Page 10 of Billionaire Temptations

I steppedinto the marble-tiled shower and let the hot water bead down the front of me while I tried to take in everything that had happened. I lost my loan to Parsons. I moved to New York. I got engaged to a man I had just met last night, and I was going to be wearing an entire outfit that cost over fifteen hundred dollars to dinner with his parents, parents who believed that I was the love of their son’s life. It was only for three months. I needed to keep reminding myself of that. I did the right thing, right? I was second-guessing myself and my decision now that I was alone and had time to absorb it. I was nothing but an ordinary girl who lived in a doublewide trailer her whole life. Everything I had was worked for. Nothing was ever given to me, including the tuition payment for Parsons. I was working onthat, like an actress. Playing a role, a part, one that probably could have won me an Academy Award.

I stepped out of the shower, put on my makeup, and threw a few curls at the ends of my long, blonde hair, deciding to pull the sides back and pin it up with a pretty pearl hair clip that Aubrey bought me for my birthday. Slipping into my dress, I struggled to zip it up. Somehow, I managed, and then I slipped on my ring. As I held out my hand and stared at the beauty of the diamond, there was a knock on the door.

“Hey.” I gulped when I saw Max standing there in a pair of black dress pants and a white dress shirt with the top three buttons undone underneath a matching black blazer.

“You look gorgeous.” He smiled as he stepped inside.

“Thanks. You’re looking pretty hot yourself, Mr. Hamilton.”

“Are you ready to have dinner with the folks? There’s been a change of plans, and we’re meeting at a restaurant instead.”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Let me grab my shoes.”

We walked out of the apartment building and climbed into the back seat of a Rolls Royce.

“Emma, I would like you to meet Darren. He’s another one of my drivers.”

“Hi, Darren. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, Emma.” He smiled as he looked back at me.

“Darren is the only one who knows about our little arrangement. I trust him with my life. If you need him for anything, you are to give him a call. He’ll take you wherever you need to go. Hand me your phone, and I’ll put his number in for you.”

“I thought no one was supposed to know.”

He put in Darren’s number and handed me my phone as he placed his fingers under my chin.

“Like I said, I trust him with my life.”

Chapter Five

We stepped inside Shay Gardens,and I was blown away by the décor. Round tables spread across the two-level restaurant with gold-colored tablecloths and beautifully lit candles that sat in the center. The dark wood trim that surrounded the restaurant was elegantly carved, and the finest paintings hung on the walls. The hostess showed us to the table where Max’s parents were waiting for us.

“You’ve arrived.” His mom smiled as she lightly hugged Max and then me. “You look stunning, Emma.”

“Thank you.” I smiled as Max pulled out my chair.

I looked over and saw a beautiful young girl sitting across from me. “Emma, I would like you to meet Fiona, my sister.”

“Hello, Fiona.”

“Hey,” she said with a fake smile. I could tell already that she didn’t like me.

“Oh my God!” Max’s mom exclaimed as she grabbed my left hand. “You got your ring. It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it is. You did a nice job, Max.” His dad smiled.

“Have you two set the date yet?” Fiona glared at Max.

“No. Not yet. It probably won’t be for a couple of years. Emma wants to finish school first.”

Both his parents grilled me about my background and my childhood. I had to make it sound better than it was because they’d think I wasn’t good enough for their son. Hell, I didn’t think I was good enough for him. I told them I grew up in Miami in a very influential neighborhood and that my parents were successful businesspeople. I didn’t want to give out too much information in case they decided to check out my story. I wouldn’t put it past these people, especially ones who would put an engagement stipulation on their son’s trust fund. After we finished dinner and dessert, we said our goodbyes and climbed into the Rolls Royce.

“What a success! My parents adore the shit out of you.”

“I’m not so sure about your sister.”

“Ignore her. She’s seventeen going on thirty. She has an opinion about everything and everyone.”

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