Billionaire vs Sisterhood

a

t had been ripped apart. Worse, I

the accessories, and a caustic note on the front door. Further, the bouquet of flowers I'd sent her the day befo

phs of me around that sooner rather than later my true identity would surface. I had hop

was not a struggling mid-level manager, and that I could show her

er person I'd ever met. I was in love with her. I was building my future with her,

ore I met her. We connected on so many levels – mind, body, and spiri

e. I was used to being dominant, in control, and able to fix any emerging problem. I was none of those and

er. I didn't even try

se 'get lost' and 'fuck

there because of a problem had come up, gave my regrets, promised my large check, an

tried to think of some way to make things right again. I could think o

Fortunately, she was tolerant of my out of busi

who I am, and left me a note when I went to pick her up

her to predict whether you can fix your situation, but if you want to try, you'd better start groveling with apologies, promises you plan to keep, and anything else yo

the rest of the morning, but

ll on her doormat. I sat on the floor beside her door for three hours. I didn't hear a peep from inside, so figured she was

squatting there, but other than n

les back to my condominium building. I needed the t

here Elsa worked. I asked for her at the reception desk, and got an icy cold st

uation I need to talk to her about." I tried to sound sincere. I was well dresse

e that the girl was staring daggers at me, obviously hoping I'd die, bu

shred of further information from anyone there. I mumbled thank you and left. From the look of disgust and loathing I got from the re

I was rude, abrupt, abrasive, and arrogant. I demanded far more than people could give, and almost f

upon herself to drop into one of the chairs in front of m

you continue as you are, you are going to do great harm to YOUR Company. Since I own stock in it, it's MY Comp

upset it's about all I can think about. I admit I screwed u

, "Didn't you find out

d, "Do you thin

mediary for you. Maybe she hates your guts too. Remember you have to

Groveling was not at all m

and walked out of the room. She said over her shoulder, "The more you grovel, the higher the proba

l

ular day I'm thinking of was sunny, temperature about eighty, birds were hap

uation get to you this way. You have a stronger backbone than this.

pile of used Kleenex beside me. "I ... kn

are a sweet young lady

the future all mapped out, he dumps me ... in the middle of Pa

ad no tac

slow my tears. "And then, I meet Mark ... and he's so nice ... and not at all like

e since I arrived. I'd conveniently left out the part about him being the billionaire head of Worthington Industries and, of course, the sex. I didn't need her to start in

hould I do? I loved hi

at you've told him to 'f' off." I had n

ntact me. Yesterday, he went to my office to try to

t stop thinki

cry again, "Nooooo,

ricks in his direction and occasionally did hoping they'd conk him on the head and knock some sense into him. I've contemplated separation or divorce at least a dozen times, and I've chewed his ass out more times than I can cou

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tale bullshit about they lived happily ever after. [My mother said 'bullshit'!] The prince and princess had their ups and downs, and they worked through them. If you write the rules of your relati

hoked, "So, wh

then you can decide whether you want to pursue things a little further.

t? What do

nstitute in him, in your relationship, and in yourself? He hid the truth from you. What rule or ru

gs because they might not make me happy. I don't want him to hide any si

t if I write things like that down in my journal

do t

r. Your dad will be home from work soon, and l

answer. I didn't even listen to his voice messages. I kne

Wednesday evening about ten p.m. Cindy said,

d," I

ionaire was sitting on my doorstep. He even had a beat-up old Jeep that he was driving, and he looked

d me – and I mean begged, as in he was almost on his knees – to

he say? Wher

m. He explained that he wanted a place where I felt safe, but he didn't want to be overheard. He got us a bottl

say? What

s one hurtin' puppy that he did something wrong. He kept apologizing to me, and I kept telling him

kept apologizing. He knew from past experience with other women that as soon as they knew he was worth a lot of money, the whole relationship changed.

them – made him forget or realize that then wasn't the time. He knew he had to tell you before you went to t

I'm only reporting the news. What you do with him is up to you, but he was g

to you? Did you

t it too. He's hot. He was polite, smiled in recognition that I was trying, but he only wants you back. He did say something interesting

