From Her Perspective (BWWM)

VI

Auriella Devereaux

9 months ago

I walked into Billy's office carrying the boxes of pizza. I swear there's enough food here to feed an entire hockey team.

He smiled as he saw me, then grabbed the boxes and sat them on his desk. He turned and wrapped his arms around me, then kissed me gently.

"I missed you," he mumbled against me.

"I missed you too. There's been a lot going on lately. Cleo's pregnant, and it's been slow at the gallery, and I've just been stressed out."

"Pregnant? I didn't realize she and Porter were that serious," he said. I bit back my laugh and shook my head.

My best friend, Cleo, had been dating a close friend named Porter. Porter has been my brother Leo's best friend since they were kids and practically raised me along with Leo. Unfortunately, Cleo cheated on him with Leo and just found out she's pregnant with my brother's baby...Yeah, it's been a long few days.

"It's not his baby. It's my brother's," I sighed as I sat on his couch. He shook his head in shock as he sat on the sofa beside me and pulled me into his lap. It's the most physical contact we've had in months. I stood by my word, and we stopped having sex. The kissing and sleepovers when he returns to the city...not so much.

"You have so much going on, Ella. Let me help you."

"Billy, please drop this contract thing. I'm not marrying you."

"I could help you, Auriella. Just look the contract over. If you do this, you won't have to worry about your mortgage payment or foreclosures. I could help you with anything you need."

"I know you can, but I d—" I began but paused after processing something he said. I shook my head and stood up.

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean foreclosures? How do you know about that, Billy?" I asked. He let out a breath as he sat up on the couch.

"Ella." he breathed.

"How do you know the bank is threatening foreclosure? No one knows that. I haven't even told Cleo," I said. He peered up at me before standing up.

"I looked into your finances to see what I could offer you."

"Billy! How could you just invade my privacy like that? If I needed help, I would ask my brother."

"No, you wouldn't, Ella. That's why you haven't already. You're afraid of him seeing you as a failure. Baby, I can save your house. I can help you. You're going broke. Just accept the offer."

"You dug into my finances to use it against me, so I would sign that contract," I stated to make sure I wasn't fucking crazy.

"You don't care that this isn't what I wanted. It's all about making you happy, right?"

"You need help, and so do I. I just want us to help each other."

"I don't need help."

"You are losing money faster than you are making it. You haven't sold a painting in a month. I don't know who Lisa Monroe is, but she is absolutely draining your bank account. Let me help, Ella," I nearly froze at the mention of Lisa.

"I don't want to take your money."

"You're not. This is not a loan. This is a business arrangement," he said. I sighed and shook my head.

"I can't deal with this tonight, Billy."

"Take as much time as you need. You know I'll always be here for you."