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

Chapter 11

QUENTIN

Acting normal when I”m anything but feels easier than I thought.

Watching Carmina and her date head to the bar sends my mind racing. But I turn my focus to my twin, Ryder, and his soon-to-be bride, Jenny. They”re whispering to each other across the room, Jenny laughing brightly, Ryder gazing at her as if she”s the universe.

They loved the decor Carmina and I whipped up, and I”m quietly proud. Ryder catches my gaze and winks; I can”t help but grin back, feeling that deep brotherly bond. Yet, Carmina”s laughter pulls me back.

She looks radiant, chatting with her date, and my stomach sinks. I force my gaze away, trying to ignore the twinge of jealousy and focus on celebrating Ryder.

Then Alton, my eldest brother, saunters over, smirking, drink in hand. ”Ryder”s looking happy,” he notes, eyes on them.

”He is. He deserves it,” I reply.

”So, that’s your date?” Alton teases, sipping his drink. ”Heard she”s the one making our copiers purr.”

I take a reluctant sip of my cognac, which tastes suspiciously like guilt. ”Yeah, that”s her. Delilah. She”s nice.” The word feels flat, uninspired.

Alton laughs, lightly mocking. ”Just ”nice”?” he prods.

”Give me a break. She really is sweet.”

”I bet. But since when is ”sweet” your type?”

He”s enjoying this too much. I pause, the cognac not helping the tightness in my chest. ”Maybe ”sweet” is underrated. Maybe it”s what I need.”

Alton”s gaze sharpens, too keen. ”Or maybe ”sweet” is your excuse to avoid looking at someone else.” His implied target: Carmina.

I deflect. ”I don”t know what you mean,” I say, even as I take a larger gulp of my drink.

”You going to tell me you haven”t noticed her since she walked in here in that satin red dress that looks like it was made for her?”

I sneak a glance at Carmina.

She”s talking animatedly with one of our colleagues, her smile lighting up her face. And damn, my brother is right.

She looks incredible in that dress, her honeyed skin glowing against the rich fabric. I face Alton again, suddenly parched. ”Okay, maybe I”ve noticed her.”

He chuckles, leaning in. ”Noticed? You haven”t looked away.” He nods towards my date, busy chatting elsewhere. ”Lucky for you, my fiancée”s keeping her distracted.”

”Damn, is it that obvious?”

”To anyone with eyes, yeah.” Alton claps me on the shoulder, a solid, grounding touch. ”Why don”t you go talk to her? You know you want to.”

I shake my head, finishing off my cognac. ”Nah, I”m good. She”s got a date. She”s occupied.”

”You messing with me? She nearly tripped over her own feet trying to get a better look at you.”

I scoff, but a spark ignites in my chest. ”You”re kidding.”

”I”m dead serious.” Alton”s gaze is intense. He”s not one for jokes about this stuff. ”Listen, I know Car. She”s tough, smart, independent, gorgeous. And honestly...” He winces. ”You made her look like an idiot.”

I frown, turning sharply to him. ”When?”

”After that company retreat. Something happened there, and she was off for weeks. Then, she started avoiding you. Even walked into a plant once trying to dodge you.”

The image of Car tumbling into a plant, her usually perfect hair a mess, makes my lips twitch. I shrug it off. ”I had no clue.”

”I know you didn”t. You”re not great at noticing things outside your bubble.” Alton”s tone softens, empathetic. ”But that doesn”t matter now. She”s still single, and you clearly affect her. It might not last.” He shrugs. ”I”m not saying sweep her off her feet. Just talk. Clear the air.”

My chest tightens at the mention of that retreat. It was a drunken mistake, laughed off the next day. But clearly, Car took it to heart. Months of avoidance later, guilt washes over me.

For the first time tonight, I gaze at Carmina without trying to hide it.

Her dark, slight waved hair is swept upwards, showing off her long, graceful neck. Her dress is a deep red color, with tiny sequins that catch the light as she moves, making it seem like she”s covered in stars. She catches my gaze and I”m momentarily stunned by the depth of emotion in her eyes.

”Talk to her,” Alton repeats gently. ”You owe it to both of you.”

I swallow hard and turn back to Alton. ”You”re right. I need to talk to her.”

Alton nods approvingly before taking another sip of his drink. ”That”s the spirit. And hey, if she were to...I don”t know, slap you or something, you can always come back and cry on my shoulder.”

”Great encouragement there, Al. You should get into motivational speaking.”

Noticing Carmina”s date is nowhere to be found, I glance over, just as she starts walking towards the stairs. The ones leading to the rooftop terrace.

Without another thought, I finish my drink and weave through the crowd, dodging couples and groups of friends as I make my way to follow her.