The Daring Billionaire’s Wife

My family will be thrilled to learn of the decision I've come to just after talking to Aileen. She's quite the beauty from a distance. I could see it before I even approached her at the counter.

Who would've thought that coming to Jasmine Junction, one of the smallest and simplest bars in town, would result in something like this?

Looking at her this close after telling her I now know who I'm going to make my wife, she pulls her facial muscles in confusion and her hazel eyes go round. Others would look ridiculous, but in her case, it's the complete opposite. "Uh...why are you telling me this?" she asks, looking away.

"It's important that you're the first to know." I lean back, realizing I've been too close for too long.

"I'm not sure how this is any of my business."

She still doesn't get it and I understand. Eventually, she will.

My family has been on my neck for as long as I can remember in the hopes that I settle down. This is it. I finally found someone who won't drop down to her knees and be willing to do whatever I want just because of who I am. Thinking back to Aileen's reaction when I introduced myself, it still hurts my ego. Not once have I ever felt this way. Meeting someone who knows nothing about my family is quite strange but at the same time, I'm glad it's happened this way.

The quality of the jean jacket and white loose dress she has on, told me what I needed to know about her social status before I even uttered my first word to her and even with that, I just had to talk to her.

I glance at Josh and Stephanie, both of them gesturing to me to return to them, but I'm not yet done with Aileen. In fact, I'm just getting started.

"Do you live far from here?" I ask, wishing I could trace her curves with my eyes. At least I can see her long legs. Her feet could use a pedicure, but that's not the most important thing right now.

"I'm staying at a motel," she says, not sounding too proud of it.

"And where are you from?"

"Oakbrook Village."

It's no surprise to me that she's a small town girl.

"That's quite far from here. Do those from Oakbrook Village not know who I am?" I ask.

She chuckles in disbelief. "Are you still stuck on that?"

It's only after I've said it out loud that I realize how obvious I'm making it that it still bothers me.

"For how long are you in town?" I change the subject.

She huffs, gulping down the whiskey in her glass. "Honestly, I don't know. It feels like I came to New York for nothing."

There she goes again, making it clear to me that there's something deeper going on. I tried to get her to open up before, but it didn't work quite as well. Having been with all types of women, I've come to learn what works and what doesn't when it comes to those who have something personal to share. I guess it just didn't work on her.

She hunches over, tracing her thumb along the edges of her glass with her lips pressed together. Part of me wishes I met her at a time when she wasn't going through whatever this is about. What could be so frustrating that she can't hide it? With that in mind, I don't even bother to ask any further questions.

I signal to the bartender to come over and he hurries, speaking with the utmost respect to me.

"Pour her another drink."

"Of course, Mr Richards."

her eyebrows in disbelief. "What do you

don't have to pay if I don't

"What do you mean?"

again, the fact that she knows absolutely

"I own this place."

widen. "You really

about to respond, a message notification catches my attention and I take out my phone,

MUCH LONGER WILL YOU WASTE TIME OVER

her and she crosses her arms with a glare. It's always been this way with Stephanie, ever since we were kids. Having grown up with her, I would've thought I'd be used to her impatience by now, but it's not the case. Only because I have some news to share with them, I decide to

Aileen, I say, "I'm still around and so are you. Just in case

"Are you always

not

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I'll see you around."

my way back to my table with Josh almost getting out of his

slams the palms of her hands on the table. "You're

to respond as Josh hits my

thought you were kidding when you said you wanted

counter, biting my bottom

name is Aileen." My

name." Josh raises his

fit for someone as gorgeous as

chair squeaks loudly as she abruptly rises to her feet. "I need to go to the ladies' room. Liam, we came here to

l.ne

success of Project

you thought this was

time to get laid?"

Stephanie as I say, "While those were initially my intentions with Aileen, you're

taking a sip from her glass while still

I'm going

table, dropping back

did you just say?"

me." I glance at the counter

you crazy?"

have I

was a lady in this world

was? I finally found her and to be honest, it hurt my ego