Page 21 of My Boss is a Billionaire

“Is that code for worn? Cheap?”

He gives me an odd stare, his brows raised, a slight frown on his lips. “I mean it looks comfortable. I like it.”

I guess I’m a little unnerved. I didn’t expect to see him back. He surprised Marty and me as we came out of the conference room. I realize I was under direct instructions not to publish any unflattering articles. However, I will admit, ever since Sally suggested I might be in love with Liam, I’ve been in a sucky mood. Writing that article helped ease it some.

For a short time, at least.

And now I realize my bigger mistake—inviting him into my home.

Liam Jacobs takes up space. It’s not just his body—it’s his aura. He’s a man who has a plan. A man who gets things done. A man who I’m desperate to see naked because just seeing him again made me realize I love him. I don’t know how it could have happened. If it feels too rushed. But it’s true.

And we’re alone.

In my little apartment, with the scent of fresh-baked cinnamon buns drifting up through the floor.

I wait until we’re settled at my little dining table before I ask him to continue explaining. I need him talking so I don’t focus on how fine he looks. How good he smells. How wonderful it is to see him again.

He gulps his coffee, wincing as it probably scorches his throat. Delilah makes the best coffee, but you can’t sip it for at least twenty minutes. I blow on mine while I wait for it to cool. I unwrap my muffin, split off the top, and then break a small piece away to shove in my mouth.

When Liam speaks, I slow my chewing as though that will increase my hearing capability.

“I grew up in a small town, not unlike Springdale. I still live there in fact. My mom worked for a small motel, my dad at the local mill. I was ten when my mother lost her job. We adapted. A year later, when my father lost his, they struggled to make ends meet. Mom picked up a couple of odd jobs. Dad never worked again. He drank. A lot. He was ashamed that he couldn’t support his family.”

I realize my hand is halfway to my mouth, and it’s empty. I let it drop into my lap instead.

“My dad eventually died of liver failure, and my mom died of a broken heart.”

“I’m so sorry, Liam.”

He shakes his head, sips his coffee, and ignores his muffin. “Thankfully, they’d saved enough money to cover my education. I went into business. I wanted to make money so I could help people like my parents. I’m competent with my hands, so a friend suggested we buy and flip a fixer-upper. We flipped a few houses and made enough to buy bigger homes and flip them for a more significant profit. I enjoyed doing it, but it wasn’t my passion, nor was it my goal.

“Another friend jokingly suggested I do the same but with a business. I thought, what the hell? The concept is the same; the payout can be very lucrative, and if I can create more jobs, even better. Turns out I had a real knack for it. Of course, I do my research. I don’t invest in just any business. I search for companies on the verge of bankruptcy, those that have tried everything they can to stay afloat, and those that give a damn about their employees.

“And with every one of them, Harper, I make sure that every single employee at risk of being displaced by the original organization can be employed by the new one. If they need training to do the new job, they get it. If they need time to figure things out, they get it. I make sure they get fair wages and benefits. And if they would rather not work in the new company, I ensure they receive a severance package large enough to give them time to find other employment or to ease into retirement.”

What he’s saying is changing all my preconceived thoughts about him. “How do you ensure that happens? You leave and move on to the next project.”

“Of course I can’t make long-term guarantees. But I do my best. I clearly lay out my expectation in the contracts I create with the people or companies I work with. And I only step away when I learn for certain my stipulations are being followed. And, while I do eventually leave, it’s not for a year or two. I may step out of the spotlight, but I’m very much in the background, conducting follow-ups. I not only check in on the company, I check in with the employees. It is an investment for me, after all.”

Now he’s just making me fall even more in love with him. “Wow. I didn’t realize. And it sounds like more than an investment. It sounds like you care.”

“I do. I don’t want other families to go through what mine did. I don’t want other men and women to lose their jobs, struggle to make ends meet, and then feel like they’ve let their families down.”

“You can’t help everyone, Liam.” His goals are admirable, but he’s only one man. He’s doing much more than anybody else would.

“I’m only trying to help the ones I can.”

I’m even more impressed by the man. He’s done so much for many people, and I didn’t give him a fair shake. Shame fills me.

“And what about this distribution center? How does it fit into your plan?”

“Simple, it’s large enough to create even more jobs, by half. When my client suggested constructing in a more central location, I started looking for potential sites. Those types of companies find land on the outskirts of town. In this case, I came across the strip mall here in town. The owner has been trying to rent out space for well over a year now. And the existing businesses are struggling to pay their bills. The complex is on a unique parcel of land and there’s a possibility of reusing the structure itself which will save a lot of money.”

“People would love to see this side of you. How come I couldn’t find these things out? Why don’t you tell them? Why do you let people like me make assumptions about you?”

He shrugs, stands, and walks to my front window overlooking the street below. The streetlamps have kicked on in the waning light.

“I don’t need accolades. I don’t want them. I like my privacy. I’m just doing what I can because I can. Not everyone has the resources that I do.”

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