The Billionaire's Secret

Chapter 4

ELLE

There was no way in hell I’m going to NYU with Liam Braxton for a week! I thought I clearly told him that I didn’t want him to drive me to school, but why was he standing in front of my house next to his dashing white sports car? I c****d my head and noticed the car brand logo. I couldn’t believe he actually wanted me to ride an Aston Martin, probably worth a millions of dollars. It would only cause gossip or maybe it would make me spotlight superstar with a dramatic entrance, and that was something I really don't want.

I knew it would be rude to even tell Liam that I would rather skip class than ride with him. But it was too late, he was already here. Telling him to get lost would be just plain discourteous. I should have known that billionaires didn't drive regular Toyotas.

As I get near the car, Liam surprisingly opened the door for me. I replied a simple "thank you" and stepped into the leathered passenger seat. Just sitting in the vehicle made me feel like a princess.

Once Liam was seated in the driver seat, his scent instantaneously filled the air. He smelled of like sandalwood and unscented soap. I held my breath. I suddenly wanted to collapse in his arms and bury my face in his neck.

"Feeling dizzy?" Liam said causing me to think that I’ve gone mental. My cheeks flushed. Yes, you are making me dizzy.

“It’s Monday. The most hated day for students, I must say,” he continued to talk as he gunned down the car engine.

"Heck, yes!" I agreed with the most distasteful face I could let out. Liam chuckled softly, having my heart yearning to hear it again. Even so early in the morning, his face was just perfect. I remembered when he had been drunk, he still looked dashing. Was there ever a time when he looked like a mess?

“When I was in college, I used to get excited going to school,” he said. A guy like him probably loved to go to school. He probably had girls flocking him and he was probably the campus golden boy. Soon, I found myself thinking about his family. Did he have a wife? I don't think he did, otherwise, I would have heard about her, wouldn't I? Where were his parents? All that money had to have come from someplace.

“It’s not that school sucks. I love my major. It’s what I always want to do since I was a child.” I didn’t want to say something more about myself, but talking a bit would somehow lessen the awkwardness.

He raised an eyebrow, he seemed a bit interested, “What’s your major?”

“Fine Arts, mostly painting and sculpting.” Right after I answered, Liam was about to say something, only he was cut off with a loud bell chime of his phone.

He frowned at the screen, looking a bit pissed. He turned on the speaker. "What now?" he asked, looking frustrated. From the speaker, I heard a soothing sweet voice. It was almost like a voice you would expect to hear from an angle.

“Noah refuses to get out of bed.” a woman's voice said.

"Give him the phone," Liam said.

"Daddy, I don't want to go to school!" I heard the little boy's innocent beautiful voice through the speakerphone. Shoot! if I was that kid's mother, I would probably give in and let him stay at home.

"If you get up and go to school, I will let you eat one peanut butter sandwich when you get back,” Liam said, then he gave me a smiling look.

God, how could this person so charming as a dad? I had expected Liam to yell over the phone at Noah, but he was actually offering the kid his favorite food. I all of a sudden wanted to kiss his cheek. Ugh, Elle! Get the delightfulness out of your head, before Julian's prediction about you falling in love with him will really happen.

I could hear over the phone the little boy practically bouncing out of bed as he yelled, "Thank you, Daddy! I'm going to gets ready right now!" I heard the little boy give kisses over the phone which got me to smile and giggle.

Liam turns his head to look intently at me. It was an unusual look. The kind I have never seen before. He wasn't angry or happy, it was something different. The look brought shivers down my spine and the sudden urge to scoot closer to the man was deep within me. For a split second, I even considered doing so when Liam abruptly turned his head away and continued talking to the woman on the other line.

"Alice, thank you for helping me out for the day. Just make sure Noah doesn't get any peanut butter until he comes back from school and give him only one slice of sandwich. Put the jar somewhere out of reach. I don't want him eating the whole jar like the last time.” Liam rambled, but I wasn't really paying much attention to what he said. My mind was wondering more on the name Alice. That was the name he had called me when he had come home drunk. Who was Alice?

"Ha! Don't worry about it. Oh, Julian wanted me to tell you that you that you should hire Elle again to babysit you for a night. I'm not sure exactly what he means by that, but he said you should get it.”

