Page 50 of The Billionaire and the Maid

Me: (Middle finger emoji)

Adam: (kissy face emoji)

I sigh. “Ken, are we done here? I have things to do.”

“Like fuck that fake girlfriend of yours?” he asks, and I know he’s smirking. That little shit. Also, why does he think she’s fake? How would he even know?

“Ken, that’s none of your fucking business. And my girlfriend is quite real. So fuck off,” I curse as I hang up the phone. Wait till I tell Ward about this! We both can’t stand Ken.

I don’t like how he talked about Ella. Hell, I don’t like that he even mentioned Ella. And I also don’t like how I suddenly feel like I need to go to battle just because a man mentioned her. I need to tread lightly. I’m walking on a very thin line that separates the me who needs to stay single and take over his family business from the me who wants to make Ella mine forever. I can’t let the latter of the two win.

* * *

“Please come over for Christmas,” I say to Ella as we lie in bed.

She rolls over and props her head on her hand, her elbow digging into the pillow. “Wouldn’t it be weird? I mean, we’ve only been dating a few weeks. I’m sure your parents would rather just see you.”

I lean forward. “I don’t care what Luca and Kayla want. I want to spend it with you. Plus, I got you a gift.”

She frowns. “Are you wrapping Ridgely up and placing him under the tree?”

Laughing, I cup her cheek, running my thumb over her swollen lips. “No. I have another gift for you.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re too much. Remember,we”—she motions between us—“are fake.”

“So? I can still give you presents. It’s nothing big.”

“But…I didn’t get you anything,” she whispers.

“Well, I know something you could give me.” I smirk as I roll on my back.

She swats my chest playfully. “Oh my God! You’re insatiable! Seriously?”

I laugh and pull her on top of me. I cup her cheek. “I mean it. Come over for Christmas.”

“I…” She trails off.

“Do you already have plans?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No. I mean, sometimes I stop over at Greta’s, or Gus and I will hang out, but he and David decided to go away on a trip to London. Although they are coming back early to attend your ball. David didn’t want to miss it. He had tickets.”

“See, you are plan-free. Just come over. It’s fairly casual. Only the family, and the staff have already prepared a brunch that my mom puts out buffet-style.”

“Wait. Kayla Marino is serving the food?” she asks.

“Only time she does every year. It’s her way ofbeing a good boss,” I say using my fingers to make air quotes.

“Fine, but just for a little while. I don’t want to intrude on your holiday,” she says.

I pull her face to mine. “You are never intruding on anything in my life, Ella. This request isn’t about the fake relationship.Iwant you there.”

She swallows and her eyes glaze over a little. “OK,” she whispers.

I smile as I place a kiss on her lips. “Perfect,” I reply.

She giggles against my cheek as she kisses me there. “You better not have gotten me a new treehouse.”

I chuckle, rolling us over so I’m on top of her. “Why, what would we do in a treehouse?”

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