Page 34 of Meeting the Billionaire Boss

What’s going on?

Flo’s voice cuts through my thoughts as the results of the carving are announced.

Chapter34

Edward

Ididn’t want to win and I’m pretty sure that my victory is down to Floinfluencingthe other judges, but it doesn’t really matter because it’s just a village competition. I wanted Ava to win because she deserves to and because it would be good for her. She doesn’t seem to have a lot of confidence and I find that I want to build her up and help her to see what an incredible person she is. But before I can speak to her, Flo has my arm and we’re in front of the cameras again. This type of PR is exhausting and even though I know it’s necessary to keep her on side because of her relatives, I hate it. Across the hall, I see Ava go to Joe and Lucas and then they wait until the publicity is done. I’m glad Flo knows that she needs to keep the cameras away from my son.

Flo keeps hold of me like she’s afraid to let go again in case I slink off and I’m parched by the time she’s finished being interviewed. Ironic really seeing as how she didn’t carve anything, but she has that ability to turn any situation into her own. As a businessman, I can’t help but admire that, but as a human being, she irks me. She’s so self-obsessed and it can’t be a healthy way to live. Then again though, I wasn’t exactly living a very healthy existence before Ava entered our lives like a breath of fresh spring air that cleaned out the house and cast everything in a vibrant, golden light.

‘I’m going to grab a drink outside,’ I say to Flo and she pouts up at me.

‘Edward, when are we going to do this?’ Her blue eyes peer out from behind impossibly long and thick black lashes. They make me think of hairy spider legs and I shudder, which she notices. ‘Am I that repugnant to you?’

‘It’s not that.’ I don’t want to fuck her, but I also don’t want to hurt her or have her turn her family against me. I need every positive vote I can get on the board. Even if I get married, I still need to have people on side going forwards or managing the business could become a lot more challenging.

‘Then what?’ She looks over at Ava and a small gasp escapes from between her glossy lips. ‘You’re not intoher,are you? Isn’t she your nanny?’

It’s like Hattie all over again and makes me ashamed to be connected to people like this.

‘She’s Joe’s nanny,’ I say, firmly removing my arm from her talons now. ‘And yes, I amvery muchinto her.’

‘But… but… she’s so plain and…dowdy.’

I laugh and shake my head. ‘Ava is beautiful and natural, funny, warm and kind. I also happen to find her hot as hell! She’s the only woman for me now,’ I say, then I march over to Ava, determined to follow my plan through.

I can only hope that Ava’s happy to go along with it otherwise I’m going to look like a total fool.

Chapter35

Ava

Edward storms over to us then grabs my hand. ‘Shall we go and get a drink outside?’

‘Oh, OK.’

‘Come on, Joe.’ Edward picks his son up and we leave the hall.

Outside, the air is chilly but there are heaters around the grass and the fairy lights that have been strung around the trees twinkle like stars in the darkness. I jump as one of the talking ghosts reacts to me passing and Edward and Joe laugh at me, which makes me laugh too.

There is a van parked at the kerb selling hot beverages. We go to the hatch and Edward orders a hot chocolate for Joe then asks what I want.

‘I’ll take a mulled cider, please.’

He orders two then pays for them.

When we have our drinks, we walk over to where hay bales have been set up on the grass in a wide circle. Edward sets Joe down on one and I sit next to him while Edward sits on the other side of him. It’s chilly out here now so I wrap my hands around my cardboard cup and move closer to Joe to keep him warm.

‘It’s a beautiful evening.’ Edward looks up and I do too.

The black canvas of the sky stretches out above us like satin pricked with silver. The moon is a pale crescent, ethereal, unfinished, a bit like I feel.

‘I’m tired, Daddy.’ Joe leans against Edward and yawns.

I reach into the tote bag and pull out a fleecy blanket then tuck it around Joe.

‘You’ll be an amazing mother one day,’ Edward says.

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