Page 57 of Not the Billionaire

Genevieve walked closer to the windows, and her gaze traveled past the roof that covered the open seating area downstairs and on to Lake Michigan beyond. She felt Kurtis’s presence before he spoke.

“Do you like it?”

She nodded. “I didn’t expect a private room with a view like this. It’s beautiful.”

“We …” He motioned over his shoulder toward Skylar. “The Schultz’s own this restaurant.”

“Really?” That wasn’t what she was expecting him to say.

“What? Is that so hard to believe?”

“It just seems … modest for people who have so much money.”

He didn’t reply, and when she looked over, his brow was furrowed.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“Is that really what you think? That people with a lot of money only buy the most expensive things? Fine dining all the time at high class restaurants or something?”

“I didn’t mean—”

“You don’t think they can be real people, like you … and me … and just want to spend their money on a really good burger?”

“They can spend their money on whatever they want. And I know they’re people too. I’m not saying they’re some otherworldly beings, but their world is a lot different than yours and mine, that’s for sure.”

“You’re generalizing.”

He seemed very worked up over this, and she couldn’t quite understand why.

“You don’t know anything about my financial situation,” he said, “so you can’t make a statement like that, and you shouldn’t judge the Schultz family for being wealthy.”

“I’m not judging. I was just surprised that a place like this was even on their radar.”

“That feels like judgment.”

“Well, it’s not.”

He walked toward the table, and she followed.

“Why does it seem like you’re mad at me?” She was more than a little bit confused. So far, she’d felt like she could be honest with him about anything, and she hadn’t held back her thoughts. So, why when she’d told him her reaction to this place had it set him off in this way?

A waiter arrived at the table at that moment, so she sat down across from Kurtis, who was now staring at his menu. She watched him while the others ordered, and when he didn’t make eye contact, she gave the menu a quick glance so she’d know what to get when the waiter asked her.

She settled on the fish tacos after all.

“Yes!” Franky nearly cheered. “You won’t be sorry.”

Kurtis ordered a burger and was mostly silent during the meal, which saddened her. She had put him in a bad mood, and she wanted to talk more about this and make it right.

When the meal was over, they walked out to Skylar’s car. But instead of getting in, Skylar tossed the keys to Kurtis.

“Will you take it back for me?” she asked him.

“Sure. What are you guys doing?”

“We’re hanging out at the house for a while. I’ll have Gerard send a car later.”

“Okay.”

---