How To Marry A Billionaire: A BWWM Billionaire Romance (4 page)

Colton looked around. “The party is waning.”

“Yeah, an early night. Even if it weren’t, no one would notice if I left,” Doug said.

Doug usually left early and usually with a woman on his arm. Colton smiled at him. “Go. I’m heading out as soon as my car is back.”

Doug patted him on the back. “You’re a good man. We should watch football this weekend.”

“I’ll send a text,” Colton said, but he thought that Doug was already undressing Shalia.

He watched the two leave and laughed. Doug probably sorted out all the payments beforehand. There was nothing for Colton to do but wait for his car. He could have tracked its whereabouts, but he chose not to. He’d made a promise to Ellyn and he wanted to keep it. His phone buzzed and he saw she texted him that she was home.

He texted her back. “Sweat dreams, Ellyn.”

She sent him a smiley face.

CHAPTER 2

Ellyn had broken down and called Colton. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her.

“I wasn’t sure you’d call,” he said.

His voice washed over her like warm honey. She sat on her sofa, watching Derek play with some cars. “I wasn’t sure I was going to call, but you piqued my curiosity.”

“Good. How about we meet for dinner. I can have my driver pick you up.”

“How about I meet you somewhere,” she said.

“Cautious. Okay.”

He named a restaurant.

“I can meet you there Friday at seven,” she said.

That would give her enough time to get home from work and get dressed and back into Manhattan. Which, of course was where the restaurant he named was. Right down the block from where she worked; that was going to be uncomfortable.

She’d hear what he had to say and then make a decision, if there was a decision to be made.

She hung up with Colton after a short conversation. She called Shalia next, who was free and came over to help her find a dress. They walked to the thrift store, with Derek in tow.

“Now, I need you to be very good boy, Derek. I know you don’t want to sit still, but if you are good, I’ll take you to the park for some ice cream.” Any parent who said they didn’t bribe their child once in a while was lying. Her mother had told her that years ago.

“I promise, Mommy.”

He held her hand in his as he walked and ran and skipped alongside her. She probably should’ve gotten him tired out first, oh well. He had his cars with him and she knew that this store had a little play area for the kids. Ellyn dropped him off in there. No one else was in the store at this moment so she knew he’d be fine for a little bit.

Shalia had already pulled some dresses off the rack. “Try these.” She shoved them into Ellyn’s hands.

“Okay. Keep one eye on Derek for me, please.”

“Sure.”

Ellyn tried on the first one and it was too tight. She modeled it for Shalia who gave it a thumbs down.

“There’s one in there that’s a DKNY. You should try that next.”

A DKNY in this thrift shop? High-end stuff like that usually didn’t make it into this store. She found the one Shalia was talking about and tried it on. It fit almost as well as the green dress. She came out of the dressing room with a smile on her face.

“Wow,” Shalia said. “Just wow.”

“This is it.”

“How much?”

“Ten dollars.”

“You don’t even have to think about that one,” Shalia said.

“Nope.”

She paid for the dress and she and Shalia walked to the park. Derek took off for the swings. He was just learning how to do it himself. Ellyn gave him a small push and he did the rest.  She stood by the swings.

“So, is this a date with Colton?” Shalia asked.

“I think it’s a business meeting.”

“What if it’s a date?”

“I’ll worry about that, then.”

“This could be your ticket,” Shalia said.

Ellyn wasn’t so sure. Colton had been so sweet and nice which made her feel guilty about pursuing him for his money. Seemed cold and calculating. But if he was offering her a job or an opportunity, she might have to take it.

“I wonder if it would matter where I’ve come from.” Ellyn said.

“Might play well in the press if you’re successful and came from nothing. Still, I wouldn’t share that yet. You did lie to him.”

“Yes, I did. Thinking I wouldn’t see him again.”

“A lie is a lie.”

“I’ll have to come clean, if he’s offering me a job.”

“That’s up to you but I would hold off.”

