Page 58 of Mr. Billionaire's Second Chance

Chapter Eighteen

Preston

I got the call that morning that jolted me out of bed, the incessant ringing sounded like it was drilling a hole in my brain when I finally picked up.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Mr. Clarke. I wanted to remind you about the gala you have this evening.”

“What gala, Claire?”

“The one where you’re being honored as New York Business Properties Association businessman of the year?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I would’ve thought they pulled out.”

“It seems like the committee was unfazed by all the publicity around your persona.”

“Thank you, Claire.”

I hung up the phone, feeling frustrated. The last thing I wanted to do was make a public appearance alone, and I knew there was only one person I wanted to accompany me. I dialed her number.

“Preston. You’re up early,” said Katherine.

“Claire just woke me up to remind me about the gala I’m supposed to attend tonight. I wanted to know if you’re up for another wild adventure. This time, in the public eye,” I told her.

There was an impenetrable silence on the other end of the line for a moment.

“What would everyone say when they find out that you took me as your date? The press would have a field day.”

“The press is going to have a field day regardless. It’s time we reclaim the damn narrative and give them something worth talking about. What do you say, Kat? Be my date? Drive everyone a little wild?”

I heard her chuckle and I smiled.

“You’re absolutely crazy, you know that?”

“Crazy, yes. Tired of having to hide the fact that I’m falling in love with you, also yes.”

I could’ve sworn I heard an audible gasp coming from the phone pressed tightly to my ear and I could practically hear just how widely she was smiling.

“If I were to go, what exactly would I wear?”

“Don’t you worry about that. I’ll send over a gown.”

“Preston…”

“Oh, you’ll love it. See you tonight at seven o’clock sharp.”

I hung up before she could get another word in and I was beaming. With you there, I can get through tonight. Who knows what the hell I’ll even be doing in a week or so when the investigation wraps up. It’s time to enjoy all the shit I never got a chance to because I let work consume me. It’s time to let loose a little.

The black town car pulled up in front of Katherine’s building, and I buzzed up, making my way inside to meet her at her door. She opened it up and my jaw dropped to the floor. There she stood in her floor-length black gown, her hair pulled back into a curled updo, and that diamond necklace I handpicked for her ages ago. It still shone perfectly underneath the warm lighting in her apartment, and she grabbed her purse, about to head out the door when I pulled her in close.

“You look absolutely gorgeous,” I said.

She kissed me softly, and I wished I could take her right back inside, helping her out of this dress so we could spend the night alone.

“You look good too, you know? There’s nothing I like better than seeing you in an evening suit,” she said, teasingly.

“Oh yeah?”

---