Page 16 of Don’t Fall for the Billionaire

Chapter Sixteen

Ashton

“Hey.” Charlie stepped into my office. “I need you to sign off on the Carson deal.” He handed me the file.

Opening it, I picked up a pen and signed my name.

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting weird all day,” he said.

“Nothing is wrong.” I leaned back in my chair.

“I call bullshit. I’ve known you for years.”

Inhaling a sharp breath, I stared at him.

“I slept with Charlotte last night.”

“Ha! I knew it!” He pointed at me. “I’ve been waiting for this. So, now what?”

“I don’t know, man.” I ran my hand through my hair.

“Did you two talk about it?”

“No.”

“You need to, Ashton. You know how women get after sleeping with you. I think you just fucked yourself.”

“I don’t think Charlotte is like that.”

My office door opened, and Lila poked her head in. “Ashton, Kitty Corners is here to see you.”

Instantly, my brows furrowed. “Send her in.”

“Ashton,” Kitty said, stepping into my office.

“Hello, Kitty. What brings you by?”

“I need to have a word with you about your nanny.” She looked at Charlie.

“He can stay. What about Charlotte?”

“She practically attacked me this morning outside of the school after morning drop off.”

I had to force my lips from curving into a smile.

“Attacked you? Attacked you how?”

“All I did was tell her that nannies aren’t allowed to enter the bake off, and she went off on me like some lunatic. She claimed she’s more of a parent to your daughter than you are. She’s rude, disrespectful, and very flippant. She told me to get off my privileged perch.”

Charlie snickered.

“So, am I understanding this correctly? You approached Charlotte first?”

“Yes. I did. Nannies are not allowed to enter the bake off.”

“Is that a real rule or one you made up?” My brow arched.

“Excuse me? How dare you, Ashton.”

I pushed the intercom button. “Lila, get Eloise’s school on the phone for me.”

“Right away, boss.”

“What are you doing?” Kitty asked.

“Finding out if it’s a real rule that nannies can’t enter the bake off.”

“It’s a given, Ashton. Nannies are just nannies—nothing more.”

“I have Eloise’s principal on line 1, boss.”

“Thank you, Lila.” I pushed the button for line 1 and put it on speaker. “This is Mr. Cross calling.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Cross?”

“Is there a rule that nannies aren’t allowed to enter the school’s fall bake-off?”

“Uh, no. Anyone can enter as long as the child is a student at the school.”

I glanced at Kitty as she rolled her eyes.

“Thank you. Have a nice day.” I ended the call. “Well, you heard her, Kitty. There is no rule. So, I’m not sure what your problem is.”

“My problem is your nanny. She needs to be put in her place. Do you know what she makes you look like? I want an apology. In fact, I demand one.”

“I will have a talk with Charlotte.”

“You’d better make sure I get my apology.” She turned and stormed out of my office.

“What the fuck?” Charlie laughed. “I would have given anything to have heard that conversation between those two. Are you going to make Charlotte apologize to her?”

“Hell no. She deserved whatever Charlotte said to her. Kitty started it and Charlotte finished it.” I smiled.

“Well, I know a lot of women who are scared of Kitty Corners, and obviously Charlotte didn’t get the memo.” He chuckled.

After finishing at the office, I headed home.

Climbing out of the Escalade, I stopped short.

My townhouse had transformed overnight. Rust colored mums spilled from oversized ceramic planters.

A large wreath dominated the door—an explosion of miniature white pumpkins, maple leaves in crimson and gold, and glossy acorns.

A doormat in a fancy script with the words “Hello Fall” sat in front of the door.

I paused momentarily as I stared at the small black X’s marked with what looked like electrical tape on the slate-gray steps, waiting for something she had yet to reveal.

Sighing, I opened the door, and a wonderful smell greeted me as I stepped inside.

Setting my briefcase down, I walked into the living room.

The fireplace mantel had been stripped of my things and replaced with fall candles and a cluster of small pumpkins in burgundy, gold, and pinks.

And two oversized tall vases with fall florals sat on each side of the fireplace.

When I stepped into the kitchen, I not only found Charlotte standing in front of the stove but also noticed the décor on the island, which consisted of a three-tiered stand decorated for fall.

“Are you cooking?” I asked.

She turned and looked at me with a smile. “Hi. Welcome home. I am cooking. Sylvia wasn’t feeling well today, so I sent her home. I’m making chicken parmesan. That’s what Syvia was going to cook tonight.”

“I didn’t know you cooked.”

“I used to cook with my mom all the time since it was just the two of us.”

“Where’s Eloise?”

“Upstairs, finishing her homework before dinner.”

“I see you went on a shopping spree today.”

“What do you think?” she asked, grinning from ear to ear.

“I thought you said teeny weeny décor. Not a full-blown fall explosion.”

“You don’t like it?” I noted a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Now I felt like an ass. “I didn’t say that. I was just surprised. It looks nice.”

