Page 6 of Don’t Fall for the Billionaire

Chapter Six

Ashton

“Morning, Dad.” She wrapped her arms around my legs.

“Morning, sweetheart.” I kissed the top of her head.

“Charlotte is still up in my bed.”

“I know. I got home really late last night and didn't want to wake her. Did you two have fun?” I reached into the refrigerator and pulled out the orange juice.

“Yeah. We had a lot of fun. We played, and then I had a bad dream. But Charlotte told me that if it happens again, to call the Sandman, and he'll make my bad dreams go away.”

“She told you that?” I handed her a glass of orange juice.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “It worked too. I didn't have any more bad dreams last night.”

Something was different about my daughter this morning. It was a subtle change, but there was no denying she seemed different.

Charlotte walked into the kitchen and stopped when she saw me.

“Uh, morning.”

“Good morning.” I smiled. “Can I get you some coffee?”

“Definitely. Thanks. I didn't mean to fall asleep last night. Why didn't you wake me when you got home?” she asked.

“Because I didn't get home until 2 a.m., and it was way too late for you to go home. So, I just let you sleep.”

“What happened to midnight?” Her brow arched.

“Let's just say I lost track of time.” I smirked, handing her the coffee cup.

“I bet you did.” She tipped the cup to her lips, and my brows furrowed.

“Dad, can we go to the park today?” Eloise asked.

“Not today, sweetheart. Uncle Charlie is coming over. We have a lot of work to do.”

“But it's Saturday,” she whined.

“Eloise, what have I told you about that whiny voice?” I stared at her.

“That's not fair! I want to go to the park! You're always working!” she shouted.

“I'll take you to the park,” Charlotte said.

“You will?” Eloise's eyes lit up.

“Sure. Why not? I don't have anything to do today. That's if it's okay with your dad.”

“Please, Dad. Can Charlotte take me to the park?”

“Are you sure you don't mind?” I asked Charlotte.

“Not at all. I just have to go home, shower, and change first.”

“Can I come? I want to see where you live,” Eloise said.

“You can, but I will warn you that it's nothing grand like this place.”

“I don't care. Dad?”

“Go upstairs, get dressed, and you can go with Charlotte.”

“Yay! Thank you.” She threw her arms around my legs and then ran up the stairs.

“Thanks,” I said to Charlotte.

“No problem. She's a great kid, and like I said, I have nothing going on today.”

“I'm surprised. I figured you and your boyfriend would have had plans,” I said, tipping the cup to my lips.

“Currently single at the moment. So, there is no boyfriend,” she said.

“I see.” Something inside me lit up when she said that. “I'll pay you for hanging with Eloise today.”

“Nah. Forget about it.” She waved her hand.

“I'll be right back then and get the money I owe you for last night.” I walked out of the kitchen, ran up to my bedroom, took out some cash from my wallet, and went back downstairs. “Here you go.” I handed her the money.

“Wow. This is a lot?”

“There's extra for your outing with my daughter today. My driver is off on the weekends, so you'll have to take cabs. I ask that you not take the subway.”

“In that case, thank you.” She smiled. “We won't take the subway.” She tucked the money into her pants pockets.

Picking up my phone from the island, I called for a cab. “One will be here in about twenty minutes. And I'll also need your phone number in case I need to get a hold of you.”

“Of course. You probably should have given me yours last night before you went out. What if there was an emergency?”

“I didn't think about that. What's your number first?”

She rattled off her number, and I saved it in my phone. Just as I gave her mine, Eloise walked into the kitchen.

“What do you want for breakfast?” I asked her.

“I don't want breakfast. I want to go,” she said.

“Eloise, you have to?—”

“She can have breakfast at my place while I get ready,” Charlotte said.

After they left, I showered, got dressed, and Charlie showed up.

“Where's Eloise?” he asked.

“She's with Charlotte at the park.”

“And who is Charlotte?” His brow arched.

“Ah, that's right. You don't know what happened yesterday. I met Dan in Central Park to discuss the Waterfront property, and as I was walking, a cupcake hit my pant leg and messed up my suit.”

“What?” He laughed.

“Charlotte was sitting on a bench, threw her cupcake, and it hit me.

I demanded that she pay for the dry cleaning, so I gave her my address and told her to drop off the money last night.

She did. There was an instant connection between her and Eloise, so I took that opportunity and asked her if she'd babysit while I went out.”

“And she agreed?” His brows furrowed.

“Yep. I didn't get home until 2 a.m. and found her sleeping in Eloise's bed. So, I just let her sleep.”

“Where were you last night?” he asked.

“Daniela's in town, so we went to dinner and back to her hotel room. Eloise was whining earlier that she wanted me to take her to the park. When I told her I couldn't, Charlotte offered.”

“Sounds like your daughter made a new friend. Does this Charlotte work?”

“I guess she's currently unemployed,” I said. “I'm thinking about offering her the nanny position.”

“What does she look like?” Charlie asked, and the corners of my mouth curved upward. “I take it she's hot by the smile on your face.”

“She's a very beautiful woman, which could pose a problem for me if I were to hire her.”

“How old is she?” His brows furrowed.

“Late twenties.”

“Oh boy.” He laughed. “Don't do it, Ashton. I know you, and this is giving off disaster vibes.”

“Believe me. I already thought about that. But Eloise seems to really like her, and I need my social life back.”

“At what cost?” he asked. “You'll do damage to both that woman and your daughter at some point. I know how you operate—your likes, dislikes, your views, and your inability to keep your dick in your pants. People are going to end up hurt, and I'm not talking about you, my friend.”

“I've been without help for a month, and I can't do it anymore. It's almost as if Charlotte fell into my lap. I'm taking this as a sign.”

“I have a feeling Charlotte will end up on your lap at some point.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I can't and won't allow it. I do have some self-control.”

“Ha. You don't even know what that word means.”

I heard the front door chime. “They must be back.”

“Oh, I can't wait to meet this Charlotte woman whom you're going to destroy.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I smacked his arm.

We walked out of my office and into the living room.

“Hi, sweetheart.” I smiled.

“Hi, Dad.” Eloise hugged me.

“Did you have fun at the park?”

“Yeah. We had a good time. Hi, Uncle Charlie.”

“She was great.” Charlotte smiled.

“Hi, honey.” Charlie hugged Eloise.

“Charlotte, I'd like you to meet my best friend and colleague, Charlie Parsons. Charlie, this is Charlotte.”

“It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He grinned, taking her hand and bringing it up to his lips.”

I was going to kill him.

He placed his hand on my back. “I need to get going. I'll see you on Monday,” he said as I walked him to the door. He leaned in and whispered, “If you hire her, you're going to have a big problem on your hands.” He smirked.