Page 12 of BillionHeir

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Chloe

What the hell was that?

I focus on getting my breathing under control as I lean against the door I just slammed, feeling all kinds of foolish. The man is my patient for God’s sake. Lusting after him like this is wrong on so many levels.

I look down at myself. I am still damp from the spray of the shower. My hard nipples are pressed against the fabric of my T-shirt and thin bra, betraying me as I gasp for breath. I can’t believe I was thinking about him like that.

Should I quit? Probably.

Am I going to? Probably not.

I would be a fool to walk away from the rest of the money he promised me.

I walk into my bathroom, peeling my wet clothes off as I go. I turn the shower on and immediately get in, not waiting for the water to heat up. The cold spray beats down on me, punishing me as the icy droplets drip down my body.

I need to get a hold of myself.

* * *

An hour later, I emerge from my bedroom in fresh clothes, a pair of black athletic leggings and another fitted T-shirt, this time in a pale purple color that I love.

I have a better grip on myself and have vowed to continue behaving professionally with this man at all costs, no matter how sexy he might be.

I need to remember that he is recovering from a helicopter accident.

I don’t care if he is down on his knees begging me to kiss him, the answer is going to be no.

I peek into Maxwell’s room and find him asleep on the bed where I left him.

I am certainly not going to sit and watch him while he sleeps, so I leave the room quietly and go downstairs to the kitchen so I can find something to eat.

The chef left plenty of meals to heat up, but today I am feeling like a nice, fresh salad for lunch.

Fortunately for me, I find everything I need in the fully stocked refrigerator.

It must be nice living like this, with other people to do all your chores and errands for you.

I will have to be careful not to get too used to it.

I turn on a playlist on my phone, singing along quietly to the music while I chop and dice the lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes, and toss them all into a big bowl.

I didn’t find any pre-made salad dressing in the fridge, so I search through the cabinets for some ingredients to make a light dressing.

When I find the oil and vinegar, I combine the liquids in a separate bowl, add some salt and pepper, and whisk it all together.

I put the two bowls into the fridge separately to chill while I clean up my mess.

Just as I am closing the dishwasher, my phone rings.

I pull it out of my pocket and see Jenna’s name on the screen.

“Greetings from Maine,” I say when I answer the call.

“You didn’t.”

I wince as I respond. “I couldn’t say no, Jenna. He was too insistent.”

“I am familiar with how convincing he can be. I tried to warn you.”

“I know, I know. I should have listened to you and traded shifts with someone else so I could avoid him while he was there. But I didn’t. And now I am here.”

“What about your job? ”

I sigh and shake my head as I bring one of my hands up to my face in embarrassment. “I quit. I had to. It was part of the deal.”

“What deal?” she asks, obviously intrigued.

“The one where he pays me five million dollars and I get him the hell out of there as soon as humanly possible.”

“FIVE MILLION DOLLARS?”

I have to pull the phone away from my ear as she screams in surprise.

“I know. I was pretty shocked myself, if I’m honest.”

“Holy shit,” Jenna says, echoing my exact thoughts at the time.

“And that, doll, is why I couldn’t say no.

Who in their right mind would say no to five million dollars?

Do you know what this money could do for my mum?

Not to mention my student loan debt. I didn’t want to tell you, because you shouldn’t feel bad for following the love of your life to Wyoming, but I have barely been able to pay rent these last few months. ”

“Chloe, you should have said something. I am so sorry for leaving you,” Jenna says, sounding truly apologetic for something that is neither her fault nor her problem.

“Don’t be, babe. I would have done the same thing if it was me,” I reassure my friend. I would never have wanted to hold her back from following the love of her life to Wyoming. “It is my problem to worry about, and now I have done something about it.”

“What are you going to do once he is well again?”

“Good question,” I answer, leaning back against the counter as I ponder the possibilities. “I probably ought to visit mum, you know? Check in on her and make sure she has got everything she needs.”

“It has been a while since you have been back home, hasn’t it?”

“Years, really,” I answer, struggling to remember the last time I took any kind of vacation. “Not since before she got sick. It will be good to see her.”

“How has she been doing lately?” Jenna asks.

“Alright, I think. Sometimes I am not quite sure I get the full story from her, you know what I mean? But she says she is well.” I don’t mention how tired she has been sounding lately, or that the last two times I called she has been napping.

I keep the nagging feeling in the back of my head to myself.

“Well, then it sounds like a visit home is just what you need to reassure yourself.”

“You are right. But enough about me. How are things with Jackson? Is everything going well out there in Wyoming?”

“It is all sunshine and daisies, quite literally these days,” Jenna says, laughing a little as she says it .

Jenna followed her boss-turned-boyfriend out to the middle of nowhere Wyoming.

She used to be Jackson’s legal assistant, but now she works for his sister-in-law at a flower shop.

She says she is happier than ever, but as her best friend for over five years now, I can tell there is something she is not saying.

“Jenna, are you alright?”

“Mmhmm,” she answers too quickly.

“Jenna?”

“I am good, really. Just worried about you, that is all.”

“What are you worried about me for?”

“Well, you just quit your job and uprooted your life to care for a crazy billionaire. Once you are done working for him, you will fly home to the UK and probably never come back,” she explains with tears in her voice.

“Oh, love. I am coming back. Are you kidding? You know I love America too much to leave for good. I still haven’t seen a quarter of the landmarks that are on my list. Besides,” I say, giving her a bit of honesty. “The wages in the US are much more competitive.”

“He is paying you five million dollars, Chlo. You won’t need a job after this.”

“Then what would I do? Sit around and twiddle my thumbs all day? I don’t think so, ma’am,” I say with a laugh.

“You better come back,” Jenna says, playfully threatening me. “If you don’t, I am going to come over there and drag you back. Kicking and screaming if I have to. Don’t forget, I know a guy with a private jet.”

“He is probably the last person who would want to come and get me. By the time he is well again, I am sure he will be so sick of me that he will be glad I am gone.”

“Are you kidding? You are the coolest person I know, not to mention a total bombshell. He is going to love having you around so much he will be begging you to stay.”

I laugh at the idea, especially after our encounter after his shower. “You are just saying that because I am your best friend.”

“It is a funny thought, though. You have to admit.”

“It is rather funny, isn’t it?”

We laugh as we continue to catch up, her telling me about life on the ranch, and me telling her about how ridiculously ornate Seabanks is. I don’t know how I am going to go back to my apartment after living here.

Maybe it is time for an upgrade?