“His driver knows. He had to have asked him,” Ellyn said.

“You don’t trust him?”

“Look what happened with Derek’s father. I’m not big on trusting men at all. Rich or poor.”

“But if you trust a rich man, he might have to pay you off if he does something bad.”

“I’m not nearly as interested in tricking him as you might be. How was your night with Doug ?”

“That was a one night stand, sadly.”

“Were you honest with him?”

“No, but he was honest with me. I knew going into it, that there was no future but I asked him for a favor.”

“Really?”

“I told him that I was looking for a rich husband and he promised to introduce me to a few.”

“You have the biggest balls I know, Shalia.”

Shalia laughed. “To me, this is business. I want out of this place and it doesn’t seem like education is the answer. I can’t even get student loans or grants to go to school.”

Ellyn knew the deal. She’d tried for years to get money for school. If she’d been on welfare they would have thrown it at her but she wanted to make her own money. The system was cruel sometimes to those who wanted independence from it.

***

Colton was as nervous for his date with Ellyn as he’d ever been. He was rich, successful and had women throwing themselves at him. But right now, his palms were sweaty and he couldn’t sit still as his driver took him through Manhattan to the restaurant.

“You going to be okay, sir?” Paul Scott, his driver, asked him.

“Is it that obvious?”

“As my mother used to say, you look more nervous that a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

His driver had been with him since he started his company. The man had been laid off at fifty years old, after twenty years with a manufacturing company. Colton’s father had met him and suggested he be his son’s driver. When Colton met him, he instantly liked the man and hired him. The man could be a second father to him and he listened to his advice about anything. The man was well-read and Colton often wondered why Paul had never gone to college.

“Yes, I guess I am.”

“Why so nervous this time? I’ve taken you on dates before.”

Colton looked out the window, pondering the question. “I guess I see something in her that I’ve been looking for.”

“I get that. I remember when I met the Mrs. It was as if no one else was in the room.”

“Exactly. I was in a ballroom full of people and she might as well have had a spotlight on her. You met her, what did you think?”

“I liked her a lot. She refused to sit in the back seat so when I drove around the corner she made me stop so she could sit up front.”

“I’ve never sat upfront.”

“That wasn’t a judgment of you, sir.”

“I know, but the thought never occurred to me,” Colton said. Not that he ignored his driver. When he had no work to do, Colton often chatted with the man. He’d never met his wife, but felt as if he had based on what Paul had told him.

“I would feel awkward with you up here.”

“But it was okay that Ellyn did it?”

“Yes. She isn’t my employer.”

The words were on the tip of Colton’s tongue. He wanted to know where she lived. He had wanted to send flowers but he’d promised not to ask. “Makes sense.”

They fell into a companionable silence.

“We’re here and there she is, sir,” Paul said.

Colton looked out the window. His breath caught in his throat. Was this a date or business meeting? He had to decide. He didn’t mix business with pleasure.

Ellyn looked as beautiful as he remembered. She stood on the sidewalk outside the restaurant in a dress that hugged all of her curves. She held herself with a certain amount of confidence. Many men glanced at her as they walked past. That was saying something in Manhattan where everyone was always dressed to the nines.

“I’ll call you when I need you, Paul.”

“Enjoy.”

Colton climbed out of the car and he knew when Ellyn saw him. She smiled. Not with any shyness at all. She was so open. He liked that.

“Hi,” he said and then leaned down to kiss her cheek.

She let him. Her cheek was soft and warm. “Hello.”

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, just a few minutes.”

“Good. I’m sure if I’d been late someone else might have asked you to dinner.”

She laughed. He’d been serious. He didn’t expect a woman as beautiful as this to wait long. He put a hand on her lower back and steered her inside. Mange was packed, but since it was one of the restaurants that his parents owned, he had a standing reservation. This afternoon, he’d called to make sure a table would be ready but in the more private part of the restaurant. Whether this was a date or business meeting, he wanted to show Ellyn a good time. She looked around as the maitre’d led them to their table.

