The Billion Dollar Break-Up!

Chapter 4

Violet

"Milton? Oh Milton!" calls out an unhappy Violet as she fakes smiles while a dozen cameras are flashing in her face.

"Yes, Miss Harris?" asks Milton as he nervously makes his way over to Violet whom was posing beside the Tigers.

"Where did my date go?" questions Violet.

"You're whom went again?" wonders Milton.

"You know Milton. Don't play dumb with me! Where is Leo?" Violet demands to know.

"Miss. Harris! What a pleasure it is to have you hold this event for us!" interrupts Mr. Trenton Gills. He takes Violets right hand into his. He kisses the top of it. Mr. Gills was the head of the Tiger Rescuing Co that Violet was holding the event for that night.

"Why, Mr. Gills thank you ever so much once again for letting us show off these beautiful tigers" gushes Violet as she pets the top of one of the tigers heads.

"My pleasure to have them out here after all you are doing for them" he replies as he smiles her way. Mr. Gills was a wonderful man. He was around her own father's age. They were rather good friends. Which was why Mr. Gills got in touch with her in the first place.

"I am very sorry father could not make it out here to this event. He and mother were off to Africa on some business" replies Violet.

"I am sure off saving the world huh?" chuckles Mr. Gills. He grins.

"Something like that" laughs Violet. She wishes she had some help meeting and greeting with all these important people that were there. But her father left her on her own. He felt she was a big girl and could handle the sharks.

"Hello my lovely Vi! I have someone I want you to meet" Leo suddenly says behind her.

"Leo, do you know WHOM, I am talking with? This is...."

"Mr. Gills! I would know that handsome face anywhere! What an honor to meet you! I have heard so much about you and how you are saving so many animals" gushes Leo. Violet sighed. She knew she could count on Leo. He was always there to lend a helping hand. Mr. Gills shook hands looking impressed with her best friend.

"Mr. Maxford? Is that really you?" rambles on an excited Mr. Gills suddenly. He was going to shake hands with some handsome creature that Violet herself did not know what's so ever.

"Yes it is me sir" laughs the handsome man. Violet had never saw someone so good looking before. Well she saw many good looking men. But not quite like this. He was eye catching. He had dark hair that was sleeked back. He was well built to impress. Violet could see many ladies walking past giving this young man a once over glance as they did so. Violet did not blame them at all. His blue eyes locked right in on her. He smiled her way even though he was making conversation with Mr. Gills.

"Yes it is me, I had no idea my father's old friend was going to be here tonight. He had planned being here. But I came to make a generous donation in his behalf tonight. For your cause" explains this Mr. Maxford.

"Wonderful son! Tell your father to call me sometime. We need to have lunch soon" gushes Mr. Gills.

"Mr. Gills, mind me asking just whom is this man?" wonders a curious Violet.

"Where are my manners? My name is Mr. Ashton Maxford. Pleasure to meet you Miss. Violet Harris" replies the handsome gentlemen as he takes her hand into his. He kisses the top of her hand sending a little thrill down her spine. She tried not to let it show too much.

"Pleasure to meet you. I am sorry for being rude. I have not heard of you before. I am sure my father has" replies Violet.

"What we have here is one of the world's wealthiest single men here Violet" chuckles Mr. Gills.

"No you are to kind Mr. Gills, my father is the wealthy one" remarks Ashton.

"Violet, I was bringing Mr. Maxford over your way when you were talking to Mr. Gills. You see Mr. Maxford, Miss Harris was so busy she forgot to find a date for the night. Would you like to be her personal date for the evening?" questions Leo much to her horror.

"Leo!" gasps Violet. She laughs.

"Well you do need a date don't you?" Leo asks her. She nods her head.

"I do. But I thought you were going to be my date?" she asks him.

"What good am I when Brad is in the room? Heyyyyy, he just walked in! Oh my god" laughs Leo as he waves over at a movie star making Violet blush.

"Well Miss. Harris you are in need of rescuing here. I am just the man for the job. What do you say? Let me be your date for the night? Come on I do not bite. Well not much anyway. One night cannot hurt right?" Ashton tries to pour on the charm on her. He flashes that perfect smile.