“Thanks. Eloise helped me pick everything out and decorate.”

“What’s with the X’s of electrical tape on the steps?” I asked.

“Those are the spots where the pumpkins are going to be placed. Eloise and I are going to the pumpkin farm tomorrow to pick some out and pick apples for my pies.”

“What farm?”

“Wilkens over in Yorktown Heights. Yesterday was the first day they opened pumpkin picking.”

“That’s an hour away,” I said.

“I know. It’ll be fun.” She grinned.

“It’s Saturday. It’ll be packed.”

“So? That makes it even more fun.”

“Were you not going to invite me along?” My brow arched.

“I didn’t think you’d want to go. But you’re more than welcome to join us.”

“I think I will. I’ll drive instead of asking Dominic to take us on his day off. I need to go change.”

“Hurry up. Dinner will be ready in five minutes.”

After changing into more comfortable clothing, I went to Eloise’s room.

“Hi, sweetheart.” I walked over to her desk and kissed the top of her head.

“Hi, Dad. Did you see the fall decorations?”

“I did. It looks beautiful. Charlotte told me you helped pick everything out and decorate.”

“I did. It was so much fun. She said when it gets closer to Halloween, we can put up some scary stuff. We’re going pumpkin and apple picking tomorrow. I’m so excited.”

“I know. And I’m tagging along.” I smiled.

“You are!” A smile perched on her lips.

“Yep. I’ll be driving us. Dinner is ready, so let’s get downstairs.”

“Okay. I just finished my homework.”

After we ate, I sent Eloise up to take a shower and get ready for bed while I helped Charlotte clean the kitchen.

“I need to discuss something with you,” I said, loading the dishwasher.

“Okay.”

“What happened with you and Kitty Corners this morning?”

She stared at me with a twisted face. I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked.

“How do you know about that?” Her eyes narrowed.

“Kitty paid me a visit at the office.”

“Of course, she did. That rich socialite bitch.”

I chuckled. “Did you tell her that you’re more of a parent to Eloise than I am?”

“I most certainly did not. I was referencing all nannies. She acts like we’re little ants that she can step on with her ugly Louboutin heels. And by the way, her nose job is botched.”

“I don’t think she ever got a nose job,” I said.

“Well, she should.” She threw the dishtowel down.

“She said there’s a rule prohibiting nannies from joining the bake off.

She had the nerve to tell me that it was for parents only.

So, I simply stated that we nannies are more of a parent to their children than they are because they don’t have the time or the need to spend quality time with their kids.

Then after I called her out about her money, designer labels, and Birkins, I told her to stop looking down on us from her privileged perch. ”

“I called the principal of the school in front of her and asked if there was such a rule, and she said no. Kitty wants me to put you in your place, and she’s demanding an apology.”

“Ha. She can suck my dick!”

My eyes widened.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”

“It’s fine.” I smiled. “I tried. That’s all I can do.” I winked. “There’s something else I need to discuss with you after Eloise goes to bed.”

“Okay. Is it a glass of wine talk?”

“Yeah. I think so.” I walked out of the kitchen.

After we tucked Eloise in for the night, we headed to the living room. Walking over to the bar, I poured Charlotte a glass of wine and myself a scotch.

“What do you want to discuss?” she asked as I handed her the wine glass.

“About last night,” I said, sitting beside her on the couch.

“What about it?” Her beautiful eyes stared into mine.

“It was a mistake. I crossed a line, and I shouldn’t have. I need you to know that it can’t happen again.”

“Listen, Ashton. I know we crossed a line, but I wouldn’t say it was a mistake. We’re both adults who needed a release. It happened last night, which is the past now, and that’s where it needs to stay.”

My brows furrowed. “You’re not upset?”

“No.” She laughed. “Why would I be? You’re not the first guy I’ve slept with that I shouldn’t have, and I’m sure you won’t be the last.”

Why did her statement send a shooting pain through my heart?

“Okay. I just want to make sure that we’re cool.”

“We are so cool. We’re the coolest two people in Manhattan.” She grinned.

“We are, aren’t we?” I smiled.

“Definitely.”

“What time do you want to leave tomorrow?”

“Eight a.m. I want to get there early before it gets overly crowded and people pick all the good pumpkins.”

“I’m not sure people are rushing out to pick pumpkins already. You do know they rot pretty fast, right? You don’t think it’s too early to pick them?”

“I’ll curate them so they don’t rot before Halloween.”

“Never heard of that. How do you do that?”

“In a bleach soak.”

“Yeah, okay. Be careful with that and don’t do it in the house.”

“I won’t.” She smiled. “Anyway, I’m heading to bed. See you in the morning.”

“Good night, Charlotte.”

I finished my drink and placed my hands behind my head. I never thought I would be going to a farm to pick apples and pumpkins, but here we were.