The White Billionaire: The Complete Collection (Books 1-4) Read online

  I hoped that that Kyle was home when I got back to the loft because I’d worked myself into a tizzy, and I needed him to make me feel better. I also wanted to know about what happened and about the progress of the bar. I would have to make sure that I kept my feelings suppressed until I figured out what was going on with him and Jane. Cynthia’s words flowed through my head, and I knew that she was right, but communication was something that I was going to have to work on.

  When I came in I asked Sarah if Kyle had arrived yet and she assured me that he was upstairs. I smiled happily as I headed to the elevator. It’s funny how a person can become your world in such a brief period of time. I knew that I could make it without him if I had to, but I just didn’t want to. He was a beautiful surprise, and I was sure that I had built up some incredibly good karma in a past life in order to meet a man like him. It was about so much more than money although that was an amazing bonus.

  I dropped my purse on living room sofa and went in search of Kyle. He was in his favorite spot of the house, upstairs on the balcony. I stepped out and took a seat on the opposite side of him at the table.

  “Hey darling,” he smiled.

  “So how did it go?” I asked.

  “And I thought that I was direct,” he laughed.

  I smacked my lips, “Whatever, just spill it.”

  “I had a really positive meeting with Jane. She expressed that she was having some financial problems.”

  “Oh really?” I said sarcastically.

  “I know how it looks, but raising a child can be expensive. Luckily that’s something that she won’t have to worry about anymore. But she and I have a good understanding about what is going to happen from this point on.”

  “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

  “I mean that I explained to her that you and I are going to get married, and nothing is going to change that. I won’t abandon my son, but this isn’t going to put a dampener on our plans either,” he said with sincerity in his eyes.

  “I’ve really needed to hear that again. I’m sorry if I’m coming across as needy, but for some reason I just feel so fragile right now. I think it may be because of everything that we’ve just been through,” I said as tears began to form.

  “No need to cry. We’re stronger than all of this, and it will be okay,” he said as he stood to his feet to come over and hug me.

  “I know, it’s really silly to cry to about but I’m just so afraid that something catastrophic is going to happen. I’m constantly waiting on the other shoe to drop.”

  “You can’t think this way because it only brings more negativity. I need you to believe that we can make it through anything because we will.”

  I lay my head on his shoulder and tried to pull myself together. I heard someone clear their throat.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you,” Bill said.

  I was startled and jumped slightly at the voice of Kyle’s lawyer.

  “It’s okay Bill, I asked you to come over and so you’re not disturbing us at all,” Kyle told him. “I asked him to come over so that I we could draw up the paperwork for child support payments as well as setting up a trust fund.”

  “Oh, do you need me to leave?” I asked.

  “Please stay, I want you to be a part of this,” he said. “Bill please come have a seat and let’s get started.”

  We all took a seat at the circular table. Bill immediately got down to business, “Before we begin Kyle, I just want to make sure that the child is actually yours. How certain do you feel?”

  “It’s kind of hard to tell because Jason looks so much like his mother,” I interjected.

  Kyle seemed set on believing that the child was his and I wasn’t going to keep any child from having a father. I grew up without my father in my life, and if Kyle wanted to step up to the plate for Jason, then I would stand by and let it happen because every child deserves to be loved.

  “I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t bring this up,” Bill said.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Kyle said, “The time line matches up, and I believe her. I can’t deny that I had my doubts, but that was just the douche-bag in me. After giving it some thought I’m ready to move forward and take care of my flesh and blood.”

  “OK Kyle but please consider this as an option. We can get a test done. It can be done very discreetly. We just need a swab from the child’s mouth and one from yours to see if they match. It’s so easy to do. Don’t you want to be sure before you share your family’s lineage and wealth?”

  I watched Kyle fight a war within himself. I would have given anything to be able to hear the dialogue that was playing out in his head and heart.

  He sighed, “I will meet him this weekend, and I can probably get it done then.”

  “I will get you the kit tomorrow. We won’t be releasing any funds to her until we have the results,” Bill said. “So you will have to delay that somehow, I am sure you will think of something.”

  ***

  Watching Kyle nervously get ready on Saturday was bittersweet. He dressed down for the occasion, but he’d put on 3 different outfits. I kept telling him that toddlers don’t really care about fashion choices, but this didn’t have any effect on him at all. He settled on one of his Superman T-Shirts and a great pair of jeans. He looked relaxed even if he didn’t feel that way. I could tell this was a big moment for him and I felt sad it was not something we could share together.

  “How do I look?” He asked.

  “You look like you’re ready to see your son,” I said before I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “Thanks,” he grinned as he handed me an envelope.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “It’s cash. Go and treat yourself to something nice while I’m gone. I don’t need you to sit here and be over-thinking everything while you’re alone.”

  “You know me so well. But I have your cards, why would you give me cash?”

