Page 27 of Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex

“Wait, you guys are seeing each other again?”

Felicity stiffened. “No. It’s not like that. Grams hired me to take photos and he’s taking me on an excursion so I can do my job.”

Amy hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Couldn’t you go on your own?”

A foolish feeling swept through Felicity. “I guess I could, but I’d have to go find a ticket, and I’m not sure where they meet or what time the bus leaves.”

“Call the office.”

“I could. It’s just...Aiden and I spent some time together yesterday and...well, maybe I did think he was coming around. But that’s obviously not the case. He’s the same old Aiden. Late again.”

“Aw, sweetie. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She steeled herself. “It seriously wasn’t a big deal. It’s not like a date or anything. We really aren’t getting back together. Instead of going on the excursion, I’ll just go find some pictures to take around here.” Felicity cringed, thinking of all the debris outside. “But I don’t know what I’ll photograph. We had a storm last night and the place looks pretty bad right now.”

“Then go relax on the beach. When Aiden is done with his work, he’ll take you hiking.”

Relaxing on the beach sounded nice. “That’s not a bad idea.” She had brought her swimsuit.

“There you go. Have fun. Take someyoutime.”

Felicity brushed her hair over her shoulder. “You’re right. There’s nothing else I can do anyway.”

“Okay. Have fun. I’ll call you later to see how things went.”

“Thanks, Amy.”

Felicity hung up and stared at the ashes in the fireplace, a hollow feeling spreading through her chest. Why had she thought anything had changed? Aiden was still Aiden. He put his work first. She supposed that was why he was a billionaire.

She sighed and tossed her phone on the couch. She’d go change into her bathing suit and take a walk along the beach. Aiden could come find her when he was done with everything that was more important than her.

***

AIDEN’S HEART RACEDas he walked along the shoreline, searching the underbrush. “Mabel!” he called. His voice was hoarse from shouting. He didn’t want to think about all the things that could have happened to Mabel out in the storm last night.

When he’d entered his villa this morning and seen his grandmother’s face, he’d known something terrible had happened. Grams had run to him and buried her face into his chest, sobs wracking her body. When he’d finally coaxed out of her what had happened, his heart had stopped. Mabel had gotten out last night right before the storm had hit. She hadn’t come back.

Aiden had pulled on some boots and gone immediately out to look for her. But there was no sign of her. Now he was beyond the resort property line and had no idea if he was even close to where Mabel had gone. She could be anywhere. She could be...no. He didn’t want to think about it.

Why had she run off like that? She usually obeyed when they called her to come. Maybe since he wasn’t home, she’d gone looking for him. The thought made his stomach clench. This might be his fault.

He lengthened his strides. “Mabel!”

She had to be somewhere. He couldn’t accept she was gone. He’d find her. He had to. Maybe she’d found her way back home. He pulled out his phone to check with Grams.

“Hello?” She answered on the first ring. “Did you find her?”

Disappointment crushed him. “No. I take it she didn’t come home yet.”

“No.”

He exhaled. “All right. I’ll keep looking.”

“Aiden?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”

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