When she sat, she said, “Nice place. It’s big, but somehow has a homey atmosphere.”

“You’ve never been here?”

Something crossed her face and she smiled. “No, never.”

“Good.” He handed her a menu. “I recommend the salmon. The chef does an excellent job grilling it, then putting a lovely salsa on top.”

“Mm. Sounds good. You’ve been here before?”

“My parents own it.”

She nodded, though her eyes widened for a moment. He wondered what that meant. He decided not to ask her.

The waitress came by. “Hello, Mr. Hamilton. Nice to see you tonight. I’m Cary, I’ll be your waitress.”

“Hello, Cary. Are you new?”

“I’ve been here a month.”

“Okay. I haven’t been in for a few weeks. Cary, I’d like a bottle of that Old Vine Zinfandel my father just started stocking.”

“Sure, thing. You need more time to look at the menus?”

“Yes, thanks.”

Cary left. He knew she’d have no other tables tonight but he’d tip her well for her attentiveness.”

Colton watched Ellyn over his menu. “I realized I didn’t ask if you liked wine. I’m sorry.”

“Your choice is fine. I don’t drink much wine but I do enjoy it.”

“That was rude of me.”

“It’s fine.”

CHAPTER 3

Ellyn’s hands were sweating. She didn’t see any of her usual customers, but maybe they ate dinner somewhere else. She hoped. How embarrassing would that be to have one of them see her and mention she was a waitress herself. She wished Colton would stop apologizing. This whole date was like a fairytale. The menu had no prices and she bet just her meal would cost more than she made in a week.

This restaurant probably had five stars in the Michelin Guides while the one she worked at had only four. Everything looked good, but she wasn’t sure her stomach could fit in any food with the butterflies currently occupying.

Cary came back with the requested wine, opened it, then poured a little for Colton. He swirled it, sniffed it, then sipped.

“Nice dark cherry and spice,” he said.

“What you were looking for?” Cary asked.

Would the waitress bring it back if it wasn’t? Not many people drank wine at lunch so Ellyn hadn’t needed to know about it. If she ended up getting a spot on the dinner shift, she’d have to learn.

“Yes, it’s perfect,” Colton said.

Cary filled Ellyn’s glass, then Colton’s, before leaving the bottle on the table. Ellyn took a sip. He was right; dark cherry and spice. She smiled at herself for recognizing that.

“You like?” Colton asked.

“It’s very nice and it’s helped me make my choice for dinner.”

“You ready to order?”

“Yes.”

Cary came back and took their orders. Ellyn asked for the filet mignon while Colton chose an aged rib eye. After Cary left, Colton picked up his glass and leaned it towards her.  “To our first dinner together,” he said.

She touched her glass with his. “Yes.”

She sipped again and loved how the flavors danced across her tongue. Colton took a sip, then put down his glass. He interlaced his fingers on the table in front of him. “So, let’s get down to business, and then we can talk about other things.”

“Business?”

“Yes, to me this meeting is two-fold, but mostly about business.”

“Go ahead,” Ellyn said.

“I’d like to sign you to my agency.”

“Okay.”

“I think you can make a lot of money with face work, as I said to you at the party. Mostly print ads, but I do have to see how you photograph to be sure. You could do lipstick ads and any kind of makeup that goes on a face.”

She blinked. He wanted her to model? He’d said that, but she hadn’t believed him. “Uh, okay.”

“I’m getting the impression I’ve already overwhelmed you. I did talk a little bit about this at the party.”

“I didn’t think you were serious,” she said.

He laughed. Had she offended him?

“I’m very serious. I don’t sign just anyone. I’m particular because I’m not interested in working with divas. You don’t strike me that way at all.”

“Good, but what does all this entail?”

“We’d sign a contract that you can have a lawyer review. That would entitle me to fifteen percent of your income from modeling. We would create a portfolio for you and book jobs. The contract would have an end date and escape clauses that are agreeable to us both.” 

