The Irresistible Billionaire

Chapter 27

"Disappointed?" Stefano asked after revealing his mystery to me.

I wanted to believe I didn’t get a head start, but I remembered he warned me about it. It was me who didn’t think it through—but who am I to judge?

I was about to say something when a woman came out of the basement, being dragged by Theodore “the kid” by her skirt. She wiped her forehead and let out a dramatic scream of exhaustion, massaging her back with the other hand.

"About time!" she yelled, turning to us with a warm, wide smile. "Well, well, well. If it isn’t the great Stefano and his princess. Hi!" she greeted so enthusiastically I was taken aback.

She looked just like Stefano—only more confident, louder, and brighter. Literally. She wore a silver top like she just came from a disco, and had a dangling belt around her waist.

But what didn’t match her outfit were the rubber boots and gloves—wet and dirty.

"Uh... Cassidy, this is my sister, Gabriella. Gabriella, Cassidy. My friend," Stefano introduced us, waving his hand before it got hijacked by his little man.

"Friend, my ass," she snorted before facing me. "Girl, I’d shake your hand, but mine are disgusting. I'll just go freshen up and meet you guys in the kitchen."

"I already told you about tonight," Stefano muttered like a sulking kid as he watched her leave the room.

"Shut up and make your princess a coffee. I ordered pizza, baked some cookies and madeleines—they're in the basket. Theo will show you!" she shouted from the hallway.

"Auntie made me eat the burnt ones," Theo told his dad with a pout.

Stefano chuckled before facing me. "Hungry for some pizza?" he asked, still looking a little edgy.

"Famished," I replied, following them into the kitchen.

I watched Stefano being so hands-on with his son, like the boy was his whole world. I always got the vibe that he was a responsible guy, but seeing it up close hit different.

"Thanks," I muttered when he handed me a slice on a plate.

"Sorry, my sister’s never been a cook. I should’ve brought something better," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, wincing a little as he offered me coffee.

"What? No, it's fine. I’m in love with junk food. I order stuff online all the time and just eat chips for breakfast. No biggie. I live unhealthy too," I said, taking a big bite. "And this is my favorite—Hawaiian," I lied.

Just like that, his tension eased.

Stefano introduced me to his son, and just like his dad, the little man had good manners—even if he was a little wild.

"And Theo, I saw what you did earlier to Cassidy. I don’t want to see you doing that again to anybody," he softly scolded him.

"But Auntie Gabby said that when I see a pretty lady, I should do it," he lisped while messily eating his dinner with his hands.

"Your aunt taught you that?" Stefano asked in disbelief.

"Yep!"

Theo nodded, his fluffy hair bouncing as he licked ketchup off his palm, clearly avoiding the pineapple on his plate. Guess he’s not a fan of pineapple pizza either.

"And she said I should ask them if they are free. I don’t get it, but I think it's because I don’t have money yet, so I can’t buy them," he added, making me clamp my lips together to stifle a laugh.

Stefano let out a heavy sigh, cleaning his son’s hands with a napkin. But while he was gently nagging Theo, his phone rang and he excused himself.

Must be work.

"Do you like my daddy, Cassidy?" Theo asked, placing his pizza down. He leaned across the table, looking at me with those doe eyes.

I hummed, pouting a little. "Your dad is a very nice guy. He’s a good friend," I replied.

He squinted at me. "Does that mean you're gonna marry my daddy?"

I choked, grabbing my coffee to save myself—only to burn my tongue.

Theo giggled. Little devil.

"I want a pretty lady to marry my daddy," he said, crawling across the table and snatching my glasses. "You're pretty," he declared, putting on my glasses that covered half his face. "And I’m Spiderman."

"Hey, little bug! The table is for food, not for you!" Gabriella scolded as she walked into the kitchen—looking like she was about to summon some voodoo spirits.

She wore a long black panel skirt, a black tank top, and basically drowned herself in accessories. Five beaded necklaces, bracelets up to her elbows, and dark stone rings. Black lipstick. A cocktail hat over her messy hair.

If I dressed like a rainbow, she dressed like death.

