Page 20 of The Billionaires

I shake my head, then realize she can’t see me. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

All the women I’ve met in recent years have viewed me as a piggybank with a cock, and in return, I think of them as nothing more than a way to silence biology. It was worse when I was younger and moneyless, though. They didn’t see me as anything at all.

“Don’t be coy,” Gram says sternly. “It’s all over the internet.”

Caligula nibbles on my shoe as I pull my phone away to gape at it.

“Hello?” Gram’s tinny voice sounds from the speaker. “You there?”

“I’m going to need to call you back,” I say, bringing the phone back to my ear.

“No way, mister. I demand?—”

“Two minutes.” Before she can object, I end the call—the first time I’ve hung up on her in my life.

A text from Gram arrives instantly, sparing me from having to Google myself—which is why I got off the phone. The message contains an emoji of two revolving hearts and a link to an article with a picture of me and Juno coming out of my building, along with enough lies to make the most crooked politician proud.

I grit my teeth as I scan the article. The author is that idiot reporter. I’ve turned down his bungling attempts to interview me, but he hasn’t given up and stalks me like I’m some dumb celeb. Does he not realize that I could buy his tawdry publication and fire him with one phone call? Or have my security team dig up all kinds of dirt on him and have it published in the?—

My phone vibrates again.

I pick up on autopilot as Malfoy takes his turn nibbling at my foot.

“See, I know everything,” Gram says. “And I’m so happy. The happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

I shake my head—which doesn’t clear it. “You’re happy?”

“Of course,” she says with a girlish giggle. “When I heard the news, I got so excited my blood pressure dropped.”

I snatch my foot away before Caligula bites it. His teeth are the sharpest of the three, and I happen to like the shoes I have on. “I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to go the other way.”

“Nope. It dropped. Also, I’ve been feeling pretty weak lately, but I didn’t tell you so you wouldn’t worry. But as soon as I read that article, I felt ten years younger.”

Here we go again.

“Say you’ll introduce the two of us,” Gram wheedles. “Can you imagine how much such a meeting would improve my health?”

Yep. She’s manipulating me. This is signature Gram. I’m certain this health stuff is total bullshit, but one day, it might not be. She’s under the care of the best doctors, but still, she’s in her eighties. If I ever ignored one of her requests and her health declined afterward, I’d never forgive myself.

Except I can’t give her this one. I can’t have her meet my non-existent girlfriend. Unless… A crazy idea flits through my mind.

“Seriously,” Gram says. “Please let me meet her. I need to make sure she’s good enough for my pumpkin.”

I sigh, loudly. “I’ll have to think about this.”

“What’s there to think about?” she asks querulously. “Are you ashamed of your Gram?”

She is really laying it on thick today. “I’m not ashamed.” As I say this, I decide that maybe the idea is not so crazy after all. Pivoting with the same swiftness I apply to business, I say evenly, “It’s just that this thing is new. I don’t want Juno to feel like things are moving too fast.”

“Her name is Juno?” Gram sounds as excited as my ferrets are acting. “I love that name!”

“It’s a nice name.” Unlike the owner of the name, but Gram doesn’t need to know that.

“Okay,” Gram says. “If it’s too soon, I’ll wait. But keep in mind, I’m not a spring chicken.”

This again? She really wants this.

“I should go,” I say. “Juno is probably expecting my call.”

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