Page 5 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

I think…I’ll be bored out of my mind.

Instead of voicing my opinions, I lift my hand in a halfhearted wave. “Whatever you think is best.”

My publicist smiles wide in triumph. “Maybe some mountain air will be good for you.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve gone anywhere…rustic.”

“More like never.”

I scowl at my lawyer. But he’s not wrong. I’ve flown over the mountains to party on the West Coast, but I’ve never endured a lengthy time on any slopes or hikes. Still, if this is the best course of action, I’ll go along with it.

I set my hands on the armrests, ready to leave and pack. “When do I take off?”

“In a few days,” my publicist says. “It’ll be long enough of a wait for you to be able to check in on what happened in Atlanta. You won’t look like you’re avoiding anything.”

“Just…taking a break,” my lawyer adds.

“If that’s what I need to do…” I stand and nod at them both in acknowledgment. “Then that’s what I’ll do.” It irks me that I have to put a pause on my life as CEO, but I see the merit in heading off for a while. I’m not waiting for anyone’s forgiveness, and I can try my best to go along with it all.

After the meeting, I head back home to my penthouse. Packing won’t take me long, but I’ll savor every minute of it. While hiding in the mountains isn’t something I look forward to, I know I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can leave and return to my home. I love this penthouse, my sanctuary. It’s where I can truly be myself because no one ever comes here. I don’t bring women here, preferring to keep those activities elsewhere. When my dad was still alive, he didn’t stop over here much himself. And because it’s my place, somewhere I don’t have to worry about how my actions might be perceived, I can let go and relax.

My publicist told me I’d be leaving soon, but he didn’t mention how long I’d be hidden away. Perhaps it’ll be something like a wait-and-see ordeal, with frequent checking in with people at the offices.

“What do I even pack?” I wonder aloud.

Someone knocks on the door, and I head to answer it before I can figure out if I’m throwing too many things into my bags.

“Hey, man,” Dalton greets me. He’s been my best friend forever and is the only person I welcome into my home. “How bad is it?” He’s aware of the news—who isn’t by now with the way gossip spreads?—and smirks as he leans around me to see what I was up to. “Packing? They’re sending you off to hide somewhere?”

I roll my eyes and grin. “I’m not hiding.” But it sure as heck feels like it. “I decided taking some time to lie low might be smart.” I don’t like the way he implies my publicist and lawyer have any control over me. It was their idea, but I’m not being shunned and extradited. I’m the one who’s calling the shots to leave like this.

“Sure. Sure.” Dalton mocks as he drops into an easy chair while I finish zipping my bags. “Want me to water the houseplants and bring in the mail?”

I deadpan at him. Like the housekeeper wouldn’t do all that?

“So, where’s the vacation?” he asks.

“Some ski resort place. Or near one.” The details are sketchy. I’m already trying to blow this off, assuming I’ll be bored out of my mind.

“The mountains?” He laughs, shaking his head.

“It’s some remote area where no one is likely to see me and fan the fires anymore.” I cringe at the same time he does.

“Bad choice of words.”

I nod, frowning because I really did like that house in Atlanta. I’m not sure anything I rebuild would be the same.

“I can’t picture it. You, the CEO and pampered city boy—”

“I’m not pampered.”

“—going off to survive in the wilds—”

“It better not be that wild. I’ll need Wi-Fi.”

“—chopping wood and fighting off bears with your bare hands.”

I chuckle as I bring my things to the door. He gets up and helps me carry things over. He can tease all he wants, but neither of us are the kind to let the hired help do the simple things we’re capable of ourselves.

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