Page 35 of The Cost of Love

“No, just annoying. I would rather assign the work to someone else, but I don’t trust anyone yet.”

That’s a very odd thing to say. “Wait, what do you do?”

He hesitates and then rubs the back of his neck. For a moment, I wonder if I’m sitting across from someone in the mafia. When he answers, I have to wonder if it would be better if he were a mob boss.

“I’m the CEO of the Whitmore Group.”

I promptly choke on the bite I took before spitting it into a napkin.

“You’re the CEO of a company?” I knew he had money, but not that much damn money.

Before he can answer, I google the net worth of the company and gasp. Throwing my phone down like that will erase it from my memory, I use both hands to cover my mouth.

“Before you freak out—”

“Before I freak out? I’m beyond freaking out. Your company is worth billions. Are you worth billions?” I don’t know why I asked; I don’t want to know the answer.

“No, and if I were ever close, I would donate a bunch of money.”

He can get close!

I start to stand up and realize I am already making a scene. Sitting back down, I cover my eyes and breathe out.

Who did I think I was going out with? Obviously, if he was at that party, he had to be somewhat of a big deal. I just didn’t think I would be with the person who is in charge of everyone else.

“You knew I was rich.”

Yes, I knew he had money. Maybe a couple of million. No way did I think I was sitting with someone who could be a billionaire if they wanted. It only further adds to the question of why in hell he wants to date me.

At a loss for what to say, I just take another bite of my food.

“Hopefully, this doesn’t change anything,” he says, frowning.

He has to be the first person I met who is ashamed of how much money they have. And here I am, afraid for anyone to find out how little I make. We are not the same.

“Alex,” I say, and then stop, still unsure of what my response is going to be.

It shouldn’t matter that he is richer than I thought. I mean, it’s still the same dynamic and weird pairing. But it does, doesn’t it?

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog in my mind. Even though he has more money, at the end of the day, it doesn’t affect what I want from him. It doesn’t alter where I am in life and what I can offer.

He may not be what I thought, but he is the same guy who has been sitting in this café just in case he might be able to talk to me. So that means he is still the person I have been getting to know.

“It doesn’t change anything,” I finally say.

He still doesn’t eat his food as we sit in silence. It takes me a minute to meet his eyes, but when I do, I offer a smile.

“I probably should have asked you sooner,” I say.

“I’ve kind of been avoiding it myself.”

“Well, it is what it is.”

He laughs at that and then finally eats a little. Closing his eyes, he licks the cranberry sauce off his lips, causing my mouth to water. I don’t think he knows what he does to me.

“I like watching you work,” he says, interrupting my dirty thoughts.

“Why?”