Page 31 of The Billionaire's Wife

“It’s inappropriate.” It’s the truest thing I’ve said in this conversation. Because as much as I might want to date Ella, it’s not appropriate. None of this entire situation was appropriate, so I should really distance myself from it as much as possible.

Because if I’m honest with myself, I regret what happened. I regret giving into my desires and doing what I did with Ella. It had been the best week of my life, but deep down, I know it wasn’t fair to her. It had been a monumental abuse of power. I’d hired her to do a job. A job that I’d assured her wouldn’t include anything inappropriate. And then we went ahead and did that anyway. And it’s all my fault. And to act on my continuing desires and try to make this relationship go further? I don’t know how she feels. It could make her uncomfortable, make her feel used, and worst—endanger her job. I’d hate to have her quit and lose business all because I couldn’t keep my emotions in check.

No, as much as I like Ella—as much as I’m obsessed with her and find my nights consumed by visions of her—I can’t act on it.

Aiden sighs but doesn’t respond. And if I know anything about Aiden, he’s silent when he knows I’m right but doesn’t want to admit defeat.

“I don’t know, man,” he finally says. “Your relationship with her was already toeing the line. I don’t think there’s any harm in telling her how you feel. The worst she can say is no, and knowing you, if she did, you’d respect that.” He chuckles. “But I doubt she’d say no.”

I roll my eyes, standing from the desk. “Doesn’t matter. What matters now is going out for celebratory drinks because we just closed the deal of a lifetime,” I say with a grin. “Let’s go find Asher.”

At the mention of drinks, Aiden concedes, and we head off to find our brother.

Chapter 19

Ella

I stare in utter shock at the amount showing up in my mobile banking app. $100,987. My jack is slack just taking in the numbers. Holy. Fucking. Shit.

A laugh bubbles up my throat, and I can’t even stop it. I think back to last week when I’d forlornly looked out at the Caribbean Ocean, sure I’d never see it again. Maybe I could spare a bit of this vet school money and take myself on another vacation. Surely that wouldn’t be too irresponsible, would it? Julia had said Aruba was nice.

And while the high from this money is definitely coursing through my veins, I can’t help but think back to last week a bit sadly.

I haven’t seen Alec since. I’ve been by to walk Betty a handful of times, but each time, he isn’t there. Which isn’t wholly unusual, but I thought we’d speak at least a little.

I feel stupid just thinking about it. What was I expecting? That this handsome, rich, successful man would fall madly in love with me and want more than just a mere few days of hooking up? He held up his end of the deal, Ella, I remind myself. You pretended to be his wife. He paid you. It’s over now.

Julia’s words of wisdom are fading as the days pass by. It doesn’t matter what she thought she saw. If Alec was interested, he’d have acted interested by now. It’s not complicated.

If only I could make my heart understand that.

I reach down to pop a kiss onto Howard’s head before grabbing my keys and heading for the door. I decide that tonight is celebratory, so I’ll be splurging on high end sushi, and I’ll grab a bone for Howard too.

But first, I need to walk Betty. I feel bad that walking her now fills me with dread. It’s not Betty’s fault. She’s a sweetheart. If only her owner wasn’t so complicated.

I tug my jacket tight around my body as I walk from my place to Alec’s, missing the warm Caribbean sun.

When I enter the building, I take the elevator to the top floor and unlock the door to Alec’s apartment. I step inside and am immediately greeted by an excited Betty, jumping up and down and whining.

“Hi there, girl,” I say, leaning down to fix her leash. “Ready for a nice walk?”

I take Betty outside, and together we stroll through the neighborhoods. The drizzle seems to be letting up a bit today, which I’m happy about. I can’t wait for actual spring to arrive, when the cherry trees blossom and flowers litter every side street.

After a long and satisfying walk, I bring Betty back to the apartment. I walk in, unclasping Betty’s leash and turning to hang it on the hook by the doorway. It’s then that I feel a presence in the room, and I turn to see Alec looking just as surprised as I feel.

“Hey,” I say softly. I don’t know why I’m surprised. It’s his home, after all.

“Hi,” he answers. He stands from a barstool at the kitchen counter where he’d been sitting, walking over to me. “How have you been?” He seems to ask the question genuinely, but there’s a tension in the air, as if he’s unsure how to act. Which, to be fair, I am too. I spent the last week pretending to be his wife.

And sleeping in his bed.

And now … we’re just back to normal?

It feels so weird and terrible and … wrong.

“Good,” I lie. “I got your deposit. Thank you.”

He nods. “Glad it went through okay.”

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