Falling For an Alpha Billionaire

Chapter One

“I think I'll hang around a little longer before I get to my mission, father.”

“Really?! So you're going to do it for me?” his dad said, full of excitement.

“Shit, why not. It seems my brothers and you have luck betting on black. So, why the hell not?”

“You have no problem doing the job, then? It might end up being a lot more than you can handle,” Frannie warned.

“How can you say that with a straight face?” Edwin laughed.

“You are one proud punk,” Frannie chuckled in response. But, she knew that her grandson's match was out there, and this just might be the one job he might end up regretting.

“But really Ed, I'm not worried about if you can do it. Hell, you’ve been dicking the ladies down left and right as it is. I'm more concerned with the how and the aftermath. If it wasn't for it being such a good friend, I wouldn't have even considered such a crazy thing.” Collier had been shocked when his friend from his youth came calling. Well, begging him, really to help him out with his daughter. The man was at his whit’s end, and after meeting Edwin months earlier, he felt that Edwin was the answer to his prayers.

“Don't worry, Dad. I know what I'm doing. This isn't my first time, you know. I know how to make a lady feel good about herself. And I’ve walked away from them enough to know how to let them down even if it means paying out a few dollars to pick up their spirits after I’m gone. You just make sure that you keep your end of the bargain. The vineyard and all it entails will be mine, correct?” Edwin pressed.

When his father came to him with this crazy ass scheme, he laughed it off. That was, until his father offered to make him the sole owner of a very lucrative business that had gone globe three years ago. Sure, he had money, but everything belonged to either his father or his fucked up mother. Now, he would have his own. With that offer on the table, he would have seduced and fucked a corpse.

“No need to worry. I'll draw up the papers and go over them with you before you leave,” his father answered.

“Good, I’ll be back in a few weeks, three tops.”

Now, a week later, Edwin was lounging in the spacious office of Clifton Baxter in Palm Beach, Florida. The sun was blazing through the third floor of the five-story building, all owned by the man. He loosened his tie and opened the first two buttons of his black shirt, realizing too late that black was a mistake in this heat. He sat with his legs stretched out before him in the fabric chair. He was thankful that the chair wasn't leather. He could only think that he had no desire to be stuck to it as he tossed his suit jacket on the chair next to him.

“Please don't judge me, son, because my actions are pure. Something has to be done to snap my Janelle out of this destructive way of life she's taken up.”

“Why don't you tell me what's going on? Of course, I did some research, but I would like to hear it from you,” asked Edwin, sounding like a therapist.

Clifton hesitated a bit, not knowing how much to reveal to the handsome young man. He didn't want to scare the boy away or make him feel like it was a hopeless cause.

“My daughter, Janelle, is twenty-eight, strong-willed and she has gotten it in her head that finding true love is a helpless cause. She had been in relationships and there was one time that she was even engaged, but when that fell through...” he trailed off with a shrug.

“And after looking for love and being hurt, she has closed herself off from the idea,” Edwin said with a nod of understanding. “And this accident, was one of her boyfriends to blame?”

“I must commend you on your research. Yes, her fiancé was involved. Now, she's getting into drugs and sexual activities that are very unsavory. Although she's very secretive about it, I have ways of finding out what she's up to.”

“Speaking of sex... If she and I are in a relationship, we may indulge in some of that ourselves.”

“Just as long as it's consensual, I am fine with that. I just want her to get her confidence back and come back to life,” Mr. Baxter said with so much emotion that Edwin felt sorry for the man. Edwin gazed at the fifty-something-year-old businessman over the large, polished, walnut-colored desk. It was obvious that at one time, he was on the chunky side and he had lost a lot of weight from the way the loose skin on his cheeks hung. His brown face was peppered with dark freckles that looked like tiny chocolate chips.

Wanting to change the subject, Edwin looked down at his Rolex. “Shouldn't she be here by now?” he asked.

The girl was fifteen minutes late.

“Yes, she usually is on time. We might be black, but we don't do that CPT crap,” Clifton laughed.

“What's so funny?” came a smooth voice from behind him.

The two of them had been laughing so loud that neither one of them had heard the heavy wooden door unlatch and open. Instantly, Edwin’s radar kicked in. The sound of her voice alone had caused a sense of excitement to stir in his loins. Her voice was soft, smooth, deep for a woman, and held a southern drawl that seemed to be music to his ears. With a smile still on his face, Edwin got to feet and swung around to face the woman he was there to seduce. That's when his entire world came crashing down. Instantly, he realized just why his skills were requested. In a millisecond, he also realized that this strange mission might take a little more time than what he had thought.

