The Billionaire and the Assistant (The Billionaires 3)

Eli walked over to the microphone we’d set up and asked for everyone’s attention.

“Right, well, that wasn’t quite the way we’d planned to announce things. But if you’d like to raise your glasses.” He beckoned for me to appear at his side. “Alex and I eloped on December 18th. So we please ask that you celebrate our marriage as we bring in the New Year.

I shook my head at him as he nodded for me to join him on stage. His daughter had just run out of the room and he was acting as if nothing had happened. It was no doubt one of Brianna’s usual dramatic episodes but she was under my roof now and I needed to make sure she was okay. I raised a hand and mouthed that I’d be back in a moment. Then I left my husband standing on stage by himself as I went in search of his daughter.

I found her in her room packing her belongings.

“Get away from me.” She screeched as I walked into the room.

“No.” I said, standing in the doorway.

“Just go and join my father.”

“I’m not going to do that, Brianna. We need to talk. I don’t understand your relationship with your father as I’ve not known him long enough in that way. Maybe you can talk to me? Help me see what’s going on.”

“Huh. What’s going on is I’m an embarrassment and a nuisance to him, and it's better off if I leave.”

I sighed. “Please don’t rush off. Where are you going to go on New Year’s Eve?”

“I’ve called Roger. He’s sending his private helicopter to bring me home. He says my mom will be delighted to have me home. That’s ironic. Delighted to have me home for the New Year but I need to have left and got my own place as soon after the wedding as possible so they can spend their married life enjoying themselves without me. Do you know what, Alex?” She stood and stared at me. “I’d have been better off aborted. They wouldn’t need to get rid of me now if they’d gotten rid of me then.”

“Why did you pretend to be drunk?” I asked her. “Because I know y

ou aren’t really as there’s no way you could have drunk that much scotch without flinching.” I picked up the bottle, opened it and smelled the top. Water.

“It just gets tiring when your father likes celebrating everything else but you.” She sneered. “New condo development, let’s party; new marriage, let’s celebrate. Daughter? Let’s pretend she doesn’t exist because she’s a materialistic embarrassment.” Tears started to stream down her face. I rushed over to her and tried to put my arm around her, but she shrugged me off, accidentally elbowing me in the cheek. The pain was excruciating, and I clutched my face, letting out a yelp.

“What the hell did you do?” Eli stood in the doorway. His face like thunder. “That’s enough, Brianna. I’ll arrange for a hotel for you for the evening. Then tomorrow we need to talk. Your behavior has gotten out of hand, maybe you need to see a therapist or something.”

“You’re a fucking piece of work, do you know that, Elias?” Brianna looked him square in the eyes, even though I knew the woman was broken. “I’m out of here. You’re no longer my father. Well done on achieving what you always wanted.” She turned to me. “I’m so sorry. Thank you for bothering to come and see how I was. Thank you for in a few short days being more of a parent than my own have ever been.” She shocked me by placing her arms around me in a brief hug and then she stormed out of the room knocking Eli out of the way as she went.

“Are you alright?” He asked me, concern in his gaze.

“No, I’m not, but now’s not the time to address it. We need to go and mingle with our guests and reassure everyone, especially my parents that everything is okay.”

Luckily the bang to my cheek had left no mark. We went back to the party, and I joined my husband on stage as he re-announced our wedding news and everyone celebrated, having had a little time to embrace the shock.

Afterward, I spent the party mingling with guests who wanted to take the time to congratulate me. It didn’t escape my notice that the staff serving the drinks eyed me and chatted about me. People I’d talked to as colleagues, now saw me as a token of gossip. No doubt wondering how long I’d been sleeping with the boss. Aidan came over with his girlfriend, Lori, just as I’d decided an extra glass of champagne was in order.

“The wager was for him to ask you on a date, not marry you.” Aidan clinked his glass against my own. “But hell, why not? I guess when you know, you know, right? I’ll have to marry this one.” He said, nudging Lori in the arm.

“Romantic as ever, Aidan. If you decide to propose you’ll do it properly, the full hearts and flowers. Plus, I want to wait. I’ve my training to finish.” Lori explained she was training to be a photographer.

“You see. If you’d have waited, you could have had my bride-to-be take the photos at your wedding.” Aidan said. “You missed out.”

“I am not your goddamn bride-to-be, Aidan Hall.” She rolled her eyes. “Please excuse him. He’s like an overenthusiastic puppy.”

“I know.” I told her laughing.

“Oh God, of course you do.” She replied, putting her hand on mine. “Through work. Gosh that’s going to be strange for you. Are you keeping your job?”

“Yes, I should imagine so.” I told her. “For the time being, anyway.” I dropped my voice lower. “I’m hoping to start a family sooner rather than later.”

“Oh my God, that’s so exciting. Aidan was desperate for Eli to ask you out. Said he needed the love of a good woman and knew you were his one. He’s an idiot, but he’s a romantic at heart.” She smiled a big beaming smile. “He’s my idiot.”

Henry and his wife Amelia joined us, along with Eli.

“Many congratulations, my friend.” Henry said. “I have to say it’s come as a bit of a shock, but we wish you nothing but happiness.”