The Billionaire Read online

  I made sure to dress down today; by that I mean no suit and tie just a black button down, black slacks, shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows, first two buttons left undone. Casually relaxed without looking like a fucking perv. There wasn't a damn thing I could do about my hair, so why bother? Just a swift brush through that didn’t do shit to keep it tamed. I studied myself in the mirror wondering who the fuck was this guy who was sweating at the thought of approaching a woman? Maybe the problem was that I hadn’t once thought of her in the way I’ve thought of any female since I was seventeen. She wasn’t just a hot piece of ass that I wanted to break a piece off of. Those I went after whole hog until jollies were had by all before both parties went their merry way. Except not to toot my own horn but in most cases they usually wanted the jolly to go on for much longer. That’s how I came up with decision to have a long-term arrangement with Lynn I got tired of the drama that came with break ups.

  Now this beauty did not fall into that category and it scares the shit out of me because it’s unchartered water. Her age dictates that I as the adult handle everything with care. If I was going to do this, and I am, it has to be about her first all the way. I have no intentions on fucking up her life. Her report reads like an innocent’s, I can’t imagine her being worldly and sophisticated enough to take on a man like me. So you see my dilemma, for the first time in my life the great Gideon Thorpe cannot approach a woman with just fucking on his mind. I left the apartment and headed down to the garage where my car and driver awaited. It was only a few short minutes to the school but today I wouldn’t walk it, today the business tycoon was going to impress his high school sweetheart. Fuck me.

  I gave her five minutes to sit and get settled under her tree as I watched from the back of the limo.

  She’s just so fucking gorgeous, damn! The nervousness was finally gone thank heaven, and all that was left was an excitement I haven felt in way too long. That’s more like it.

  I left the confines of the car at a slow clip, hands in my pockets, relaxed. There were kids milling about but no one seemed to be paying too much attention, which made me wonder why my beautiful girl was sitting all alone in the first place? Something to think about later right now I had more important things on my mind.

  I settled myself as I drew closer to her, willing my body to calm the fuck down. One look and my heart started beating the shit out of my chest. I schooled my face and tried for that relaxed thing again but inside I was a riot of emotions.

  "Hello Ashley." I snuck up behind her and a little to the side so as not to scare her to death.

  She gave a start anyway before turning to me. I felt that look in my gut, felt the electricity coarse through me and knew in that moment that my life will never be the same. How very fucking clichéd.

  Her first words to me were a bit puzzling, not what I expected at all and they threw me for a second.

  "It's you." So breathlessly spoken.

  "Excuse me?" I kept staring at her beauty, she really was an exceptionally beautiful girl.

  "Nothing." She blushed and hung her head letting her hair fall forward to hide her cheeks.

  "No, tell me, what did you mean?" I stepped in a little closer forgetting to be cautious and not scare her away.

  "Nothing, just that...I saw you…before..." Could she be anymore fucking perfect? Her voice sounded like something out of a fucking fairytale. If I weren’t standing in front of her I would swear she was someone’s idea of a joke on me. It’s like someone reached inside he darkest recesses of my mind and came up with my ideal of perfection. She had the face of a Botticelli angel. Beautiful flawless skin, and bright eyes that were wide and so fucking innocent they weren’t to be believed. I didn’t dare look at the rest of her right now who knows what the fuck stupid thing I would do? Like snatch her and run; there was a thought.

  "You saw me? When?"

  "You were getting out of your car I guess in front of the Thorpe Towers, it was a while ago."

  She seemed embarrassed by her admission as she avoided my eyes; just look at me Blossom. I wanted to take her face in my hands and force her to keep those amazing eyes on mine. Too fast Gideon nice and easy she’s skittish yet.

  "And you saw me." It had to be the same day I'd seen her for the first time, what were the odds?

  "I'm Gideon Thorpe." I held out my hand to take hers, soft and warm. I brushed my thumb slightly over the pulse in her wrist it matched mine. Like a runaway train, I have to get ahold of myself before I do something really stupid here. Everything inside me screamed to take her and get the fuck out of there but I couldn’t. If this was going to be what I wanted it to be I had to be patient, I never hated that fucking word as much as I did at that moment.

  She was a bit weary, which was to be expected after all I'm a total and complete stranger approaching her out of nowhere. "Ashley Sanders." She finally looked at me full on and my heart fucking kicked in my chest. Merciful fuck.

  Her voice, that face, those fucking eyes and her mouth sweet fuck, she 's a fucking knock out, everything about her called to me. There was no way I wouldn't own her in this lifetime. If I'd had any doubts before this moment vanquished them all. There was no point in prolonging the inevitable so I decided then and there to do as I’ve always done. I'd been telling myself to go slow because of her age, to feel her out. I thought I could afford that patience but I see now that I was wrong. Up close she was perfection, like nothing I'd ever seen before. And that air of innocence only made things worse for her. Something about this girl spoke to the primal part of me. That thing that makes us human, makes us civilized had taken a backseat. All I wanted was to plunder. It's a strange fucking feeling for a guy who's usually the hunted.