  He shrugged, “Plastic is great, but nothing beats the feeling of crisp hundreds.”

  I laughed and shook my head, “You’ve grown up so sheltered, and it’s cute.”

  “What?” he said in fake defense.

  “Only the people that sold drugs in my old neighborhood would carry around this much cash. Shit, even they knew that they couldn’t carry it around for long periods of time because they’re already walking targets. I’m a plastic kind of girl for safety reasons,” I said.

  “Okay, enjoy the cash today and I’ll keep that in mind for the future.”

  “Thank you and make sure that you enjoy your son today. Don’t be nervous.”

  “I think that I’ll be fine once I get him. I just hate the thought of having to swab him while we’re out, it just seems so damned underhanded.”

  “It’s not underhanded, it’s being fiscally responsible. Besides, you need to know for your own peace of mind. You don’t ever want to look at your son and wonder if he’s yours. Get it out of the way now so that you can enjoy him without any doubts in the future,” I suggested.

  “That’s a better way to look at it,” he said, “I’ll keep that in mind when that time arrives so that I don’t wuss out. We’re taking them to the lab today, and they’re going to process them today.”

  “Wow,” I said.

  “What now?”

  “I’m only used to results coming back that fast for people on the Maury Show,” I laughed, “The things that money can buy a rich boy.”

  “Well you can’t judge me anymore because you’re a rich girl.”

  “You know what I mean,” I said.

  “I know and I can’t wait until you get used to the idea of having money. Whatever you want just let me know, and I’ll get it for you.”

  “I have you, and that’s more than enough,” I said.

  “You’re such a sap,” he said as he tweaked my nose between his two fingers.

  “You make it easy to be and don’t make fun of me. Get out of here before you’re late.”
>
  “Okay I’m about to leave. You need to be out of here within the hour, and I mean it. I know how you are.”

  “Yes sir,” I responded with a roll of my eyes.

  “Someone is in desperate need of a spanking I see.”

  “Well I have been a very bad girl.”

  “It’s only funny until you can’t sit,” he warned playfully.

  “You wouldn’t!” I squealed.

  “Oh, but I would and you’d like it.”

  “We’ll just have to see about that,” I challenged.

  ***

  I loved shopping, but it’s something that’s done better with friends. I felt lonely out on Michigan Avenue alone, and I wished that I had Sandy with me. She wouldn’t have had any problem with dragging me from store to store to buy stuff. When I’m alone I get bored easily, and I can be really indecisive. I mull purchases over in my head for what feels like hours before I commit to spending my money. Although I could have spent anything that I wanted, I just couldn’t bring myself to pay exorbitant prices for certain items. I found that to be pretty amusing because I swore to myself that if I’d ever gotten rich that I would buy whatever I wanted carelessly. My past self was severely disappointed in me.

  I exited the Burberry store, and I was really unimpressed. If they thought that I was going to pay them that amount of money for the same pattern that they’d been making for years, they had lost their damned minds. A part of my frustration could be chalked up to my incessant thoughts about Kyle and Jason. I wondered if they were having a good time and I also wondered how and when Kyle was going to swab him. I looked up from my phone and saw Chastity. It was as if we spotted each other at the exact same time. She was the girl that Marcus cheated on me with, got pregnant, and left me for. I didn’t want to have a huge argument with her in such a public arena, and I played around with the idea of ignoring her but she was headed straight for me.

  “Look I’m not in the mood for any bull-“

  “No, I’m not going to start any shit with you. How are you doing?” She said with genuine concern.

  Her expression and tone completely knocked me off of my square. For as long as I’d known her she’d been a selfish bitch that only cared about herself. She didn’t have one decent bone in her body that I knew of but then again it’s hard to see good qualities in the woman that stole your man.

  “I’m okay,” I said cautiously, “How are you?”

  “I’m making it. Everything that’s been going on with you and Marcus has been crazy. He must have done something really horrible for you to do him like that,” she said.

  “Actually he did.”

  “I believe it. He’s a poor excuse for a man and a father. He was avoiding me for a while before he got shipped off to jail. He treated me like shit and then abandoned his son,” she shook her head.

  I fought the urge to tell her that karma was a bitch. A man isn’t going to respect you if you’re cheating with him. She was an easy trick, and he only chose her because I had become too much work. She was lucky that I didn’t feel like rubbing salt in her festering wounds.

  “Oh I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.

  “Girl don’t be. You’re the last person that I would expect to feel sorry for me.”

  “What are you doing down here anyway?” I asked.

  “I’ve been putting in some applications at some different retail stores. I can’t afford any of this shit, but I can sell it. I’ve been selling the knockoffs for years and so this stuff will be easy as hell to move,” she laughed.

  “Going legit huh?”

  “Right now that’s the only way to be. I have a little boy to look after, and I can’t do that if I’m behind bars.”

  I raised my eyebrows in surprise because I couldn’t ever remember a time where she sounded so rational before.

