Page 32 of BillionHeir

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Maxwell

Well, well, well. What do we have here?

Admittedly, I am navigating uncharted waters right now considering my feelings for Chloe.

But I did not expect to walk into this pub in the middle of London and find her sitting in the back corner talking intimately with an attractive man.

They are not touching, but it is obvious in their body language that they are comfortable with each other.

There is no information in her file about siblings, so I know he is not her brother. Could he be an ex-boyfriend she contacted when she got back to town? An old high school crush that never really got off the ground?

Damn.

I don’t know the situation, but if my years in business have taught me anything, it is that how I react in this moment could mean life or death for this little relationship Chloe and I have been dancing around. I can’t let her see just how green with jealousy I really am.

I learned many things about the woman while we were living together for the last two months.

For one, I learned that Chloe values the simple things.

She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met, but she is not the kind of girl who wants to be wined and dined or gifted fancy clothes and expensive jewelry.

She could be at all manner of high-class establishments tonight, but instead I find her at the back of a dingy pub sharing a pint while engrossed in the story she appears to be telling.

I honestly think that is part of why I am so attracted to her.

I have become far too accustomed to women who want all the finer things in life.

As a man who has access to those things, I have always felt like it was my duty to give them whatever their heart desired.

But those kinds of relationships have never worked out for me.

They were always so shallow, and honestly, I didn’t care enough to dig deeper.

But Chloe is a millionaire now and the most expensive thing I have seen her buy was her plane ticket here.

She is still dressed in what looks like the same clothes she has always worn.

Not that there is anything wrong with what she is wearing, but her outfit is certainly not new.

She hasn’t bought anything extravagant or showy.

I don’t know what I expected when I decided to bestow such an astronomical salary on her, but it certainly wasn’t this.

I walk to the bar and take a seat by myself to wait on an old classmate from college who I am meeting here tonight. It is merely a coincidence that the woman who ran out on me at lunch today is here in the same pub, but I am not fool enough to think it means nothing.

I order a pint and try not to stare at Chloe from across the room while I wait. When my phone vibrates, I pull it out to see a picture of Liam’s face on the screen.

“What do you want?” I ask.

“I heard you were meeting up with Henry. I want to tag along.”

“That would be difficult from across the Atlantic,” I answer dryly.

“Lucky for you, I decided to make the trip as well. Figured you might need a wingman for whatever groveling you have to do. Besides, my uncle is having that charity thing tomorrow night. I promised I would make an appearance.”

“I don’t need a wingman for shit. ”

“So Chloe has forgiven you then?” he asks, accurately assuming that we are still on the outs.

I take a deep breath.

“I am actually working on that now,” I say as I watch the bartender take a round of pints I ordered over to the table Chloe is sitting at with her date.

The bartender sets the beers down on the table and gestures in my direction before walking away.

Chloe’s cautious eyes meet mine, and I tip my glass to her casually as though ending up in the same bar as her is no big deal.

Then I turn my back on the scene and return my attention to my phone conversation.

“I can see that,” Liam says, walking up to the barstool next to me and hanging up his phone.

“How did you know where I would be?”

“Henry told me. He called after he made plans with you, no doubt assuming that I was here in London with you. So what did I do? I brought your Gulfstream over like the good friend that I am. You are welcome, by the way.”

“Oh, you flew for free on my private jet as a favor for me? Is that it?”

Liam ignores me as he turns around and waves at Chloe who has the audacity to smile at him and wave back.

I hate that he is getting the look I didn’t. I hate that any man is getting her attention other than me.

I am scowling at Liam when he finally looks back at me .

“Who is the guy?” he asks, tipping his head toward her table as he signals the bartender for a pint of his own.

“No clue,” I answer before taking a sip of my dark bitter stout as I lean against the bar dejectedly.

“Gentlemen,” Chloe says from behind me, startling me so much that I nearly knock my beer all over the bar.

“Chloe, so good to see you,” Liam responds good naturedly as if everything was normal.

“What brings you boys in?” Chloe asks, keeping up the charade while avoiding eye contact with me. She even goes so far as to obviously angle her body away from me.

“A friend of ours suggested the place,” Liam answers, looking entertained as hell.

“Did he? What are the chances?” Chloe’s voice implies that I have somehow orchestrated this situation, and I can understand why.

“Who is your date?”

Say what you want about Liam, but the guy is a solid friend. He said he was here to play wingman and he wasn’t kidding.

“Date?” Chloe asks, feigning confusion. She looks over her shoulder, to the guy who is sitting at their table blatantly watching this whole conversation play out. “That is Colin.”

I notice that she neither confirms nor denies the fact that she is on a date right now.

I look over at Colin. His eyes are on me, sizing me up it seems. He lifts the fresh beer I just sent and tips it toward me in thanks before taking a sip.

