In the Billionaires Club (4 page)

Gin grabbed his forearm, and Vinnie kind of jumped. “No, really. What did you mean? What type is Phillip?”

Looking around the room, Vinnie sighed. “Look, Phil’s not a bad guy. He’s just a conquerer. He wants two things: Anything he doesn’t have and more of what he does have.”
 

“I’m not sure what that means.”

Vinnie stared at Gin intently as he spoke. “It means he’ll want you to fall in love with him, and he’ll want you to totally be connected to him. It will be a whirlwind. You’ll love it, actually. And then once he knows he has you he’ll get bored and find a new conquest.” He took a long drink from his now full glass. “The thing is, he won’t even intend to do it. He very well may fall in love with you. But at some point, the challenge will fade, and he’ll be who he is: Someone who needs more.”

Gin pursed her lips. “How do you know this?”

“I see things.”
Of course he does. He’s a bartender
. Gin knew to take the observational skills of a bartender at least somewhat seriously, but she also knew that such observations were filtered by moments in a dark room without context.

She knew Vinnie was being sincere and trying to be helpful, so she didn’t mind his negativity, but she also knew that he could easily be wrong. “Thank you, Vinnie. I appreciate your insight.”

“You hear that, Rich. Gin here thinks I’m insightful.”

“That’s one of us, Vinnie.”
 

“Don’t tease. I was serious.” Gin glared at Rich.

Vinnie laughed. “Rich was, too.” He looked around the room. “No Phillip.” He shrugged. “Sorry, Gin.”

“I guess I have time to kill. So tell me about yourself, Vinnie.”

He held up his drink and looked at it. “Well, I do admire a good scotch.” He glanced at Rich. “Or is this bourbon? I kind of don’t pay attention as long as it has alcohol.”

Gin elbowed him. “Be serious.”

“Well, I work too hard during the day and drink too hard at night.”

“That’s it? Don’t you have a girlfriend or a hobby?”
 

“Not having a girlfriend is apparently my hobby.” He turned and looked at Gin. “Do you really want to know?”

Gin leaned forward in anticipation. “Yes, I do.”

“I have a hard time with people. You may not have noticed, but I tend to interact via insults, jokes, and consistent teasing.”

“No shit.”

Vinnie smiled. “I like you, Gin.”

“That’s what Phillip said.”

Vinnie’s smile turned to a frown. “Well, you are exactly his type—beautiful, sexy, and challenging.”

“Flattery will not distract me from my line of questioning. So you’re kind of sarcastic, but I don’t see why you would have a hard time with people. Actually, it probably makes you more likable. Do you ever just go out to the movies or to a nightclub or anything like that?”

“I find all that incredibly tiresome. Just dealing with idiots on the way to the theater is bad enough, let alone the idiots
at
the movie theater.”

“Well, you don’t seem like a misanthrope.” Gin grabbed Vinnie’s drink as he went to finish it off. “Maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet.”

Vinnie sighed and placed his drink on the bar. “Okay, Doctor Gin. Lay it on me. What do I need to do with my life?”

And for the next hour, Vinnie talked about how foolish people could be, while Gin would drop in examples of how people could be and had been awesome. As time dragged on, Gin realized that Vinnie was not only not a misanthrope, but he was fun and engaging and really charismatic.

Gin’s mouth was almost sore from how much she had been smiling for the previous hour. She looked into Vinnie’s eyes and marveled at how blue, kind, intense, and gorgeous they were.
 

He looked away and cleared his throat. “Look, I don’t think Phillip’s showing up. Trust me, I know his routine. If he isn’t here by now, he’s not going to show.”

Gin nodded and lowered her head. She had totally forgotten about Phillip, and his absence came crashing down on her. “Do you think he is avoiding me, thinking that he made a mistake?”

“Are you insane? No way.”

“Is he maybe playing mind games?”

“No. He’s as deep as a puddle when it comes to women. He doesn’t even know how to play hard-to-get. He’s all forward momentum.” Vinnie must have noticed that Gin was upset, as he put his hand on her forearm. “Trust me. Something happened, and he couldn’t make it. Knowing him, he’ll make up for it in some stupidly over-the-top way.”

