Fixer for the Billionaire: A Spicy Billionaire Romantic Comedy (Seattle's Anderson Family)

Chapter 8

CARMINA

”So, let me get this straight. Mr. Tall-Dark-Blond-and-Handy, Quentin Anderson himself, swooped in to play your knight in shining armor, entertained your sisters with his not-exactly-PG horror movie reenactments, and then shared a rom-com-worthy magic moment with you, all before speeding off into the rain because you suggested he wear one of Alex’s old band T-shirts?” Jenny asks, peeking over a creaky bookshelf with her hazel eyes wide with amusement.

Strolling through the cozy, cluttered aisles of ”The Rainy Page,” a beloved local bookstore in downtown Seattle known for its charm and impressive collection of local authors, pride swells inside me.

Here, just two days after the Quentin-car debacle, nestled among weathered bookshelves and the comforting scent of old pages, the stage is set for tonight”s early book reading of the latest ”Love in Seattle” series by Danity Dandridge.

This is my element.

As PR Director at Hare Holeton, it”s my job to generate as much pre-release hype as possible, and what better way than a quaint bookstore event on a rainy Seattle Monday evening?

Jenny is by my side, ensuring everything is perfect for tonight. Amidst checking microphone levels and arranging chairs, we inevitably circle back to pre-wedding plans and the disaster that was my Saturday—or rather, the disaster it wasn”t, thanks to my uncanny knack for butting heads with Quentin over everything.

I nod, still reeling from the whirlwind that was Saturday morning with Quentin.

”It was unexpected,” I admit, playing with the gold necklace at my collarbone. ”Especially the part where he changed his tire in less time than it takes to say ”pit stop” after—we kissed.”

Jenny”s eyebrows rocket upwards, her expression turning devilishly gleeful. ”Oh, honey, that man didn”t just bolt because of some ex’s raggedy T-shirt. Quentin was jealous. The green-eyed monster was out in full force.”

I scoff. ”Jealous? Quentin? The guy thinks dating is a competitive sport.”

”Carmina, dear, it doesn”t take a detective to see through him. He”s as transparent as my grandma’s lace curtains,” Jenny says, giving me a knowing wink. ”We need a strategy for tonight’s reading. Given our luck, Mr. Fix-It might just show up with a bouquet of apologies or, more likely, another horror story to share.”

The idea sends a shiver of excitement through me, tinged with nerves. Quentin Anderson, jealous and making an appearance tonight? That”s a twist not even Danity Dandridge could have imagined.

”So, how did the rescheduled meeting go? You mentioned it was a ”business meeting” the next day, right?” Jenny probes, her eyes twinkling with anticipation for some juicy details.

Desperate to keep the real agenda—planning decor for her engagement party—a secret, I keep my gaze on the bookshelves as we walk.

”Well,” I sigh, ”it went about as smoothly as you”d expect with Quentin and me barely speaking. I had to mentally blast Tupac just to stop myself from snapping at him.”

Jenny bursts into laughter, her hair bouncing. ”Oh, I bet. I have a feeling this little spat of yours won”t last another two business days.”

”What makes you say that?”

”Girl, you and Quentin are like two magnets—constantly pushing each other away but always ending up back together.”

I can”t help but roll my eyes, though deep down I know she”s hitting the nail on the head.

Hate, silence, iciness, and everything in between.

There”s just something about the way Quentin and I click that keeps pulling us back, though I”ve yet to figure out exactly what that is.

Shaking my head, I say, ”Right now, I”m more worried about launching Danity”s new series and making sure your wedding doesn”t turn into World War III.”

”Ah, well, the path to wedding perfection is paved with good intentions...and 90’s West Coast rap, apparently,” Jenny muses, giving my shoulder a comforting squeeze. ”Just remember, it”s all about having fun and spreading love. And as much as Quentin drives you nuts, I know you two will pull off something amazing. You always do.”

Her confidence is a warm blanket on a cold night, even if I”m not entirely convinced myself.

As guests start arriving and the preparations for the evening fall into place, my thoughts shift from wedding disasters to making sure ”Love in Seattle” by Danity Dandridge captures the hearts of everyone here tonight.

After all, spinning love stories is what we do best—even if my personal love saga reads more like a cautionary tale.

With my little sisters, Gabi and Val, now under my roof, my already minimal love life has hit the pause button. But hey, at least someone”s getting their happily ever after.

As the crowd thickens, Freddie, our sparkly new PR specialist, practically bounces over in her ocean-blue dress.

”This turnout is amazing. I almost missed out on snagging an early copy of ”Love in Seattle”!” she exclaims, excitement radiating off her. Lowering her voice, she adds, ”And let me tell you, I”ve already picked up some... adult tricks from just twenty pages in.”

”Oh? And who”s the lucky person testing out these new skills?”

”That would be telling,” Freddie teases, her gaze momentarily drifting to Alton Anderson, our CFO, and his fiancée Lena Cho making their entrance. ”Actually, I should share these tips with Lena. Not that she and Alton need it, but still...”

Jenny laughs, shaking her head. ”Share with her, then me!”

I can”t help but smile at the camaraderie and banter. Moments like these make all the wedding planning stress and late nights worth it.

What matters is knowing our hard work will bring a little love into readers” lives. And that should be enough.

Or so I keep telling myself, even as Freddie winks at Jenny and dashes off.

Love is for those with freedom, not for someone keeping their family afloat or dealing with the fallout of parents who”ve left their kids to fend for themselves.

With that thought trailing off, I eye the glasses of Cabernet on the table.

