A Billionaire for Christmas

“Unfortunately, he was called away for an emergency.”

“Oh, what a shame.”

“Yes, it is.” I manage a thin smile. This isn’t a conversation I want to be having, and I’m grateful when I see Jamie across the room, signaling me to come over. “I’m so sorry, but it looks like I’m being summoned. Why don’t you contact the foundation’s press office and we’ll see about setting up that interview?”

I make my escape, the tightness in my chest fading the further I get from the conversation.

“How are you holding up?” Jamie asks, and I shake my head.

“It’ll be okay, Nicholas. You know it will.”

“I’m really worried about him.” Tears prick my eyes and it takes a massive effort not to burst into sobs. If we were alone, I would. But I can’t lose it now. Not here. Not tonight.

“Hey,” Jamie says gently, “he’ll be fine. He’s Damien Fucking Stark.” And despite my fears, I burst out laughing.

“Thanks,” I say. Weirdly, that really does make me feel better.

“The gala is incredible,” she tells me. “And Ryan and I can’t wait to see Lara dance in the show.” Her brow furrows. “Where’s Anne?”

“Backstage. She didn’t want to leave Lara, and Kelsey was sweet enough to agree. She roped some of the older kids into going backstage to help wrangle the dancers, so she has plenty of supervision.”

“Nice for you. You can mingle at will.”

“Too bad I’m not in the mood to mingle. But duty calls,” I add with a shrug of my shoulders. “Want to join me?”

She nods, and we ease our way back into the crowd. “By the way, did you ever get Damien’s big gift? Last we talked you hadn’t thought of it.”

“I did. Evelyn had a great suggestion. The girls and I made him a photo album yesterday.” It turned out even better than I expected considering I’d put Lara in charge of decorating the cover of the plain album we’d bought at a craft store. It’s covered with family-themed stickers and cutouts of all of our faces, including Sunshine’s, and big crayoned letters that say Daddy’s Family.

Inside the album, Anne and I glued photos to the paper, with Anne adding special stickers to fill in the spaces between.

“That sounds fabulous. He’s going to love it.”

“I know,” I say. And since I don’t want to bring the mood down again, I bite my tongue before I can add that I’m afraid we won’t have the chance to give it to him. Instead, I ask, “What did you decide on for Ryan?”

“A sex swing,” she announces, far too loudly.

“Jamie!” I look around, hoping no one standing nearby is listening to our conversation.

“What? He’s going to love it.”

“I don’t doubt it, but does everyone at the gala need to know?”

She laughs. “You and Damien should get one.”

“What makes you think we don’t already have one?” Actually, that’s a point. I wonder if we do. Our toy collection is wide and varied, and it wouldn’t surprise me.

Jamie considers, then shrugs. “I’m just saying … the album is wonderful and he’ll love it. But trust me when I say he’ll love this in a completely different way.”

I laugh and give her a hug. “There are so many reasons why you are my best friend.”

“What can I say? I’m a well-rounded kind of girl. So you’ll get it?”

“I’m putting it on my mental list for future presents,” I assure her as Ryan approaches. He slides his arm around her waist and kisses her cheek. And just like that, I’m back in the land of melancholy.

“Have you heard anything?” I ask, because other than me, Ryan is who Damien would contact first.

He shakes his head. “I’ve been trying to contact him, too. No luck.”

I nod, my lips pressed together as I once again fight tears. Then I draw in a breath and pull myself together as Kelsey approaches, Anne and Lara beside her. She has a lithe dancer’s body and her dark hair is pulled up into a bun.

“Is it time?” I ask, as Anne rushes to me. I scoop her up and she rests her chin on my shoulder, looking out at the world behind me.

“Just about. Are you ready to introduce the show?”

I nod. It’s not something I want to do today, but it’s one of my obligations. And though Jackson had offered to get up on that stage instead, I’d declined. The SCF is important to me, and I can step away from my worry long enough to tell the guests about the dance scholarships the SCF provides for kids that otherwise couldn’t afford to participate.

“Is Daddy here?” Lara asks.

I shake my head. “He had an emergency at work. He’s very, very sorry.”

Her lower lip trembles. “But he promised.”

“I know, baby, but—”

“Daddy!” Anne squeals, and I pat her back, my attention still on Lara.

“I wish Daddy was here, too,” I say. “But sometimes—”