Page 33 of Grumpy Billionaire Seeking Wife (Billionaires Seeking Wives Club #1)

"Fine. I didn't realize my brother had turned into the woke police."

"The woke police? You need to get off social media. I don't even think you're using that term correctly."

He starts laughing and runs his fingers through his hair.

"Fine. So little Sabrina might become my sister-in-law. I mean, we know Erica would love that."

"You think so? I'm a little nervous that..."

"I know so," he says. "Trust me, she would love nothing more than for Sabrina to be your wife. She already tried to hook me and Sabrina up a couple of years ago."

"What, she did? I didn't know that."

"I mean, it wasn't a big thing. She asked me if I had any interest in Sabrina.

I was like, 'She's cute, but not really.

' And she was like, 'Oh, I would really love her to be my sister-in-law.

' And I said to her, 'Why don't you ask Wes?

' And she was like, 'Well, Wes is older, and he's a grump.

..' Well, anyway, I guess she went to the wrong brother.

Who knew you were waiting in the wings?"

"Well, supposedly you did," I say. "Didn't you say that you could tell I was in to her?”

“I mean, I just assumed you thought she was cute. I didn't know you were in love with her and wanted to marry her."

"Let's not get carried away."

"So you don't want to marry her? You're just trying to find her father for shit and giggles?" He pauses. "Hold on a second. That blue Tiffany box that you had the other day…"

"What about it?"

"That wasn’t for her, right? I mean, no, it couldn't have been because we hadn't even gone to the dinner yet. Oh my gosh, you're not buying the lady jewelry. You don't have a wedding ring picked out for her already, do you?"

"It would be an engagement ring." I stare at him and laugh as he looks suddenly nervous.

"And no, I'm not crazy. I haven't bought her an engagement ring.

I haven't bought her jewelry like that. Yes, the Tiffany's box was for her, but it was just a bracelet because she had once said it was her dream to get one of those bracelets with the little key in the lock. And anyway, what does it matter?"

My phone starts ringing again. "Oh my gosh. I am so over this."

"Answer it. Maybe if you're a jerk to them, they'll start spreading the word."

"Hello?" I say into the phone.

"Oh, darling, I've been trying to call you. Are you mad at me?"

"Grandma? Is that you?"

"Of course, it's me. Who else would it be? I've been calling you and calling you and..."

"I'm sorry, Grandma. I’ve been busy, and my phone has actually been inundated and..."

"Well, I know. That's why I'm calling. Several of my friends told me that you're looking for a wife, and I told them I had no idea.

If I did, of course, I would've recommended their granddaughters to you.

Now, I need you to go on a date with Estella's granddaughter, and I need you to go on a date with Jasmine's granddaughter, and I need you to go on a date with Edith's daughter.

Yes, she's a little older and not your type, but Edith would be so dreadfully upset if you did not. "

"Oh my gosh, Grandma."

"Yes, darling?"

"I didn't put the ad up. It's not real. I'm not looking for a wife. Someone pulled a prank on me and..."

"A prank? What do you mean by a prank? It was in the newspaper, darling."

"Yes, it was in the newspaper, but..." I let out a long sigh. "It's not true, Grandma. Do you really think I'd put out a newspaper saying grumpy billionaire seeking wife? Really?"

"Well, I did think the word choice was slightly unusual for you, but, oh dear. What am I supposed to tell my friends? What am I supposed to tell Edith? Her daughter is waiting by the phone to see when her date is going to be."

"Grandma, I'm not interested in going on any dates. I am kind of seeing someone right now."

"What? You didn't tell me. Who? Who? Oh my gosh. You're seeing someone. How did I not know?"

"Grandma, relax.” I was about to say it's not serious, but I suddenly remembered that it is going to be serious pretty soon.

At least that's what Sabrina and I were going to tell everyone.

“Well, Grandma, I can't actually speak right now.

Miles and I are headed into a meeting, but let's chat later.

Maybe I can take you out for dinner later this week. "

"Oh, if you think you have time." She giggles. "Imagine if someone thinks I'm one of the women chosen for a date. I'll have to tell them I'm his grandmother. Of course, he takes me out all the time."

I groan. "Grandma, please don't tell anyone anything, okay? I don't want this getting any more press than it already has." In my mind, I'm thinking I don't want it getting any more press than anything other than what I curate. I look over at Miles, and he's chuckling. I just roll my eyes at him.

"But anyway, can I speak to you later?"

"Yes, darling. I love you."

"Love you, too. Bye." I hang up. "Oh my gosh, Miles. I am going to blow a gasket."

"Really, though?" He tilts his head to the side. "I feel like you're not as mad as you could be."

"What do you mean, I'm not as mad as I could be?"

"I feel like it's actually kind of working out for you."

"What are you talking about? How is being inundated with calls working out for me?"

"Because the love of your life is going to be staying with you."

"I mean, this is not something I planned. She's the one who put the ad in the paper, not me. I..."

