Page 2 of Tempting the Billionaire (Billionaire Brothers #5)

Ezra

The heavy door to my Beacon Hill townhouse slams behind me, echoing in the empty space. I walk across the foyer, grabbing a sparkling water from the fridge and then sinking into an armchair in the living room.

A familiar depressing aura settles around me as I sip my water.

I’ve only made the switch to drinking these recently.

When I realized that coming home and fixing myself more than a few mixed drinks every night was getting out of hand, I decided I needed to stop myself.

So I guess a cran-raspberry fizzy water will have to do .

I sigh, setting the can down on the side table next to me.

A shape out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, and for a split second, I think it’s Diane. Even as I turn to see my coat hanging on the coat rack, I know it isn’t her.

She moved out two months ago and hasn’t been back since. You’d think I’d be used to the empty apartment by now, but it feels as if the nights are just getting longer and longer.

Something needs to change. I just don’t know what.

I guess I’m still in shock. In shock that after eight years of marriage, Diane had decided to throw it all away for some guy she worked with.

She said that I’d driven her to it. That my long days of work had left her lonely and miserable.

And while I’m the first to admit that I can be a bit of a workaholic at times, I still don’t think that it excuses cheating.

I’d tried to reason with her, told her we could work things out—that therapy could help us. But I think we both knew that our relationship had run its course. Besides, she was in love with someone else—she is in love with some else.

A pit forms in my stomach at the thought of it.

Fuck.

A buzz on my phone grabs my attention and I look down to see a text from my cousin.

Alec King : How have you been? Know that I’m always around to talk if you need.

As the closest in age to me, my cousin Alec and I have always been close. He was the first person I’d told when things with Diane had gone south. But as much as I appreciate his support, I don’t think dwelling on it or talking it out will help me much anymore.

His text reminds me that I’m supposed to be finishing up the ring design for his new fiancé. It’s my job, after all.

That thought pulls me back to Diane, and I internally scold myself .

I need to move on. Part of me thinks some kind of rebound might be the best course of action, but then I push the thought away.

Diane and I haven’t announced our divorce yet. Even while she’s completely moved in with another man, leaving me high and dry, the divorce isn’t finalized, and we have yet to come up with a cohesive way to announce our separation.

Boston might be this big cosmopolitan city, but in many ways, it’s like a small town.

And people love to talk—especially about its elite families, the Bishops being one of them.

Especially the family that made its fortune selling engagement rings—our divorce won’t exactly go over well.

Not that it would be ruinous or anything like that, but I still dread the thought.

I remember when I’d proposed to Diane almost a decade ago. I’d designed a ring, and every major publication in the area had run the story. Jewelry Empire Heir Engaged . The Diane is still one of our bestselling engagement rings. Probably partially because of the romantic lore surrounding it.

I grimace at what the headlines will say now.

And besides, as much as I hate Diane right now for what she’s done to me, deep down, I don’t want her name dragged through the mud like I know it could be. I simply want to part ways and never think of this again. Move on .

We just need to figure out how best to do that without causing attention.

The idea of a rebound reenters my mind, and my attention flicks back to that new sales associate we’d hired today.

Emma Hayes.

Damn, she was cute. Long, wavy hair—a shade of red I don’t think I’ve ever seen. Even under that suffocating blouse she was wearing, I could tell she had nice curves. And that smile?

I shake my head. I’m just horny. And sad. And lonely. Emma works for me. And is fully off limits. And looks to be barely out of college. Jesus.

Although I suppose it doesn’t hurt to admire from a distance. Respectfully, that is.

I’m going to have to be careful with that one.

I sigh, standing up and taking my empty can to the recycling basket under my sink, readying myself for yet another lonely night ahead of me.