Page 70 of Heiress Billionaire

“Wait, so… you’re going on our date tonight?”

“Where are we going?” She perks up like I’m telling her we’re going to buy her dinner and ice cream.

“We aren’t going anywhere. I’ll be going on dates with Esperanza, alone.”

She presses her lips together. “Nope. Not anymore. Nice talking to you as always.” She pats me on the arm and turns around, but I lay a hand on her shoulder, spinning her effortlessly back around.

“Hey.” She swats at me, but I don’t move it.

“I’m in charge here.”

“And I think I can call the shots about this. Unless you want me to get Vince involved and the bodyguards can be around both of you twenty-four-seven.”

“You’re bluffing.”

She shrugs with a grin that tells me she would.

“This is bullshit. I want to talk to Espie.”

“Espie?” Her brows cock upwards, and I remember that I don’t call her that— not to anyone but Espie herself, and only on our good days, not our bad— never our bad. I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes down at her wide one’s. She knows she’s won this round, but I’ll be damned if she gets exactly what she wants. And I might just have the most perfect plan to resolve this little hiccup in my plans.

I plaster on a smile that I hope she can tell I’m forcing, and breathe a soft laugh through my nose. “I’m being silly. Thank you for caring about us both enough to chaperone.” Her face drops instantly, and for a fleeting second, I feel like I’ve won.

“Y-yeah…” She draws out as I turn away from her and practically skip down the hall just to seem like an unfazed asshole— it’s my best look, after all. I can’t wait for our little date tonight, considering how much work I’ll have to do to pull everything off. And I will, pull everything off so good I’ll have everyone on my side by the end of the night.

Chapter Twenty Four:Espie

So,I’m going to be late for my date tonight. Everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. First, and most irritating— Olive is going on my dates from now on, this one included. Second, the power has gone out today multiple times for no apparent reason.

Olive checked on it a couple of times, but was told to stay in her room. Super weird, and now we have to wait to style my hair because it’s pitch black except for the few candles I lit in a large decorative lantern on the counter.

“Can we please ask Barth to resolve this issue already?”

“You know, I’m not seeing him as much. Asking favors from him only confuses us both.”

“Confuses?” I repeat with a sideways glance.

“Yeah. He likes me, you know.” She proudly smiles before her warm sage eyes go all sad and turned down at the corners.

“He’s still not talking to you much.” She pouts her lips to the side, shaking her head as she pulls a cream hoodie over this earthy green tiered dress. Somehow she pulls it off, but if I were to try to wear that, I’d look like a crazy person. She always has the most interesting outfit combinations. She says it’s vintage, but I say it’s too much work when you can stick to modern designers and runway looks.

Just as I’m squinting at my blush in the dark, holding it up to the dim light of the candles, the power turns back on and Olive rushes to me with the curling wand as she’s plugging it in. She styles my hair while I finish my makeup.

I go for a soft look, something not too over the top. Dark brown eyeshadow that looks very natural, turning my eyes up at the corners, deep berry cheeks and lips that look subtle and dewy, and finally, a little shimmer. Some at the tip of my nose, then inner corners, and tips of my cheek bones. That was Olive’s idea, and I have to say, it was brilliant because it really ties it all together.

I can’t really be pissed at her right now, not as much as I want to be because it will give away how disappointed I really am that she’s going to be third-wheeling my dates. I won’t be alone with him again unless we can figure out a different system than we have going right now.

A nervous breath escapes me as I think about the entire jumbled mess I’ve made with the relationship between my heart and head.

“What’s wrong?” Olive lightly asks, probably thinking that it’s her causing most of my frustration right now— which is only partially true.

I bite my bottom lip, tensing my brows as I search for something to say. “Just hope Vince is making headway, is all.” I shrug, and she offers a sympathetic smile for words that feel a little less true than they did a few months ago.

“I promise, everything is going fine. Just keep playing along and stay an appropriate distance from him.” She grabs another strand of my hair. “Luckily, I’m going to help with part of that from now on.”

“Yes.” I nod, putting my makeup brush down because I’m satisfied with the way my makeup has turned out.

“Dress?” Olive asks as she leaves the bathroom to grab it from the closet. I take a look at myself in the mirror— an oversized Metallica t-shirt that I told Olive I found at the thrift store, but it is in fact Adrik’s. My hair is perfect, though. The curls look wonderfully soft and collected, as if they’re one consistent wave. It reminds me of an old movie star glam look. Olive comes back into the bathroom as I reach up to touch their soft shine and she slaps my hand away from them.

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