"What's up, sugar?" she greeted, bending her knees and wiggling her shoulders. "Didn’t expect my lovely brother to bring his muse tonight. I should’ve ordered something grand," she pouted, taking the seat beside me and leaning in like we were lifelong besties. She snatch my eyeglasses from Theodore and gave it back to me.

"Oh, uhm... Stefano and I are just friends," I clarified, telling her I liked the food.

She bumped my shoulder and grinned like she totally didn’t believe me, grabbing a slice for herself.

"Theo, eat those pineapples if you want webs to come out of your butt hole."

"I don’t want it!"

"If you don’t eat those pineapples, you’ll see the Crooked Man in your dreams. How about that?" she challenged, showing her own brand of kid psychology.

Theodore stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry before running off in search of Stefano.

"Eh, that kid," she muttered, then faced me. "Do you have one?"

"No," I replied timidly.

"Gosh, all you’ll get are stretch marks, wrinkles, and a sore throat," she sighed, flipping her hair and using chopsticks to eat her pizza. "Just so you know, this is the first time my little brother’s brought a woman over since he got divorced. Did you know he was married?"

"Yeah, he told me." Like, five minutes ago.

"So, he trusts you then?" she muttered, drowning her pizza in hot sauce. "He’s got trust issues. Took him years to even take a bite. How long have you two known each other? Two, three years?"

"A few weeks," I said, and she reacted like I’d just dropped a bomb at her feet.

"Weeks?" she repeated, eyes wide. "Then you must be very special."

I chuckled awkwardly and waved my hands. "No, no. I think he just finds me weird, that’s all."

"Figures. Our family’s weird—maybe he sees that in you. You must feel like home to him," she laughed, not even trying to hide it. "My little giant brought you here, which means he’s kind of... adoring you? Admiring you? Or something like that. Do you feel the same?"

"Ehh..." I fumbled.

I don’t want to say no, but I also don’t want to say yes.

If I say no, I might hurt him—especially after letting him kiss me, after coming here with him. That meant I gave him false hope. But if I say yes... what about Johnny?

No. Not Johnny. Tamara. I need the money. My job's not done.

Speaking of, Tamara and I are meeting tomorrow at the private airport for Seattle.

"Oh, sugar, that's fine," Gabriella said, clasping my hands. "I know how soft and gentlemanly my brother is. I already told him girls dig bad boys. He doesn’t listen."

That explains what she teaches Theo, then.

"I’m pretty sure Stefano would understand. You're in love with someone else."

"What? No, I’m not." I shook my head. "I’ve never even experienced that."

"Maybe not yet. But admit it—someone’s running around in that pretty, sexy brain of yours all day, all night. And I’ve got a hunch... it’s your boss."

I paused. Wait, what?

"How did you know th— I mean, what are you talking about? I’m not attracted to anyone. I—I'm not—"

"Sugar, I do voodoo s**t. I own a tent at a carnival with a table, a couple chairs, and a crystal ball. I make stuff up sometimes. But when my magic works..." She made an explosion sound with her hands. "I just know. These lips tell the future."

I think I forgot how to think.

"Gabby, please tell me you didn’t scare her," Stefano sighed as he came in with Theo riding piggyback.

"I didn’t. I was just showing her what I’m good at." Gabriella winked at me before excusing herself to grab a bottle of wine from the cellar.

Stefano gave me an apologetic look, which I waved off.

"My mentor called—there’s a problem. We have to go back to the city. Immediately," he told me.

"But you said you’d stay here with me," Theo pouted, clearly disappointed.

I knew they needed a moment, so I slipped out to the porch to wait.

As I waited for Stefano and said my goodbyes to Gabriella, my phone dinged with a message.

"I'm here to apologize. Open the door before I change my mind."

It was from Johnny.

"s**t," I muttered.

I’m a couple of hours away from the apartment.

"Why would I worry about it? He’s got a huge—no, not just huge—gigantic mistake to make up for. And no, Cassidy, you’re not forgiving him that fast. He needs to pay."

I scoffed and stared at his number.

"I don’t care if you freeze waiting out there or whatever. I’ll make you regret what you did, Mr. John Bailey Miles."