“I guess I should be going then.”
 

Vinnie looked away. “Yeah, no reason to stick around.”

chapter five

Phillip contacted her via Inky right as Gin was slipping under the covers. Her screen lit up with a notification, and Gin grabbed her phone.

Phillip

Gin, I’m SOOOOO sorry. The board meeting was a bit more involved than I thought it would be. I couldn’t even get out to contact you. I hope you weren’t put out by my standing you up. I will TOTALLY make it up to you.
 

Gin

Well, if your Inky photo stream hasn’t made me run screaming for the door, I don’t think having you stuck in a boardroom meeting will do it.

Phillip

Ah. Yes. Well, I clearly haven’t found the right person… yet. So how can I make it up to you?

Gin

Dinner?

Phillip

Perfect. I know the perfect restaurant. It’s very intimate, with a few balconies that overlook the Grand Canal. Sunset. Candles. Very romantic. You’ll love it.

Gin

Venice?

Phillip

Yeah. We’ll take my private jet. Leave Friday night. Sleep on the plane. Spend Saturday walking the canals. Great dinner. Then we’ll fly back. I know. I know. It’s a whole weekend commitment, but it will be worth it. Trust me.

Gin

Venice.

Phillip

Yes! Wait, you do like Italian food, don’t you? You’re not mad?

Gin

I’m about as opposite of mad as you can be. I’m just kind of overwhelmed. I don’t even think I know what to wear in Italy for a Saturday night date.

Phillip

Good point! Here. I’ve attached a vcard to this message. It’s my stylist in San Francisco. See her tomorrow. She’ll take care of you.
 

Gin

Don’t be silly. I can’t afford anything she would pick out for me even if I loved it.

Phillip

Shit. I don’t even think of these things. Don’t hate me. It’s not because I’m a jerk. I’m just oblivious. Look, I’m sure you’ll say no, but trust me… this is like tip money for me so don’t think twice about it: Just go and say yes to everything she says. I’ll have everything put on my account. Consider it as part of my apology for standing you up.

Gin

I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that, Phillip.

Phillip

See? I’m an idiot because I didn’t even think that would make you uncomfortable. Look, here’s the deal. I really don’t give a shit what you wear. I just want YOU to be there. Come in jean shorts and an old t-shirt. I’m totally fine with that. However, I’m going to tell my stylist to reserve tomorrow evening for you. Show up or not. It’s up to you. Grab some clothes or not. I really don’t care either way. I don’t mean to sound like a rich prick, but I’ve spent more just to fuck with some dude at the World Series of Poker by overbetting a hand than you could spend in the entire store.
 

Gin

I’m not sure whether to be horrified or grateful.

Phillip

Ha. The dude was a dick. He deserved it.

Gin

Okay. I MIGHT show up tomorrow, and I MIGHT go to Venice with you. Can I let you know tomorrow?

Phillip

Sure. Take as long as you like. I’m just crazed all week with Board stuff, so let me know by Thursday, and we’re good. Okay, gotta get some sleep. There’s no rest for the wicked.

Gin

G’night.

Gin held onto her phone for a long time.
A billionaire is going to buy me a whole wardrobe and then fly me to Venice for dinner.
What struck her the most was just how down-to-Earth Phillip sounded. He was absurdly wealthy, so the concept of not being able to afford something was like an alien idea he could barely comprehend. But in the context of his life it seemed refreshingly honest. Also, it made his offers to her seem innocent.

A billionaire wants to take you on a wonderful dinner date? Why
of course
it would be to Venice via private jet. That just made all the sense in the world. Someone you like needs some clothes? Why, just take what you need. It probably would worry him less paying for the clothes than being concerned about Gin’s feelings in wearing her own shabby clothing.

The more she thought about it, the more the concept of extreme wealth seemed not to be about paying for friendship or company or buying affection so much as just not caring about expense and thus using money to simply get past any possible obstacles. Girlfriend is nervous about her clothes? Remove her worry by buying her new clothes. Want to go to a fancy dinner date? Pick the
best
restaurant, not the most convenient one.

