Billionaires Don’t Fall For Awkward Girls by Emma Dalton

Chapter Twenty-Two

Easton

My thoughts are on one person and one person only as Joe drives me home.

Dani Wood.

For some reason, I can’t get her out of my head. Not sure what it is about her that’s got me so hooked. Maybe it’s her determination? How she’d do anything—even scrub toilets—just to follow her dreams. Someone like me doesn’t have the luxury to dream.

“Did you enjoy your evening?” Joe asks.

I don’t hear him. I’m still thinking about Dani and everything that happened.

“Sir?”

I blink and look at him. “Did you say something?”

He shakes his head. “It wasn’t important.” He talks about various topics as we drive home. I try to listen, but my mind keeps wandering to the girl who makes me smile whenever I think about her.

We reach the house and Joe gets the door for me. “Sir, if I may….?”

I face him. “Yeah, Joe?”

He twists his mouth. “Never mind. I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.” He tips his hat and walks away.

The staff opens the front door for me. “Good evening, Mr. Knight,” they say.

“Good evening to all of you. Are my parents back from the charity event?”

A woman nods. “They’re in the living room.”

I thank her and make my way there. Another staff member opens the door for me and I freeze in place.

Sitting across from Mother with her hands poised neatly on her lap is Bianca Burrell. I internally groan. I’ve tried so hard to avoid any encounter with her, which is why I’ve been out most nights. It’s after nine in the evening. What is she still doing here?

As soon as Bianca’s cat-like blue eyes move to mine, a large grin spreads across her face. “Easton.” She holds out a hand. “You’re home.”

I glance away from her.

Mother smiles at me. “Where have you been all day? Bianca was waiting for you. We missed you at the event.”

Honestly? I meant to go, but I got caught up at the studio. No, that’s a lie. I didn’t go because I knew Bianca would be there.

My future wife is still holding out a hand to me. Mother gives me such an intense look that I mumble some profanities under my breath and force myself over to her.

Bianca beams as I place my hand in hers. She doesn’t love me. She just loves my money. Both our families need each other to grow our empires. I’ve known this since I was five years old.

“Sit, Easton.” Mother gestures to the spot beside Bianca on the sofa. I glance around for Father to use as an excuse to bolt, but he’s conveniently not here.

Sighing, I lower myself next to my intended, keeping some distance between us.

“Why don’t you tell Bianca where you were all day?” Mother says with a smile that tells me she’s trying way, way too hard to impress Bianca. “Easton?” Mother probes.

Bianca is still holding my hand like I’m a trophy she won and doesn’t want to let go. I’d pull away, but I don’t want to be rude. If I’m not careful, the Burrells might back out of the business deal they made when we were babies.

I force a smile. “I went for a drive around town.”

Mother frowns. “Without Joe?”

My mouth snaps shut.

Mother waves her hand, laughing lightly to Bianca. “Never mind that. You were meant to join us at the charity event. Bianca waited for you.”

Bianca turns to me. “I was all alone.” She pouts.

I pull my hand free. “I forgot about it, sorry.”

Mother shakes her head at me in disappointment. Bianca waves a calming hand. “That’s all right, Celine. When we’re married, I’ll make sure he does everything that’s expected of him.”

The walls are closing in on me and the room has suddenly grown extremely stifling. I need to leave. Need to get as far away from this house as possible.

“Easton, are you okay?” Bianca asks. Somehow she’s moved closer to me without my realizing it. No wonder I’m feeling claustrophobic.

“I need some air.” I get to my feet. “Going for a walk in the gardens.”

Bianca leaps to her feet. “I’ll go with you!”

I open my mouth to try to talk her out of it, but Mother gives me such a sharp look that my lips seal shut.

Bianca trails me out of the back doors leading to the gardens. Mary, her personal assistant, hurries after us. Wherever Bianca goes, Mary goes. She hangs a few feet back to give us privacy.

Bianca grabs my hand. I pull away. She grabs it again, pressing herself to me. “I really missed you, Easton,” she says in that fake tone. “Didn’t you miss me?”

