A Billionaire's Love Affair Read online

“People like me?”

  She shrugged. “I’m sorry, but yes. People that come from your side of the tracks think you can make it go away by tossing a few bucks at some charity. You don’t understand that a lot of the people out there don’t want money. They want jobs. They want access to resources that can help them get on their feet. They want a hand up, not a hand out. Does that make sense?”

  I nodded. “It makes perfect sense. This is why I want you for the job. I want you to lead the charge. I want you to set guys like me straight. I’m not going to deny I don’t have the same experience you do. Honestly, people like me prefer to throw money at a problem and make it go away. I’ve seen the error of my ways.”

  “I don’t buy into the lip service thing, so if that’s what you are doing, you can stop.”

  “I’m being absolutely honest and serious. I’ve been searching for someone who will be self-motivated. I don’t know which way to go every time. I need someone to guide me. I have the money. I have the connections, but I don’t have the knowledge.”

  “And what if you reject what I offer?”

  “I won’t.”

  “You say that now, but what if I propose something like providing shoes or having a church service for the homeless? It’s not as flashy or glamorous and it isn’t going to get you on the front page but it’s what helps the most.”

  I nodded. “I believe you. I don’t need flashy. I’m not sure if you know this, but my family is kind of famous already. I don’t need infamy. I just want to do something right.”

  “You were on the front page yesterday,” she pointed out. “You are used to being noticed.”

  “I am, but that doesn’t mean that’s what I want. This foundation isn’t about glory. I want to make a difference.”

  “And what would you want me to do exactly?” she asked, clearly still skeptical.

  “I want you to be the one directing where the donations go but I also expect the charity manager to be responsible when it comes to collecting donations.”

  “You would want me to make cold calls? Knock on doors?”

  “Maybe not you, but the people we ask to volunteer for those jobs. It’s a lot to ask of one person, but I think the right person would know what to do and how to inspire people.”

  “You are making a lot of assumptions about me. You don’t even know me.”

  “No, I don’t, but like I said before, I am a pretty good judge of character.”

  She tapped her fingers on the armrest. “How am I supposed to trust you?”

  “Trust me about what?”

  “This job. It sounds too good to be true. You don’t even know me. I don’t have experience. I talked with that guy out there. He graduated from New York State. You didn’t even know my name five minutes ago.”

  “I didn’t need to know your name.”

  “We are nothing alike,” she insisted.

  “No, we aren’t, but that’s why we’ll make a good team. Yin and Yang. Black and white. Whatever.”

  “You are very convincing.”

  “I try,” I said with that infamous Bancroft charm. “Do you think you can handle the job?”

  “Are you asking if I can handle asking for donations?”

  “That as well as represent my foundation. I can imagine you would be very passionate about what you do, but I need someone that will be respectful and honorable. I need someone who understands it isn’t just the foundation they are representing, but my family’s name.”

  She smirked. “You mean, you want to make sure no one does anything to embarrass you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And what would embarrass you? Your charity manager holding up a sign and demanding more help from those that are more than capable of doing so?”

  “No, that would not embarrass me, but I think there are other ways.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You mean sucking up?”

  “No.”

  Her expression told me I was losing her. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me, and I will hold you to your promise to donate to my charity of choice, but this is not the job for me.”

  “Why not?”

  She leaned forward and looked directly in my eyes. “Because I will not tiptoe around the feelings of people who have more than they need and are unwilling to offer their time, money, or even their hand-me-downs to those that could use them. I will not kiss your ass or the asses of the social elite. That is not my style.”

  “Wait,” I said and held up a hand. “I’m not asking you to kiss ass. I want you to make people uncomfortable, but I want it done in a way that is dignified.”

  She scoffed. “Am I too redneck to be dignified?”

  “Are you?”

  “I’ll expect you to do what you said and honor your commitment to write that check.”

  “I want to offer you the job,” I said.

  “Seriously?”

  “Will you take it?”

  Chapter 9

  Maisie

  I felt like a fish out of water. I probably looked like a fish out of water as well. My mouth opened and then closed as I tried to think of what to say. “You are offering me the job?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I stared at him. There was a hint of a smile on his lips. His hair was perfectly styled in that way that was supposed to be messy but was clearly the result of a lot of hair product and a great stylist. “You want to give me a job? A job I’m underqualified for. To me? Someone you know nothing about. Are you enjoying this?”

  “I’m enjoying the idea of hiring a capable person for a job I know is very important.”

  “I think you’re jerking me around. I think you get off on this kind of thing.”

  He raised one of those thick, dark brows. “I assure you, this is not what gets me off.”

  Just like that, he made it hot. “You just got through telling me how important your family’s reputation is, yet you are willing to risk your name on a no one like me? I could be a loose cannon. I could be a drug dealer. You don’t know me.”

