Billionaire Temptations: Rich, Ruthless & Obsessed

Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

TWO WEEKS LATER

Wes

Anna and I walked into the room at the Hudson Terrace, and I could say that I was highly impressed. She did an excellent job of getting everything organized and set up.

“This looks great, Anna.”

“Thanks. Actually, it was kind of fun. I think I like being on the other side of business things.”

I gently kissed her lips and then walked over to Christopher, who was grabbing a drink at the bar.

“Anna did a good job.” He smiled.

“She sure did. I’m very proud of her, and I love her.”

“That’s great, man. I’m happy for you. Who would have thought that your one-night stand in Paris would become the love of your life?”

“I know.” I laughed. “It’s weird how things work out sometimes.”

People started to pile inside the room, and I walked up to the microphone, welcomed everyone, and gave a short speech. Anna and I walked over to the buffet, grabbed some food, and then took our seats at the table where she had arranged for me to meet with the hopeful candidates that I would invest in their company.

“Hello, I’m Wes Carter.”

“I’m Francine Lutz. Cupcake?” She smiled.

“Oh. I love cupcakes.” Anna grinned as she reached over and took one. “These are beautiful. Did you bake them yourself?”

“Yes,” she shyly spoke. “Cupcakes are my life, and I’ve always wanted to open a cupcake store. I had been saving money for a couple of years, and then my husband left me for another woman, and he stole the money I had saved.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry,” Anna spoke as she reached over and placed her hand on hers. “Well, let’s taste these beautiful-looking cupcakes. Holy shit. These are the best cupcakes I’ve ever had. Oh my God, Wes. Try this.” She shoved the cupcake in my face.

“Yes. It is very good,” I spoke as I took a bite.

“What is in this frosting?” Anna asked.

“It’s a family secret.” She giggled.

She was a homely-looking woman who appeared to be in her late thirties with pin-straight, long brown hair, thick bangs, and large, black-rimmed glasses that looked too big for her face.

“Oh. I love those family secrets.” Anna smiled.

“My ex-husband put together this business plan for me a couple of years ago when I talked about wanting to open up a shop. Then he laughed at me and said nobody would want my stupid cupcakes, and he told me good luck. He crushed my dream. But I still had a vision.”

“Well, thank you, Francine. I’ll look this over.”

“Thank you, Mr. Carter. I appreciate it. Would you like to have the rest of these cupcakes?”

“Yes! We’d love them!” Anna spoke in excitement. “Thank you, Francine.”

I glanced over at Anna as she shoved another cupcake in her mouth.

“What?” she asked.

I laughed as I shook my head at her. When the event ended, we headed back to Anna’s place so she could grab some clothes since she was spending the weekend at my place.

“I think you should invest in Francine’s cupcake business,” she said as we walked into her apartment.

“Umm. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“What’s not a good idea?” Franco asked.

“Oh my God, Franco. Taste one of these cupcakes.” Anna beamed with excitement.

“Lord have mercy. Those are the most gorgeous cupcakes I’ve ever seen. Where did you get them?”

“Taste it,” she said as she unwrapped one and shoved it in his mouth.

“I think I just orgasmed.” He smiled.

“Right? Aren’t they fabulous?”

“I am completely jealous of the person who made these.”

“See,” Anna said as she turned to me. “And he’s picky.”

“There’s no profit in that, Anna.”

“Sure there is.”

“Not really. Plus, did you see her? She doesn’t exactly fit the business model.”

“Wow. So you’re saying that she can't sell cupcakes because she’s a little on the plain side?” She placed her hands on her hips. “Franco, this poor woman saved up all her money with the hopes of opening a cupcake store one day, and her lousy cheating bastard of a husband left her for another woman and ran off with the cash.”

“That poor thing. I don’t even know her, and I feel sorry for her.”

“Right? But Daddy Bucks here seems to think she can’t make it in the cupcake business because she’s a little plain.”

“I did not say that, Anna. Stop putting words in my mouth.”

“You most certainly did, Mr. Carter!”

“All I’m saying is Carter Capital is not investing in a cupcake business. So drop it.”

“Uh oh,” Franco spoke.

“Did you just tell me to drop it?” She got in my face.

“Yes. The answer is no! I’m the business owner, and I make the decision on whom to invest my money in,” I said sternly.

“Is that so?”

“It most definitely is!”

“Well, guess what? I’m the owner of my life, and I decide whom I want to spend the weekend with, and it isn’t going to be you!”

“Oh, come on, Anna. You’re acting like a child. You don’t get a say in what I invest in. You’re my personal assistant, not my business partner.”

“I’m going to go upstairs,” Franco said as he bit down on his bottom lip.

“Did you just call me a child?”

“I said you were acting like a child. All because I don’t agree with you about the cupcakes. It’s like we’re having a one-sided conversation, and you always think you’re right.”

“I am right!” she yelled.

“No, you’re not! You think you're right about everything because you were the COO of your father’s company?”

“You did not just say that!”

“Yeah, I did! I shouted. “You know what, maybe you’re right about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That you’re not spending the weekend with me. Enjoy your weekend alone.” I headed towards the door.

“I’m not alone! I have Franco! Asshole!”

I shook my head, walked out the door, and then I heard a thump.