Romance: The Billionaire's Proposal (6 page)

I shake my head. “Nope. I was going to ask you but I know that you’ll have to work, so I’m just going to go solo. Pop my head in for a little, mingle, and then be on my merry way.”

She laughs. “You know you’re a piece of work, right?”

I laugh too. “I’ve been told that a time or two.”

“I’m sure that it’s more times than that.”

“Maybe, but you can’t prove it.”

We both burst out laughing, causing a couple of people in the restaurant to stare at us. We spend the rest of the meal catching up with each other.

“I guess I’ll see you later,” I say.

“Okay, girl. And if you need me, you know that I live right around the corner,” she says.

“Talk to you later,” I say as I get in my car and start the drive home.

My day has just gotten a lot better and I am very glad for that. 

Chapter Eight

Tara

Taking a glimpse in the mirror, I must say that I really was a knockout.

I have on a short, white dress and pearl earrings, and my hair is softly curled around my shoulders. Tonight, I’m going to a charity ball thrown by the city.

I have no date, but I know a couple of people who are going to be there and want to pop in to show them support.

They are raising funds for a homeless shelter. I’m always ready to support a good cause, and this one will be no different.

I look at my reflection one more time, dab a little more lip gloss on, and walk out the door.

I make the short drive to the event and hand the valet the keys so that he can park my old car.

The charity ball, the most talked about event of the week, was being held at the museum downtown. A lot of people wanted to go but only a few were selected to come. I was invited because I’m known to make changes in the community.

I step inside, where people are already mingling with each other. Waiters are carrying around trays of champagne and a few appetizers. Smoothly, I grab a champagne flute off a passing tray and look around for someone familiar. I spot Sally, a woman I’ve worked with on a few projects, and am about to go over and say hi when I feel someone tap me on my shoulder.

Turning around, I almost drop my drink.

I didn’t expect him to be here.

I take another sip of my drink and stare at him with my angry eyes.

He is dressed handsomely in an all-white tux accented with a black bow tie. If he wasn’t such a jerk, I’d be tempted to take him home and ride him all night.

But since he is one, the thought slips from my mind.

“Tara,” he says as he sips from his champagne glass.

“Alexander,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

The nerve of him.

It’s like I can never get any peace. He is always hanging around, like a stray cat when you’ve started feeding it.

Only he was a lot more handsome… and a lot more annoying.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” he says as he takes another sip from his glass.

“I could say the same thing about you. You don’t seem all that charitable, even if you do have very deep pockets and could help a lot of people,” I say, then finish off my champagne and grab another glass from a passing waiter.

“A lot of charities have benefitted from donations from my company.”

I raise my brow. “That’s surprising. I didn’t think it would be your thing.”

He chuckles. “Why, because I like to create properties that will generate an income? That doesn’t mean I’m not a charitable person. It just means that I like to make money—and lots of it.”

I sigh. “Believe it or not, Mr. Billionaire, everything is not always about money.”

He laughs. Hard. “Everything is about money—everything! Money makes the world go round. Why do you think people kill for it, steal for it, or work for it? Because you can’t survive in this world without it.”

I place my champagne flute down. “Money may make the world go round, but some things are bigger than it. It isn’t always everything. At least not the way that you’re trying to make it.”

“You’re really upset about that land development project, aren’t you? I still stand by my statement that I’ve put forward the better option. I’ll be creating jobs for lots of people and be solving a major parking issue around here. I think that outweighs anything that you’re trying to do.”

“And I won’t be creating some jobs with the nursing home and the library?”

“Not as many.”

“Even still, it’s a lot better than what you’re proposing! I know that most of those warehouses are basically run by machines so you won’t be creating that many jobs yourself!”

I look around and see that people are staring at us.

I’m immediately embarrassed—I hadn’t realized that the conversation had gotten so loud.

This is a charity event, not a debate.

I should’ve known better, but something about this sensual man really works me up.

It’s like he’s so cocky and smart that it’s annoying. I can’t believe he got me so fired up that I actually disturbed the event.

Men.

I look around at all of the eyes and quietly leave the museum. I hand the valet my ticket and he retrieves my car. I look back to make sure that no one’s coming after me, hop into my car, and speed off.

Tonight was a disaster.

All I want to do is go home, get in my bed, and forget this night ever happened.

I will apologize to the people at the homeless shelter in the morning and make sure to give them a sizeable donation from my company.

It was the least I could do after ruining their fundraiser.

Alexander

Tara is going to be the death of me.

I can’t believe I allowed her to get under my skin like that.

I don’t even want the property that bad, but when she assumed that I’m not a charitable person, I really took offense because it was so far from the truth.

I donate to hospitals all the time, am very active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and I throw a lot of money at the homeless shelters.

She could say what she wanted to, but that was just who I was.

It doesn’t get published a lot because I want my charity to be just that: charity. I don’t want the fame that comes with it.

No one needs to know what I did because it really was none of their business.

I notice Mark, the head of the event, coming toward me, and I know that he has something to say about what just happened.

I knew this because along with being the founder of the homeless shelter, he also was my best friend for my entire life. He has always been there for me.

When my mother died, I was ten years old. Even at that early age, Mark was there for me. He was always very charitable and he listened to all my pain.

“Do you mind telling me what that was all about?” he asks. “I’ve known Tara for a couple of years now, and I’ve never seen her that upset or yell at anyone the way she just did to you.”