  “I trust my instincts and I like what I see. You’re the right person for the job. Don’t try and fight it. You know you want it.”

  For some reason, I felt like he was talking about something other than the job. Maybe it was just me but every word, every look, and every gesture felt like they were meant to tease. To excite me. And damn if it wasn’t working. I could not be attracted to a man like him. I refused to be attracted to him.

  “I need to think about it,” I said.

  He looked me in the eyes, making me squirm just a little. “I have to hit the ground running on Monday. I need someone in the position now. I have interviews lined up all day. I need to get this job filled so I can start filling a few of the other jobs that are still open. I need an answer.”

  “You can’t rush me.”

  “I would think it was pretty straightforward. You just told me you are in a position to take a job. You clearly have a passion for charity and activism. I’m offering to pay you to do the two things you love. How is this a dilemma?”

  “I just—” I stopped and shook my head. He was coming on really strong. I came in today with the expectation of leaving with a small check for my charity. I didn’t think for even a second he was serious about offering me a job. Certainly not a job like he was describing.

  “Do you want to know how much it pays?”

  “No.”

  “I’m offering you a hundred thousand dollars yearly. It will be a salaried position, which means some weeks you might work a lot more than forty hours but other weeks not as much.”

  My ears were ringing. I could not have possibly heard him correctly. There was no way he just said that number. “What?”

  He grinned that saucy, sexy smile that made my belly feel warm and fuzzy. “You heard me. I’m serious about this, Maisie. I’m not much of a jokester. This foundation is my passion and I want to do it right. Like I said, my family name pretty much requires I
do this right. I will have a lot of eyes on me and I don’t want to screw things up. I need someone like you to make sure this is done right. Can you do it?”

  It was happening fast. My head was spinning. The way he was looking at me was not making it any easier to think straight. What would Evan do? Evan would tell me to think about the differences I could make with my job. He would tell me to think about how the money would allow me to donate a lot more to my favorite charities. I would be able to buy real groceries, pay my bills on time, and help out my roommates. I could actually buy new clothes. New from the store and not the secondhand store. It could change my life.

  I licked my lips, trying my best to look cool. I was sweating like a pig in the blazer. I wanted to take it off but then he would know I was hot. Never let them see you sweat. I didn’t know who said it or why, but in that moment, it sounded like very good advice.

  “Okay,” I heard myself say.

  He smiled bigger. “You’ll accept?”

  I nodded, my mouth feeling as dry as a week-old sponge. “I do.”

  He got to his feet and extended his hand. I extended my own limp hand. The moment he touched me, I felt a little electric shock. He squeezed and pumped our joined hands up and down. “Great! This is going to be a great place for you to work. We are going to do great things together.”

  “I, uh, yes,” I said. I felt adrift. I didn’t know what to say.

  He released my hand and sat down. “I need you to start on Monday. You’ll need to be here at eight.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of paperwork tucked into a neat little file folder. “Fill this out and bring it back with you.”

  I took the paperwork. “Okay.”

  I was probably doing a bang-up job already. The man was likely regretting his decision to offer me the job. “Can you be here at eight?”

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t look convinced,” he said with a small laugh.

  “I worked in a bakery. Trust me, eight o’clock is late. I’ll be here. The bus has a direct route here.”

  “The bus?” he asked with a quirk of his brow.

  “Yes, you know the big thing that carries lots of people and makes stops at all those places with the benches.”

  Dammit. My mouth was always an issue. The man was officially my boss. I needed to treat him as such.

  “You take the bus?” he asked as if it was the most foreign thing he ever heard of.

  “Yes. I don’t usually like to walk ten miles in the freezing cold. I don’t like to walk ten miles in general.”

  “But the bus?” he said as if the word tasted bad. “Aren’t there shady people that ride those?”

  “I guess I’m pretty shady,” I quipped. “I think you need to understand we come from very different worlds. I don’t own a car. I certainly can’t afford a taxi. If I want to go somewhere, I take the bus.”

  “I’ve heard some pretty bad stories about what happens on public transportation.”

  I had to smile at his horrified expression. “There are sketchy characters and there are those who think they can take advantage of people on the bus, but it’s not all bad. I have met some of the most interesting people on the bus.”

  He didn’t look convinced. “I would never let my people ride the bus.”

  “Your people? You have people?”

  “My employees. People I care about. I’ve lived in this city most of my life. I know it’s risky.”

  “Where I live is probably risky in your book. Just because the world isn’t what you are used to, it doesn’t mean it should be avoided or ignored. I like the bus. I’m used to it. The last thing I’m going to do is start living in fear because I have a job and earn a little money.”

  “A little money?” he teased. “Is that your way of telling me you want more money?”

  “No! Absolutely not!”

  “I’ll send a car.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll send a car to pick you up on Monday morning. I want to make sure you get here in one piece with your purse and coat and whatever else you might bring.”

