Dreaming of the Billionaire 2 (3 page)

After breakfast, Sean walks me to my car and kisses me goodbye. He kisses me deeply, then softly, letting me know without words how important I am to him. His kiss is reassuring, reminding me that no matter what I face today, I'll be okay. I have a lot to deal with and I haven't forgotten any of it. Somehow, though, knowing Sean thinks I'm strong means the world to me.

There have been many times over the past few months where I've felt anything
but
strong. Standing over my mother's body at her funeral, watching my sister cry her heart out, I felt like I was going to break. Hearing for the first time that Amy and Colby were bringing a baby into the world, I felt like I was cracking. And when Amy told my dad that he was going to be a grandfather, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

But I didn't.

Everything was okay.

Even now, as I stand by my car, somehow trying to find the words to say goodbye to this ravishingly handsome man, I can't help but wonder what he sees in me. I feel weak. I feel like crying. I feel like the entire world is crashing down around me and there's no one to save me. But he just looks in my eyes, and just that brazen stare reminds me that he thinks I'm something special.

He thinks I'm brave.

"Everything's going to be fine today," he promises, reading my nerves. I nod. Part of me believes him. There's another part of me that just feels terrified of what's going to happen when I see my sister at the hospital. There's a part of me that's horrified at the thought of my career completely flopping today. All of me is shaking. All of me is on edge.

I slide into the car and start the engine, glancing just once more at Sean's smiling face, soaking it all up for strength. Then I disappear down the road, making my way back to Southvale. The highway is empty, which isn't unusual. It's early and there's no such thing as "rush hour" in small towns. I flip on the radio and try not to tear up when song after song is about heartbreak or loss.

That's everything I
don't
need right now.

My phone beeps but I barely register it as I pull into the hospital parking lot. When I reach the double doors, I finally glance down and see that it's from Sean.

Let me know how it goes.

I smile and shove the phone in my pocket. He's still thinking of me. Even though I didn't put out, even though we slept in separate rooms, even though I ruined our "date," he's still thinking of me.

Part of me feels like Sean Moormead is just too damn good to be true.

I make my way to the information desk, where a disgruntled, frumpy woman is playing a game on her phone. It must be pretty intense since she doesn't look up, even when I clear my throat.

Loudly.

"Excuse me?" I finally say.

"Yep?" She raises an eyebrow, but doesn't look up.

"Um," I glance around, wondering if there's anyone else who can help me. "My sister was admitted last night. Can you tell me the room number, please? Amy Nielson."

"You related?"

Seriously?

"Yes, she's my sister," I repeat.

The woman sighs and puts down her phone.

"Spell the last name," she says, pulling up to the computer. I oblige, and she scrolls through a few screens, clicks a few buttons, and then gives me directions to Amy's room.

"Check in with the maternity nurse first," the woman says, but I'm already down the hall and hurrying. After I find the maternity ward, check in with the nurse, and finally get to Amy's room, I'm surprised to see that she's dressed and sitting up at the edge of her bed.

"Amy!" I practically fall on top of her, wrapping my arms around her. I breathe her in: all 120 pounds of her. My sister is scrawny and petite and I swear hasn’t gained a single pound since she got pregnant. She’s perfect.

“Hey now, hey,” she says, hugging me back tightly. “It’s okay. We’re both fine.” She pats her belly to emphasize her point. “Just a little scare.”

I stare at her for what feels like an eternity, silently asking for reassurance. I
know
she’s okay. I know in my head that she’s okay. Colby was there to take care of her. He always is. He’s her one and only, but part of me still feels guilty that I wasn’t there when she needed someone. Part of me feels bad that it was Colby she ran to instead of me.

“Don’t even think it, Vi,” she says quietly. She’s reading my mind.

“I should have been there,” I say.

“Colby was there, hon. Everything was fine. You don’t need to worry about your little sis so much.” She smiles again and hugs me tighter. Then she pulls away and looks at me seriously.

“Violet, I know this has been hard on you. I know everything has been hard on you. It’s been hard on me, too, but she’s not coming back. Worrying about me isn’t going to bring her back. It’s not going to make you not miss her.”