When I heard that come out of Alice's voice over the speaker phone, my jaw dropped in shock, I almost wanted to choke. Not only that I could see Liam's whole face turned stern, I wasn’t sure if it was anger or if he was embarrassed.

I felt my own face heat up.

I knew I may sometimes sound inexperience with men, which was true, but I knew what it meant to babysit a grown man at night. Just thinking about the idea of it made my whole body quiver. In a good way, if the man was Liam.

Liam groaned and adjusted his tie a little, “I got to go, Alice,” he replied then he hung up. He then turned to me wearing the same firm expression, “I’m sorry about that. Julian can be a bit—you know,” he curtly c****d his head then he turned his head back to the road.

I thought it would be better to change the subject, although I wouldn't mind babysitting Liam any day. Wait a sec! What the hell am I thinking? I involuntarily shook my head to leave out the thought of Liam and me… in his bed. I slapped myself mentally. Damn me, what the hell was wrong with me?

"Who is Alice?" I snapped, but still remembering Liam's drunken words.

"She's my younger sister. She's about to get married to Julian in a couple of months.” Liam responded with a low tone, still probably thinking about Alice's words.

There were two things I did not understand. First, why did Julian wanted me to do that with Liam? Second, I did not understand why Julian keep on rooting to that ridiculous idea? I mean he did tell me that I was going to fall for him.

There seemed to be so many questions and mysteries to the Braxton family, including Julian and Alice’s marriage. “If she's younger than you, don't you think it's a bit of an age gap that she's getting married to Julian?” I couldn't help but ask. I did not know how I was asking such personal questions. Usually, I would avoid trying to ask that would bring awkward moments or empty silences, but this was something I just wanted to know.

Liam shrugged at my question, "It's her decision and I have no right to stop her. She has been sheltered all her life by me. Julian was one of my friends that looked out for her.”

“Look out for her, like what?”

“When my mother died eight years ago, Alice’s world fell apart. She doesn’t speak to anyone, not even me. Julian was the only person who brought her back to life.”

I nodded. Oh, there was a story like that. I suddenly wanted to know more about Liam. He wasn’t an easy person to read, “And you agreed to this marriage? I mean, if Alice were my sister, I wouldn’t let her marry right away.”

A smirk played on his lips, “When we found out that he’s actually in love with her, I wanted to beat him up to the point where he couldn't eat for a week. I care for Alice and I don’t want her to get hurt. Julian isn’t the person he is right now. It’s like he was living for nothing, but in the end, he still loved her despite my hate. He proved his love for her when he changed. He went to Harvard and studied law. She loved him back. I just wish she waited until she was at least twenty-five before getting married, but if she wants to get married at twenty-three, I can't do anything but give my blessing.”

Wow, I never expected to have Liam give me a long explanation. Liam seemed to be a man of a few words. There were things that he would completely avoid talking about. I suddenly wanted to ask about that night when he was drunk what he meant when he said ‘Hello Alice, where's Justin, is little baby Noah asleep?' but I had a feeling it was something that was hidden deep inside Liam. I had a feeling that very few people knew the broken side of Liam.

Suddenly, I had many questions inside of me wondering about the mysteries behind his hot billionaire bachelor. I did not even notice his car pulled up in front of NYU.

“I guess this is your stop,” Liam said, then he put on his tinted lenses.

I looked out the window to found every single head turned looking at his car. I groaned inwardly especially when Liam stepped out of the car only to respectfully to door open for me. I could just hear people’s voices mumbling, astounded by seeing Isabelle Greenwood coming out from an Aston Martin and being served by a gorgeous wealthy man.

“Have a good day, Miss Greenwood,” Liam stated with that playful smile that had me wishing, that Liam would ask me to babysit him for a night.

"Thanks, Mr. Braxton, and you have a good day to you too,” I replied, feeling pathetic of myself, thinking about moving all over a guy who didn't even like me calling him by his first name. And for the record, Julian has just told me that I was going to fall for Liam Braxton. Too bad, Liam won't see me in the same way.

I watched Liam as he gets in his car, but another question popped up in my head that I forgot to ask him earlier.

How did he know where I live?