Page 9 of Wrong Number, Right Billionaire (Wrong Number, Right Guy #7)

CHANTAY

T he next two hours are a revelation.

Maxim leads me through his real life with the same careful honesty he showed in his email.

He shows me the high-tech office hidden behind rustic cabin walls, the investment portfolios that run themselves, the security system that protects his privacy.

But he also shows me Ghost's favorite sunning spot, Ranger's collection of stolen socks, and the simple routines that make him happy.

"This is who I am," he says as we sit on his back deck, watching Ghost patrol his territory while Ranger sprawls between us. "Maxim Chen, billionaire tech founder who rescues broken animals and prefers mountains to boardrooms."

"Why didn't you just tell me this from the beginning?"

He's quiet for a long moment, absently scratching Ranger's ears. "Because every relationship I've ever had has been poisoned by money. People want access to my wealth, my connections, my success. They see dollar signs instead of a person."

"So, you decided I would too."

"I decided I couldn't risk finding out." His green eyes meet mine. "Chantay, you made me feel normal for the first time in years. You were interested in my thoughts, my stories, my animals. Not my net worth or what I could do for your career."

I understand now why he built those walls. But understanding doesn't erase the hurt of being lied to.

"I get why you were scared," I say finally. "But Maxim, I need you to understand something. When you lie to someone about who you are, you're not protecting the relationship. You're sabotaging it from the start."

"I know that now."

"Do you? Because trust isn't just about honesty in the big moments. It's about honesty in all the little moments too. It's about believing your partner can handle your truth, whatever that truth is."

He nods slowly. "I haven't had a lot of practice trusting people."

"Neither have I. But that's what makes it brave."

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, watching the mountains and feeling the weight of everything that's happened between us.

"Chantay?" he says finally.

"Yeah?"

"I love you. The real you, who challenges me and calls me on my bullshit and makes me want to be better than I am. I love that you came all the way to Nevada to see if this was worth fighting for."

My heart does that fluttery thing it's been doing since his first text message.

"I love you too. But Maxim, if we're going to do this, if we're going to try to build something real together, it has to be built on complete honesty.

No more managing my reactions or protecting me from complicated truths. "

"Complete honesty," he agrees. "Even when it's scary."

"Especially when it's scary."

He reaches for my hand, threading our fingers together. "So, what does that look like? Complete honesty between a billionaire hermit and a marketing manager from Atlanta?"

"I don't know. We figure it out as we go along." I lean into his shoulder. "But maybe we start with you telling me your middle name, since I just found out your first name two days ago."

He laughs, the sound warm and genuine. "James. Maxim James Chen."

"Maxim James Chen," I repeat, testing how it sounds. "I like it. It suits you better than just Max."

"What about you? What's your middle name?"

"Rose. Chantay Rose Jackson."

"Beautiful. Like everything else about you."

The compliment sends warmth through my chest, but this time it feels different. Grounded in truth instead of carefully crafted charm.

"So," I say, absently petting Ranger, who's claimed my other hand. "What happens now? I mean logistically. You live in Nevada, I live in Atlanta. That's not exactly a short distance relationship."

"We figure it out. Maybe I spend time in Atlanta. Maybe you spend time here. Maybe we find somewhere that works for both of us."

"You'd consider leaving your mountain sanctuary?"

"For you? Yes. Though I hope you'd consider visiting more often. Ghost seems to approve of you, and he's very particular about houseguests."

I look over at the wolf hybrid, who's been watching our entire conversation with intelligent yellow eyes. "How can you tell he approves?"

"He hasn't tried to establish dominance by stealing your shoes. That's his usual test for new people."

"Good to know I passed the Ghost test."

"You passed every test that matters." Maxim brings our joined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles. "Chantay, I know I have a lot to make up for. I know trust has to be rebuilt instead of just declared. But if you're willing to give us a real chance..."

"I'm willing," I interrupt. "But I have conditions."

"Name them."

"No more lies. About anything. Even little things. Even things you think might hurt my feelings or complicate our relationship."

"Done."

"No more making decisions about what I can and can't handle. If something affects both of us, we discuss it together."

"Agreed."

"And I want to meet Elena. Your assistant. If I'm going to be part of your life, I want to understand all of it, including the parts that involve billion-dollar companies and board meetings."

"Elena's going to love you. She's been telling me for years that I need someone who won't let me hide from my own life."

"Smart woman."

"The smartest. She's the one who told me to stop thinking like a CEO and start thinking like the man you fell in love with."

"And what did that man decide to do?"

"Risk everything for a chance at forever with you."

The words send electricity through me, the same spark I felt during our first text conversation. But this time, it's grounded in reality instead of fantasy.

"Forever is a long time, Maxim."

"Not long enough."

He kisses me then, soft and sure and full of promise. When we break apart, Ghost has moved closer, clearly deciding I'm acceptable pack material. Ranger is snoring against my leg, completely unconcerned with human drama.

"They like you," Maxim observes.

"Good. Because I like them too. I like this." I gesture around at the mountains, the cabin, the life he's built here. "I like who you are when you're not trying to manage anything."

"Even the billionaire part?"

"Even the billionaire part,” I confirm. “Do you know how many rescue organizations I can help you find with your money? How many marketing campaigns we can build together around wildlife conservation?"

His smile is brilliant. "Are you already planning to spend my money?"

I flash him a flirty look before laughing. "Yes. But only on matters you told me you care about. If we're doing this, we're doing it as partners. Equal partners, even if your bank account has more zeros."

"Equal partners," he agrees. "In everything."

We spend the rest of the day talking through the practical realities of building a life together. Where we'll live, how we'll handle his business responsibilities, what my career might look like if I'm not tied to Atlanta. It's complicated and messy and requires compromises from both of us.

It's also the most hopeful conversation I've ever had.

That night, as we lie in his bed with Ghost claiming the chair by the window and Ranger sprawled across the foot of the mattress, I feel something I've never felt before. Complete contentment. Like all the pieces of my life have finally clicked into place.

"Chantay?" Maxim's voice is soft in the darkness.

"Mmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving us a second chance. For coming here to see who I really am. For loving me enough to demand the truth."

"Thank you for being brave enough to show me."

"I love you, Chantay Rose Jackson."

"I love you too, Maxim James Chen."

As I drift off to sleep in his arms, surrounded by the quiet sounds of his mountain sanctuary, I realize that sometimes the best things in life really do start with accidents. Wrong numbers that turn out to be exactly right. Mistakes that lead to the person you didn't know you were looking for.

And sometimes, if you're very lucky, they lead to forever.