Misjudging the Billionaire

Eva opened her mouth to reply but was stopped by a series of bursts that sounded like a car horn. The loud beeps, each too drawn out to be a car alarm, echoed through her neighborhood, and in annoyance she dashed to her window to identify the source of the incessant blaring. Pulling aside the curtain of her second-story window, Eva peered down at the street and was shocked to see Devon leaning against the side of his limou

sine and smiling up at her. At the sight of her curtain being tugged aside, he waved and widened his grin knowing that she was likely the one peeking down at him.

Oh, lovely, Eva thought as anger welled inside of her. Not only does this guy know my phone number, he knows what apartment I live in, too. Before she got a chance to blast into him, he beat her to the punch.

“I know, I know. Overstepping. I also had Robert give me your address in case you didn’t pick up your phone. Come talk to me for a second?”

“I’m really busy right now, sorry,” she shot back with hostility as she quickly drew her curtain closed. “Thanks for helping with my job, and thanks for stopping by. I have to go.”

“Wait!” he yelled in hopes of catching her before she disconnected the call. It worked, and he proceeded with, “Please, just come down here for one minute and then I’ll leave you alone. I just want to see you. That’s all I ask, nothing more. I promise. Come down?”

“I don’t know…” she replied hesitantly. Two days ago she’d decided against any further contact with this man, yet he’d roped her into talking to him by getting her job back. She couldn’t help but feel as though he was intruding on her life, and also wondered what reason he could possible have for taking such an interest in her. He was undoubtedly a very important man, and she knew he had to stay quite busy. Why was he taking the time out of his schedule to pursue her so aggressively? She questioned whether or not her defensive disposition was making her overly paranoid. Maybe he had no hidden agenda, but that didn’t change the fact his life was the antipode of hers. Again, internal conflict tore her in two different directions. She knew she may regret it, but chose to head outside anyhow in hopes of uncovering what possible reason he had for his apparent flirtation.

“I’ll be down in a second,” she conceded unenthusiastically. Burley, who seemed bothered by his bipedal friend’s irritation, lay on the light beige carpet beneath her while locking his eyes onto her in concern. She clipped his leash to his collar and the two headed downstairs to greet the persistent entrepreneur. Stepping outside, she was surprised to find Devon Cross just as excited to meet Burley as Burley was to meet him. Her furry roommate tugged on his leash, practically toppling Eva as he rushed to get acquainted with the stranger standing on the curb just beyond the building’s front steps.

“And who’s this little guy?” Devon asked with a huge grin. He knelt down to pet Burley all over as the wound-up canine ran in half circles around him.

“This is Burley,” Eva said, a tad taken aback by how eager Devon was to play with her drooling companion. She watched in awe as he rubbed behind Burley’s ears, praising him for being such a good boy and not seeming to mind one bit that his black suit was quickly becoming covered in dog hair. It was clear that Burley was equally thrilled with Devon, his tongue out and tail wagging frantically as the two bonded beside the limousine.

“I take it you’re a dog man,” Eva commented as she watched the two together.

“Very much so,” Devon replied as he glanced back at Eva, his eyes alive with joy. “I love him!” he trumpeted as he rose to his feet and turned his eyes back down to Burley. “So handsome and friendly. You‘ve got a good boy, here.”

“I know,” Eva said sweetly and immediately scolded herself for the lapse. She’d allowed herself to get caught up in the moment, the handsome man and her four-legged pal looking so adorable together, and reminded herself to stay guarded and proceed with caution. She readjusted her demeanor, her tone abruptly turning serious again, and asked, “You wanted to see me?”

“Ah, yes,” he replied as he stood before her looking every bit as striking as she’d remembered. “I was hoping… You see… I’d like… I’d be honored…” He stammered nervously, fighting to finish his sentence but managing to maintain eye contact. “Would you like to accompany me to dinner?” he finally spat out. She couldn’t help but find his awkward invitation cute, and laughed silently to herself at the sight of such a good-looking, powerful man bumbling half-coherently like a pimply-faced teenager. She fought hard not to crack a smile.

“Look, you seem like a nice guy and all, but the truth is… I don’t even know you. Not to mention I’m super busy and don’t really have the ti—”

“Just one dinner!” he interrupted pleadingly. “I promise you’ll have a great time, and if you don’t, I swear you’ll never have to see me again.”

“What’s your deal, anyway?” she asked sharply. Eva had never been one to skirt around a subject, and she wasn’t about to start now.

“Excuse me?” He looked truly baffled by this, but he wasn’t perplexed for long as Eva quickly expounded on her question.

“You keep conveniently crossing paths with me. First at the restaurant, then when I’m walking home, and today you just show up again in my neighborhood. What do you want from me?”

He stared at her quizzically, appearing hurt by the accusatory tone of her voice.

“I’m not exactly sure I understand…” he began, trailing off in confusion.

“Are you married?” she blurted as Burley sniffed his expensive Italian loafers.

“What? No! Why would you think that?” he answered in shock.

“I just don’t understand what your interest is in me. You clearly do just fine for yourself,” she gestured to his suit while looking him up and down, “and could probably have any woman you want… unless there’s something I don’t know about you. So why come sniffing around a broke black girl like me? We come from two different worlds. We have nothing in common. You don’t even know me,” she continued.

“You’re right, I don’t know you,” he fired back without skipping a beat. “That’s why I’d like just one dinner with you. So we can get to know each other. Maybe we have more in common than you think.”

“Yeah, right,” she sneered. “I’m not trying to be a bitch, I’m really not, but I can’t figure out what your mission is here. Are you just looking to shock your rich friends by bringing some poor girl from the ghetto to one of your fancy cocktail parties or something?”

“What is wrong with you?” he asked in frustration with a raised brow. His blue eyes were large and rife with sadness as he threw up his hands and continued, “I just want to get to know you. I don’t care where you come from or what color you are. And believe it or not, I don’t spend my time associating with snobs. I mostly keep to myself, and I can promise you that I have no ‘mission,’ as you put it.”

“Can you blame me for being skeptical?” she questioned, her head slightly cocked to the side with one hand on her hip and the other on Burley’s leash. “I mean, look at you. You’re this great looking guy who clearly has money, yet you want to go to dinner with me. Me! I mean, really, can you see where I’m coming from, here?” she asked pleadingly.

“And you’re this gorgeous girl who can’t lower her defenses enough to join me for one dinner,” he chuckled. “I know you probably think I’m always hitting the town with pretty girls, but you’d be surprised. When I’m not working, I spend the majority of my time at home. Alone, I might add.”

Eva glanced over at his driver who was nose deep in a book, oblivious to the conversation taking place just outside the limousine. She’d broken Burley of jumping up on people, but she could tell he was debating pouncing on Devon to get his attention again and reined him back to her side.