Page 48 of A Billionaire for Christmas

‘YOUR TIME IS LIMITED, SO DON’T WASTE IT LIVING SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.’ STEVE JOBS

Molly glanced at her phone. There were less than two hours to go.

Within fifteen minutes, she was dressed in thermal leggings, an oversized sweatshirt, snow boots and padded coat, hat, scarf and gloves and was racing through the lodge, hand-in-hand with Levi, out into the freezing cold.

The snow had eased off, and the helicopter was only just visible in the fading light.

Its gigantic rotor blades glinted menacingly in the torchlight.

It was nothing compared to the ice-cold fear that was gripping her chest.

‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing?

’ she yelled at him as he swung open the door and helped her into a tiny cockpit.

He slammed it firmly shut behind her, raced round, and jumped in next to her.

She watched, dumbstruck, as he flicked switches, checked the fuel, checked the engine.

She jumped a mile as the blades rotated forcefully to life, shaking the craft to its core as Levi radioed in that he was taking off.

It looked very much like he was just flicking any old random switches for show.

Levi stopped what he was doing to take her face in his hands.

‘Trust me.’ He leaned in to kiss her thoroughly on her cold lips. The heat from his touch sent a bolt of reassurance surging through her veins.

Within seconds, they were high in the air. Molly stared at Levi piloting the helicopter as they hurtled towards the Val D’Amore helipad. ‘I didn’t know you were a pilot!’ Molly yelled through the headset. ‘Are you sure you’re licensed to fly?’

‘Bit late to ask me that now, isn’t it?’ Levi laughed. ‘Just relax. I know what I’m doing. Trust me.’

Of course he would be a pilot. Of course. Wasn’t there a rule where all billionaires must be able to pilot aircraft, sail superyachts and drive the world’s fastest cars?

‘We’ll have to take my jet.’ He pointed to a silver aircraft waiting on the nearby landing strip. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get you to the office before it closes.’

His jet? This was getting worse. Big-ticket splurging on Gulfstream jets, private tropical islands and solid gold busts of Buddha were a world away from her upbringing.

‘I guess with us spending so much time together as regular people, I totally forgot you were a…’ Molly stopped herself just in time.

It was unfair to label him a billionaire when there was so much more to him than his bank account.

She liked to think people wouldn’t judge her in the same way, just because her own modest account was currently holding less than €400.

Levi chuckled through the headset. ‘You’d probably believe me if I told you I’d just bought my own space station.’

‘Absolutely I would. I imagine you did that right before you took a shuttle to Mars.’

Levi smirked. ‘I have a holiday home there. All we billionaires do.’

Molly loved that he was so laid back about his status as one of the world’s wealthiest men.

In her eyes, it was more disconcerting that he was also one of the world’s most attractive men.

But he was also kind and thoughtful (and an unbelievably generous lover, but she would hate to keep going on about him).

She marvelled at how deftly he flicked switches and bellowed numbers and altitudes down the headset to the control tower.

It was certainly doing wonders to cure her fear of rotating blades.

In some ways, she was finding this experience almost pleasurable.

Levi flashed her a confident grin. He was self-assured.

Cool under pressure. He had really competent hands, if that was a thing.

Long, slender fingers. Not too long but just?—

‘Okay, brace yourself. This landing is going to be tricky.’

* * *

The race from the helicopter to the private jet was seamless.

Or at least it would have been had Molly not had such a tight grip on the chopper’s door handle and refused point blank to move.

Fear at the sight of the jet, the roar of its engines and the bitter gale outside rocking the helicopter from side to side had rendered her incapable of moving.

It was only Levi’s soft voice that coaxed her out.

There were even two cabin crew in resort uniforms standing to greet them.

The engines were running, and Molly was relieved to find out that Levi wasn’t flying the plane.

Just as well because she was clinging to him like a tree frog.

It took off mere minutes after they’d been seated on either side of a small table and had fastened their seatbelts.

It was deliciously warm on board. Still trembling, Molly took off her coat, hat, scarf and gloves. She shook her hair out and glanced at her reflection in the jet window. What a mess. She must have gasped because Levi was trying not to smirk. ‘I’ve seen you look worse.’

Molly looked around at the plush surroundings, her jaw falling slightly open at the soft cream leather seats and sofas, the polished walnut interior and the gold fixtures and fittings. It was the most elegant mode of transport she’d ever seen. She could not look more out of place if she tried.

‘Opulence is one of the perks.’