I choke back my tears and nod fervently.

I know that she’s right.

“It’s just, I-“

“It’s okay for you to live your life, Vi. Sean’s a great guy.” She puts her hand on top of mine and rubs softly, giving me even more reassurance that everything is going to be fine. She’s right, I know. Sean really is amazing. He makes me excited and wet and on fire. He makes me feel more alive than I’ve felt in a very, very long time.

He makes me feel whole.

“Now,” Amy continues, leaning back on the bed and crossing her ankles, “I want you to tell me everything. Dish.”

“What?” I laugh. “There’s nothing to tell!”

“You mean you didn’t?” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively and I wish I had a pillow to throw at her.

“No, I
didn’t
.” Then I add, “I would have. I was going to.”

“But then I called?”

I laugh. “Yeah, great timing, kiddo.”

Colby comes into the room just then, followed by a nurse. They’re both grinning.

“Hey Vi!” Colby hugs me before turning to Amy. “Great news. You can go home now.”

“About fucking time,” Amy grabs her bag, then turns to the nurse. “Sorry. You were awesome. I’m just ready to be in my own bed.”

“I understand,” the nurse seems to be fighting back a giggle. “I just need you to sign your discharge papers. Then you can get going.”

The three of us leave the hospital together and I give Amy one more hug before deciding that I should go to work.

“Hey, Vi,” Colby says as I turn to leave. “I was thinking, if it’s okay with you…” He shuffles his feet. He’s nervous. Really? Since when is Colby nervous? I get me and Amy being socially awkward, but Colby? He always has it together. “I was wondering if Amy could stay with me for a few days. I took the week off from work. I’d like to take care of her.”

I grin. Amy has no idea how lucky she is. “Of course, Colby. That’s really sweet of you, though you’re always welcome at our place if you think you guys might want a little extra space.” Colby lives in a small apartment with his roommate. Even though the guy is out of town all the time, it’s still pretty cramped.

“Really?” He seems surprised. “You wouldn’t mind having me around?”

“I told you she wouldn’t care,” Amy calls from the car.

“Not at all,” I tell him. “I’m happy you can come over. The house is probably trashed, but I’ll do some cleaning later, okay?”

“Thanks, Sis,” he hugs me one last time and whispers, “Thanks for letting me do this for her.”

Then he and Amy disappear and I’m left standing in the parking lot, staring at the space where their car used to be. I should really get to work. If I don’t leave soon, I’m going to be late, but I somehow can’t force my feet to move. I don’t want to move. I don’t want to go to work.

What I want, what I
really
want, is to go back to Sean’s house and fuck him silly.

What I really want is to say “yes” to the job he offered me.

What I want is to be crazy for once in my life.

Maybe today’s the day I’ll finally start being brave.

When I walk into work, I can already tell it’s going to be a bad day. No one looks at me as I head into my office and close the door. No one bothers to say “good morning” or “hey.” Nothing. Not that the guys who work in IT are especially social, but today they’re extra quiet. I don’t bother trying to start conversations with anyone. What’s the point?

I slide behind my desk and start turning my computer on while I check my voicemails. The little red light seems to be blinking angrily at me, and I brace myself for whatever is going to come my way. The first two messages are requests from teachers for equipment. One needs a laptop for a presentation and the other needs help with her cords. The third message is, surprisingly, from my hottie.

“Hey,” I hear Sean’s voice purr over the phone, and I wonder how he found time to call me today. “I just wanted to say good luck today. Good luck with everything, Beautiful. I know that this week has been really tough on you, but you got this. I know you do. And remember, my offer to hire you still stands. I’ll throw as much work at you as you can handle, and hopefully a little you can’t.”

I instantly get goose bumps listening to his message. I can practically see him smirking as he ends his message. What is he going to throw at me that I can’t handle? I hope it’s his cock. Then again, what about me gives him the idea that I don’t know my way around a cock? Granted, I’m no slut, but I can give great blowjobs.

