Page 18 of Chosen By a Billionaire (Rags to Romance #24)

“What do you mean he’s taking somebody else?”

“Just what I told you. He’s not going to ask you.”

“But you asked me . He didn’t know?”

There was a pause on the phone line, and then an exhale. “No. He didn’t.”

“Well I’ll be damned.” Gweneth Winthrop was beside herself with anguish. “Then why did you come to me if he didn’t even want me?”

“He wants you. There’s no doubt about that. But he’s still reeling from what happened. You know how he is.”

Gweneth exhaled. “Yes, I know. But I miss him so much. He never returned not one of my calls or emails or texts or even messages I sent to him by other people. All I want to do is explain to him.”

“That’s why I thought this trip would have been the perfect opportunity for you. His old man adores you. Or at least he used to.”

“And I adore him. But Harrison can be so stubborn!”

“You know it and I know it too.”

“And who is this other person he’s decided to take with him anyway? Do I know her?”

“Not in the least. He barely knows her.”

“What do you mean? Who is she?”

“Some waitress that rides around on an e-bike, and that dented his limo because his driver splashed her.”

Gweneth frowned. “ What ? A waitress ? An e-bike ? You must be joking.”

“But I’m not. And that’s not even the kicker.”

“It isn’t?”

“No.”

“Then what is?”

“This waitress, this young lady he plans to present to his father as his brand-new fiancée, is a person of color.”

“Which color? His father has a preference you know.”

“She’s African-American.”

Gweneth looked defeated. “That won’t hurt his cause in HB’s eyes. He has a thing for the blacks. Perhaps her family is in our social class? There’s a lot of blacks that are these days.”

“No such luck. Nowhere near it. In fact, she’s estranged from her family. Carter had Security to run background on her and when I tell you her family is a mess, I’m not just whistling Dixie. Bunch of alcoholics and drama kings. Her mother is okay, but her siblings are rather awful.”

“But is she like them?”

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “I can’t speak to that because I don’t know. But I do know that she has his attention. That she has turned our Harrison on quite completely.”

“So what you’re saying is that she turned him on, and that’s it? A physical attraction?”

“I wouldn’t say that’s it. That may be a part of it, but let me put it this way: I heard she turned his offer down.”

“She turned it down?” Gweneth was shocked.

“That’s what I heard. And Harrison himself went to her to get her to change his mind. That’s how much he wants her with him when he meets with his father and brother.”

“That doesn’t even sound like Harrison. He never begged me.”

“Nor any other woman. Except for this one.”

“So where does that leave me?”

“If you want him, and I know you do, you’ve got to fight for him. Show up anyway. His father will welcome you with open arms. And once Harrison compares you to this waitress, we both know there will be no comparison. You’ll win. But only if you’re willing to fight for that victory.”

“Oh I’ll fight alright. If anybody’s going to be his fiancée, it’s going to be me. I earned that right. I’ll be there. Don’t you worry. I’ll be there.”

“We’re all depending on you, Gwennie. If you fail, we fail. But if you succeed, and his old man falls for it, we all will be going home in limousines.”

“We already go home in limousines,” she said and the caller laughed.

But when the call ended, Gweneth leaned back on the float in her pool.

Her boy toy was skinny-dipping and showing her what he was made of.

But Harrison was on her brain. And she couldn’t get him off of it.

Whenever he did decide to marry someone, she knew it was going to be for life.

There would only be one Mrs. Harrison Arthur Bainbridge the Fourth. And she aimed to be it.

Like she said, she earned that right. And no two-bit waitress was going to take it from her.

She pressed her intercom button, ordered her lady’s maid to prepare for a trip to Kennebunkport on Thursday, and then she sipped her mint Julep.

She was worried that he chose this waitress over her, but it was a mild worry.

Once Harrison laid eyes on her again, and remembered how good they were together, that waitress wouldn’t stand a chance. Of that she was certain.

She was so certain that she got up, left that boy toy showing his ass, and went to pack right away.