As Gin fell asleep she dreamt about this new world of the super wealthy. She thought about being in a relationship where everything she asked for would be given to her. Not because her affection was being bought or because she was being spoiled, but because money lost any meaning whatsoever.
 

She liked the idea of living in that world. She liked it very much.

chapter six

The name on the vcard Phillip sent said “jules.” It was one name and written in all lower case letters. The address was a shop called Privet, a small boutique in the most fashionable part of downtown San Francisco. At five thirty, she took a few tentative steps through the front door.
 

A very old woman in a beautiful red dress and high heels walked up to her. She must have been eighty years old, but she carried herself with a grace and confidence that made her seem much younger. She walked in the high heels as if she were born in them.

“Darling, you cannot wear my clothes if you enter a room like that. Shoo. Get out. Come back in and walk in like you
own
the place.” The old woman gave Gin a little shove and made shooing motions with her hands. “Don’t dawdle or I won’t let you back in.”

Gin smiled as she exited the boutique. The old woman’s attitude was both inspiring and amusing. Gin took a deep breath, opened the front door, and strode in with long strides, a bemused look on her face. The old woman looked her up and down as Gin approached her.

“I have a dinner date with Phillip Rogers in Venice, and he told me that Jules would be able to help me find appropriate evening wear.”

The old woman slapped her hands together. “My darling, I am Jules, and I would love to provide you the perfect wardrobe. So what is your name?”

“Gin. Gin Langford.”

She nodded. “Well, you have a beautiful body. Big tits. Very sexy. Beautiful hair.” She tapped her finger to her lips. Gin rather enjoyed her short clipped language. “You are short, though.” She looked at Gin’s shoes. “Big heels. A long vertical cut, and a longer mini to stretch your height. Yes. You will look stunning. Jules will take care of you!”

Gin smiled. “Just tell me what you need from me. You seem like you know what you’re doing!”

“Jules dressed Audrey Hepburn. You will be no problem.” She winked at Gin and walked toward the rear of the store. Gin was kind of unsure what to do, so she looked around at the various pieces of clothing on the various mannequins. The prices were astronomical.

Jules walked back with an enormous pile of clothes. “How many days?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Flying out Friday night, but that will mostly be sleeping on the plane. Sightseeing and dinner on Saturday, and the we fly back on Sunday.”

Jules nodded and started laying out clothes choices for Gin. After two hours of trying on various things, Gin was both exhausted and thrilled. She had never seen, let alone worn, such beautiful clothes. As she looked in the mirror, she marveled at how skillfully Jules made her look taller, balancing our her large breasts and round butt and hips.
 

“I like these three outfits, but I will probably only be able to wear one.” Gin frowned. She really did love all three.

“Take all three. Phillip will pay. Also, the special outfit. Must take that, too. No problem.”

“But I don’t want to take advantage of him.”

Jules laughed so hard she was holding her stomach. “Oh, that’s rich. Young lady doesn’t want to take advantage of Phillip Rogers. I’ll guess I’ll just put these back then.” Jules held up a lace panty and bra set that was basically see through but looked absolutely beautiful.
 

“Were those for me?” Gin asked.

“And these, too.” Jules showed another set of underwear that was more practical but just as beautiful. “You have beautiful tits. You deserve a beautiful bra.”

Gin laughed. “Okay. You’re the stylist. Hook me up.”

As Gin walked out she tried to guess how much everything cost. She had glanced at a few prices of similar pieces on the racks, but everything Jules gave her did not have a price tag. Gin’s best guess was that she walked out with over twenty thousand dollars worth of clothing.

For a three day trip.

Yes, dating a billionaire meant that she had to recalibrate how she assessed the costs of various things. In fact, she didn’t have to assess prices at all. In her new world, money just didn’t matter. She still couldn’t quite believe it.

Lisa was a good friend and didn’t sound at all jealous as Gin showed off her new clothes in the living room of her apartment. Lisa was in a beat up old recliner sipping a merlot, while Gin did her best not to get her new clothing dirty.

When Gin finished, she sat down on her sofa and took a long drink from her wine glass. “It’s kind of surreal,” she said as she put her glass down.

Lisa stared at her for a moment and then smiled. “Look, just promise me you’re not going to go all new Gin on him.”