"Did you tell h

ction. If you're not home or with me, he c

nk he'll co

in." Cindy paused and added, "The guy is really and totally nuts over you. Do you want me to do anything or tell him anything? He gave me a handwritten page with

or that ball gown he bought me, and that I want to wear it and all the accessories. Tell him that I expect to hear his whole speech – anything he w

to go

at you had to come with us equally decked ou

ce was on the very of

ing to be fun in so many way

a

the door to Elsa's apartment. Elsa and Cindy appeared at eleven-thirty. He

's r

al invi

Con

in me thi

ity gala,

ren's' wing a

, dancing and a

picked up

be joining

invitati

al invi

ia Co

ur sister and

ity gala,

ren's' wing a

, dancing and a

lry, and othe

for you at

picked up

tment unless I

these items as

ation for i

alf wi

had picked out the week before. Lucas also explained about an all expenses pa

women met them to pamper and prepare them for our night out. They were getting the royal treatment. The

ery nuance of our relationship from two points of view. Elsa had told her everything, and she'd heard almost all of it from me – skip

and angry at me for not leveling with Elsa about the true extent of my life, she was also nice. She even te

tes for most of the week regarding what I'd say and how I'd say it. I wandered around my empty p

Both women were dressed for our evening when they left the exclusive shop. I had requested that my chauffeur offer them some caviar and champagne in the limousin

o Elsa's at seven o'clock. I had two orchid corsages in crystalline glass cases with me. I parke

ked on Elsa's door exactly at sev

oor. Elsa stood a

st beautiful women in

u're ... beautiful." "Cindy, you as well. You're bot

sed the two women for their looks, and how they made the dresses look so spectacular. The women sparkled, not only from th

girl's best friend," she'd repeated. She'd also a

the full breasts of each woman on dresses that didn't leave a whole lot of maneuvering room. I managed to do the job without trembl

two women to

said as she pointed to the car. She

ought it fro

ng look. "You like it?"

stretch limousine. "I guess it'll be my weekend and short errand car

of the limousine. He pointed to the bar. As we pulled away from th

I set my glass aside in a convenient cup holder that held my glass perfec

ally large as I took her free hand in mine. I almost had tears in

rty six weeks ago. However, I made a major mistake and we know what that was – I did not represent myself to

status. Up until I met you I have attracted gold diggers, posers, and women who wanted to leech off what I had or what I had achieved. When I was more innocent, I believed that any woman that liked

ed a real girl, not some plastic trophy girlfriend who would try to be anything to please me just so she could have her name on my checking account or be able to

me – I found someone that I felt something really special with. I was scared that several billion dollars would intimidate you, or that my being the chairman of Worthington Industries would fright

heeks. I wiped some of them

rson in the universe that I can't take rejection from. I had the embers of a nascent romance with you, and I had to fan those in a way that would help them blossom to a point

msy job of revealing who I was by trying to take you that charity ball a week ago. I thought I'd blurt it out in

ou. I apologize. Thank you for coming tonight and listening to my admissions and fears. Where we go from here –

hand. She'd been stoic as I spoke, watching me without faci

l

– how the concept of a billion dollars or being CEO of the rapidly growing international empire that he owned most of would either intimidate a woman or bring out such greed and lust for power that she'd cease to be a

nitial impetus – it had been Mark's f

my side of the court, and I was in control. He looked at me with those puppy dog eyes of his, visua

o differently if we re

nothing but the truth. I won't intentionally hold back litt

t el

ht he'd addressed the speci

w times together – and even then much of the time – y

imagined the odor of burning cedar and sandalwood emanating from his brain as he thought about what I'd asked and all that it implied. I was basically suggesting a fundamenta

create a work-relationship balance acceptable to both of us. Second, I have thought about promoting Andy to the COO position and giving him much more responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company; this is a good time to do that and that will free up some of my time; I will guard against filling it with business

how his work was his life and how he had to work because it was at the core of his being and man

ut Cindy?

ession that clearly showed how puzzled he was b

hip I want her involved to the same level that I am with you." I started to open my

he same way I do with you? I'm not sure I'm understandin

? Could you 'dote' on her as well, without screwing up our r

Cindy. I think she liked me a little, but I only have our dinner on Wednesday

force his assumption that she liked h

ns, and I'd like you to respond quickly with th

ll with a look

mind if I k

do that is for you to decide. I will help any way I

objectif

e conscious of that, and co

ou rel

meditate, but I often let th

and you wanted to marry

at I've built, but I would also

Do you get

on except in rare business situations when someone made a bett

of friends

heila, but they work for me. I'm not sure

lose to yo

see my parents and brother a few times a year. I hav

er want to li

es, Elsa. That would

Cindy wer

be all right, if tha

tions or events where you especiall

k and tonight that I would like to have you with me because you would make

you k

es

sexual fantasy?" I gav

private beach in the C

?" My grin broade

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