He is either incredibly cocky, or he knows something I don’t.

“Can we talk please?” I finally say, trying to redirect Chloe’s attention to me.

“Um . . .” she says, her eyes bouncing around nervously before finally landing on mine. Her brow crinkles slightly before she answers, hesitantly. “I suppose.”

I look around for somewhere a little more private than out here in front of the whole pub, but there aren’t many options. Aside from a short hallway that leads to what I am guessing are the bathrooms, there is not really anywhere to go. I am just going to have to make this work.

I grab her hand and lead her outside onto the sidewalk.

I look both directions and spot an alley to the side of the building.

I lead her around to the darker area where we can have a little more privacy, turning her so that her back is against the wall.

This position gives me a good look at her face and has the beneficial side effect of blocking her from trying to run away from me again.

It still smarts that she took off on me this afternoon. But I have regrouped, and I am ready to try one last time to get her to hear me.

I reach down and grab her hand, threading my fingers through hers as I prepare what I want to say. The instant our palms connect, I feel the connection between us. Every time we touch, a feeling of rightness settles inside of me.

It takes me a few seconds to register the fact that not only is Chloe letting me hold her hand, but she is also holding mine back. I don’t think I am alone in feeling this magnetic energy that pulses between us whenever we are close.

The alleyway doesn’t provide us much privacy, but at least Liam and Colin aren’t staring at us, soaking up every word like we are contestants on the best reality show on television.

“I am sorry that I upset you earlier.” I am still not exactly sure why she ran away, but I obviously did something that caused her to leave so suddenly. “I have replayed what I said at least a hundred times, but I can’t figure out where I went wrong.”

“I should really be apologizing to you. I shouldn’t have left the way I did.” Chloe gently bites her bottom lip before continuing. “Everything you said was so sweet and genuine. It is just difficult to hear. We are too different, you and I,” she says softly, unable to meet my eyes.

“I suppose your date is better suited for you, then?” I ask, letting my temper get the best of me.

“My date?” she asks, once again. “Oh, you mean Colin?”

She laughs, but I don’t see what is funny about her being with another man.

“He is my cousin,” she finally clarifies .

It takes a moment for me to digest what she is saying, but when I do, my anger starts to fade. “So you are not out on a date with another guy?”

Chloe looks up and makes eye contact with me as she shakes her head no.

“I thought . . .” I trail off. In my relief, I want to lean into her, to feel the warmth of her body against mine. But after today, I don’t think that is what she wants.

“I can see how you would think that, but no.”

“I am so sorry. I have been a jealous prick,” I confess as I search her face, trying to read her emotions and hoping I don’t send her fleeing again. “I didn’t mean to hurt you again.”

“I am just so confused,” she says as she stares deeply into my eyes.

I pray to God that she finds what she is looking for, because I don’t know how much longer I can hold myself back from her. My fingers flex around hers, bound and determined not to let her go again.

Her eyes hold a myriad of emotions but the one that is most identifiable is one I didn’t think I would see on her face again. A look of desire so powerful I know without a doubt that I am not the only one who feels this pull between us.

“Oh, fuck it,” she says under her breath as she wraps her arms around my neck and pushes up on her toes, pressing her lips against mine .

I kiss her back passionately, trying to show her with my kiss just how much I have missed her. My hand moves down to her hip, pulling her body closer to mine, deepening our embrace. I press her back against the cold brick wall, claiming her lips like my life depends on it.

Because it does.

Chloe brings both hands up, dragging her fingers through my hair before grabbing the back of my head and pulling me closer to her.

When she presses her lips against mine, I am more than happy to match her energy.

I kiss her like this is the last kiss I will ever get with her, because it very well could be.

I savor the way she responds to my touch, pressing in even closer as her hands wrap themselves around my neck.

The loud sound of a car honking on the street startles us apart, ending the kiss far sooner than I would like. We are both breathing heavily when our eyes meet again. I smile to myself as Chloe’s cheeks redden with embarrassment at being caught in such a state.

She runs her hands through my hair, trying to straighten it as she giggles. “Sorry about that.”

“I don’t mind.” My voice is deeper than normal and my words come out a little rough as my attraction to her gets the best of me.

Chloe her eyes light up as a grin spreads across her face.

Our eyes are locked on each other, like we are alone rather than on a busy street.

I don’t dare move or say a word for fear of breaking the moment and shattering the mood that has finally lightened between us.

I definitely did not see this happening when I agreed to meet my old friend.

“I suppose we ought to be getting back in there,” she says after a few seconds.

“Right,” I answer, but neither one of us moves.

Finally, I reach down and grab her hand again, entwining my fingers through hers. Nothing has been settled, and we are still on uneven ground.

Maybe a night out with friends is exactly what we need.