"Now look at him. He would look so GOOOD on your arm" brags Leo as he links arms with Ashton and fixes his collar. Ashton laughs as does Violet.

"Alright. One date. One night. It would not hurt. Sure Mr. Maxford. I will take you up on that offer" Violet agrees.

"Wonderful!" Leo replies happily. He links Ashton's arm with Violet's. Then he hands them each a glass of white champagne.

"I have to go doll. If you need me text me" Leo tells Violet before taking off.

"You can never find good help these days I am afraid" Violet tells Ashton sheepishly. He smiles.

"Violet I am going to go mingle out there. Get some deals going here" says Mr. Gills.

"Good luck sir" she replies.

"You are my good luck charm little lady. Thank you again for everything tonight" Mr. Gills brags on her. He kisses both her cheeks before heading off into the crowd. Leaving her there with Ashton.

"So, I have something for you" Ashton announces to her.

"You do?" she asks him. He nods. He takes something out of his dress suite. He hands her a check. It was for the event that night. A very large amount was donated.

"Wow, Mr. Maxford are you sure you can give this much?" gasps Violet with joy. He grins.

"Sure I am sure. My father made me come out on his behalf to make sure that I donate this" Ashton explains.

"Just what does your father do for a living? I am sorry I have never really heard of you until now. I normally know everyone whom attends this event. My father was planning on being here. To greet the people he deals with. But he could not attend. He is over on an adventure in Africa with my mother at the moment" explains Violet as he walks her into the sea of people. They admire the tigers and the guests as they walk by.

"My father owns his own company. My father knows yours as well. Actually, I did not come tonight to talk business right now. I came for another reason" Ashton informs her.

"Really? What might that be? The tigers?" she wonders.

"Oh no. Not the tigers. Well yes for them to. But for one reason only" he tells her.

"What reason is it?" she asks.

"For you!"

"For me? Why for me?" laughs Violet.

"Simple really. I wanted to meet you. I heard so much about you. We are around the same age. I mean we come from the same family back ground. We would make a dynamic pair if we ever chose to get together don't you think so?" he wants to know. He faces her so she is looking up right into those eyes of his. Those dangerous devil like eyes. One's that were sure to kidnap a heart or to.

"You came for me? All this way?" she stammers. She was at a loss for words.

"And I like what I see. I am a man who knows what I want. I want you Violet Harris" he states point blank. Before she has a chance to say another word he gathers her into his embrace. He plants his lips onto hers. At first she is a bit stunned to have someone come on so strong.

Not like it never happened before. It had. She was going to fight him off. But something was starting. His lips took over. Gentle, then firmly pressing exploring her own. She was so close to his body now she could feel every inch of his sneaking up into hers. Making her body ache. It had been a long time since she had been with a male. She just had not given it any thought really. Put herself into her work. Not into her love life.

"Violet Harris! We would all like to thank Miss Harris tonight for this wonderful event! Miss Harris? Anyone see where Miss Harris went?" someone announces over the speaker as Ashton steals a kiss or two from her. Cheers come from the crowd. Whistles. Finally Violet pulls away from Ashton to see everyone noticed them kissing. Someone walks over to Violet with the mic.

"Miss. Harris would you like to say something to the crowd?" asks the lady. Ashton wipes away the lipstick she had smudge on his lips. He grins over at Violet looking pleased with himself at what he accomplished with Violet in a matter of seconds.

"Oh, yes, yes I do! Thank you so much everyone again for coming out here tonight. We have a booth in the corner for you to buy things. Anything you purchase tonight the money goes right to Mr. Gills's tigers! So please buy something! Thank you! Please place any checks over in the large donation box. You do not have to keep coming over to hand me the checks all night long! One last thing! Let's party! Have a good time everyone!" announces Violet cheerfully. Everyone cheers. Ashton claps for her. He grins. Her heart races. Why had she given in so easily to a man she did not even really know? Maybe Ashton was a man she should stay away from?