  "Do you know why I'm here Ashley?"

  She shook her head no as where before I was silently begging her to look at me I wanted to beg her to look away, I was about to embarrass myself. Either that or kiss the fuck out of her which I’m sure would probably scare her half to death. "Let's just say I saw you one day and something about you captured my attention. I don't believe in beating around the bush. I had your background investigated, I know how old you are, I know your father is a cop in the little town where you two live. I know you don't have many extra curricular activities outside of school, though I don't know why seeing as you're a teenager. But most importantly, I know that I want you."

  Her eyes widened as she looked around.

  "You have nothing to fear from me, well not physically anyway. Very soon we'll sit down together and I'll lay out what's going to happen between us for you, just know for now, all I want is for us to get to know each other."

  "Uhm, I don't know." She was understandably nervous, but even that seemed sweet and unassuming; again a quality I wasn’t used to in the women I've dated in the past.

  "That's okay, I just sprung it on you, but like I said, I don't believe in beating around the bush, but if you let me Ashley, I will make you a very happy woman."

  "My dad...."

  " Will be taken care of."

  "What do you mean?" She seemed alarmed by my words.

  "Nothing sinister I promise, just that I plan on approaching him soon."

  "He'll never allow it." Did she seem a little saddened by that? Her voice had gone even softer if that were possible.

  "He will". I’ll make sure of it.

  "How can you be sure?"

  "Because I'll make it so. How about you Ashley, would you like to get to know me better?"

  "I don't know." She bit her fucking lip and it took all my human strength not to take her right then and there in broad daylight. What the fuck was this kid doing to me? Who the fuck was she?

  "Don't do that sweetheart." I reached out with my thumb and pulled her lip from between her teeth.

  "Sorry." So shy, such a fucking turn on, I couldn't wait to have her, to make her mine in every way possible. It was going to be a delight to teach her to be just what I wanted her to be in bed and out.

  "No, don't be sorry, j
ust try not to do that unless we're alone together behind closed doors."

  She looked up at that to find that I was very serious though I wasn’t sure she quite got my meaning.

  "Have you ever been in a relationship with a boy before Ashley?" I didn’t even like asking that fucking question which made no sense whatsoever. That’s it, I’d lost my fucking mind in the last month or so, it was the stress of high living and back to back business dealings.

  "No I haven't." I actually breathed easier hearing that.

  "Why not?"

  She shrugged her shoulders and looked away.

  "You're gorgeous Ashley, don't tell me no one has ever asked you out before."

  "My dad doesn't think it's a good idea."

  "I see." I'll have to get to the bottom of that later, for now I didn't see it as a problem, there wasn't anything I wouldn't overcome to have her.

  "That's why I don't think you should tell him anything." Her voice was suddenly very earnest almost pleading. Huh is she implying what I think she is?

  "You mean we should sneak around behind his back?"

  She blushed again. "It might be better that way."

  So she was interested, that's all I needed to know. Not that I wouldn't have talked her around otherwise, but this made things easier.

  "No Ashley, there will be no sneaking around for us, everything we do will be open and honest. Have no fear little one, I'm sure your father will see things my way." Of course he will, I didn't plan on giving him a choice. I didn't get to where I am by taking no for an answer. Especially not when it came to something that I really wanted. I let nothing stand in my way. And Ashley is the one thing I've wanted this strongly in a long, long time.

  I will have her by fair means or foul.

  Chapter 4

  I've chosen my timing for the best effect. I will not do this while she's in the house she’s now become my first priority. Her young untouched heart mine to protect. There might be things said here that might cause hurt, also I do not wish for her to witness a certain...shall we say, less than exemplary side of me if it should arise.

  Hopefully she'll never have to see that side ever but it certainly won't do to have her see me like that so early in out relationship.

  I had my driver pull up to the house ten minutes after I'd been assured that she'd left for school. I knew her dad had about another half hour before he left for his shift at the station. This shouldn't take too long, even if the other man proved to be difficult. I made and broke deals in less time with worthier opponents. I had no doubt about the outcome of this little meeting. With the information I’d gathered the man would be an ass to fuck with me on this.

  She has no idea that I was coming here today. I hadn't wanted her to worry herself over the outcome, and I also didn't want her to inadvertently warn her father of my approach, sometimes the element of surprise was your greatest weapon.

  It had been two days since our first meeting, a meeting that had ended with me stealing a kiss. How could I resist? Could a dying man resist an oasis in the desert? She'd been just as sweet as I'd dreamt she would be and that little taste had just whetted my appetite for more. She was expectedly skittish in my arms but that just added to her appeal. I'd promised her after that first shared kiss that I'd be back for her and I aimed to keep that promise come hell or high water. No one, not even the top cop in some little town was going to stand in my way.

  Her father answered the door on the second knock. He looked about the same as his picture, which I'd had my security snap while they were doing a background check in him. I liked knowing who I'm dealing with and since he was not only the law in this town, but the father of the young woman I meant to claim I needed to know as much as I possibly could. It’s a good thing I had, but a picture was one thing, seeing the man in the flesh quite another. I called on all the etiquette-training mom had tried to drill into me as a youth not to do what I so badly wanted. I had to think of my little Blossom.

