Page 9 of Who Needs a Billionaire

She smiled at her friend as she slid into the seat beside her and was about to thank her for the compliment when she caught sight of Augustus Schultz. He was watching her from his seat opposite Giovanni and his girlfriend, Whitney.

The smile disappeared from her face. “What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too,” he replied. “Glad you aren’t out driving on the roads tonight. Everybody’s safer that way.”

“Don’t start, you two,” Adelia scolded.

Merritt looked away from him, but she could feel his eyes on her.

“Adelia’s right, Merritt,” Giovanni said. “You are smoldering. If I wasn’t already taken, I wouldn’t think twice about kissing you at midnight.”

Whitney flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder as she reached over and gripped his chin, turning him to face her. “But you are taken.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “Good and taken.”

Giovanni and Whitney were adorable, and the way they looked at each other made Merritt’s heart ache for that kind of love.

“How was your Christmas?” Adelia asked her.

“Busy. I worked on my presentation for the business expansion pretty much all day long.”

Adelia gave her a surprised look. “I thought your parents were coming this year.”

Merritt replied with a subtle shake of her head.

“You were alone on Christmas?” Giovanni asked. “Merritt, you could’ve spent it with us.”

“It was fine.” She brushed it off, though she had been disappointed that her parents decided not to come. They’d been saying they would for years, but there was always some excuse for why they couldn’t fly out to see her. She’d gone home a few times in her early years of living in California, but when her company started to take off, she found herself working all the time. When she had started to make some good money, she’d bought them tickets to California, but they remained unused, and she couldn’t help but be upset that they wouldn’t visit her. She knew it was because they weren’t happy with her choice to leave Kalamazoo and move to Los Angeles. Her father had never supported her wanting to start a cosmetics company. But it was something she believed in, and she’d worked hard to make it happen.

The conversation in the limo turned to everyone’s Christmases, except for Gus, who sat quietly. From what she’d deduced, this was not like him. She glanced over and caught him watching her, but he looked away as soon as they made eye contact.

When they arrived at the night club, they were immediately escorted to a private VIP balcony overlooking the dance floor with a hulky guy guarding the stairs. They sat at a semicircle of couches, and a waiter approached. Everyone ordered drinks, and Adelia added a bottle of their finest champagne.

Merritt heard Gus ask for water just as she felt her phone vibrate inside her clutch. Her heartbeat fluttered, and she quickly retrieved the phone and answered, despite the loud music in the club.

“Merritt Christianson.”

“Hello, Merritt, this is Bernard Hayes from Hayes Ventures.”

“Mr. Hayes, it’s nice to hear from you.”

“I’m sorry for the delay, but I wanted to let you know that we have discussed your proposal and, unfortunately, we’ve decided it’s not a good fit for us at this time.”

Her stomach dropped along with all her hopes and dreams. “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say.

“I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you.”

She felt herself begin to crack but kept it together. “Thank you for meeting with me. I appreciate the call.” She remained professional instead of doing what she actually felt like—breaking down in loud sobs and begging him to reconsider.

“Happy New Year.”

The line went dead, and she sat staring at the people dancing below. Happy New Year, indeed. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. Tears burned her eyes, but she fought them with all her might.

“Merritt, what’s the matter?” Adelia scooted closer.

“Nothing. I’m just tired. Working too much lately.”

Adelia put an arm around her shoulder. “Come on. What is it?”

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