"Whatever," Miles says, shaking his head. "You can tell yourself whatever you want to, but I have a feeling I know the truth."

"Yes, Miles. You know the truth about everything. You are the true seeker of the universe. Superman, Batman has got nothing on you, right?"

Miles shakes his head. "Is that your way of telling me you want to get into production? Because I did meet someone a couple of months ago who was wondering if we'd be interested in financing their indie film. And she was very persuasive."

"What do you mean, she was very persuasive?"

"I mean, the blowjob she gave me, out of this world. If her script is as good as her blowjob, then I think we got a blockbuster in our hands."

"You're a pig. You know that, right?"

"What? You are the one who's forcing an innocent woman who played a prank on you to live with you because you're in love with her and you're hoping that she'll fall in love with you, too."

"Well, actually..." I say, staring at him. "That's only the very beginning of my devious, wicked plan." I wink at him.

"What do you have planned, Wes?"

"You think I'm going to tell you?"

"Yes, I'm your brother."

"And as my brother, please go and get me a coffee. I have a call to make." He stares at me for a couple of seconds and just shakes his head.

"Fine. Black, no milk, no sugar?"

"Yep. And if they have any glazed donuts, grab one for me."

"Okay."

I pull out my phone and call Sabrina. For a few moments, I think she's not going to answer, but then she does.

"What is it? I am about to take a final in ten minutes."

"I was just wondering what time you're coming over this evening."

"Oh, my gosh. Do I have to?"

"Yes. I am about to call the car to schedule your pick-up, and I want to know what time it should be there.”

“Oh, my gosh, Wes. This is so inconvenient for me. I still have to go back to campus for my test, and then I have to get to the retirement center and then..."

"And what? You'll have a private driver at your disposal. Don't forget. You're the reason I'm in this mess, Sabrina. Do you know how many phone calls I've had so far today? Do you know how many?"

"I can only imagine," she says. "Fine. I've got this final, and then I'm going to turn in a paper. I guess a car can pick me up around 7:00."

"Okay. Don't eat."

"What do you mean, don't eat?"

"I'll have dinner waiting for you."

"You're going to order takeout?"

"Something like that," I say. "Bring enough clothes to last you for the next couple of weeks. You won't be sleeping in that dorm again until you graduate."

"What?" she says. "What do you mean I won't be sleeping out in that dorm again until I graduate? If I graduate, I'll never be sleeping in this dorm again."

"Exactly. Pack up what you can. We'll go back for the rest of your stuff later."

"I don't understand what's going on here, Wes. I feel like..."

"You feel like what? Erica is going to ask questions.”

"And didn't you say she already knows that we've had sex? And didn't you say she already knows about the ad?"

"Yeah, but..."

"So tell her the truth. This is how you're paying me back for what you've done."

"Fine," she says.

"I am sorry. I know you think this is drastic, but if you were the person whose phone was being blown up like this, you would understand."

"Fine," she says. "But I meant what I said."

"And what's that?"

"No more sex."

"Sure."

"I mean it, Wes."

"And I said, sure. Right?"

"The tone in your voice tells me that you think I'm actually going to change my mind, and I'm not."

"I don't need you to change your mind, Sabrina.

I'm not having you stay with me because I need sex from you.

I'm not having you stay with me because I want anything other than for you to answer my phone calls.

And then, when the time is right, in a couple of weeks, we will pretend that we're engaged.

We'll go to the gala, and it will be front-page news.

And then we continue our lives, as usual. "

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, once the newspaper prints that I'm engaged, that should get everyone to back off. And all the phone calls should stop."

"And then what?"

"And then a couple of months later, I'll just put a notice in that we broke up. Does that work for you?"

"I guess. So all you need from me is to go to one gala?"

"Exactly. That's it. No sex, no nothing. One gala, one pretend engagement."

"But what am I going to tell my mom? What are we going to tell your parents?"

"No one can know the truth," I say.

"But what about Erica?"

"Erica can know the truth. Miles can know the truth. Your mom, no. My parents, no.

"But..." she sighs. "Fine, whatever."

"Oh, and Sabrina?"

"Yes, Wes?"

"You're sleeping in my bed."

"What? No, I..."

"You're sleeping in my bed. I didn't say we have to have sex, but..."

"But what?"

"I kind of want to feel you next to me at night. I want us to chat and talk, you know?"

"No, I don't know."

"Maybe we get to know each other a little bit better."

"Why do you want to get to know me?"

"Because I want to prove to you that the man you lost your virginity to isn't a pig or a bastard or a grumpy billionaire who gets on your nerves."

"Okay."

"I want you to look back and think of me as a good man. I don't want you to regret that I was the one you chose to give your virginity to." My voice is low. "And so while this is kind of the wrong way around, I want us to get to know each other better. Really get to know each other."

"I mean, okay," she says, sounding doubtful. "If that's what you want, but you don't have to."

"I know I don't."

"It'll be fun."

"If you say so, Wes."

"I do. The car will be waiting at 7:00. I'll see you later."