Great
blowjobs.

I might be sexually awkward in every other way imaginable, but I’m not awkward when I’m on my knees.

I start sorting through my email and I’m almost finished deleting spam from the school’s Facebook page when Tim knocks at my door. He’s holding the stack of research I put together last night and places it on my desk.

“I’m sorry,” he shrugs. “Jason didn’t go for it. He wants the redo.”

I nod slowly. Part of me knew this was coming. Part of me knew this was coming for a long time, even before Sean. I consider myself to be a valuable asset to the team, but I also believe that if I’m going to do my job, at some point, the managers I work with need to trust me to do that job.

And they simply don’t.

A million thoughts race through my mind as Tim leaves my office, but the most pressing one is, “Am I being crazy?”

I’m considering quitting my job for a much better one that pays more. I’m considering quitting my job to go work for a freaking billionaire that I want to ride and suck and lick. I’m considering quitting the job I’ve worked hard at for a very, very long time for something completely new, something completely scary.

My entire life hasn’t been one mess after the next. Far from it. My life has been smooth because I’ve always taken the safe path. I’ve always taken the road I thought would get me where I want to go with as little damage as possible. I’ve always taken the road that I thought would be appropriate, good, and responsible.

But as I slump back into my seat and hear my phone ringing again, I decide that I’m done playing it safe. My sister will probably think I’m insane and I know that my dad will, too, but you only live once, right? The project Jason wants me to do is something I honestly can’t even stomach. I can’t imagine completely destroying our college’s website in an attempt to appease him. I feel like it’s a power trip on his part: nothing more. He doesn’t know me personally, nor does he get just how much I pour into this school, so I should expect nothing less.

I let the call go to voicemail and grab the reusable shopping bag I keep in my bottom drawer. Slowly, quietly, I start picking up my things and placing them in the bag. There’s no point in making a big scene. I’m not going to give a two week’s notice. I’m not going to play the game where I pretend to suck it up. In go my notebooks, pens, and the two pictures I keep on my desk: one of my parents and one of my sister. Then I type up a quick resignation letter and leave my office, bag in tow.

When I walk out the door, the phone starts to ring again, but I ignore it.

Tim looks flustered when I walk into his office. He’s on the phone, hastily nodding, mumbling something I can’t quite understand. He motions for me to sit down, but I remain standing. After a moment and a couple of “uh-huhs” and “yeahs” he goes, “You know what? She just walked in. I’ll have her call you.”

He practically slams the phone down and turns to glare at me.

“Where have you been?” He almost shouts. I cringe. Tim has
never
raised his voice at me, but he sure picks a hell of a day to start. “Jason has been looking for you all morning. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

I hand Tim the single piece of paper and watch as his gaze goes from angry to shocked to surprised to panicked.

“No, no, no, no, no.” He drops the paper on his desk. “Violet, not today. You cannot do this to me.”

I hold up a hand before he can continue.

“Tim, I’ve worked my ass off here for two years.
Two
years. And the second someone wants something done that I don’t agree with, something that falls within my professional knowledge and understanding, you don’t back me up. That website is going to destroy this school and I won’t be a part of it. You cannot label the college as ‘up-and-coming’ or ‘a tech school’ with a site design like Jason is demanding. I won’t be a part of it, and I quit.”

Without another word, I turn and leave the office. I need to get away as quickly as possible before I pussy out and apologize to Tim. It’s what normal Violet would do. It’s what I’ve always done. You make someone mad, you apologize. It doesn’t matter whether or not it was your fault. All that matters is making amends and maintaining a “pleasant work environment.”

Whatever the
fuck
that means.

I leave the office, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone else. I walk to my car, throw my bag in the trunk, and collapse in a pile of tears against the steering wheel. Everything is spinning. I can’t believe I did it. I can’t believe I did something crazy. I can’t believe I did something so outside my comfort zone.

I give myself a good ten minutes to get it all out, then I wipe away the smudged mascara.

Starting the car up, I take off down the road.

It’s time to show Strongdelt Robotics exactly what I’m made of.