‘I bet it is,’ whispered Molly. ‘Is that a giant TV screen? And a bar? OMG, look at the size of that!’

Levi twisted around in his seat. ‘The bathroom?’

‘No. The world’s biggest air fryer over there. It’s massive. I love those things. Best invention ever. Can I see the kitchen? What sort of menu do you do? Is it bespoke?’

‘Touting for business already?’ laughed Levi, bringing her down to earth with a bump. They now had just over an hour to get to Monsieur Fournier’s office.

‘If I still have a business to run. Do you think we’ll make it? Does this aircraft have Wi-Fi? I could email the proof ahead of us, just in case.’

Levi’s face grew serious. ‘That solicitor was very rude to you.’

Molly swallowed nervously. ‘He was. Although it is Christmas Eve. And he is French.’

‘Don’t make excuses for him. I heard the way he kept cutting you off.’

‘Yeah. That seems to happen to me a lot.’ Levi had the good grace to look sheepish. ‘That’s why I like to keep to myself. In the kitchen. Out of the way.’

Levi held his hands up guiltily. ‘Maybe it’s time to be more assertive.’

‘I’m not sure I have it in me any more. You know, because life and all that.’

‘I’ve seen you with my family. Not many women can hold their own against my mother.

You know exactly how to be assertive. Just apply it to every other area of your life.

And Lucca told me you’ve been keeping an eye on Freda.

I really appreciate you making the effort with her.

’ Levi put his elbows on the table and made a steeple with his fingers.

‘She’s very bright. She’ll be an asset to your business. ’

‘My little “food hut”?’ Molly smirked. ‘Does this mean you aren’t going to fight me for it?’

Levi shook his head. ‘Of course not. I think you’ll make a great success of it.’

‘You do?’

‘Your idea to run the restaurant as a bijou cooking school and a fine-dining experience is highly lucrative. With increased staff, you could still cater Lucca’s celebrity events and scale up the takeaway service.

The sky’s the limit with the number of contacts we all have between us, and your skill and creativity. ’

It sounded too good to be true and for the first time, Molly dared to believe she could do it. Excitement ripped through her. She would build Le Petit Ange’s brand in Ava’s memory and make a huge success out of it. She glanced at the time on her phone. ‘What if we don’t make it?’

‘We will.’

Levi had such a reassuring manner. Molly sagged back into her seat and tried to resend the email. She received an immediate out of office in return. She showed Levi.

‘The office will be open. I’ve already sent word to say we are en route.’

By the time the cabin crew had been round several times to ask if they would like a drink or a snack, and Molly had politely declined each time, the pilot announced they were preparing for landing.

‘That was so quick,’ Molly said, fastening her seatbelt. ‘I can’t thank you enough for all of this.’

Levi fixed her a look. ‘You saved my father’s life.’

Molly chewed her lip. ‘I just did what any hero would have done.’

‘You helped my sister through a troubled time.’

Molly shrugged. ‘We’ve all been there. Doesn’t hurt to be kind.’

‘You covered for Toby so that he wouldn’t be sacked.’

Molly tutted. ‘It’s not like he needs the money. He just has a huge crush on Freda.’

Levi looked amazed. ‘Does he?’ He tilted his head. ‘Not just a crazy-talented chef. You’re genuinely a very astute, smart, caring person.’

Molly blushed. ‘Speaking of astute. What’s the deal with Lucca and you? Does it have something to do with your ex-fiancée?’

Levi rolled his eyes. ‘It’s all in the past but yeah, it really ruined our relationship.’

‘Can I ask what happened?’

Levi stared out of the window. ‘Clarice told me Lucca had tried to seduce her. Lucca denied it but I took her side.’ He took in a deep breath. ‘But it turned out that he was right, and Clarice was lying.’

Poor Lucca.

‘Why would she do that?’

‘Apparently, Lucca had caught her cheating on me, and she tried to blackmail him into keeping silent. When that didn’t work, she accused him of coming onto her to drive a wedge between us.’

‘She cheated on you? Who with? One of the Hemsworths?’

Levi smirked. ‘Truthfully, she felt ignored. I was always too busy for her.’

Surprise, surprise.

‘Why didn’t you tell your parents? Valerie obviously has hopes you’ll get back together.’

‘Because Clarice is my mother’s best friend’s daughter. We all grew up together.’

‘And Lucca has never quite forgiven you?’

Levi shook his head sadly.

‘Well, it is the season of goodwill. You should definitely talk to him. I’m a great believer in the healing powers of Christmas.’