A Family For The Billionaire ✅

4.

He'd thought about not showing up. Staring up at the austere lines of the museum Aubrey had chosen as a possible venue, he wishes he had ditched their meeting. But standing her up again was not a good option. She'd taught him that much. Besides, his mama would have considered it ungentlemanly to simply ditch her-even if memories of his mama were what made him not want to show up at the museum in the first place.

But he had to stand firm. Today, he would take back the reins because he would not hold his event in a building he could no longer set foot in-much less play host in for an evening. He was still staring at the building when Aubrey pulled up beside him in a black Range Rover. After climbing out, she smiled at him.

"Well, look at you," she said, her voice as teasing as it had been that first night on the phone when he'd called her. He didn't like to acknowledge the tingles of anticipation hay hit him when he heard it-which were just as strong this morning as they had been then.

"I was a little unsure that you'd actually showed up," she went on,"much less arrive early."

The tingle of anticipation grew, only this time it was for the challenge he knew was ahead of him. Still, he struggled to keep any emotion from his expression.

"There's no point in going inside," he said, letting his time match what he hopes was his deadpanned expression. Her frown as she shut the door and walked around the front of her car warned him that she was thinking hard about this turn of events.

"May I ask why?"

"We are not having my event here." She glanced over her shoulder at the building behind her, the multiple columns majestically holding up the austere gabled roof with its curved marble depiction of birds. When she turned to him, confusion reigned in those crystal blue eyes.

"Again, may I ask why?"

"I don't want it here." And he didn't. No need for discussion about his troubled childhood or dead mother,"Personal reasons."

"Are they good enough reasons?" She asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"It is when I'm signing the checks." Her expression told him she wanted to be offended, even when she knew he was right. But she wasn't simply accepting his decree.

"I thought you didn't want to be involved in the decisions?" She demanded. This wasn't the same as dealing with any of his other business associates. When they slapped their hands to their hips, he never noticed the sway of their breath. He ahold The be noticing Aubrey's now, but somehow he couldn't help himself.

"And you said you wanted me to be involved in making decisions," he reminded her,"Which is it?"

That little intake of air pushed her breasts out just a touch more, God help him. She nodded, he could tell she wanted further explanation. He wasn't giving it.

Finally, she turned away, giving him a break from that penetrating gaze.

"Let me go touch base with the manager," she said," I need to stay on good terms here."

"Of course."

"Then we'll talk," she warned. Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she strode away. He waited until she went inside the museum before pulling out his phone.

"Hey Rick," he said when his construction manager picked up," how are things looking today?" Rick filled him in on the details at Aston's super secret project, as well as other aspects of the restoration.

"Another day on track," Rick confirmed

"Good." Aston hung up, a spur of the moment idea buzzing in his brain. He had the lucky ability to run through all the immediate pros and cons of a decision in a relatively short amount of time. This had helped him jump on opportunities that other businesses spent months preparing for. A long with his intense drive, he'd used this to build his business to magnificent proportions at e very young age.