Page 63 of Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex

“Yes.”

“Man, she’s pulling out the big guns.” She took the plate from him and walked toward the patio.

As soon as he was outside with Felicity, he cornered her. “What’s going on?”

“Brittany needs some help. I just thought we could all talk about it and maybe you’d have some ideas.”

“Ideas about what? Why is she crying? Don’t you realize she’s manipulating you?”

Felicity pulled a chair over, the metal scraping on the wooden planks of the deck. “See, that’s what I thought at first too. She shows up at my villa, crying and making a fuss. I wondered what she wanted from me. But after talking with her, I don’t think she’s trying to pull something. I think she’s really in a bad place.”

“She’s always in a bad place. She’s the devil,” he whispered as he sat down.

Felicity frowned at him. “Be nice. Her marriage was a sham. Her husband was horrible to her, cheated on her and expected her to live with it.”

Before he could respond, the sliding glass door opened and Brittany stepped out. She walked over to them and picked the chair that was next to Felicity, which surprised him. He wasn’t sure what game Brittany was now playing, but he didn’t trust her for a second.

Felicity crossed her legs and leaned back, extending the plate to Brittany. “Want a cookie? Grams knows how to make a fantastic snickerdoodle.”

Aiden was surprised when Brittany grabbed one and took a bite. He wanted to say something about carbs but decided not to be a jerk.

“Brittany is looking for work,” Felicity said. “But she’s afraid since she hasn’t had a job for a long time that she’s unemployable. What do you suggest?”

“Wait. What?” He blinked. “What about all that money you have?”

Brittany didn’t say anything. She didn’t even raise her gaze, and Aiden glared at her. What was this new ploy she was playing at?

“There is no money,” Felicity said for her.

“Where did it go?”

Brittany finally spoke up. “There was no money from the divorce. Not much anyway. What I did get, I spent on living expenses.”

His gaze traveled over her designer clothes. “Right.”

Felicity hit him on the leg with the back of her hand. “Stop it. Brittany made a bad decision coming here, but we’ve all made bad decisions a time or two in our lives, right?” She gave him a pointed look.

He sighed. She was right. “So, what do you want?”

Brittany looked up at him, and he expected the same haughty eyebrow raise she was so good at. But she didn’t. “My rent is due and I can’t pay it. I need a job.”

Aiden exhaled and tapped his leg. Maybe she was telling the truth. There was no bravado left in Brittany. She looked like a completely different person. She looked...dare he say...normal. “Some temp agencies have aptitude tests you can take to see where you might be a good fit. Maybe try a temp agency for a while.”

Felicity brightened. “See? I knew he’d have a good suggestion.”

Brittany twisted in her chair. “What’s a temp agency?”

“Some businesses hire them for jobs that aren’t permanent. But you can find great work through a temp agency, and sometimes if the business likes your work, they will hire you on permanently.” Felicity nodded her encouragement. “I think you could get hired.”

Brittany smiled, and for the first time, Aiden didn’t get the impression she was forcing it. “Okay. I’ll give that a try.”

They sat silent for a few moments, looking at the ocean waves. Brittany squirmed a bit then stood up. “Hey, thank you for the help. I feel awkward being here. I’m sorry for coming here and being weird. I shouldn’t stay and bother you guys anymore. I’m going to try to get an early flight out.”

Aiden stared at her. Was she sincere? It was difficult to swallow after what had happened earlier. Felicity stood up and gave Brittany a hug. “You can do this. I know you can.”

Brittany sniffed and nodded. “Thanks.”

After she left, Aiden squinted at Felicity. “You think she really is penniless?”

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