  "Yes, can I help you?" Clifton Sanders was a forty five year old fit, attractive male who took good care of himself. All of that was obvious in my first cursory glance. He didn't look like the friendliest of people though if the look on his face was any indication. Before the day was over I was sure to put a frown on his already scowling face I was afraid.

  "Mr. Sanders, the name's Gideon Thorpe, I'm here about a personal matter, would you mind if we took this inside?" He studied me from head to toe, taking in the expensive cut of my suit, the limo behind me and the two men standing guard at my side.

  I'd chosen the limo today for just this purpose. I wanted to make a statement, that of power and utter control. It wasn't everyday I flexed my muscles but in this case there wasn't anything I wouldn't do to get my way. “I suppose come on in.”

  He led us to his living room and took a seat on the couch while pointing me to one of the two armchairs across from him. I ignored him and remained standing, first tenet of the top dog. Always hold the position of power. There was a huge portrait of who I assumed was Ashley's deceased mother over the fireplace mantle.

  That more than anything in my reports told me about the man. It also helped me to understand a little better why he was raising his daughter the way he was. I felt the first niggling of anger hit my gut but held it at bay. It was never a good thing to jump the gun. Things could appear one way on paper and be entirely different in reality. This was a delicate situation so I thought it best to proceed with caution, feel him out so to speak. One wrong move on his part though and I'll show him just who the fuck he was dealing with. I came here with the words of the report fresh in my mind, but yet willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. So far I wasn’t too impressed with what I’d seen.

  "Before we begin let me just say that I have with me any documents you might need to verify anything I might say to you." I saw the confusion cross his face.

  "You said this was personal?"

  "Yes, I'll get to that. I think you should know I've had you investigated before coming here today. Both your personal and professional life, and though you may not know me, I am an honest, upstanding man of my word."

  "I've heard of you, who in these parts haven't?" He leaned forward with a look of what the hell is this about on his face but I wasn’t ready to give him anything quite yet.

  "Good, I have a reputation in the business world that's quite separate from who I am as a man. I like to keep my personal life just that, personal."

  "Well what is it that you think I can do for you Mr. Thorpe?"

  "Gideon please, and it's quite simple. I want your daughter. No let me reiterate, I mean to have your daughter." Never beat around the bush, it's just a waste of fucking time.

  His anger was instantaneous, and expected.

  "Get the hell out of my house." He got to his feet in anger but that little show of aggression didn't phase me, I stood my ground and stared him down. "No."

  "What?" He stumbled back as if I’d hit him. I could imagine a man in his position accustomed to giving orders and having them followed without question would have a hard time with the word. I wonder how often he’d let her say the word? The fuck.

  "I came here in good faith when I really didn't need to, as a courtesy, out of...respect I guess you can say. But we both know that there was no need. Ashley is of age after all..."

  "But she's still under my care."

  "For now, yes, and if you handle this the right way, she just might remain there for a little while longer. But if you force my hand I'm afraid I will take her away from you completely."

  "What he hell are you talking about?"

  "It's quite simple, I want your daughter, I want to take care of her, and who knows, maybe this thing could last forever, as it stands I don't see my future without her in it. I can make her very happy in life. Or you can leave her to the wiles of some young buck who might use and discard her..."

  "My daughter does not date." He was turning red with anger and it gave me pause. There was something more goin
g on here than just a man concerned with the welfare of his young daughter and more than the initial report had intimated though what we’d found was fucked up enough. What that something was I'll have to wait until the more in depth report I'd ordered was in front of me. All I cared about right now was paving the way to her and my relationship.

  "How long do you think that will last, hmm? Do you think to keep her under lock and key for the rest of her life? Is that what your dear wife would've wanted for her only daughter?"

  "You know nothing of my wife."

  "Bit of a free spirit our Dana wasn't she? Tell me, does your daughter know that you blame her for her mother's death?"

  He turned white as a sheet and looked around the room as if seeking an escape.

  "You can't, you don't..."

  "What, I can't know that? But I do, like I said, I had you investigated, not just what you show the world, but what you do in secret. And yes I know about your secret rendezvous and what's said and done there." I smirked at him.

  "You know what I see, I see a beautiful, vibrant Blossom that's being smothered to death by you because you can't get over the death of the woman you loved. But how much could you have really loved her if you seek to destroy her daughter's spirit? A daughter that by all accounts she loved dearly."

  "I don't want to talk about this anymore." He paced away like a cornered rat.

  "You don't have to, just listen. For the next three months I will court Ashley, I promise you that I will be a complete gentleman during that time. Nothing about her life needs change, except now I will be a big part of it. She will go to school as usual. On school nights I will have her home by ten, on the weekends, maybe midnight. She will no longer be taking the bus to and from school I will pick her up in the mornings and have her driven home in the afternoons if I’m too busy at work. Sometimes I will have her sit with me in my office after school, she can do her homework there." I let that settle in for a bit and when all he did was stared I carried on.