What the fuck is this? Oh, my Lord! he was screaming mentally, even though his winning smile hadn't dropped in the least. He was so fucking mad at the fact that everyone seemed to think it was alright to leave out one very important fact about his target: her face!

*

Janelle's steps stumbled at the sight of the handsome stranger that was standing in front of her father's desk. She had thought that when her dad had arranged the morning meeting to discuss their vineyard in Saint Augustine that it would just be them. She hadn't prepared herself for guests. She wouldn't have barged into the office with her hair pulled up. But in spite of seeing her, she had to give the man props for not showing the feelings that she was sure he must be feeling at the sight of her. His blues eyes were trained on hers. Her thin eyebrow shot up as she inspected the handsome male flesh in front of her. He was truly something nice to behold.

“I'm sorry for entering. I'll-”

“No, come on in and let me introduce you to Edwin Gibbs. Edwin, this is my daughter, Janelle,” Clifton said calmly, just as he had practiced.

“Hello, Janelle. I've heard a lot about you,” Edwin said casually.

Sighing, she walked into the room and took his outstretched hand. The man was beyond handsome; she noticed upon closer inspection that he was gorgeous. With her being 5'5, she surmised that he had to be at least 5'11 or taller. The finely tailored suit stretched nicely over his toned, tanned, muscular physique. Even so, he wasn't grossly muscular, but mid-built. The dark hair on his chiseled jawline was cut low to form a light beard that connected to his hair that was cut short all around with it a bit longer on top. A pair of full lips and deep blue eyes finished off his sexy features. His looks reminded her of Jared Leto before his Jesus-looking phase, but this man was more on the meatier side.

“He's the reason I called the meeting. He's going to be receiving a vineyard and winery very soon from his father. So, as a favor, I agreed to take him under my wing and show him the ropes. I was hoping you could assist with his education.”

“Yes, I can drink the stuff, but I need to learn about creating an award-winning brand as you have been able to do,” Edwin chimed in as he retook his seat. He gestured for her to take to the seat next to him as he removed his jacket from the chair.

He was having a hard time concentrating on the conversation, but not matter how hard he wanted to openly explore her face, he wouldn't give in to the urge. It was his guess that the scars on the left side of her face were due to the accident that he had heard about and that her father had mentioned. Two deep lines marred her face. One from the corner of her mouth to the middle of her jaw and the other went from her ear and ran on the top of the bottom scar. It was obvious that plastic surgery had been attempted but the outcome had not been successful. The wounds had closed in a way that made her face appear sunken and limited her being able to open her mouth completely on that side.

Pity, she was a beauty , he thought as turned to listen to something she was saying. It was like looking at Two Face from a DC comic. One side scarred and the other side smooth and ever so attractive.

“You don't have try so hard not to stare. I know it's a lot,” she said out of the blue. There was no way he didn’t want to look; they all did.

“Janelle! I...Edwin…” Clifton stuttered.

Edwin raised his hand to silence the man. The look in her eyes was challenging, and that was putting it mildly. She was a woman that could give a man hell.

“Your face? What of it?”

“Don't be a smart ass. You have eyes. I know you want to look, so go ahead.”

“Janelle, if I wanted to gawk at your face, I don't need your permission to do so.”

His response had her sitting back in her seat in surprise. His full lips were twisted up on the side in a half smile. There was no look of disgust in his expression. She glanced over to her father to find him smiling back at her before she turned her brown eyes back toward Edwin.

“But if you must know, I wasn't looking at your face just now. I was looking at all the hair on your head and wondering if it was all yours. I know how so many woman do that weave stuff, so I’m sorry if it appeared that I was looking at your scars. I was wondering if it took you hours to do your hair. But now I see that it’s all yours because it’s some thick stuff.”

Is this guy for real? With narrowed eyes, she looked him up and down. Surely, he isn’t one of them? If he is, he isn't doing too well.

“I'm sorry. Usually the first meeting with people tends to be a bit unsettling,” she said with a weak smile.

“It sounds to me those other people are just assholes. Beauty is a fickle thing. What one person may think is trash, is another man's treasure.”

“So, you're calling me trash ?” she asked slowly as she stiffened.

“No...All I'm saying is that everyone has their own opinion on matters of attraction. Damn, are you always this argumentative? I bet you don't have many friends,” he teased.

“You’re right. I don't.” Her words were like a bomb dropping in the room.

Yeah, because you're a world class bitch! he wanted to say, but instead he just smiled.

“Well, I guess that makes me your only friend then,” said Edwin with an outstretched hand.

Janelle smiled in return, taking his strong hand.

Cocky ass fucker! she thought.