Page 35 of Grumpy Billionaire Seeking Wife

“It had nothing to do with that, Sabrina,” I say, frowning. Does she really think that the reason I didn’t hook up with her is because I don’t find her attractive? Is she that delusional? Doesn’t she know how absolutely gorgeous she is? “It had everything to do with you being drunk and being Erica's best friend. Plus, I didn't want to be...” I clear my throat as I catch myself. I couldn't say I didn't want to be her first. Mainly because it isn't true and because Erica and Miles don't know the full truth.

“Why, thanks, Wes. You're so thoughtful.”

“Well, I’m just being honest, and I hope you understand that.”

“I’m glad we got that out in the open,” Erica says quickly, though I can tell from her expression that she has something else on her mind. “Sabrina, I wish you had told me, but I understand why you didn’t. Wes, stop being a jackass, and let’s just move on. Obviously, it didn’t happen, and Sabrina, you don’t need to be embarrassed because you know my brother is a pig. And, Wes, if you were rude to my best friend when you turned her down for a kiss, you owe her an apology. You would have been so lucky.”

“I owe her an apology? I’m the one who was a gentleman. I’m the one who walked away. I’m the one who should be on your frigging podcast as Mr. Darcy.” This is some revisionist history if ever I saw it. I wonder what they would be saying if I had banged the living daylights out of Sabrina. I bite down on my lip. Fuck, I would have been in real trouble if I'd taken both of her cherries, but I cannot even allow myself to think about that.

Sabrina bursts out laughing, then. “You are not even close to being Mr. Darcy. No way, Jose.” She punches me in the shoulder. "Delusional much?"

“Who would I be compared to if I were on your podcast, then?”

“Freddy Krueger,” Sabrina says without thinking, and it’s my turn to start laughing.

“So, you consider me a nightmare?”

“Yep!” she says, grinning. “I do.”

"I don’t think I can move forward in sponsoring a podcast when one of the hosts thinks I’m Freddy Krueger in a nightmare,” I joke.

“Oh, my gosh, shut up!” Erica says, rolling her eyes. “Are you going to give us the money or not?”

“I’m still waiting on some figures.” I change my tone. "What are you both asking for?"

“A hundred grand,” Erica says immediately.

“A hundred grand?” I stare at her. “Get out of town. There’s no way.”

“Fine. Seventy-five grand.”

“Seventy-five thousand dollars?”

“I mean, we need salaries.”

“Don’t you know, in business, you don’t pay yourself until you’re making a profit?”

“We have to live.” Erica shrugs. "This will be our full-time job."

“Well, Sabrina, don’t you still work at the old people’s home?”

“It’s known as a senior center, and, yes, I do.”

“And, Erica, don’t you still have that part-time job at the coffee shop?”

“Yeah, but…” She makes a face.

“Then I think you guys are going to have to keep those jobs, and I’ll give you twenty-five grand to start. I want to hear the first two episodes, and I will decide after that if I think you warrant a larger investment. What do you say, Miles?"

"I concur." He nods, though I notice his eyes are still on Sabrina, as if he's considering her in another light. I don't like it, and I'm going to have to chat with him in private. If he even so much as thinks of asking Sabrina on a date, he's going to be in a lot of trouble.

Chapter Eleven

Sabrina

My heart is racing. I feel like a liar, but there is no way I was going to admit to Erica that I'd begged her brother to take my virginity. That I'd pictured him telling me he loved me and us getting together. I had been absolutely delusional. For some reason, I'd thought he'd felt the same way I had. I thought he'd been in to me, as well. It had all been in my head, and I was never looking back again.

"So, what do you think?" Wes says. "Twenty-five grand, okay?" Erica and I exchange grins. We did it. We have the first sponsor for our podcast, and I am ecstatic. Even if it is Wes. Twenty-five grand is twenty-five grand, and that’s a lot of money. Not exactly life-changing money, but maybe career-changing. We could really make a go of this.

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