Page 86 of Nanny for the Bossy Billionaire

This is really a triumph. Even if this weren’t my girlfriend’s restaurant, I would eat here often just because of the ambience alone. Then you add in Naomi’s dynamite cooking and you have a real winner.

“I don’t know why Naomi decided to drain her trust fund to buy this place and set up her restaurant. I could’ve helped her with financing,” Vincent says. “I mean I know an endless number of restaurateurs who could’ve helped. Hell, if they didn’t work out I would’ve called my bank. They would’ve given her a loan for all this.”

Naomi has explained this so many times to her dad, but I repeat her words to him once more. Hopefully if he gets this out of his system now, he won’t bring it up to Naomi later.

“This is her first restaurant. She wants to own it out right. She doesn’t want to have to worry about paying off loans. If this place ever struggles she doesn’t want to have to stress about money.”

“Well, that’s ridiculous. First of all, this place is going to be successful. Have you seen the buzz she’s been able to generate? I’ve also tasted her food. She’s going to have to turn down reservations; that’s how busy she is going to be. Also, between the two of us, she will never have to worry about money to keep this place afloat.”

“Well, this is an emotional decision for her. It’s not a rational. So it won’t make sense to you. You just have to accept it.” I smile.

“Whatever…” Vincent says.

Rose and I laugh.

Naomi’s parents and I are in a good place now. Although they never voiced their disapproval of our relationship, I could tell they weren’t pleased by it. However, as time has gone on, they’ve come around. I think they can see how much I care for their daughter and they appreciate that.

As far asHarris Techis concerned, everything is going well. That’s actually an understatement; we’ve turned the tech world on its head. Vincent stayed on for a year after the merger to make sure his interests were taken care of. The only point of friction we had was deciding what name to move forward with. We couldn’t come up with a combination ofHarris TechandLitmus Industries Inc. that made sense. The best we got wasHarLit Industries, but we couldn’t go with that for obvious reasons. So one of us had to give. It took some convincing, but I got Vincent to agree to the new company moving forward beingHarris Tech. Since then, business has been booming. We are the biggest tech company in the country and are growing rapidly overseas.

Vincent, Rose and I make small talk for a little while until Naomi’s friends, Laura and Jamie arrive. We all say our greetings and they take their seats at our table. Not long after that, Gabriel joins us.

“Why are you always the last to arrive?” I ask.

“Because important people never show up first.” He smirks at me and occupies the last available seat at our table.

“And who told you you’re important?” I ask.

“Well, tonight is happening because of me, isn’t it?”

“Hardly…” I say.

Gabriel smiles, but says nothing else, because we both know he is right.

Not only did he take Naomi under his wing and teach her most of what she knows about cooking and how to run a restaurant, he also went out of his way to put her in front of his audience. He showcased her every chance he got on his social media, and soon she grew a following of her own. He’s probably the reason why the day she announced she was opening a restaurant, her reservation book filled within an hour.

As the conversation at our table picks up, I can’t help but be proud as I look around and see people filtering into the restaurant, among them quite a few celebrities.

It’s a shame that Ethan can’t be here tonight. He’s just as excited about all this as I am.

I have never said this out loud because if it ever got back to June, who I have developed a friendly relationship with, it would break her heart, but Naomi and Ethan are more like mother and son that June and Ethan are.

Although June and Ethan have reconnected, I haven’t agreed to share custody with June. I’m not sure I’ll ever be comfortable with that. Everyone seems happy with the arrangements as they are. So I don’t see any reason to change things.

The evening goes off without a hitch. My meal is mouthwateringly delicious, and so is everyone else’s at our table. The tables around us are also pleased with their food because I keep an ear out to listen as they sing Naomi’s praises.

At the end of the night, Naomi steps into the dining area of the restaurant. The second someone spots her, a deafening roar of applause rings out in the restaurant. I join in and beat my hands so vigorously that they throb.

Naomi bursts into tears instantly at the sight of her adoring public. I know she had planned on making a speech, but she’s so choked up that all she does is bow and retreat to the kitchen.

When all is said and done, I take Naomi home. She’s been running herself ragged putting together this opening. She deserves a night of rest, but first, I have a surprise for her.

When we get home, instead of heading inside I steer her to the garden.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“You’ll see…”

I walk her to the middle of the garden where I found her reading under the tree that one day. Over the years, this place has become our spot. So it only makes sense to do this here.

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