Page 3 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

“Does everyone think you are?”

Henry looked away. He seemed to get a lot of “why are you not a doctor” from people.

“My parents tried to force me, but I rebelled. I want to be myself. In the end, I chose to be happy.”

“I always choose happiness, no matter the cost.”

“Even if the whole world is not happy?”

Henry nodded and uttered, “Yes.”

I was interrupted by the waiter bringing red wine to our table. Henry discussed something with the waiter, but he wasn’t interested. Henry’s last sentence rang in my head. He’d choose happiness over sacrifice at any time. However, here I was, sacrificing my own happiness so my family could be happy. I was about to have this forced union with a strange man, which made me wonder if I'd ever be happy trying to make other people happy.

We ate while discussing the few hobbies we enjoyed. Interestingly, we didn’t share any hobbies or much of anything in common. Henry and I were like opposites sides of a coin. When dinner was over, Henry walked me to his car after persuading him to take me home. My parents would be livid to learn that Henry had dropped me at the house.

I looked up into the well-lit parking lot. My eyes widened at the sight of George Foyal, my high school boyfriend. I didn't want him to see me with Henry. He'd come over to gloat about the embarrassing things we had done together. I panicked and turned to Henry, holding him by the collar as I planted a kiss on his lips. I only kissed Henry to buy time for George to leave the parking lot. Henry held my waist, pulling me closer as if I were too far away. His breath smelled of red wine and steak. I parted my lips as our tongues collided, sending the same jolt I felt when Henry had touched my palm.

Henry pulled away with a satisfied sigh. He searched my eyes, probably wondering why I had kissed him. I was glad Henry didn't ask questions because I didn't have the answers. He only held the car door open, pretending it never happened. I let the warm summer wind hit my face as my mind trailed back to the restaurant’s parking lot. That kiss with Henry might be the best kiss I’d ever had.

Chapter two

After the Kiss

Henry

Amelia left me dumbfounded as she walked into her parents’ mansion. We’d kissed a few minutes ago in the parking lot, and Amelia hadn’t said a word since then. I played it cool, pretending it had never happened, but I was dying for another kiss. I waved her goodbye as I headed back to my house. Amelia’s scent followed me into my room. She’d shown up in that gorgeous blue outfit and had kissed me passionately. It dawned on me that Amelia's choice of dress color, my favorite, and the quick sudden kiss in the parking lot might not be a coincidence.

There was only one person who could put Amelia up to this. One person who wanted me to fall in love with her friend’s daughter – my mother. I didn't blame Amelia for accepting Mother's plans. She had no choice but to do whatever her future mother-in-law asked. Mother had always been a master planner. She wanted to be in control at all costs, especially of everyone’s life.

So, I made her match me with Amelia instead of with Troy. I couldn't keep up with being forced to marry Emilie, who patterned her lifestyle like a Barbie. I’d done my assignment about the simple, career-driven Amelia Johnson, who wanted nothing but to make her family happy. Now that I’d pulled out from a match with Emilie, Mother was forcing the idea down Troy’s throat. I knew Troy to be a smart man. I was sure he had plans to boycott the Barbie doll queen.

Amelia had stunned me with the blue dress and that kiss. I had hoped it would last longer than it did. I knew Mother was planning something, but I couldn’t wrap my hands around it. My wild guess was that she wanted me to fall head over heels with Amelia so the press would have a sweet-romantic headline about us. Mother was doing all she could to put the family in the Richmond spotlight. What else got people's attention besides a news article stating that Henry Robinson was in love with Amelia Johnson?

My home phone rang a few times. Mother was calling to ask about the success of my date. She would be thrilled to hear that Amelia and I had kissed on our first date; she would think her plan to charm me was working. I ignored Mother’s call. I would tell her everything she needed to know about the date tomorrow night when we convened for the weekly family dinner.

The older Mom got, the lonelier she became. Troy and I bought houses only a few miles away from her mansion, and she made us fix our schedule for a weekly family dinner. I would see Amelia at the family dinner. Mother said she was now family since I was marrying her. I slowly walked in while listening to voicemails from missed calls. The first mail came from the hotel’s accountant, informing me of the quick account draft he had made for the month’s expenses. The next voicemail came from Julia, who asked me if I wanted to meet up tonight.

I’d told Julia that I didn't want to see her anymore, long before I had traveled to L.A. Now that she knew I was back in Richmond, she was calling to confirm if my decision still stood.

“Wanting to meet up” was a code word for sex. I sighed as I heard the last beep from the machine. Another voicemail from Julia asking me if I was avoiding seeing her.

I wished Julia could take clues from my actions. I hadn’t seen her for the past two and a half months given that I realized that marrying Amelia meant casual sex with Julia wouldn’t work anymore. I was being a gentleman, trying not to hurt her by leaving while I befriended Amelia publicly. Julia knew we weren’t meant to be together. Now, I might have to tell her to stop calling me.

I called her as soon as her voicemail stopped. “I’m sorry, Julia. We can’t see each other anymore.”

Julia scoffed as if she hadn’t heard a funnier joke. Troy once told me Julia obsessed over me. Now that I thought of her persistent calls, he might be right. I didn't let it bother me because I was sure Julia would get over her obsession soon. I hit my head on the pillow and listened to the smooth background music that a newly-installed system was playing from every corner of the house. A soothing scent of almonds and a mix of delicate flowers hung in the air. The scent was intoxicating and healing. It created peace in my mind and made me fall in love with nature again. I remembered picking this same scent the moment Amelia walked into the restaurant. I rubbed my eyes; there was no way I was unconsciously thinking about Amelia.

Suppose this was one of the charms she used on me. I was afraid it was working.

“Amelia Johnson,” her name escaped my lips. “What are you up to?”

****

“Julia came by the hospital today,” Troy told me before we sat by the dining table in Mother's house.

“What?”

Troy had an ‘I told you so’ look on his face. “I stopped seeing her two months ago. Two months was enough time to move on.”

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