  “You will not send a car,” I said firmly. “I will take the bus, just like I do every day. I made it here today and I’m just fine.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I don’t want a car. I’ll ride the bus.”

  He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  “Is that it?” I asked.

  “Do you have any questions for me?”

  I should have probably said yes. I remembered the high school class roleplaying an interview thing, but I didn’t care about compensation. I didn’t care if I got a bonus or other perks. The salary was more than enough.

  “Um, no, I don’t think so. Wait, yes, I do. What should I wear?”

  He looked surprised. “What you have on is fine or you can go more casual. I prefer casual.”

  “My casual and your casual are not the same thing,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I’ll stick to the good stuff.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” he said, letting his eyes rake over my body.

  “Great, then I’ll see you Monday,” I said and got to my feet.

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I’m a gentleman, and besides, I need to tell all these other people to go home.”

  “But—”

  He opened his office door. I walked out and felt six pairs of eyes on me. More people had shown up while I’d been in his office. “Everyone, thanks for coming, but I will not be interviewing any more candidates. The position has been filled.”

  I felt my cheeks burn. They were all staring at me like I just robbed them at gunpoint. I moved to the door, trying to escape what looked like could turn into a firing squad at any minute. Colt followed me. “You don’t have to walk me to the elevator.”

  He chuckled and reached forward to push the button. “Did you see the looks on their faces? I think I might need to walk you to your car.”

  “I didn’t drive.”

  “The bus then.”

  The doors slid open. “I’ll see you Monday,” he said just in time for the other job hopefuls to hear.

  I groaned when they all filed into the elevator with me. He was grinning like an idiot as the doors slid shut. Someone pushed the button for the lobby and the elevator started to move. It had to be the slowest elevator on the planet. Every second that ticked by made me feel worse.

  When the doors slid open, I practically pushed my way out of the elevator. I could feel their anger directed toward me. They were pissed. It clung to me. I made my way across the massive ground floor lobby and pushed open the door to get some fresh air.

  Once outside, I walked toward the bus stop without daring to look behind me to see if anyone was following me. I prayed they all had cars or took a taxi. I doubted any of them relied on public transit. Clearly, it was frowned upon by the people that lived and worked in this part of the city.

  Once I was in my seat, I released the breath I had been holding. “Holy shit.”

  “Pardon me?” the old woman next to me said.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Did you steal something from one of those stores?” she asked in a conspiratorial tone.

  “What? No? Why would you ask that?”

  “I saw you hot-footing it down that sidewalk like someone was chasing you. Don’t worry. I won’t turn you in.”

  “I didn’t steal anything. I was at a job interview and I got the job.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Why did you look so worried though?”

  I laughed. “There were a few other people that wanted the job. We had to leave the office together. I was afraid they might want to beat me up or something.”

  She snickered. “Let them be jealous. Congratulations on your new job. It isn’t easy to find one these days. My granddaughter has gone on countless interviews and never gets anywhere.”

  I smiled and nodd
ed. “I feel very lucky.”

  Chapter 10

  Colt

  I closed my laptop and let out a long breath. “Done,” I said the word aloud. “I’m ready. I’m so ready.”

  The week had been hectic. Hectic but good. I managed to fill all of the positions. I had a full staff. I was ready to hit the ground running on Monday. I was looking forward to actually doing something good. It had taken a long time to get to this point, but when we opened for business tomorrow, it was going to be the new and improved Bancroft Foundation.

  I was tired of just being a name on a door. I was tired of throwing fancy black-tie fundraisers that did very little to actually help the charities we claimed to be so passionate about. I had been forging connections for years and there were plenty of willing donors. I just hadn’t tapped into those resources. I was going to now.

  This was the start of something new. My family was going to be proud of me. I was going to make a difference in the world. I wanted the bug that had bitten Maisie. I wanted to feel that kind of passion. I wanted to get my hands dirty. I wanted to be on the front lines. I didn’t see myself holding up a sign and freezing my ass off at a rally anytime soon, but I could be just as effective.

  I checked the time and figured it was time get going. I was actually looking forward to dinner with the family tonight. It was finally my turn to brag a little. I was going to be able to tell them I was ready for tomorrow. I wanted to tell them about Maisie as well. It was the first time I felt like I was actually doing something on my own.

  I was taking a car to dinner. Family dinners weren’t usually drunk fests, but with my new role, I couldn’t risk getting pulled over with a single drink in my system. I grabbed my winter coat and headed down to the lobby to find my car waiting.

  When I walked into the house, I could smell lemon and herbs and all kinds of good. “It smells great, Mom!” I hollered down the hall to the kitchen.

  I didn’t dare go into the kitchen. She would only shoo me away. The custom was to have drinks in the study with my brothers and their wives. When I walked into the study, it was just Grayson, James, and Mason. It was strange to see Mason in the house and looking so relaxed.