Page 56 of Who Needs a Billionaire

“A woman can earn a living, too, Dad,” Merritt said.

He waved her off and looked at Gus again. “What if your family’s business goes under?”

“You really are a pessimist, aren’t you?” Gus said with a laugh.

“I wouldn’t say that. I just think about all the things that could possibly happen and try to be prepared. What would you do if you didn’t have your family’s money? Because when you’re born into wealth, you don’t know what it’s like to have to work hard to survive.”

“Yes, I was born into money,” Gus replied, “but my dad taught us the value of hard work. He worked his butt off to build our company from nothing, and my Grandpa would’ve rolled over in his grave if my dad had raised spoiled lazy brats.”

Ned chuckled at that.

“Don’t worry. Merritt and I are going to be okay.”

“Are you going to ask me again?” Merritt said when they were in the car on the way back to Grand Rapids.

“Ask you what?”

“What’s the worst that can happen?” She frowned.

“I think it went just fine.”

Her laughter filled the vehicle. “You’re a funny guy, Augustus Schultz.”

“There were a few hiccups, but I think after we all said our piece, we made it through unscathed.”

“Speak for yourself,” she muttered.

“Can I ask you why you haven’t told them about your company?”

“No.”

His eyes widened. “No? I just humiliated myself in front of your parents about my lawsuit and you won’t tell me this?”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”

His lip lifted in a snarl. “I didn’t like the way your dad was talking to you.”

“Yeah, well, there’s the reason right there.”

“Your dad?”

“You heard him about following my silly dream. He doesn’t believe a woman should pursue something like that. He wanted me to stay in Michigan, go to a state university, find a job close to home, meet a nice boy, and settle down.”

“I’m a nice boy.”

She snorted. “He meant someone like him—a blue-collar worker. And then I could stay home and keep house while my husband provided for me.”

Gus grinned. “You can stay home and keep house for me if you want.”

She shot him a look.

“So, you kept your success from them because of that? I don’t understand. Don’t you want him to know that your company is doing well?”

“It’s not where I want it to be yet. I’ve had a couple good years, but I want it to be global and thriving. I want to walk into my parents’ house and hand my dad a big fat check to pay him back for all the money he spent on me over the years.”

His brow furrowed. “Your dad doesn’t want a check, Merritt.”

“How do you know?”

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