Her head spun. Modeling? Contract? What? She was just a waitress.

He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. “Here’s a copy of the contract for you to look over. You can let me know if you need changes and we can discuss those. I don’t want you signing anything you aren’t happy with. That said there are certain things that are not negotiable.”

“Okay.”

She took the paper from him and put it in her purse. Where was she going to find a lawyer to look at it?

“Now, let’s put business aside because I don’t expect you to make a decision today. You’re in graduate school.”

“Yes, at NYU,” she said.

Her mind pondered his offer. She couldn’t make a decision now. She had to talk it over with her mother and Shalia. What would be best for Derek, that’s what she had to think about first. Her nerves were even more frayed than they had been. Modeling could change her life. She wouldn’t need a billionaire. Then she realized how much she was attracted to Colton.

“What do you do for fun?”

“I love movies.”

She tried to focus on the conversation, but he’d put  a lot in her lap. He had no idea how much of a change it would all be if she signed with him. If she made some real money and could move her son to a place that didn’t have roaches in it,  maybe even closer to a park where he could play; would she have to travel; so many questions.

“Movies? Going out or at home?”

“Home. Netflix is my best friend.”

He laughed. “That’s great. I love Netflix and Amazon Prime for viewing movies. Best thing to happen to movies. I can watch them in my pajamas.”

Oh, that did it. She had a vision of him in a silk smoking jacket watching movies in his screening room. She tried to picture herself there but ended up laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

She shook her head. She couldn’t tell him that. “Never mind.”

***

Colton wanted to keep her laughing because the sound of it filled him with joy. He didn’t have that good a sense of humor but he did wonder what had made her laugh.

“So many people I run into insist they don’t watch movies or television. I love reading but movies are my true escape,” he said.

The waitress put down their plates. Colton smiled at her then she left again.

“You can watch movies no matter what’s going on. Even if you’re sick,” Ellyn said. Her face was lit up, her eyes wide. This was clearly a good subject for them. He was happy to find something in common with her.

“What’s your favorite movie?”

“I’m not sure I have a favorite.”

“What have you watched again and again?”

“Probably Sweet Home Alabama.”

“So you like happy endings.”

“Yes. You can’t always count on one in real life but you can in a movie like that.”

“I see. A romantic.”

“In some ways, yes. I’m more of a pragmatist.”

“I see.” He cocked his head. “I’m guessing because life has not been altogether kind to you?”

“Something like that.” She stopped making eye contact with him. He’d hit a nerve; something to explore later when they got to know each other better.

“My favorite is Citizen Kane.”

She frowned. “I think that movie is over-hyped.  It’s just a sled.”

“But it represents so much to him.”

She shrugged. “It’s just a sled.”

He laughed. “I’ve never heard anybody assess that movie that way.”

“I guess I’m not into those deep, intellectual movies.”

“What about Inception.”

“I loved that movie.”

“That’s deep and intellectual.”

“Fair enough. It is.”

“So was he in a dream or was it reality?” Colton asked.

“It was reality. I like happy endings, so for me, it had to be reality. For all that he went through to get back to those kids, it better be real.”

“I think it was a dream. That ending goes with the rest of the movie better.”

“At least Christopher Nolan left it up to us. Sometimes that’s better than being spoon-fed an ending,” Ellyn said.

“I agree.” He smiled and reached out to touch her hand. “I like talking to you.”

“I’m having a good time, too.”

She hadn’t stopped looking around the restaurant as if she expected to see someone she knew but didn’t want to. He wondered about that, but this was too early to ask. Was this going to be business or pleasure? If she signed with him, he would have to back off, but he didn’t want to. He liked a lot of things about her. This was a dilemma. He wanted to sign her, but he didn’t. Signing would make his business better. Not signing would make his life better.

“You’re deep in thought,” she said.

“I like you, Ellyn, but I have a policy of not dating my clients.”

“I’m confused. I thought this was a business meeting.”

