Page 65 of The Billionaire's Heart

That’s why I’ve always wanted to open a place where cost isn’t a factor at all. A place where people can donate their items for not only parties, dances, and such but also business clothes for interviews or for a first job. Looking the part is half of the interview and if I didn’t have a neighbor that felt sorry for me and gave me some of her rejected clothes to wear to work and on interviews, I probably wouldn’t be here right now. Ironically enough, it was the same neighbor that screwed my boyfriend, James. I suppose I ended up paying for those clothes.

Mia’s Corner will be that place where it doesn’t matter about your social status or income. Just that you have a need. And it’ll be a place where people that have items they no longer need or want can donate them and keep them out of the landfills. It’s a win-win as far as I’m concerned.

“So, what do you think, Mia?” Kendall asks me again because I’ve apparently lost the ability to speak.

I pull her into another hug as I whisper, “It’s perfect.”

“No tears, dear. This is your dream.” She pulls back, “Over here I thought you could have a kids’ section because kids need fancy clothes, too, sometimes, right?”

“Right.”

“Magical Moments and Mia’s Corner will be great additions to the shops here at Hibiscus Island Plaza. I think you’re going to rock this, Mia. Why don’t we go over the leases and the other business so that you can get started?”

“Sounds like a brilliant plan. Lead the way.” I follow Kendall into the office in Magical Moments and have to pinch myself.

This is really happening.

Chapter 30

Ian

Mia called me last night and talked about her new locations for about an hour before we even talked about anything else. Her excitement is contagious; I just wished I could have been there to support her in person. I was afraid that I would burst her happy bubble she was in when I told her that the interview that we did the other day was going to air this morning on national television, but she didn’t care.

At least she told me she didn’t care. I hope she was being honest with me because although the interview will help shut many people up, it won’t eliminate the haters. They’ll still be around and trying to stir up some shit.

When I arrived in Seattle yesterday, it was a shitstorm, but not as bad as I was expecting. My former west coast division manager, Eric, had hired an assistant that I had no idea about and wasn’t an approved expense. No wonder this division is so over budget. Eric was just running his own show over here.

The assistant’s name is Randall and apparently, he seems to have a lot of things under control. When I walked into the office yesterday afternoon, unannounced of course, Randall was reading a vendor the riot act and demanding that they get on schedule before the end of the week, or they’ll need to workthrough the long holiday weekend. Seems that the construction industry was planning on taking Monday off since Tuesday is the Fourth of July. Not if they’re this far behind.

After going over the status of every single project that is currently active and all the other ones that are still waiting to get started, I realized I may not need to replace Eric with someone new. Randall seems to have it all under control and, at the end of the day, handed me his resume and told me he’d like to apply for the position. I thanked him for all his efforts and commended his knowledge of all aspects of the projects. I’ll definitely consider him for the position.

I’m drinking my tea, which is amazing since I’m in the coffee capital of the country, while waiting for the interview to show on television when my phone rings and my stupid brother’s face pops up on my screen.

“Hey.” I answer.

“Hey. I just heard about Eric. What a fucker. Do you need me to go out there?” Even though he’s my little brother and can be a pain in my ass, he’s my best friend and has the same business sense I do, which is why his construction empire is almost as big as Gallo Enterprises. And he always has my back; just like I have his.

“No. I’m already here. I flew out yesterday. Hey, do you know a…” I grab Randall’s resume to find his last name, “Randall Patterson?”

“I’ve heard of him. Why?”

“What have you heard? Because Eric had hired him as his assistant, but when I got here yesterday, he had already jumped in and started running the show out here. Seems to have it all under control, but I don’t want to jump the gun, ya know?”

“No, yeah, I get it. I’ve heard good things about him. He used to work for Smith and Co. before they folded. He was the onethat kept them afloat for the last year before they finally closed up shop. He’s a good kid.”

“Seems to know his shit, but he’s young.”

“So. You were, too, once and look at you now.”

The interview Mia and I did is on and playing in the background. I don’t need to know what we’re saying. We’re the ones that said it. But I wanted to make sure that they did our relationship justice.

“Look at that. My big brother is on theToday Show.” Sawyer teases me.

“Yep.”

We both watch the entire interview still on the phone and when it ends, Sawyer laughs. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was actual love.”

“You don’t know any better, Sawyer.”

---