Page 1 of The Billionaire's Engagement

1

MILA

Ilaid back in my lounge chair, the sun kissing my oiled up skin as I sunbathed outside by the pool with a white bikini and black sunglasses on. I’m twenty-six and still lived at home with my mom and dad. I know, I should be out of the house and live independently, and I do…somewhat. I live in the little guest house on the same property and away from my parents. I guess you can say that I’m livingon my own. I’m not completely spoiled, though. I have a job and have responsibilities—it’s a compromise for my traditional Filipino parents, who were raised to believe that daughters shouldn’t leave home until she gets married. I embrace my culture, but I was born and raised in the U.S., and was more independent for their liking.

I picked up my phone and started scrolling through the Holidates app. I downloaded the app yesterday after finding out from a friend that she found an emotionalno-strings attacheddate for her holiday in exchange for her to go with him to his holiday event. My girlfriends mentioned an event at the lake for Memorial Day, so I signed up for the app to get a date for it. I didn’t want to go alone, especially when all of my friends were in relationships, and I was the last one who was single.My dad was overprotective of me, but at least my mom convinced my dad to let me go out on vacations with friends.

I scrolled through the other profiles of men who needed holidates for other events, but I wasn’t interested in them—well, not the ones I saw, anyway. I continued to look through the profiles, then a shadow covered over my phone screen from behind me. I tilted my head back, finding my dad’s best friend, Hudson Knight, standing over me.

He walked around and sat on the lounge chair next to mine. I raked my gaze down his body and back up. The tint of my sunglasses were dark, so he wouldn’t be able to see where my eyes were looking. I hoped not, anyway. Hudson had been my dad’s best friend for thirty years, longer than I’ve been born. He was tall, with a muscular, broad chest and athletic build. He had dark brown hair peppered with gray throughout, styled messy on top, and had a matching-colored short scruff covering his sharp jaw. His blue eyes were strikingly brilliant. I could get lost in them. Hudson was so fucking handsome and sexy. He was wearing a tailored suit that hugged his muscles and fit him in all the right places. I’ve had a crush on him when I was a teenager, but knew that there was no way anything would happen between us.

“Hey, Mila, how’s it going?” he asked, his voice low and raspy.

“It’s good. Trying to get some sun today. You know it’s rare to have a warm, sunny day here in San Francisco…just taking advantage of it.” I laid back down. From my peripheral vision, I noticed him eyeing my body. It could be my imagination, but I hoped it wasn’t. “What brings you by?”

“I came to see your dad, but he’s not back yet from his business trip.”

“Didn’t Dad tell you that his flight was delayed and he won’t be coming home until tomorrow?” I asked.

Hudson shook his head. “No.”

“Yeah, sorry. You can catch him here tomorrow if you need to see him.” I gave a small smile.

“Thanks, I’ll probably do that.”

Hudson and I briefly talked about my dad’s business trip and the new luxury car that Hudson just bought. Just like my father, Hudson was a billionaire. They both worked hard building their business in securities and investing in the right companies. As we continued to chat, I could see in Hudson’s expression that something was wrong. His smile didn’t meet his eyes, a lopsided grin tipped up across his handsome face.

I sat up again and faced him. “Hey, is everything okay?” I asked, my voice soft.

“I’m okay, just trying to figure things out…so, were you just on a dating app or something?” he asked. “I didn’t mean to pry?—”

My lips tilted to a crooked smile as he changed the subject. “All good, Uncle Hudson. I’m on the Holidates app, my friend recommended it to me. I’m looking for a date for an event on Memorial Day,” I explained, twisting my head toward him.

“So it’s an app to find a date for the holidays?” He cocked a brow.

I nodded, smiling. “Yes.”

“I see. Actually, that may help solve my problem.”

My brows knitted, confused.

“My ex-fiancée, Courtney, is getting married in two weeks on Memorial Day weekend, and I’m invited to attend the week-long festivities at this fancy five-star resort.”

“Okay…” I said, drawing out the word. “Do you have to go? It’s your ex, after all.”

“I have to go. If I don’t show up, it’ll look like I’m not over her. People know that she invited me.” He sighed. “I can’t go stag…I’d be the laughingstock.”

“Oh, that’s why you asked about the app. What if you try to look for a date on there?” I asked. “It’s no strings attached, so I guess that would be a good way to find a date.”

I feel so bad for Uncle Hudson, but I would do the same thing. If my ex-fiancé invited me to go to his wedding, I’d find someone to go with and make sure we looked like we were in love. Uncle Hudson’s being the bigger person to go to his ex’s wedding. I never met his ex-fiancée, only heard about her from my parents. I was away in college when he was dating her, and didn’t see my dad’s best friend during those four years.

“I think I may just have to.”

I nodded as a small, tight-lipped smile curved on my lips. “Hope you find someone to go with.”

Secretly, I hoped he’d ask me to go, but I’m his best friend’s little girl. I’m old enough to behisdaughter, and he’s been there for me since I was born. He babysat me and gave me piggyback rides, supported me when I was in Girl Scouts, and been there on every single birthday party of mine until I turned eighteen. He’s known as myUncle Hudson,even if we weren’t blood-related. He wouldn’t even consider asking me, anyway, so I pushed that idea aside.

“Thanks, Mila.” He got up, kissed the top of my head, and left the house.

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