Jenny, ever the mind reader, narrows her eyes at me just as I reach for a glass. ”Hey, hey. You”re not escaping that easily, Car. I want in on your secrets,” she insists, watching me closely. ”What about you?”

I take a sip of the Cabernet, avoiding her gaze. ”What about me?”

”You never did tell me what happened with Alex. One minute you”re movie-bound, the next, it”s the end credits. Did you ever get to try any... tricks?”

Another sip buys me time. ”If I did, that”d be magician-client privilege, wouldn”t it?”

Jenny”s gaze doesn”t waver, so I let out a sigh that feels like surrender. ”Fine, Alex and I... We never got to the ”tricks” part. Everything fizzled after he realized my sisters were moving in. Made some comment about not being a ”kid person.” Said it was cool, but then, poof, ghosted.”

Admitting that leaves a bitter taste, the wine turning to ash on my tongue.

But Jenny just shakes her head. ”No, no, no.” Snagging a glass of Cab from a nearby tray, she declares, ”That”s unacceptable.”

”Unacceptable? You”re starting to sound like an HR manager.”

”Good!” She”s halfway through her glass in one gulp, her determination clear. ”You need to light a fire and find a man who can handle every part of your life.”

”Oh sure, like there”s a queue of guys eager to date a workaholic PR director with two teenage sisters smelling like last week”s laundry.”

”Please, Car. You”re smart, successful, and gorgeous. Any guy would be lucky to be with you.” She stops, wine glass in hand. ”And just so you know, I think you”re amazing for taking in Gabi and Val.” Her gaze softens. ”After everything with your mom, you could”ve walked away... But you didn”t. You stepped up.”

Her words warm me from the inside.

”They”re amazing too,” I say, thinking of the girls who”ve become my world in just a month.

Jenny raises her glass. ”This is your official warning. No more guys who can”t handle your real life.” She takes a sip. ”Honestly, Car, you”re better off. You”ll find someone much better.” She leans in, lowering her voice. ”Someone who appreciates you. Who knows how to deliver an orgasm that doesn”t feel like a pity prize. Someone who stays, no matter what.”

”Assuming he even exists.”

”He does. I wasn”t a believer until Ryder,” she winks, taking another sip.

I snort, thinking of Jenny”s fiance, Ryder, our Chief Technology Officer at Hare Holeton. But then, a sobering thought. ”What if he doesn”t exist for everyone? What if some people are meant to be alone?”

Her expression softens, ready to respond, but then Freddie interrupts, panicked. ”Car, we have a problem.”

I blink. ”What kind of problem?”

”A big one. Danity”s publicist called. Her flight”s delayed; she won”t make it!”

Great. Here I am, managing my nonexistent love life, and now, an author reading without the author.

”You”re kidding,” I say, hoping for a joke.

But Freddie”s about to lose it, her eyes wide. ”What do we do? We”ve got a room full of people expecting a reading!”

Jenny joins the huddle, previous jokes forgotten. ”Can one of us read something? Do we have any of Danity”s copies here?”

I shoot her a look. ”And who, pray tell, is going to do the reading? You want to stand up there and entertain a crowd expecting Danity?”

”We could always draw straws,” Freddie suggests.

The thought of any of us doing the reading sends shivers down my spine—the same kind I get when I realize I”ve left my townhouse unlocked. Hilarious, really, if it weren”t so utterly terrifying.

I glance between Jenny and Freddie, feeling the ”not it” vibes so strongly, you”d think we were in middle school playing tag rather than adults facing a literary mob.

Tonight was supposed to mark a high point in Danity”s press tour. Instead, it”s devolving into a disaster.

Rubbing my temples, I try to ward off an impending headache. ”Okay, let”s just calm down. We”ll figure something out.” I pause. ”Like the song says, ”We have to be G”s, hustlers.” Maybe we can do a QA session instead?”

”Car, I love you, but Snoop Dogg lyrics aren”t going to save us,” Jenny says, her hazel eyes blinking rapidly. ”And unless that wine you”re holding is both liquid courage and a talent enhancer, I don”t see how any of us can stand in for Danity.”

Before Freddie can argue about hidden talents, a deep voice interrupts, making us jump.

”Maybe I can help,” says a voice that nearly makes me leap out of my skin.

We whirl around to find Quentin stepping forward, looking sharp in crisp slacks and a jacket that seems tailor-made. He runs a hand through his dark gold hair, a steady gaze silencing Jenny and Freddie.

“I”m quite familiar with Danity”s work.”

”Quentin.” My heart races, relief flooding me. ”What are you doing here?”

”I work for Hare Holeton, like you,” he says, eyes shifting to Jenny. ”Heard you were in a bind.”

Stunned, I process his offer to help. Jenny clears her throat. ”We”re in a bit of a situation.”

”Clearly.” Quentin looks at me, then back to Jenny and Freddie. ”But I think I can be your solution.” He smiles. ”I”ve read everything she”s written, including the upcoming release. As CMO of our company, I”m well-prepared.”

We exchange looks, but my mind is already made up. What is Quentin planning?

”Well then,” Jenny says, passing her wine to Freddie. ”Looks like we”ve found our evening”s reader and host!”

Freddie nods, sipping the wine, eyes on Quentin.

Quentin”s gaze meets mine, his eyes shining in the dim light. ”Sanchez?”

Part of me wants to refuse, but then I remember the effort we”ve all put into this launch. At a time like this, every bit of PR is crucial, especially with Gabi and Val depending on me.

Taking a deep breath, I meet Quentin”s gaze. ”I guess you”re in.”