I look away from her, wishing I could tell her that I did not miss her one bit, but there’s the future I need to worry about. Mother comes from a long line of Langstons. They were the wealthiest and most prestigious family in Edenbury for generations—owned hotel chains all over the world. Father comes from a middle-class family, but he became a millionaire after starting his own tech company. The money kept coming and before he knew what was happening, he was the second richest person in Georgia, after the Langstons. He and Mother married a few years later and their businesses grew into one massive empire. The future of all that rests on my shoulders.

Bianca tugs my hand. “Did you miss me?” She rests her head on my chest. She loves putting on a show. She doesn’t mean a word she says. I learned that a while ago.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “Missed you a lot.”

She giggles loudly, as if she wants everyone on the planet to know she’s caught me in her web.

“Nuts!” she calls, holding out her palm. Two seconds later, Mary runs up to her and places a small bag of salted cashews in her hand. Then she backs away into the shadows.

Bianca talks about random things I’m not interested in as she chews her nuts. Something about her private school and a girl she’s fighting with? I tune her out and think about hanging out with Dani at the studio tonight.

When Bianca’s done with the nuts, she drops the bag on the ground. I bend to pick it up.

A loud and deep gasp escapes her lips. “Easton, what are you doing? Mary!”

Mary rushes over and lowers her head. “I’m sorry, Miss Bianca. I tripped over a branch and—”

“I don’t care!” She gestures to me. “Easton Knight should not be sweeping garbage off the ground.”

Mary nods quickly, squeezing her eyes shut and flinching like she’s worried she’ll be hit with a stick. I notice some red liquid seeping down her leg.

“You’re hurt,” I say.

Mary lifts her skirt, exposing the gash on her knee.

Bianca sighs in annoyance. “Honestly, Mary. Would it kill you to walk straight? Take the garbage from Mr. Knight.”

Nodding vehemently, Mary holds out her hand.

I’m still looking at the gash and the blood oozing out of it. “We need to get that checked out.”

Bianca rolls her eyes. “It’s just a cut.”

Ignoring her, I gesture for Mary to follow me back into the house, where I instruct the staff to take care of her wound. Mary’s eyes are wide as they take her to another room.

Bianca just laughs. “Oh, Easton. You’re overreacting.”

“She was bleeding. You saw that gash.”

She waves her hand. “You’re sweet to worry about my maid, but she’s my maid.” She glares at me. “You had no right.”

I shake my head in disbelief, then leave the house, heading back to the gardens. Bianca catches up to me. “Those nuts made me very thirsty. And Mary isn’t here with my water.” She gives me a look like I’m responsible.

“Do you want me to call your driver to pick you up?” I ask.

She laughs, lifting my arm and pressing herself to my chest. “But you just got here. And I waited for you all night.”

I close my eyes, wishing this night would just end already. When I open my eyes, Bianca is staring at me.

“What?”

She smiles. “Just appreciating how handsome you are, that’s all.” She scans my body. “And continue working out. I need that body to be as sexy as possible. I want heads turning when we walk down the street together.” She bends forward and kisses my cheek. “Okay?”

That’s all I am to her. Something to look at. To show off.

Bianca huffs as she looks around the garden. “Where’s Mary with my water?”

Leaves rustle and Mary comes running with the bottle. Her knee is wrapped up, face puffing up as she tries to catch her breath.

Bianca grabs the bottle from her. “Took you long enough.”

“Sorry, the medic was cleaning my wound—”

“Do I look like I care? Wait until I tell Mother about this.”

Mary looks down at the ground. “I’m sorry, miss.”

Bianca’s hands fly to her hips. “I told you I hate that word!”

“Sor—yes, miss.”

I turn to Bianca. “I think it’s time for you to leave.” I hold out my arm. “I’ll escort you back inside and you can call your driver.”

She holds on to me tighter than necessary. My thoughts once again drift to the girl with wavy brown hair and that determined smile.