Chapter 20 #2
“Well, when you’re a billionaire with women all over the world,” Sienna said, “it’s not really a good look, especially for a businesswoman who is trying to keep her name and reputation intact.” She looked at me again.
“Why does everyone keep directing this at me?” I asked.
“Because back when my husband was the type who never believed he would settle down, he was playing games like the ones Titus appears to be playing with you,” Avery answered.
“I truly don’t understand why this is making everyone’s roundtable discussions these days,” I said, more annoyed that Titus was indirectly causing a scene with his persistent bullshit because I had told the man to get in line.
“Well, that’s simple, gorgeous,” Avery smiled at me. “You’ve gotten this man’s attention, and I believe everyone is more amused by you not giving him his way than by anything else.”
“He really is a good guy,” Ash said, defending him.
“To his friends, I’m sure,” Sienna added. “In business and relationships, he’s a ruthless bastard.”
“And that will conclude this discussion,” I said with a laugh. “Now, speaking of Jim and how you managed to reform his player side,” I looked at Avery. “You were also a single mom when you met him, right?”
“That’s right. When we met, I was single, jobless, with no hope for the future, and I ended up meeting Jim and fucking for a week in his castle in England to keep my mind off my druggie ex,” she said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I was definitely not just a single mom when I met him, but a reckless one, for sure.”
“Well, if you weren’t reckless, fate wouldn’t have seen to it that you meet Jim,” Ash said.
“Don’t get any ideas,” I said to my sister.
“What?” Avery smirked devilishly at me. “Am I setting a bad example for fucking billionaires and walking away?”
“Walking away was the best thing you did,” I said, arching an eyebrow at her.
“This is true,” she said, looking at Amelia. “Even if I was reckless, I definitely had standards once I knew the man was using me and leading my sorry ass on at the time.”
“How did you guys wind up together?” Amelia questioned.
“Once you get to know Avery a little better,” I told my sister, “you’ll understand why Jim wouldn’t lose her over his playboy ways, even after he’d been offered a second chance with her.”
“Second chance, as in, I just so happened to get a job, and Mr. James Mitchell was now my new boss,” Avery said.
“That’s actually really awesome,” Amelia said.
“Head out of fantasy land,” I said to her. “Just because it happened that way for Avery doesn’t mean fate is going to bring you some wealthy man and you’re going to change his life around.”
“Why all the talk about us meeting?” Avery asked.
“Before you and Ash showed up,” Brooke said, “Amelia was struggling with the idea of becoming a single parent.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Avery said, reaching across the table and gently covering her hand. “Trust me. From what I heard about your ex, you will be much better off raising your child without that bastard in your life.”
“I’m just scared,” Amelia admitted.
“Of course you are. I was terrified,” Avery said. “In fact, I wasn’t as wise as you, and I kept my daughter around her abusive, drug-addicted father. That almost cost me my future with Jim, too.”
“Really?” Sienna looked at Avery as if she’d not heard this version of their story.
“Yeah,” Avery said, “but I learned from all of that shit.” She looked at my sister.
“And I am the mother and woman I am today because of it, too. It’s not easy.
But when you have a support system,” she motioned her finger toward all of us, “like us ladies, trust me, a man would only be in your way right now as you heal and become the best version of yourself for your baby.”
“If Amelia were to meet a wealthy man,” Ash looked at me, “would you be against it because of how Titus is behaving these days?”
“I am not one to get in the way of my sister’s decisions,” I looked at Amelia, “but I do hope you will give yourself time to heal and move forward without trying to find any man, not just a wealthy one.”
“I will,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying it would be nice,” she sipped her water meekly.
“Yeah, well, it would be nice if lightning struck twice in the same place and zapped a couple of those players out of here,” Sienna said with a laugh. “Trust me, defending their asses gets tiresome these days.”
“And that’s the best way to say it,” Avery raised her glass to Sienna.
While the girls all caught up and finally left me alone about Titus, my mind couldn’t help but drift back to the man. There was something different about his approach with me the other night. A sincerity in the man’s eyes that I knew was unlike him.
When I stopped him from leaving, I almost reconsidered letting him use me exclusively for his planner. But something stopped me… fate? Who knew. It was something I wouldn’t dare bring up at this table tonight. The gossip lines were already running a full-steam-ahead shit show about him and me.
But something felt different. I don’t know if it was the shot I’d downed to celebrate with my staff just before the event takedown started, or the way he stayed behind to talk to me, or the way he seemed intrigued by how I ran my business.
I had no idea why this man was so gentle and kind that night.
And I sure as hell had no idea what I’d done in the time between his accusing me of stealing from his company and his offering me more money than he’d accused me of stealing from him.
What I didn’t expect in all of that was how attractive the man became when he showed me his softer side. He’d stolen my breath away multiple times, and that’s what scared the hell out of me.
I didn’t trust Titus Hawk or his motives at all, but I also couldn’t trust myself anymore when it came to those feelings he stirred in me by the way he smiled at me and looked into my eyes.