Page 35 of Billion Dollar Baby Deal

“You look fine,” Sophie teased. “Seriously, you seem more anxious than I do.”

He tried not to pace. “Yeah well, I’ve never really done this before.”

“Done what?”

“The parent thing,” he said quietly.

“You’ve never met one of your girlfriend’s parents?”

Noah recalled Bradley’s comment, stating that an accident didn’t count. “No.”

“Wait. Seriously?” She laughed. “Like ever?”

Noah shook his head, feeling uneasy. “Never.”

He had never felt the need before. It wasn’t like any girlfriend he ever had was serious. He knew he was never going to marry any of them. So what would be the point?

But now he was marrying Sophie and it changed everything.

What if they didn’t like him? Would they be angry?

They opted to meet at the same restaurant where they had made their arrangement. Apparently, it was one of her father’s favorites.

As soon as they walked through the door, Noah’s heart rate spiked. He had met people for million-dollar deals, ran an entire company, frequently appeared in magazines, and he was scared to meet a girl’s parents?

Sophie’s parents, Mike and Sarah, were in their late fifties. They didn’t appear to come from wealth but they were both dressed in formal dinner attire.

Mike was a bald man around Noah’s height, and he shared the same charismatic smile as Sophie. Her mother, Sarah, looked a lot like Sophie. She had the same light brown hair and piercing blue eyes.

Noah tried to remember why he had agreed to this.

Buck up, Noah!he chastised himself.

He waited for Sophie to finish hugging them to introduce himself and shook her father’s hand, praying Mike didn’t feel the slipperiness of his palm.

Sarah brought him in for a hug, “It’s so nice to meet you, Noah. We were completely shocked when Sophie told us that she had a boyfriend!”

Sophie appeared embarrassed by her mother’s comment and pretended not to hear her.

The server escorted them over to their table and they settled in, ordering some water.

Mike rested his elbows on the table. “So, Noah. You are Sophie’s boss, correct?”

“Yes, I suppose I am.” He’d expected that this question would pop up, but not within the first five minutes.

“Mhmm. So how did you two start dating? I hear my daughter does very well in your company—”

“Dad!” Sophie chastised.

“Well, I’m just—” her father started.

Noah rubbed his hands together anxiously under the table. He understood what her father was insinuating and was appalled. Sophie had worked very hard to get where she was.

“Sophie’s success in Birch Industries is completely her own. We only started dating a few months ago. We ran into each other one night outside of work and really hit it off. It surprised us both as well. Up until then our relationship had been strictly professional.”

Mike nodded, seeming to accept his answer.

Sophie gave Noah a grateful look. “I’m sorry I never told you guys; we were keeping it private until things became serious between us. We just wanted to be sure.”

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