Page 30 of Merging with the Billionaire

“I think I’m on good enough terms with Roger he won’t tell me to leave. Do you think you’ll finally feel comfortable enough to tell him about us? Once you do, we can finally go public with our relationship,” Conrad coaxed.

“I’m not sure, Conrad. I still worry what everyone will think. Let’s pray on it a bit longer.”

Though he wanted to date her openly, he didn’t want to push her and perhaps scare her enough to end things. She was too important to him to risk that. He would just have to do some praying of his own for God to grant him patience while he waited.

Conrad reached out and gently squeezed Tiffany’s arm. “I’ll see you at that picnic then. I promise to be on my best behavior.”

After going home and changing into a pair of jeans and a fresh blue-button up, Conrad had his driver deliver him to Central Park. Tiffany had explained the company’s annual picnic had been held there for the past two decades, making it a tradition started by their father, and one the siblings wished to continue even after his passing.

There was a tent set up near the falls with two large tables filled with food and drinks, along with a dozen other smaller tables with chairs. The place was decorated with fresh spring flowers on the tables and hanging light strands that brightened the tent.

Conrad entered, greeted by several people he recognized from the office. They introduced him to their families as he made his way further underneath. Towards the center, he saw Tiffany standing with a glass of punch in her hands. She was talking with several employees including Harry Stine. Conrad forced himself to not let it show how it irritated him to see her with the other man, who was so clearly interested in Tiffany in more than a professional manner. Conrad couldn’t blame the other man though, Tiffany looked amazing in a pair of white pants and a light pink cashmere top. Half her blonde hair was piled on top of her hair with the rest cascading down and around her graceful neck. She was smiling in a way that even from several feet made her face light up, making it impossible to look away.

He continued to say hello to people as he made his way towards Tiffany, trying to keep his reaction to how good she looked under wraps. All he wanted to do was grab her and plant a huge kiss on her perfect lips, but he knew that was the last thing she would want considering where they were.

“Good afternoon,” Conrad greeted with a friendly smile. “How are all of you doing?”

“We’re good, Mr. Gaines,” Harry answered, returning the smile, but it was clear it was forced because it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m surprised you made it today, considering we all assumed that since the solar energy tech merger is finished you would be moving on to other projects.”

“Miss Boswell invited me, and I figured it couldn’t hurt to come,” Conrad explained, then looking directly at Tiffany, he added, “Besides, there’s still some things at Boswell Energy that make it worth my time.”

“Planning to steal company secrets and divulge them to others?” Harry inquired snidely. “I heard it on good authority you were good friends with Daniel Maddox, which isn’t surprising; water seeks its own level after all.”

“I’m not sure where you got your information, but I am anything but friends with Mr. Maddox,” Conrad defended, gripping his fists at his side in anger.

“Really? I heard you were the one who encouraged him to undermine the company because of your rivalry with Roger Boswell. Daniel Maddox lost his job and career because two spoiled rich boys were fighting over territory.”

“Mr. Stine, that is enough,” Tiffany snapped. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Mr. Gaines is a good man and has helped this company tremendously. If you continue to attack Mr. Gaines, Mr. Maddox won’t be the only one to lose his job at Boswell Energy.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed as he swiveled his gaze from Tiffany to Conrad and back again. “I can see the rumors about the two of you are correct, too. Not surprising, since it takes a rich snob, to know one.”

Tiffany opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Harry raised his hand and continued. “And before you try to fire me, let me be the one to quit. I received a job offer from Daniel Maddox’s new start-up company, which considering the direction this company is headed, I have no desire to stick around.”

Harry turned on his heels and took off, leaving a flabbergasted Tiffany and Conrad in his wake.

“I can honestly say, I didn’t see that coming,” Conrad observed. “Man, that guy has a temper.”

“Looks like I dodged a bullet by refusing to go on a date with him, not to mention a potential wrongful termination complaint down the road.”

Conrad chuckled. “He did you a favor by quitting; good riddance to bad rubbish.”

Tiffany’s eyes grew round with surprise by Conrad’s statement, then her face scrunched up in the most adorable way right before she joined in and laughed with Conrad.

They spent the next hour talking with various employees and managers from the company, making the rounds. Several times, out of the corner of his eye, Conrad found Roger watching them. Each time, he seemed more irritated than the last time Conrad observed him. Why did he hate Conrad spending time with Tiffany so much? Their own father saw the merit of Conrad with Tiffany, why couldn’t Roger?

“I think I’ve had one too many glasses of punch,” Tiffany confessed. “I need to visit the ladies’ room. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t get into any trouble while I’m gone.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Conrad teased with a lopsided grin. “But I can’t promise anyone else won’t want to start trouble with me.”

“Maybe you should just come with me,” Tiffany suggested with a weary sigh.

Pushing his hands in his pockets, he relented easily. “Lead the way. I’ll never pass up the chance to get a few minutes alone with you.”

They exited the tent and made their way over to the luxurious portable bathrooms. Leave it to the rich to be uppity enough to need high-end bathrooms even at the park. He’d been at events like this before, where the custom trailers sported suites for both women and men including hands-free pedal flush white ceramic china toilets, full vanities with granite countertops, air conditioning, and even a bathroom attendant for each suite.

“Will you wait for me here?” Tiffany requested, before turning to ascend the steps that led inside the ladies’ room.

He couldn’t help himself. The overwhelming need to kiss her pushed all rational thoughts out of his mind. Before she made it past the first step, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back towards him.

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