  “It’s really cool to hear you say that. Good luck on your job search,” I said.

  “Thanks girl. Enjoy your new man and I’m happy that you didn’t let Marcus make you miss out on that fine ass white boy.”

  I shook my head and laughed, “Bye girl.”

  “See you later chic,” she said as she walked off.

  All of a sudden the money was burning a hole in my purse, “Chastity!” I called after her.

  “Wassup?” She said as she turned around.

  “I want you to have this. Hopefully it will help.”

  “Wow, are you serious? Why would you do something like this for me?”

  “I just felt the need to do it and so I won’t second guess it.”

  She gave me a huge hug and her entire body was shaking, “You don’t have any idea about how much I’ve been struggling. This is going to keep us from being put out on the streets. We were going to get evicted in three days.

  “Exactly, you need it more then I do. That should be enough to cover your back rent and pay it up for a few months.”

  “I don’t even know what to say. So I’ll just leave it at thank you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, take care of yourself,” I said as I walked off.

  I left feeling 50 pounds lighter. One of the huge chips on my shoulder had been lifted, and I’d made amends with someone that I hated with a passion. I was even able to bless her and her son. My life had been put into perspective when I realized that I had a man that was loyal to a child that may not even be his. If I had stayed with Marcus I would have probably ended up with the a man who was not loyal to a child that was his.

  I felt quietly impressed with myself. A year or so ago I would have probably ended that conversation with Chastity with violence but now I had grown as a person and I could realize that we are often victims of our own circumstances more then anything.

  When I looked at Chastity I saw how I would have probably ended up if I was not strong enough to make changes in my life. I just hope I have made a positive change in her life and she does not end up back where she came from.

  As I had all these thoughts I realized I was turning into Kyle and in a good way. He really has been the most amazing positive influence on my life.

  #Chapter4

  “I always leave room for dessert,”

  Kyle

  I arrived home in a much better mood than when I left. I couldn’t wait to tell Kyle about what had just happened to me. Although I couldn’t imagine that he would be thrilled about me giving the money away. I’d learned my lesson about that. The last time I hid something from him regarding money it blew up in my face. Some mistakes I just wasn’t going to repeat. I wanted to ask him if he would consider giving Chastity a job, but I wasn’t going to press my luck with him that day.

  Kyle was home when I arrived, and I went to the kitchen to find him at sitting at the table and looking over some paperwork.

  “Are those the results?” I blurted out.

  He turned around and smiled, “I didn’t even hear you come in, but these aren’t the results. Bill is taking them to the lab right now.”

  “Oh okay,” I said in disappointment. I was ready to get the results so that we could move on with our life either way.

  “I know how much you hate waiting,” he laughed, “I’m not fond of it myself but even I can’t rush some things.”

  “How was your day with him?”

  “It went well but I’m not great with kids just yet. It felt a little uncomfortable because we don’t know one another, but he warmed up to me in the end. With more time, we’ll be better.”

  “I have no doubt about that because you’re hard not to love,” I smiled.

  “I have an idea,” he said.

  “Oh yeah? What is it?”

  “How about we work like maniacs for the next four hours and then unplug from the matrix and have a nice quiet evening here.”

  I warred with myself because he and I had done quite a bit of ‘unplugging’ already, and we had a lot of things to get accomplished before our businesses opened.

  “I don’t know babe. We have a lot to get done,” I said.

>   “Believe me, I know. But today I just want to not think about anything. I don’t get the results until tomorrow. I just want to enjoy my time with you,” he pleaded.

  There wasn’t any way that I could turn down such a heartfelt request from him. I tried to calm down my inner panic and go with the flow.

  “Okay, let’s get to work so that we can enjoy our evening.”

  His face lit up, “That’s great. I have a wonderful evening planned for us.”

  “Just surprise me later. I’m going to get out of here and swing by the restaurant to make sure that everything is on task. The bathrooms still weren’t quite right when I swung by yesterday. The wood wasn’t the right color. I haven’t spoken to Stacy at all today either.”

  He shifted into work mode with me, “Wasn’t she supposed to call you?”

  “Yes she was,” I said.

  Stacy was our business publicist, and she was supposed to update me on the response to our press release that we’d sent out the week before. It wasn’t my job to have to track down the people that worked for us. It was her responsibility to do what she said that she was going to do. She was getting paid a huge chunk of change to be on top of things.

  He groaned, “I’m going to call the agency today. We should have only dealt with Spencer, and she’s just not working out. We can’t afford to deal with someone that isn’t getting back to us in a timely manner.”

  “You’re right but don’t worry about it. I’ll call and get it all sorted out, I’m sure that Spencer won’t have a problem picking up our account. He wants to keep us with the agency and so he’ll have to oversee our project personally.”

  “Alright then,” he sighed, “I’ll let you handle it. I’m going to call Andrew back because he’s at the club now.”