His Dirty Promises (Dirty Billionaires 2)
“I love you. You know that, right?”
“Uh duh, I’m not an idiot.” I’ll never share my neurotic doubts—it isn’t fair to her.
“No, but you are a smart-ass.” The captain comes over the speaker letting us know to buckle in, we’re approaching the airport.
***
Dante
Enzo doesn’t bother knocking. “Hey man, come on. We don’t want to be late.”
I look up from my computer screen. “I’m not going.”
“Are you serious? Bethany will be hurt if you don’t come. And Alicia is not going to be happy.”
“I’m not in the mood for a celebration. They’d hate me more if I went. Bethany is moving in across the
hall, I’ll apologize when I meet her.” I ask Enzo what I would never ask Che. “So what’s Bethany’s deal anyway? She sounds like a pain in the ass or a brat. It was because of her Alicia put her own future on the line.”
Enzo sinks into one of the chairs in front of my desk. “Bethany fucked up, we’ve all fucked up. I wouldn’t call her a pain in the ass, or a brat. She’s just fucking young. Remember, she’s only twenty-four and she acts like it, sometimes. Other times she acts more mature than women a decade older than her.
“Che says she’s always appreciative for everything she is given. She even called him when he raised her allowance to tell him it wasn’t necessary. Of course he didn’t listen, then he found out she never spent the increased allowance, she moved it into a high-rate money market savings account. She’s not running around spending it on five-inch heels and handbags or fake eyelashes and nails. I’ll admit for a while there I wondered if she was real. I’ve been waiting for her to slip up, but she hasn’t. Maybe I’m too used to greedy bitches but all of that impresses the hell out of me. What’s with the question now?”
“Because she’s going to be across the hall from me. Che says I have to watch out for her.”
The asshole laughs. “Whatever, you just don’t like not being the baby anymore.”
Baby my ass, two years separate each of us, Che the oldest at thirty-nine, then Enzo at thirty-seven, then me at thirty-five. Even when we were kids, the only thing being the baby got me was the smallest piece, and the most broken toys. “Fuck you, I’m not happy about being responsible for some chick I barely know. You wouldn’t want to be either.”
His smile disappears, serious now he shakes his head. “Bethany is family now, it’s that simple. As far as I’m concerned, I’m already there if she needs me. She’s young, she has some learning to do and no doubt more mistakes to make. We do what we can to mitigate the mistakes and are there for her when she screws up.”
It’s annoying when Enzo is right. “I guess.”
His phone goes off with a text. “Okay, I’m going to head out. I need to stop off to pick up Bethany’s gift. Are you at least going to get her something?”
“Fine, maybe it will help with me not going. What did you get her?”
“I took Alicia’s suggestion and got her a spa day. Did you know Cesare wanted to gift her the condo?”
“Are you serious?” I can’t believe Che. The place is worth over twelve million. It’s almost eleven thousand square feet in one of the best buildings on Michigan Avenue.”
“I couldn’t believe it either. Alicia said no. She doesn’t want anything handed to Bethany. With school done, so is the handholding. She also said no to a new car, no big gifts at all. Cesare is giving her a week in Madrid.”
“I’m relieved Alicia nixed the condo gifting. A twelve-million-dollar home as a gift, hell no.”
Enzo nods. “I agree. A car or a few grand toward a condo or house, cool, but anything more is way too much.”
“What other suggestions did Alicia give you for a gift?”
“Besides the spa day, one of those all-in-one coffeemakers like you have. Bethany broke hers a few weeks ago. Catch you later.”
Damn it, I haven’t gone shopping in forever. Usually Claudine does it for me or I go online. I’m not going to be able to get out of it. I’ll buy it and have it waiting for her in the condo when she comes home. I’m not interested in work anymore. I am hungry though.
***
Bethany
I blink twice, trying to focus on the conversation around me, hoping no one saw my head drop for a second. A quick check of the grandfather clock in the corner tells me it’s only ten minutes until nine. What the hell? I would have sworn it was closer to midnight.