Page 33 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire

He received a monthly allowance. He might even have to take lessons in budgeting 101. He was in the habit of spending money too quickly.

I had a business relationship with my father. All my mother’s funds were left to her children. It was the best way the mafia princess could guarantee her children inherited her wealth. Father didn’t even know about it until she was dead. I still remembered how green he turned when the will was read.

But that was neither here nor there. I had more important things to do. I’d taken a cab back to my yacht, since Winston must have helped himself to my car last night. After I settled some phone calls, I jumped into the red Ferrari and drove to the clinic where I knew Odette had the afternoon shift.

I pulled up expecting the same serene and welcoming feeling of The Swan Clinic from yesterday. Instead, I was met with chaos.

The long path along the shoreline that led to the hill where the hospital sat—a luxury castello once upon a time—was lined with vehicles. Ambulances. Private transportation. Buses.

Parking in front of the clinic, I exited the car and pulled the first person I found to the side.

“What’s going on here?”

She shrugged. “Moving patients around.”

Well, no shit. Clearly this woman wasn’t as smart as my woman.

Deciding she wasn’t worth questioning, I let her go and went in search of Odette. I focused on the best thing that happened to me. Aside from my siblings.Odette Madeline Swan. I couldn’t help a smile that curved my lips. I smiled more with her than I had in a long time.

Turning the corner, I spotted her. Same crisp white uniform. Her hair pulled up in a ponytail. No makeup. She directed orders in French to nurses and some boys, speaking in a firm but soft voice. Her confidence was such a turn-on. It pulled everyone’s attention to her. Including those boys who pretty much drooled, staring at her.

It was too bad the scrubs didn’t resemble a nun’s habit. They should.

“Monsieur?” A voice demanded my attention and I turned to find Dr. Swan next to me. “Ashford. Monsieur Ashford. What are you doing here? Is your back okay?”

The old doctor didn’t seem as calm and put together as yesterday. His hair was ruffled, like he had pushed his hand through it way too many times. His glasses were crooked and the look in his eyes was off.

“Yes, all better,” I assured him, my gaze flicking back to his daughter who now spotted me. “I was just hoping to have a word with your daughter.”

Surprise washed over his expression. “With my Odette?”

No, she’s my Odette. The protest was on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t think her father would take it well. I studied the doctor and something definitely seemed off about him. His hands trembled and his complexion was pale, almost yellowish.

I was just about to ask him if he was all right when I heard Odette’s voice and the old Dr. Swan was forgotten.

“Monsieur Ashford, why are you here?” Okay, not exactly the greeting I was going for. I thought she’d throw herself into my arms, wrap her legs around me, and shove me into the broom closet so we could take advantage of each other. Buuuut… she probably wanted to appear professional. After all, her father was here. “Is it your back?”

I gave her a knowing smirk. Her nails had dug into my back, and fuck if the way she had clung to me didn’t make me get a full-on erection right here. Goddamn it!

“Non,” her father answered while I shifted to hide the bulge in my pants. I should have worn jeans. “He said he came to have a word with you.”

“Oh.”

Her eyes widened innocently in question and her expression clearly stated she was confused about what I could be here to talk to her about. So it was going to be like this, huh? Feigning ignorance.

“Can we talk in private?”

Odette stiffened and her lips thinned. I got the distinct feeling that she would rather chop her hand off than talk to me. Instead, her eyes darted to her father, then around us, and back to her father, until they finally came back to me. Jesus, what was it with her? We had the most incredible night of sex, and now she was acting like a cold stranger.

I had every intention of keeping her. We’d follow this through and see where it took us. For the first time, I wanted a serious relationship.

“Today’s not a good day,” she ended up answering in a clipped tone.

“It’s important,” I gritted, slightly annoyed. I wasn’t accustomed to being denied. “I’m sure your father can spare you for a few minutes.”

She opened her mouth, clearly ready to argue, when her father stopped her.

“You go ahead, Odette,” he encouraged. “I’ll handle this for a bit. You’ve been going nonstop for hours. You need a break.”