Page 9 of A Bride for the Billionaire

"Agreed, I'd never do anything to hurt her. She was the one that got away, you guessed that already. So, getting a second chance is something that I will treasure." I move into her office as she moves toward her desk. "Let me sign the paperwork and I can pay the first payment today."

We spend the next half an hour working on the paperwork and arranging payment. When I walk out of her office, I feel lighter. Something good could come out of this, if I only get her to like me and understand why I did what I did.

Standing, I shake Miss May's hand and leave with a big smile on my face. Now I just have to get Cora to hear me out. We need to iron out any problems before the wedding, although that is not my priority right now. I want Cora back. I now know why no other woman was right for me, because I was subconsciously comparing them to Cora without realizing it. Now it all makes sense.

I look over to the bar across the road and I am convinced I see Cora sitting with another woman. I want to go over and talk to her, but I have to give her the time and space to come to terms with what is going to happen from Monday. It's operation ‘get Cora back’ for me. I just hope she's on board too.

I make my way over to my mom's house. Sunday dinner is really important in our family and I know that this is going to be the last Sunday where I attend on my own. I need to explain to them all about Cora. When I left her my family were not happy, they all loved her and thought that I wasn’t very fair in not explaining why I left.

Walking through the door, I shout out, “Hey, I’m here.” This is something we have done for years and it’s a habit I can’t shake. My parents live a thirty minute drive from me. I like the drive out of the city limits because it gives me time to think and I’ve had a lot to think about over the last two days. After I left Miss May’s I went back to the office and called Marion, my housekeeper, and told her to prepare the room next to mine for Cora. She will be there when Cora arrives and will talk to her about any dietary requirements, anything she needs to know when she’s cooking and preparing the apartment. I own a penthouse apartment, with an outside area overlooking the cityscape. It’s my space, I like it quiet, empty and clean. Everything has a home and I know that I might need to compromise when Cora moves in. I just hope I’ve made the right decision.

When I walk out of the back of the house, my mom comes over and hugs me. “Hey, darling, good to see you. Have you been busy this week?”

She asks me this every week. “Not too bad at all this week.” I look around to see who is there and I smile when I see my brother, Nick, my sister, June and her husband, Stefan, and my dad. Everybody is here. Walking over to my brother and sister, I give them both a hug.

I take a seat next to my dad who offers me his hand for shaking. He’s not a big hugger. “Everything good, son?” he asks.

“Everything is great, thanks.”

My mom gives me a cup of coffee and then takes her seat. “So, we were just talking about Nick’s women problems.”

“Mom, do we really have to discuss this? I’m not ready to settle down yet, you should be talking to Caleb, he’s older than me. He should be married by now and have a tribe of kids.” My brother looks at me and sticks his tongue out. He may be the younger brother, the prankster and the playboy, but he’s tough in business. I know that he wants to make a name for himself before he settles down.

“Well, actually, I do have something to discuss with you all. I was going to wait until we had eaten, but seeing as you want the heat off you, Nick, I’ll take it all.” I look around at my family who have all seemed to move to the front of their chairs and lean in to hear me.

“Yes, son,” my father says.

“Are we talking about grandchildren?” mom asks, there’s a hint of excitement in her voice..

I laugh. “No, we are not. So, I know you all remember Tillie.” I take a breath while they all take in her name.

“Yes, she wasn’t nice. She was mean to mom.” June says her voice filled with anger as she glances over at mom.

“What? I didn't know that.” I look at Mom, my brow raised in question. Why didn’t she tell me?

She shakes her head. “She tried to be rude, but I shot her down. I couldn’t believe it when you got engaged, but I thought if you love her then we will too. So what about her? Are you getting back with her?”

“No way, she sent me an invitation to her wedding to Daly Foster.” I let that sink in for a moment.

“Oh god, I know how much you hate him and have done since he pushed Cora in Kindergarten.” Mom says, smiling at me.

“I have always hated him, so when I got the invite I wanted to throw it in the bin. But Sheila told me about an agency where you can hire a bride.” I look up at them and hold my hands in the air. “I know it sounds seedy, but it’s not. They move into your house, you get to know them, they get to know you and then they move out a few days after the event. When I heard about it I thought that’s stupid, but then I thought what a way to get back at Tillie for inviting me to her wedding. By bringing my bride with me.”

“Are you mental? You could take any woman with you, you don’t have to pay someone to go with you.” Nick laughs. “Unless you don’t know any women who want to spend the day with you at your ex’s wedding.” He starts laughing and I clip him around the side of his head. “Ow, what the fuck was that for?”

I laugh. “For being an idiot.”

Mom looks at me. “I know he’s being stupid, but he’s right, why do you need to hire a woman and why would someone pretend to be your bride?”

“I want to go to the wedding with someone who knows a bit about me and we will be working on that for the first week and then we can spend the weekend at the wedding and then she can leave after a few days at home. She gets paid and I get the best revenge on the woman who wanted to marry a rich man and cheated on me.”

“If you think it’s the right thing to do, then I guess it is,” mom says. She looks e over. “I think there’s more to this story, right?”

I nod my head. “Do you guys remember Cora Miller?”

My mom sits up in her seat. “Of course we remember Cora, she’s the one that got away, or should I say she’s the one who’s heart you broke. You didn’t just break hers, you broke yours too.”

“Oh I remember Cora, she was pretty and you just broke her heart. I wonder if she’s seeing anyone. I might have a chance.” Nick looks at me. He’s pushing my buttons and he knows it.

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