call you later to see how you’re doing. Try to take it easy today and come right home after school.”

“I will. Have a good day at work.”

I pulled the orange juice out of the fridge and poured myself a glass. My stomach still had that sick feeling, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. No matter how I felt later, I needed to stop by the jeweler and pick up Max’s birthday gift. His birthday was in a couple of days, and we were going out to dinner with his parents and Fiona. As the day went on, I could barely keep my eyes open in class. Hannah wasn’t in class today because she was sick with the flu. I saw Darren waiting at the curb when my last class got out. He smiled.

“How are you feeling, Emma? Max told me you were sick this morning.”

“I’m not doing too well, Darren. What are you doing here?”

“Max sent me to pick you up and make sure you go straight home.”

I sighed. “That was nice of him, but I need you to take me to the jewelers first. I have to pick up his birthday present. It’ll only take a minute.”

“Of course.” He opened the door for me, and I slid into the back seat.

As soon as Darren dropped me off at my apartment, I set down my purse and climbed into bed. I awoke to the ringing sound of my phone.

“Hello.”

“Were you sleeping?” Max asked.

“Yeah. What time is it?”

“Seven o’clock. I was going to bring you over some chicken soup. Are you up for some?”

“That sounds good. Thank you.”

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

I couldn’t believe that I had slept for three hours. It was good that I didn’t have classes tomorrow because I just wanted to stay home and rest.

“I’ve unlocked the door. I’m going to take a quick shower. Let yourself in.”

Stripping out of my clothes, I stepped into the shower and stood under the hot water, hoping that it would wake me up. Once I was finished, I stepped out and heard Max talking from the living room. He must have been on the phone. After drying off and slipping into my pajamas, I followed the aroma of chicken soup to the kitchen.

“Hey. How are you feeling?” he asked as he put his phone in his pocket.

“Like crap.” I smiled.

“You may feel like crap, but you don’t look like it.”

I gave him a small smile as he took down a bowl from the cabinet and filled it with soup. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down at the table.

“Thanks for bringing this over. If you wouldn’t have called me, I don’t think I would have gotten up. Hannah wasn’t in school today. Apparently, she’s sick with the flu as well.”

“Ah, it must be going around. I’m sure you’ll feel better in the morning after you get a good night’s sleep.”

“You’re a good friend, Hamilton.” I smiled as I held up my spoon.

“So are you.”

Max didn’t spend the night. He was flying out to Chicago in the morning to meet some lawyers about his software company and said he’d be back tonight. My stomach was feeling queasy as I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I couldn’t believe I’d slept until ten o’clock. As I started to brush my teeth, I could feel the vomit rise up in my throat. I threw my toothbrush down and leaned over the toilet. As I grabbed a tissue and wiped my mouth, I heard my phone from the bedroom ring.

“Hi, Mom,” I answered as I climbed back into bed.

“Hi, Emma. What’s wrong? Did I wake you?”

“No. I was up. I have the flu.”

“Oh no. When did that start?”

“Yesterday.”

“Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. You don’t want to get dehydrated.”

“I know, Mom. Was there a reason why you called?”

“No. Nothing in particular. I just wanted to catch up and see how you were doing. Give me a call when you’re feeling better.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon.”

The overwhelming guilt that I hadn’t told her what was going on was still with me, and I felt like shit for keeping it from her. But if I had told her, she’d worry, and that was the last thing I wanted. As I laid my head on the pillow, a text message from Max came through.

“Good morning. How are you feeling today?”

“A little better.”

“Good to hear. Make sure you rest all day. You have to be better for my birthday tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry. I will be. Have a good day in Chicago.”

“I will. I’ll be over later tonight when I get back, and hopefully, you’ll feel better for some great sex.” He sent me the winky face.

“Looking forward to it.”

I didn’t want to tell him that I was still sick because I didn’t want him to worry. As I lay on the couch and binge-watched Veronica Mars , I kept thinking about Max and how, in a week, my life would completely change.

His hand cupped my breast as the warmth of his tongue slid up my throat. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he thrust inside me, moving slowly and passionately. Our mouths met with delight and my fingers played in his hair as he moved in and out of me fluently, bringing me to my second orgasm of the night. His sexy moans deepened as he exploded inside of me.

“I hope that made you feel better.” He smiled as he placed his hand on my forehead.

“It did.”

He kissed my lips before rolling off of me and headed to the bathroom.

“Someone has a big birthday coming up in a couple of hours.”

He emerged from the bathroom with a smile on his face but still a hint of sadness in his eyes. He climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around me.

“I can’t think of a better way to wake up on my birthday than with your perfect naked body wrapped around mine.”

I gave his chest tiny kisses as I placed my hand down below, feeling his cock over the cotton of his underwear.

“I think this big guy may get his own present in the morning.” I felt it twinge, and I smiled.

“I’m going to make sure you keep that promise.” He kissed my head and turned off the light.

The next morning, I made good on my promise and gave him an amazing birthday present.

“Happy birthday, big boy.” I smiled as I finished and kissed his lips.

“Damn. It sure is a happy birthday. Thank you.” He cupped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me into a passionate kiss. “I guess you’re feeling better.”

“I am, and I have something for you.” I reached into the drawer on the nightstand and pulled out the small gift bag. “Happy birthday, Max.”

He sat up against the headboard and took the box from the bag. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“I wanted to. Now open it.”

He removed the lid and pulled out the stainless steel and black onyx pendant with his name engraved on a black leather rope.

“Emma, this is amazing.”

“Do you like it? I thought you could wear it when you dress a little more casually.”

“I love it.”

“Turn it over.” I smiled.

He ran his finger over the small phoenix that I had engraved. “The phoenix, much like the butterfly, symbolizes transformation and rebirth. I thought it appropriate since you’re embarking on a new adventure and renewing yourself from under your father’s shadow.”

“I’m speechless. No one has ever given me something like this before. I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. It’s a gift from me to you.”

“Thank you. I’ll wear it every day.”

“I have to get ready for school, and you have to get ready for the office.” I smiled.

“I’m going to call Darren to come get me and take me home real quick. I left some papers there that I need.” He kissed me.

I got up from the bed and brushed my teeth in the bathroom. The feeling of nausea returned the minute I put the toothbrush in my mouth. I quickly removed it and placed my hands on the counter, waiting for it to pass.

“Darren’s here, and I’m heading out. I’ll be by to pick you up around five thirty,” he said through the door.

“Okay. Have a great day, and I’ll see you later. Happy birthday, Max!”

“Thanks, babe. I’ll call you later.”

He couldn’t get out fast enough for me as I leaned over the toilet and started vomiting. Shit . What was going on? I didn’t have time for this. I got ready and headed out the door to school. When I arrived and sat down in my seat, Hannah came strolling in.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” I asked her.

“A little better. That flu really kicked my ass.”

“Tell me about it. I’m still not feeling well, and I have that dinner tonight with Max and his family. It’s his birthday.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. It’s almost over. How are you feeling about that?”

“I’m okay,” I totally lied. “It’s hard to believe that the last three months went by so fast.”

“I know. We’re almost done with this semester.”

I sighed. “As soon as the semester ends, I have to find a job. My money is running out.”

“The bookstore on campus is hiring. I don’t know how much they pay, but it’s worth a shot.” She smiled.

“Maybe I’ll check it out. Thanks, Hannah.”

“Hey, I’m not feeling so well,” Austin said as he leaned in between us. “I think I need to leave.”

Hannah and I looked at him. He was as white as a ghost. “You better get home before you start puking all over us.”

“I’ll talk to you girls later.” He grabbed his things and literally ran out of the classroom.

We both laughed. “Poor Austin.”