Free An Heir At Any Price: The Billionaire's Obsession - Contemporary Romance by Forbidden Fruit Press Page B

when I said that. He looked down at it for a second and then
back up at me.
     
    “Why? Did something happen? Is someone
bothering you? If it’s about that drunk the other night, I won’t
make you close up alone any longer. That was completely my
fault.”
     
    “No, Joe. Everything’s been great, and
the obnoxious drunk was not your fault. I got another offer and
it’s just a lot more money. I’m sorry. I love it here, I have been
very happy.”
     
    “Oh, well I guess you can’t pass that
up. What will you be doing?” I knew he would ask and I also knew
Rose and Myra would ask. I had a story ready.
     
    “I’m going to be a personal
assistant,” I told him.
     
    “That’s cool,” he said. “I think
you’ll be good at that, you’ve always been good with the
details.”
     
    “Thanks Joe and I’m sorry about
leaving you. Hopefully you can find someone before my two weeks is
up.”
     
    “When do they want you to start the
other job?” he asked.
     
    “Right away, but I told them that I’d
have to give you notice.”
     
    “Nah, Rose and Myra and that new
little waiter I hired as relief…what the hell is his name? Trent?
Taylor?”
     
    I laughed, “It’s Trenton.”
     
    “Oh yeah, anyways, he’d love the hours
and I think he’s pretty well trained by now.”
     
    “Are you sure, Joe? I don’t want to
leave you in a bind. You’ve been so good to me.”
     
    “Nah, I’m sure. We’ll be fine, and
quit that lying. You know I haven’t been good to you at all. I’m an
old grump.”
     
    I hugged him and gave him a kiss on
the cheek, “You are an old grump, but I love you anyways.” He
looked embarrassed, but he hugged me back. Rose and Myra were busy
and I thought it would be better if I called them anyways. They’ll
ask fewer questions on the phone. I wasn’t prepared to tell them
just yet what I was really doing.
     
    I stopped at the grocery store on my
way back to the apartment. I got food to make dinner for Aiden and
me. I liked to cook, and I wasn’t crazy about the idea of eating
out every night. When I got back to the penthouse and stepped out
of my cab, the first thing that happened was Aiden’s driver who was
seated in the podium area got up and said, “Miss Valentine, you
don’t have to pay for a cab. Mr. Scott left me here in case you
needed anything. You just beat me out this morning. If that ever
happens again, you are welcome to call me.”
     
    “Oh, okay. I’m sorry I’m just so used
to calling a cab. Old habits die hard.”
     
    He laughed and said, “Yes ma’am. Just
call me next time.”
     
    I told him that I would, but the truth
was, I didn’t want anyone who was connected to Aiden to know about
my mother. I wasn’t ready for Aiden to know about her.
     
    Once I got to the penthouse I unpacked
my groceries and set everything up to start cooking dinner. I had
the chicken browned and was just adding the vegetables to the wok
when Aiden got home.
     
    “Hi,” Aiden said, looking at me
strangely when he came into the kitchen.
     
    “Hey,” I said with a smile. “I hope
you don’t mind that I’m using your kitchen, I’ll clean it all when
I’m done.”
     
    “Of course I don’t mind, Holly. I want
you to think of this as your home as long as you’re here. But, you
don’t have to do that. There are about a dozen restaurants around
here that deliver and you can get good nutritious foods from most
of them.”
     
    “I know. I like to cook though. If I’m
not going to be working I’ll have to find other ways to spend my
time. I can’t just sit around.” Aiden smiled.
     
    “Okay, you do as you like,” he said.
“Do I have time for a shower before its ready?”
     
    “Yep,” I told him. “It will be all set
up when you get out.” I went about my cooking and setting the
table, humming as I did. I was happy, for the first time in a
really long time, I was truly happy. But that was a problem in
itself, wasn’t it? I was setting myself up for