Page 81 of Not the Billionaire

“Please, hear me out.”

“Why should I?”

“Because there’s a good reason for what I did. I promise you.”

“I’m not sure any reason would justify someone lying like this and getting family and friends to play along with it.”

He could see how livid she was. “I’ve had a bad track record with relationships in the past.”

“I can see why.”

“Please trust me when I say I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Am I supposed to feel special?” She rolled her eyes.

“I’ve been burned before, and I wanted to get to know you and have you know me without the money coming between us.”

She shook her head in disgust. “Do you have any idea how humiliated I am right now? I trusted you.” Her voice began to raise. “I trusted your sister and Franky … and your brother. He pretended to be you. Is this some kind of sick game you all play together?”

“It wasn’t like that.” He wanted to get down on his hands and knees and beg her to hear him out, but if she wouldn’t, could he really blame her?

“I can’t deal with this.” She turned and started walking away.

“Genevieve, please. I care so much about you. I’ve fallen in l—”

“Don’t!” She spun on her heel and glared at him. “Don’t you dare say it.”

He could almost feel daggers from her eyes shoot through him. He took two steps toward her, which had her holding her hands up and stepping backwards to get away from him.

“It’s the truth,” he told her.

She let out a hysterical laugh tinged with pain. “The truth? I’m not sure you know what that is anymore.”

With that, she walked away and left him on the sidewalk, staring after her. His worst nightmare had come true—but it was a nightmare of his own making.

When Monday rolled around, he wasn’t sure he’d see Genevieve at all. He’d been away from his office a lot over the past six weeks, helping her with the regatta, but it brought him comfort to be there this morning. Answering calls and messages, trying to stay busy so he wouldn’t think about how majorly he’d screwed up his entire future with the woman he wanted to spend it with.

He’d known he was in love with her for a while now. But now, none of that mattered. She would never speak to him again. She wouldn’t even give him a chance to explain, and at this point, he didn’t feel like he even deserved to be heard.

He stayed hidden away in his office all morning, immersing himself in day-to-day tasks.

A little after two o’clock, a soft knock sounded on his door.

“Yeah, come in,” he nearly growled.

The door opened slowly to reveal Genevieve’s beautiful face looking back at him.

His heart skipped a beat, and he stood as she entered. “Hi.” He couldn’t hide the hope in his voice as he spoke that one little word.

“Hello.” He hated how formal she sounded.

She walked to his desk and lay a piece of paper in front of him.

He read the first line, and panic shot through his body as his eyes met hers. “Letter of resignation? You’re quitting?”

“I can’t stay. Not after everything.” She stared down at the letter. “I’m utterly humiliated, and there’s no way I can face your family again, knowing they all knew the truth and kept it from me. I can’t trust any of you anymore.”

“Genevieve, we need you here. I meant it when I said you’re a breath of fresh air in this company. The regatta was the most successful fundraiser we’ve ever had.”

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