Page 64 of The Billionaire's Heart

“How are you calling me, then? Aren’t you supposed to stay off your phone when on a flight in fear of taking the plane down or it interfering with the radar or something? The stewardess will yell at you if you’re caught on your phone.”

I can hear him chuckle. “I’m inmyjet and the steward works forme. I don’t think he plans on yelling at me.”

“Of course you have your own jet. How could I have forgotten that?”

“You sound nervous. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I suppose I am. With security and being in this plaza, it just all feels weird.”

“What do you mean, weird, Mia? Is everything okay?” He sounds nervous himself.

“Yes, everything is fine. I’m just outside of my element here, that’s all. With security following me around and being surrounded by all this money… it just all feels very weird.”

“So, we’re okay? Nothing’s happened since I left, right?”

Smiling at his concern, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one nervous about whatever is happening between us. “No. We’re fine. Nothing’s happened since you’ve left. Actually, if I can say this without freaking you out,” I pause, worried about his reaction, “I miss you.”

Ian inhales loudly, “I miss you, too, and you can tell me whatever you want to, and I promise to never freak out about it.”

Laura opens the back door to the SUV. “We’re all good. Ready to go in?”

“I’ve got to go. Laura’s ready to walk me into the shop to see it.”

“God, I really wanted to be there with you when you first saw the place.” The disappointment is clear in his voice.

“I’ll take pictures and we’ll talk later, alright?”

“Without a doubt. I’ll call you once I land, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Go have fun, Mia. This is your dream, and you deserve nothing but the best. Enjoy it.”

“Be safe, Ian.”

“You, too.” He hangs up.

I climb out of the SUV and follow Laura into the shop in front of us. The entire time I’m looking around at the setting and it’sbeautiful. Scattered flower beds decorate the surroundings, and everything appears perfectly manicured. There’s soft classical music playing in hidden speakers, and there’s not even one cigarette butt on the ground. If I’m going to launch my business, this would be a dream location with a dream clientele.

“Hi there, Mia.” Kendall Greene, another one of my teammates from kickball, meets me at the door. “Welcome to Hibiscus Island Plaza and to Magical Moments.” She holds her hands out, welcoming me.

“I didn’t know you were the Property Manager here! How great is that?” I pull her into a hug.

She hugs me back and then turns around. “Well, what do you think?”

I look around the space and it’s perfect. The floor to ceiling windows to the sidewalk are big and that will draw in the casual shoppers. The interior has a few dressing rooms, there’s a small platform facing a bunch of mirrors where customers can see all around themselves and how they look in the dresses or suits, and there is an office with a window overlooking the entire space.

“Kendall, this is perfect.” Tears form in the corners of my eyes, and I have to fight to keep them from falling.

“You really like it? The painters will be here next Wednesday to finish up, and then the flooring guys will be here next Thursday. You should be ready to move in on the Monday after. How does that sound?”

“Fast.” I laugh and shake my head, “It sounds amazing, Kendall, really amazing.”

“Oh! I haven’t shown you the best part. Follow me.” She makes her way to the corner of the shop and there’s a door that connects this shop to the shop next door. “Here is Mia’s Corner.” Kendall opens the door.

As I walk in, I see more of the same. A beautiful interior with racks along the wall just waiting for inventory to be hung.

I never went to my prom or any of the homecoming dances that they had in my high school. It wasn’t only because of money, but also because of where I was living at the time. Group homes really aren’t conducive to normal teenage rites of passage. You’re just trying to survive without getting hooked on drugs, assaulted, or beaten. Survival is what you look forward to; not dances.

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