Page 18 of The Bossy Billionaire

I swallow as I think of Huxley. He keeps appearing, no matter how mean or short I am with him. He makes me uncomfortable and at ease all at the same time. Our phone conversations are now almost daily and are lasting longer and longer. I actually look forward to them now. Hearing his voice, learning about business, getting to know each other. My stomach is in knots, knowing that I will see him tonight. I feel a buzz of excitement too. We have only ever spent time together at the shop or talking shop. Tonight will be more casual, out of our usual routine. I am not sure what to expect.

It has been a long time since a man had his hands on my body, and all week I have thought of nothing other than Huxley’s hand on my back. Huxley’s grip on my waist was firm. I could feel the heat of his palms through my shirt, and when his hot breath skirted across my neck, I nearly buckled. I am scared to admit I liked it and now I don’t know what to do with that feeling. He is a playboy, well known for the variety of women he has on his arm. I’m a bookworm, now thrust into this luxurious life, with my brothers still trying to navigate everything and doing a poor job of it all.

“Stop fidgeting, you will be fine,” Katie says from next to me, looking at my hands as my fingers tangle together on my lap.

“You will have fun, Lucy. It will be a good night, I promise you,” Eddie says, trying to assure me.

“I’m fine. It’s just been a while since I was out like this,” I say, waving my arms over myself. I can’t remember the last time I dressed up like this. Maybe college? A sparkling red gown runs the length of my body, doing wonders for my curves. It’s figure-hugging, but not too tight, and I have no idea where the girls got it from, but Eddie was as surprised as I was when I looked at myself in the mirror. I am so used to jeans and baggy sweaters that I hadn’t realized how much weight I have lost. I assumed since I can no longer run every day that the weight would pile on, but it hasn’t.

“You look hot. All the single men in the room are going to be falling over themselves to get you tonight,” Katie says slyly, giving me a cheeky wink that Eddie can’t see.

“They won’t come near you. No one would be game enough,” Eddie growls, and I roll my eyes. My brothers are going to be so overprotective tonight, I can already tell.

“We’re here. Ready, girls?” Eddie sits forward, looking at us both. He looks very dapper in his tuxedo and Katie looks beautiful too. They are so good together.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say quietly, looking out the car window. There is a large red carpet flanked by the media. Cameras flash, journalists have microphones. I can see Beth and Harrison fronting the media, and Tennyson and Willow are nearby. Ben and Emily are right behind us. We are a whole motorcade of Rothschilds. No wonder the cameras are flashing incessantly.

“God, this is insane,” Katie murmurs as the door opens and Eddie steps out.

“You’re telling me,” I say back to her as we shuffle down the seat in our gowns to the door.

“Let’s just take all the bottles of champagne and then go back to my place and watch movies all night,” she says, smiling.

“Deal. Do you think we can leave before appetizers?” I ask jokingly. There is no way we can escape to watch movies, unfortunately.

“I’ll tell Tony to drive around the block a few times and come back and get us. Your brothers won’t even know,” she says, rolling her eyes, both knowing all four of my brothers will be watching every move I make tonight.

“Coming?” Eddie pokes his head back in the car to hurry us up.

“Let’s go.” I follow Katie out of the car, and the cameras click even faster.

Nerves get the better of me as I step out and stand up, pushing my shoulders back, and I look up at the crowd. I hear my name being shouted, the camera flashes bright, and I go to push my glasses up my face before I remember they aren’t there.

I swallow and take a breath, feeling a little lost without them. I have nothing to hide behind. The prescriptive contact lenses that I now wear are something that Katie organized for me as a surprise for tonight. She ordered them last week when we got my new glasses for the business summit. My look tonight was put together entirely by her and Brian. The dress, although floor-length, is strapless and shows off my bust, and the thigh-high split up the side parts a little as I walk up the red carpet, highlighting my good leg.

Showing off my body in this way is not something I do, but as I look at all the women around me, I understand anything less and I would have stood out for the wrong reason. I remind myself to thank Katie later for organizing it all for me. As I walk a little slower behind them both, I wait for my brother Ben and his wife Emily to get out of their car.

“Looking good, Lucy,” Ben says, his smile wide, leaning over and giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“Just breathe, it will be over soon,” Em whispers to me, giving me a squeeze, and I smile and nod. I have a feeling I will be doing that all night.

“Hey, come on, let's go join the crew,” Ben says, and I walk with them and join the rest of the Rothschild family. This gala tonight is put on by the Rothschild Foundation. Money donated will go to their many charities, including a particular literacy program they are trying to get off the ground that interests me. I don’t know too much about it, as I still need to talk to Eddie about the details, but I’m hoping he will let me be involved in some small way.

“Lucy, how’s the leg?”

“Lucy, what’s it like being related to the Rothschilds?”

“Lucy, where is your date tonight?”

The media questions come thick and fast, and I continue to smile and nod, but remain silent. While Willow has given me some media training, it really isn’t my forte. I prefer to stay behind the scenes, not liking being front and center at all.

“Here she is. Thanks for coming, you look amazing,” my eldest brother, Harrison, says, walking toward me with his arms wide. The cameras have a field day as he steps to me, giving me a kiss on the cheek in greeting. Tonight is a big deal for him. The media surrounding him lately has escalated due to his soon-to-be-announced presidential run. Something I still have no real grasp on yet know that it is going to be a big deal. To him. To the family. To me.

“Thank you. You too,” I say, smiling, giving him a squeeze. I like feeling part of them and being here together. We clash sometimes, but I know they have my back if I need them. I see Willow, Tennyson, and Beth talking to the media, so I let them be.

A photo! Family photo?

The paparazzi start to yell out, and I stiffen a little as my brothers gather around. I hate having my photo taken. But as Harrison scoops me in tight, the girls and the rest of the boys join us and the cameras flash so much that my eyes water. Through it all, I continue to smile and nod. It’s not unpleasant, but my mouth is already hurting from smiling so much.

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