My Billionaire Fling by Maci Dillon
SOPHIA
Dustin Hawthorne.
“Wait,” I shake my head, unable to make sense of his words. Why does that name sound familiar?
“Your name isn’t Danny Thorne?”
His grin widens. “Not legally, but what’s a name really?”
Roman stands and protectively situates himself between Dustin, Danny, or whatever the fuck his name is.
“Cut the bullshit. Why the introduction?”
“We have a lot in common, us four.” I glance around to Roman and Jarett, who appear to be as confused as I am.
“Of course, why would my name have stuck in your memory? I’m a nobody from Texas, whereas you three became heir to the throne of the great Marcelle and Beverly Evans.”
Jarett pushes from his seat and pulls the man from his in one swift movement. “J,” Maxine warns from behind the bar. He releases him immediately, and the slimy prick takes his drink and moves to our booth. He knows it’s ours, he was here only days ago while we all sat at that very table.
Hesitantly, we follow his lead, and Maxine promises to bring my drink over in a moment and signals to the bouncer at the bottom of the stairs to keep an eye on us.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Jarett starts as the three of us sit opposite him at the booth. “We don’t care who you are, you’ll never speak of our parents again.”
Solemnly, he bows his head. “The name Simon Hawthorne mean nothing at all to you?”
I see the moment Roman connects the dots. “Simon Hawthorne was your father?”
“Yes, he was.”
“Am I missing something here?” Jarett interrupts, and I, too, make the connection.
“His father was the pilot.”
“Ah, now we’re getting somewhere.”
Jarett’s bewildered expression matches my own, but he’s first to lash out. “Is this some kind of joke to you?”
“Do I look like I’m joking? My father agreed to take that flight last minute because the usual pilot pulled out, and he needed the cash to feed his five-year-old son. But he never returned.”
Tears fall from my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dustin,” I whisper the words sincerely, knowing the heartache that little boy has had to endure.
“Sorry?” he scoffs. “My father died because somebody wanted your parents dead. A broke man suffering at the hands of a wealthy firm fighting over their billions.”
“You can’t honestly blame any of us for your father’s death. Our parents died in that same crash, you fucking asshole.” Roman leans forward, his brow creased together and his jaw clenched tightly.
“Of course not.” His smile is sinister and harrowing.
“What do you want from us?”
“I want nothing from you except to see your faces when you learn the truth.”
Dustin shimmies across the seat and out of the booth, finishing the rest of his beer as Maxine delivers my mocktail. Fuck, I wish I wasn’t on an alcohol-free diet.
“What truth?” Jarett pushes for an answer I know we’re not going to leave here without tonight.
“All will be revealed by the end of the weekend.”
We watch as he leaves the speakeasy, a place that has always felt like a second home. Right now, I feel violated and threatened in a place I’ve always felt safe and secure.
“What did I miss?” Kassidy asks, kissing Jarett and taking a seat opposite us. Jarett moves from my side to join her and fills in the blanks.
My mind wanders to the New York Times exclusive and wonder if it were him who’d sent the message earlier today. I check my phone and see Gabe has still not responded to my missed calls. I push my drink to the side. “I have to go.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home.” I don’t want to worry them, but it’s time I sorted through a box I’ve been unwilling to open since I packed it up almost two decades ago.
“Shit.” I sit back down. “Roman, you were finally going to fill us in on your good news tonight.”
He groans, and I’m quick to shut down the excuses. “Don’t you dare say it can wait. We’ve been waiting months already. What is it?”
Maxine returns to the table and takes a seat. “Yes, Roman. It’s time.”
When you know, you know, and we have to trust that time will come.
Her earlier words ring in my ears. Roman’s news has to do with Max. Is this what she’s been struggling to share?
“Okay, fine. Maxine and I, we’re…”
A smile lights up my face before he finishes the sentence. “Finally,” I clap.
All eyes fall on me, and I excuse myself for my outburst as Roman says, “We’re going into business together.”
Maxine glances at Roman, hurt visible in her eyes. That’s not what she was expecting him to say.
“What about the café?” Jarett asks, and Maxine looks ready to leave the discussion.
“I’m bringing on a new chef for the café, and I’ll continue to manage it as I’ve been doing. Max has a head chef position available here, and I’ve taken her up on the offer to branch out and put my skills to better use.”
“That’s excellent news, congratulations to you both.”
They both accept my best wishes with a less than enthusiastic, “Thank you.”
“When’s all this happening?” Jarett asks, possibly pissed he’s the last to know, considering he’s Maxine’s silent partner.
“A month from now,” Maxine answers. “Now, if that’s all the news, I’d better head back to work.”
Roman nods. “It is, and thank you, Max.”
