Page 22 of Don’t Fall for the Billionaire
Chapter Twenty-Two
Charlotte
“I have to run to Eloise’s school and pick up her homework for today. Do you mind keeping an eye on her?” I asked Sylvia.
“Not at all. Take the whole day for yourself.” She smiled.
“Well, my cousin does want to meet for lunch,” I said.
“Then go. I’m here all day. Eloise will be fine.”
“Thanks, Sylvia.” I hugged her.
I went upstairs to Eloise’s bedroom and found her sitting up, sipping her water.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she said. “My throat doesn’t hurt as bad.”
“Good.” I smiled, running my hand down her head. “If you’re up to it, Sylvia is making you breakfast. You need to take your medication.”
“Okay. I’m hungry.” She jumped out of bed.
“I’m heading out to run errands, but Sylvia is here to watch you, and Dominic will be picking us up at 2:30 to take us to the doctor.”
“I don’t want to go to the doctor again,” she whined.
“I know, honey, but we need to. I’ll take you for ice cream after.”
“Okay!”
I rested my head on the glass of the cab window as I thought about Ashton and the small moments that kept replaying in my head.
The small moments where he wasn’t the ruthless, untouchable billionaire.
We’d slept together a few times now. Things were evolving, transforming. And I wasn’t talking about autumn.
I shook my head, mumbling under my breath.
“Don’t do this to yourself.” But then I thought about the way he looked at me with hunger in his eyes and the way my heart raced when he walked into the room.
My mind kept going back to the way he’d touch me, kiss me, and make me feel like the most beautiful, wanted woman in the world.
Maybe—just maybe Ashton Cross wasn’t as untouchable as he wanted the world to believe.
The cab jerked to a stop in front of the school. Climbing out, I asked him to wait for me. Pressing the buzzer at the door, the office buzzed me in. When I stepped into the office, I saw Kitty Corners standing there talking to the secretary.
“Great,” I mumbled under my breath.
Kitty turned around and eyed me from head to toe.
“Can I help you?” the secretary asked.
“I’m here to pick up the homework for Eloise Cross. She’s ill today.”
“Oh yes. You called earlier. I’ll run down to her classroom and get it. Give me a few minutes.”
I stood there awkwardly while the silence between Kitty and me filled the office.
Looking at the counter, I noticed a flyer, so I picked it up.
It was for a talent show in a month, open to students and anyone who wanted to participate with them.
The winner of the talent show would receive a cash prize of $1,000 and a trophy.
“My daughter wins that talent show every year for her piano playing,” Kitty said. “Just like I win the bake off every year for my cheesecake.”
Not this year, bitch.
“Wow. It seems like you have a very talented family.” I smiled.
“Actually, I do.” Her brow arched. “Has your employer spoken to you?”
“He speaks to me every day.”
“I had a conversation with him, and he was supposed to talk to you about how you spoke to me. I know it’s hard for some people to admit when they’re in the wrong.”
I forced a smile. The kind that showed just enough teeth to count as polite. After all, we were in the school’s office and the principal was sitting on the other side of the door.
“You’re right. It is hard to admit when I’m wrong. Luckily for me, that doesn’t happen very often.”
“Well, it takes a big person to apologize. Especially when their temper gets the better of them.” A smirk crossed her lips.
“Oh, absolutely. And I do want to apologize, Kitty. I shouldn’t have raised my voice and said the things I said. It was unprofessional,” I paused momentarily. “But not everyone can juggle appearances the way you do.” I smiled.
Before Kitty could speak, the office door opened, and the secretary handed me a folder.
“We hope Eloise feels better soon.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and turned to Kitty. “Again, I’m sorry for how I spoke. I’ll try to remember to choose my words more carefully next time.” I walked to the door, placed my hand on the handle, and turned. “Though, of course, sometimes the truth doesn’t need softening.”
I opened the door and walked out with a wide grin on my face.
“I’m so happy you could make lunch.” Melissa hugged me before I slid into the booth.
“Me too. I miss you, cousin.”
“I miss you too. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“Adam and I put an offer in on a house in Long Island, and the owners accepted.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
Wait. I had to pause for a moment. If she were moving to Long Island, what about my room?
“Thanks. I knew you would be. And don’t worry. There’s an extra room for you if you need it.”
Phew.
“I appreciate it.” I picked up the wine glass the waitress set down.
After we placed our food order, Melissa reached across the table and grabbed my hand.
“How are things really going with Ashton? You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
“No,” my voice was shaky. “He’s my boss. That would be insane.”
“I know you, Charlotte. I’ve known you since the day we were born. You have that look.”
“What look?”
“The falling head over heels, oh shit, what’s happening, look. Your face just turned the exact shade of that cabernet over at the next table.” She smirked.
I rolled my eyes. The waitress walked over, set our salads down, and the first thing I did was violently stab a cherry tomato with my fork.
“It’s complicated. Half the time, he’s impossible, moody, and controlling.”
“And the other half?” Melissa asked.
I looked down while stabbing my fork into my salad.
“The other half? I see glimpses of someone different. I see someone who’s broken because of his parents and childhood.
He’s stepped up lately in the fatherhood department, though.
He’s been home more at night, and he’s let his guard down around me.
Those are the moments that undo me. Because I know that’s a side of him he rarely lets anyone see.
He took us to the farm to pick apples and pumpkins.
We had such a great time.” I pulled my phone from my purse and brought up the photos I took.
“God, is that man sexy or what?” She smiled.
“He is.” I grinned, biting my bottom lip.
“Great selfie of the three of you. You’re glowing in that picture.”
“That’s because of the season. I always glow when autumn comes around. You know that.”
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but this looks like a lot of falling to me.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, opened them, and stared at my cousin. “Fine. Maybe I am falling for him. Who the hell am I kidding, Melissa? I already fell, and I fell hard. God help me.”
“I knew this was going to happen. You can’t change him, Charlotte.
You have to realize that. Men like Ashton Cross don’t change.
They are who they are because of their status.
I don’t want you to get hurt. I think the best thing you can do is hurry up, get that business loan, open your pie shop, and get the hell out of there. ”
“I’m already invested in Eloise. I know I haven’t worked for Ashton that long, but that little sweetness of a girl already has my heart.”
“Which is crazy to me since you never mentioned kids before. I’d like to meet Eloise.”
“You will.” I smiled. “I promise, soon.”