She leaned her chin on her hand, those eyes assessing him. Could she see straight through to his soul?

“I thought it was also, but I’m enjoying myself as if I’m on a date. I guess I’ll leave it up to you. You sign with me, I back off. You don’t want me to back off, I’ll get another agency to take you on.”

She blinked. “Do you think someone else would take as good care of me as you seem to want to? Another agency, I mean?”

She had a good point. He did not want to leave her career up to someone else. He knew exactly where he could take her because he didn’t just focus on runway models, he had a lot of connections some of the other agencies didn’t. Advertisers came to him for unique looks as well as every day looks. He had them both in his corral.

He rubbed his chin. “Probably not. I have this rule.”

“I get that. I’m just asking questions so I can make an informed decision.”

“Makes sense. I’m assuming this won’t be like anything you’ve ever done before. This could change your life.”

“Yes, in many ways,” she said.

Her face was so open and honest. Another agency might chew her up and spit her out, leaving her a bitter person. She didn’t seem bitter, but then he had no reason to think she would be. Something in her eyes spoke of hardship, more than a fresh-face graduate student should have seen.

Something about her touched him deep in his soul. He wanted to protect her and he didn’t often feel that way about clients. This was business, not personal, though he wouldn’t work with a person he didn’t like. If a model chose not to sign with him, he went on to the next one.

No harm. No foul. There were plenty of people in New York who wanted to model.

This time it was personal, and he should see that as a red flag, but he chose to ignore the warning bells going off in his head. He would survive no matter what happened.

“I’m assuming you need some time to make a decision?”

“I do.”

“I want you to feel free to call me anytime. I’ll answer any questions you have.”

*

Ellyn had good instincts and she trusted them. They’d told her not to get involved with Derek’s father, but she hadn’t listened. She wouldn’t ignore them ever again. Her instincts were telling her that Colton was the real deal. He was giving her a way to make her life better without snagging a billionaire.

Not that he wasn’t offering himself, either. She still scanned the restaurant for any of her usual customers. She hadn’t seen any. If she signed with Colton, she’d have to come clean. Would that adversely affect his offer? She’d have to hold off with that information until she signed a contract.

She liked Colton, too. That was a huge part of her dilemma; she wanted to get to know him better. She hadn’t been this interested in a man in a very long time, not since Derek’s father. She hadn’t thought her heart was capable of being attracted to a man. Well, maybe it wasn’t her heart that was involved in this, but her libido was for sure.

Could she balance just a sexual relationship with a business relationship? She bit her lip.

She smiled at him. “Any time?”

“Yes. Any time. I don’t need much sleep. I’m up at all hours,” Colton said.

She nodded, thinking about that. Part of her wanted to sign this contact now, but she knew she had to find a lawyer to look at it, or at least someone else to study it. Would she understand any of it?

“This is all a little overwhelming.”

“I can guide you through it all. I won’t just desert you, I promise.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. His touch infused her with warmth and she also felt a spark of attraction. His gaze took her in, almost pleading with her to believe him.

That was her problem: she had trust issues. Despite knowing in her gut Colton would do the best he could for her, she still did not trust easily. Damned men in her past, like her father. She shook off that thought. No need to go there.

She was enjoying one of the best pieces of meat she’d ever eaten, sitting across from a handsome man who wanted to better her life.

“You want some dessert?” he said.

“I’m not sure I could eat another bite,” she said.

She’d have to bring home the rest of her dinner. Was that okay to do that on a date? She hoped it would be.

“They’ll wrap that up for you.”

“That’ll be good,” she said.

“When will you have a decision for me?”

“In a hurry?” She asked coyly.

“Well, we need to pull together a portfolio for you before we can book jobs. I figure the sooner you sign the contract, the sooner we can get started. I think I could have you booked in a job in a few weeks. Would that work?”

“I’ll have to check my schedule and consult with my lawyer.” Did that sound professional? She hoped it did.

“Okay. You want some coffee?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Do you mind if I have some? Do you need to get home?”