Page 26 of The Billionaire's Heart

Sawyer:Are you sure? ‘Cuz that’s not what the internet is saying.

He sends me a screenshot, and it’s me and Mia standing next to the Sutherlands and the caption says, ‘Wedding bells are ringing, and hearts are breaking’.

Me:What the hell?! It was one date for the charity gala. These assholes never did this to Maria.

Sawyer:You never kissed Maria in public. If you’re not getting married, you might want to call and tell Mom before she’s got the entire wedding planned by this afternoon. Oh, and you might want to warn your date what’s about to happen to her life.

Me:Gotta go.

Sawyer:Hey, if you don’t want her, I’ll take her. She’s hot.

I growl at my brother’s text and ignore it. Then he sends some flame emojis and I text him back about a hundred middle fingers.

I jump in the shower and get cleaned up as I rehearse what I’m going to tell Mia and how I’m going to have to fix this mess. Her life is about to become a fishbowl, not unlike that princess from London all those years ago.

I climb out of the shower and, as I’m drying off, I get another text. Probably the first of many, many texts I’m going to get over the next few days.

Sutherland:Congratulations, Ian. I knew you two were meant to be together. You both had that sparkle in your eyes last night whenever you looked at each other, although I had no idea you were going to propose! I’m so proud of you. Looking forward to an invitation to the festivities. We’ll talk later this week about finalizing the deal. We have much to discuss.

Fuck me. What the hell am I going to do now? He thinks Mia and I are getting married, and he’s hinted at this merger is going to go through. Now what?

The first thing I do is send a group text to both my parents and Sawyer telling them not to believe what they see online and that I’ll explain everything when I get back to Hibiscus Harbor.

The next thing I do is contact my security team and make arrangements for close protection from the hotel to the airport. I rarely need them when I’m in Washington, so I don’t have them travel with me, but now I’m rethinking that strategy.

Thankfully, Hughes International can have someone here within the hour and then have someone meet us at the airport when we land in Hibiscus Harbor. I’ve also had them set up around the clock security for Mia until this all blows over.

As I make my way down to the eighteenth floor, I order breakfast to be delivered to her room. I want to catch Mia before she goes downstairs to the lobby because it will be filled with cameras, reporters, and the like.

I also make arrangements to have the driver bring the car around to the back of the hotel to pick us up when we’re done eating. Having the driver pick us up in the back is the best way to avoid as many paparazzi as possible. Some are smart enough to go back there and wait for us, but most will be out in front of the hotel. The tour is going to have to wait until next time.

If there is a next time.

I knock on Mia’s door. “Mia. It’s Ian.”

She opens the door dressed in jeans and a turquoise top. “Good morning, Mr. Gallo.” She smiles brightly. “I thought we were meeting downstairs. Did I get that wrong?”

I shake my head, realizing she hasn’t seen the news yet. “No, but we need to talk before we go down there. Can I come in?”

She opens the door wider to allow me to enter. “Is everything okay? You look upset.”

All the rehearsing I did in the shower and in the elevator down here evaporates from my head.

Mia walks to the window. “Hey, look. There must be a big celebrity here. There’s like fifty news vans outside and a lot of people standing around waiting for a glimpse of them. The police even put up barricades.” She laughs. “I wonder who the poor soul is. Can’t even get some privacy when on vacation.” She shakes her head. “Piranhas. I would hate that kind of life.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her, but I don’t have a choice either. These are the last few moments before her life changes for the foreseeable future. “Mia.You’rethe celebrity they’re here to see.”

She laughs at me. “You’re funny.”

There’s a knock at the door. “Room service.”

“I didn’t order room service.” Mia says with a confused look on her face.

“I did. Go into the other room while I have him bring in the tray.”

“Why?”

“I’ll explain in a minute. Just go in the other room, Mia.” I don’t mean to snap at her. “Please, Mia.” I plead softly.

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