I shrug. “Nothing.”

He smirks. “I know you. She’s gotten under your skin, hasn’t she? And if she did, it’s about time someone has because you’ve been running around from woman to woman for far too long. It’s time that you settle down a little.”

I sigh. “Yeah, she has. You know, when I first met her, she didn’t even know I was rich? She just talked to me because I was an average guy at a bar. And now she hates me. Not that I blame her—I really have been a jerk. But still, I didn’t think she would get that upset.”

“Why is that?”

“We’re not seeing eye to eye on a land development project: we both want the same property. She wants to make the community a better place; I want to make money. You know, the usual problems of the world, my friend. She’s just being overemotional.”

“You’re playing games with her, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” I shrug my shoulders.

“You shouldn’t. That’s not how you attract women, Alexander. It’s time to accept that there can be another woman in your life.”

His words sting… but only because we have had this conversation many times before.

He seems to think that my issues with females relate to the fact that I don’t ever want another woman to replace my deceased mother.

“But she’s just so emotional. Are all women like that?” I smile, making a joke to ease the tension.

He laughs. “Yeah, that’s Tara. Woman’s got a good heart. If I wasn’t married, I would take her out myself. There aren’t too many women like her in the world, so don’t go making her all bitter because you want to play elementary school games instead of being an adult and admitting that you have feelings for her.”

“I know. She’s like the next Mother Teresa or something,” I say. “I just can’t get over the fact that she seems so perfect. I still feel this compulsive need to test her in as many ways as I can.”

“So why didn’t you go after her?” he asks. “Why don’t you just go and show her how you feel instead of being a jerk all the time?”

“Because right now, she’s the founder and president of the ‘I Hate Alexander Hudson’ fan club,” I say with a smirk.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to give her time, and then she’ll realize that she really wants me.”

He laughs. “Good luck with that. Tara isn’t like any of the women you’ve dated.”

“You forgot I’ve never actually dated.”

“Probably explains why you’re so bad at it, then. Of all the things you could’ve done, you chose to put conflict in the situation. You might want to buy a book or something because at this rate, you’re going to lose her.”

“You think so?” I say.

“I don’t just think so. I know so.”

“Well I guess it’s time that I make my final move.”

“Better make it a good one.”

“Oh, it will be. Just trust me.”

“I don’t,” Mark laughs. “But I’m interested to see how all of this will play out.”

“Nosey.”

“Nope, just curious.”

“You know what they say about curiosity, right?”

“Yep, and it’s a good thing I’m not a cat.”

We both start laughing, then enjoy the rest of the gala ball. I make it an early night because I have a big morning ahead of me.

I am going to make my final move, and I can only hope that it won’t push things farther off course.

Chapter Nine

Tara

My weary head wakes up slowly to the sound of the ringing alarm clock.

I can’t believe the scene I caused last night!

I’m determined to make amends with Mark and give a special donation to his shelter. Seeing that it’s already nine o’clock in the morning, I grab my cell phone and make the call—there was no need to put it off.

“Hello, Happy Homes Shelter. Megan speaking, how may I help you?” asks the female voice.

“Uh, yes, is Mark in his office today? I really need to speak with him,” I say.

“As a matter of fact he is. May I ask who’s calling so that I can transfer your call to him?” she asks.

“Tara Timmons,” I reply, hoping that by giving my name he doesn’t become busy and I have to end up leaving a message for him.

But Mark has always been a reasonable guy so I’m sure that he’d take my call.

Even if I did cause a scene at his event last night.

“Okay, hold please.”

I’m immediately greeted by the generic sound of elevator music and am compelled to hum along until Mark picked up.

“Tara! Good morning.”

“Good morning, Mark. How are you?” I ask, building up some conversation.

“I’m doing okay. It was a nice night last night. How are you feeling?” he asks.

“I’m doing okay as well. I wanted to apologize for causing that scene at your fundraiser last night. I don’t know what got into me, and I’m extremely sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you or your event…”

He chuckles. “It’s no problem. I know sometimes Alexander can be a jerk, so no hard feelings. And you didn’t do people any harm. I know that you’ll never cause a scene on purpose.”

I look at the phone to be sure that I heard him correctly. “You’re really okay with it? I mean, things got kind of ugly for a while.”

“Of course. Alexander is my best friend so I know firsthand how difficult he can be. I’m not going to hold it against you. Besides, from the version that I’ve gotten it’s pretty much all of his fault anyway. He’s just a bonehead and we can’t really break him out of it. He’s been that way as long as I’ve known him.”

“You’re his best friend?” I ask in shock. “But you both seem so different. You’re so calm and normal, and he’s….well, he’s just him. I really can’t describe it right now because I’m still pretty upset.”

He laughs. “Yeah, but I’m not a billionaire like him. I like to help people, and I’m not too concerned with reaping a profit from it. But don’t get me wrong: he’s quite into charity. He even mentors a few kids. He just doesn’t brag about it because he feels that it’s no one’s business but his. Under that jerk exterior, there is a great heart. If there wasn’t, I’m pretty sure that he wouldn’t be my best friend; I would’ve kicked him to the curb a long time ago.”

I become quiet as I realize I talked a lot of trash to Alexander last night. So sure that I had him figured out, and apparently I am completely wrong.

“Well that’s good to know. I still want to make a donation—you know that I love helping out with the shelter in any way I can. I’ll put it in the mail today, as I’m going to be a little busy to drop it off.”